The remarkable senior season of Thea Lemberger at Santa Monica High has been capped by high individual basketball honors.
Lemberger, Samohi’s 5-foot-7 point guard with the skill to consistently get inside the opponents’ defense, has been named Ocean League Player of the Year and CIF Division 1-A Player of the Year.
“Being recognized as the best player in the entire division is a tremendous honor,” said Samohi Coach Marty Verdugo.
As the point guard and leader, Lemberger was the driving force of the Vikings’ season which resulted in the first CIF 1-A girls basketball championship in school history.
A lot of players have to contribute in order for a team to win a championship, but Lemberger was the unifying force.
Her talents have been recognized with a scholarship to UCLA, where she will play next season.
In reviewing Samohi’s path from a struggling team five years ago to a champion in 2010 Verdugo lists Lemberger’s arrival as one of the key developments.
The young lady was talented and poised enough to play on the varsity right away. Then she grew and polished her game each season.
By this year she was known as one of the best point guards in the Southern California high school ranks.
MITCH CHORTKOFF
Mirror Sports Editorsports@smmirror.com
