St. Louis American sports editor Earl Austin Jr. has just completed his 25th year of covering high school sports in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Throughout the summer months, Earl will be reminisining about his top moments from his 25-year career. Also, he will be putting together his 25-year All-Star Teams from the different sports that he has covered. This week, Earl presents to you his 25-Year Anniversary All-Star Girls Basketball Team.
Forward: LaShonda Albert (Wellston ’94) – One of the most talented players ever to come through the St. Louis area, the 6’1” Albert could play all five positions on the floor. And she did it with style and flair. She led the Trojanettes to the Class 2A state championship in 1994. She averaged more than 30 points a game as a senior. In a district championship game against Orchard Farm, Albert scored a career-high 60 points in three quarters. She sat out the fourth quarter. She went to become an All-American performer at Central Missouri State in Warrensburg.
Forward: Kristin Folkl (St. Joseph’s Academy ’94) – One of the most decorated athletes in high school girls sports in the United States. Folkl led the Angels to four consecutive Class 4A state championships in basketball and volleyball. The 6’2” Folkl was a dominant force in the paint for the Angels from the moment she entered high school. As a freshman, she scored 34 points in the state-championship game. She was just getting started as she led the Angels to four state titles and a 71-game winning streak. Folkl became a two-sport standout at the collegiate level at Stanford University.
Center: Taylor Manuel (Incarnate Word Academy ’12) – The 6’4” Manuel was perhaps the most unique and versatile post player that this area has ever seen. She had the size and inside dominance of a center combined with the basketball IQ and skill-set of a point guard and everything in between. Manuel led the Red Knights to the Class 5 state title in 2011 and a third-place finishin 2012. She led IWA in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks and everything else imaginable. Manuel will begin her collegiate career at Purdue next season.
Guard: Niele Ivey (Cor Jesu Academy ’96) – One of the top point guards in the history of the Show-Me State, Ivey led the Chargers to the Class 5 state title in 1995 and a third-place finish in 1996. The 5’7” Ivey was a dynamic performer who could dominate games with her incredible scoring, passing and defense. Ivey was selected Ms. Show-Me Basketball after the 1996 season. She was a four-year starter at Notre Dame, where she led the Fighting Irish to the 2001 NCAA national championship, which was played in her home town of St. Louis. Ivey also spent some time in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever.
Guard: Mollie Pierick (St. Joseph’s Academy ’94) – The other half of the Angels dynamic duo with Kristin Folkl during the dynasty of the early 1990’s. The 5’11” Pierick was an electrifying 5’11” combo guard who excelled in the open court with her great passing and pull up jumpers from anywhere on the court. During her four years with Folkl, the Angels won four state titles and compiled a record of 116-5. Pierick went on to play for Notre Dame, where she was a starting guard on the Irish’ 1997 NCAA Final Four team.
Next Week: Boys Basketball
