It’s hard to whittle down 50-plus years of local girls basketball history, but that’s exactly what we’re trying to do as the United States readies for its 250th anniversary.
USA Today Sports is recognizing the top athletes of all time. Among several other sports, the Democrat and Chronicle is posing this question: Who is the top player in Section V girls basketball history?
To be clear, there is no perfect answer. Dozens of athletes, whether through individual states and accolades or team accomplishments, are worthy of consideration.
Here are 15 former Section V girls basketball players that we’re presenting among the greatest. But who is the best? That’s for you to decide. And if you notice an obvious omission, let us know.
Let the debate begin.
Maddy Brown, Honeoye Falls-Lima
Brown was named All-Greater Rochester and New York state Class A Player of the Year in 2005 after leading the Cougars to their first state title (in their second straight final appearance). She finished her high school career with 2,017 points, and later played collegiately at Pittsburgh and Texas Tech.
Jamie Burke, Prattsburgh
Burke stands second all-time in Section V scoring with 2,458 points. She played six varsity seasons and led Prattsburgh to three Section V titles. During her career, she was a two-time All-Greater Rochester selection and the Democrat and Chronicle’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1992-93.
Meg Dahlman, Nazareth
Dahlman wrapped her varsity career with 2,085 points and 1,033 rebounds, after leading the Lasers to four Section V titles. She was a three-time Section V tournament MVP, three-time All-Greater Rochester selection and two-time AGR Player of the Year. After high school, she played collegiately at Marist.
Cierra Dillard, Gates Chili
When the Democrat and Chronicle released the 2010s All-Decade team, Dillard was the voting panel’s choice for the decade’s top player. She was a four-time All-Greater Rochester choice and led the Spartans to three Section V titles and three state tournament selections. Dillard was named AGR Player of the Year in 2014 after scoring 27.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
Debbie Eaves, Penn Yan
Eaves’ senior season in 1986 was one for the ages. She led the Mustangs to a perfect 26-0 season and New York state Class B title. After the season, she was named first team All-Greater Rochester for the third time (at a time when only five players were selected for the nod) and New York state’s Small School Player of the Year. She finished her career with 1,781 points and 1,166 rebounds. After high school, Eaves played four seasons at the University of Delaware.
Alyssa Fenyn, Newark
Few have been better scorers than Fenyn, who finished her career with 2,499 career points which ranks second all-time in Section V. In 2009, she led the Reds to the New York state Class A title and was the final four’s MVP. Postseason honors that season included New York state’s Class A Player of the Year and All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year (her fourth AGR nod). After high school, Fenyn started for four seasons at Virginia Tech.
Caitlin Howe, Fairport
Howe was part of four Section V title teams. She was a five-time all-tournament selection, four-time All-Greater Rochester selection and two-time Player of the Year. Howe joined the 2,000-point club despite two major knee injuries that cost her her senior season in 2001-02. Howe later played at Duke University.
Shenise Johnson, Rush-Henrietta
Johnson was the primary reason why Rush-Henrietta became the first Section V team to claim three consecutive state crowns, doing so from 2006 to 2008. She became the first player in the award’s history to be named All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year three times. Johnson’s varsity career concluded with 2,244 points.
Sandy Mitchell, Waterloo
Mitchell was a two-time All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year (1993,1994) and was “Miss New York State Basketball” in 1994. She later played at Seton Hall, where she was the Big East’s top rookie in 1995. Mitchell was named to the inaugural Section V Basketball Hall of Fame class in 2000.
Beth Record, Red Jacket
Section V’s all-time leading scorer finished her career with 2,895 points and four Section V titles. Record was a two-time Section V tournament MVP, four-time All-Greater Rochester selection and two-time Player of the Year. She later played at Syracuse University and was drafted by the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.
Kathy Ryan, Victor
In four varsity seasons, Ryan led the Blue Devils to a 72-9 record and two Section V titles (1977, 1978). She was a four-time all-tournament selection and two-time MVP, and three-time All-Greater Rochester selection. In 1979, she broke the single-game scoring record with 52 points. After high school, Ryan attended the University of Virginia where she led the Cavaliers to two ACC titles.
Heathar Shepard, Bloomfield
Shepard was a key piece in Bloomfield’s late 1990s dynasty, pushing the Bombers to four consecutive Class C section titles (1998 to 2001) and two New York state titles (1999, 2000). Shepard was twice named first team all-state and was MVP of the 1999 state tournament. Her 277 career 3-pointers rank first in Section V history and seventh all time in New York state.
Megan Shoniker, Greece Arcadia
Shoniker ranks ninth all-time in Section V and scoring with 2,216 career points. At the time of her graduation in 2007, Shoniker was Monroe County’s all-time leading scorer and only the third player ever to be named an All-Greater Rochester selection four teams. Shoniker was also a member of the 2005 Arcadia team that claimed the state title.
Christina Volpe, Batavia Notre Dame
Volpe led the Fighting Irish to the New York state Class D title in 1999 and was named the state’s Player of the Year after the season. She finished her varsity career with 2,359 points and over 1,400 rebounds. Volpe was also a two-time All-Greater Rochester choice.
Ashley Zahn, Canandaigua
Victor’s current varsity head coach was one of Section V’s best during her own high school career. She finished with 2,400 career points, averaged 20-plus points all four varsity seasons and was a four-time All-Greater Rochester selection. In 2009, she led the Braves to the Class AA section title and was tournament MVP. The following year, her senior season, Zahn averaged 24.3 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
— Justin Ritzel works as a sports reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on Section V athletics and high school trends.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Who is Section V’s all-time girls basketball player? VOTE in the poll sponsored by Faber Builders
Reporting by Justin Ritzel, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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