Quinn, Williams headline Stars and Stripes DODDS-Europe squads
Published: March 7, 2013
Choosing the Stars and Stripes girls and boys basketball athletes of the year was tremendously difficult. The season produced more than its share of standout performers without yielding an obvious breakout star.
Ultimately, we chose Kaiserslautern junior Johanna Quinn and Bamberg senior Terry Williams for the honors, and I’m satisfied with those decisions. The respective stories about those two players make their cases, and I’ll admit that convincing arguments can be made for other well-qualified student-athletes.
In that spirit, if I were tasked with putting together girls and boys DODDS-Europe basketball all-star teams, these are the lineups I’d assemble:
Girls
F Johanna Quinn, Kaiserslautern: To define Quinn narrowly as an “hustle” player is to deny her considerable skills. But hustle, and win, she certainly does.
F Jourdan Hodge, Lakenheath: A gifted scorer, rebounder and defender, her problems with foul trouble are all that’s holding her back.
G Atyia Brigman, Bitburg: As good an all-around player as you’ll find in DODDS-Europe.
G Chealsy Reaves, Ansbach: Prodigious scorer carried the Cougars to an impressive season; creates her own shot like few others.
G Brianna Lackey, Bitburg: Intuitively chooses correctly between passing and shooting, driving and restarting the offense, reaching for a steal and hanging back in position.
Bench: G Gina Rhett, SHAPE; G Laneisha Jeans, Naples; G Kristen Reed, Lakenheath; G Lauren Barry, Wiesbaden; F Damonique Lamons, Bamberg; F Tashia Golson, Hohenfels: F Tenia Strobridge, Sigonella.
Boys
F Terry Williams, Bamberg: An offensive wizard with one of the most attractive mid-range jump shots you’ll encounter in DODDS-Europe circles.
F Kelsey Thomas, Wiesbaden: Either very good or great at everything he does on the basketball court.
G John Robinson, Patch: A long and rangy slasher with all the offensive and defensive tools the term implies.
G Brendan Jones, Patch: The long-range bomber every offense needs, and can score in other ways when circumstances require it.
G Terell Gandy, Vicenza: Plays with relentless will and intensity and scores seemingly at will.
Bench: G Nuri Karaca, AFNORTH; G Joseph Gouty, Baumholder; G Schuyler Backlar, Menwith Hill; G Travis Olson, Black Forest Academy; F Andray Gibson, Bamberg; F Isaiah Wesby, Naples; F Drew Tevebaugh, Ramstein.
