By JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ, Times Herald-Record, February 06, 2008
Coaches rank best centers, forwards in Section 9 hoops
They are the players who make the tough shots inside, fight for rebounds, block shots.
They own the paint.
They are centers and forwards.
And, this season, there is a long list of talented and versatile inside players in Section 9. So we decided to rank them. The Times Herald-Record polled 20 Section 9 coaches and asked them to give us, in order, their top-five inside players.
Ten points were given for a first-place vote, followed by seven, five, three and one. Here are the results with total points and first-place votes in parenthesis.
 1. Stefanie Dolson, Minisink Valley (155, 11 first-place votes)
Vitals: Sophomore center, 6-foot-5, 17.2 points, 13 rebounds.
Stefanie Dolson has been a revelation at center for Minisink Valley. Only a sophomore, Dolson, who stands 6-foot-5, averages 17 points and 13 rebounds per game for the Warriors
The panel said: One coach said of Dolson, "There is nobody even close to her." Pollsters like the fact that Dolson clogs up the middle, scoring, rebounding, blocking shots. She is athletic and has good hands for a center.
Of course, what coaches like most about Dolson is her height.
2. Emily Stallings, John S. Burke Catholic (99, 3)
Vitals: Senior center, 6-foot, 18.2 points, 12 rebounds.
The panel said: Stallings, bound for Marist in the fall, earned a reputation as an inside player. What our panel likes so much about her is the development of her inside-out game and leadership.
3. Julie Tomesheski, Minisink Valley (79, 3)
Vitals: Senior forward, 5-9, 11 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists.
The panel said: Meet Section 9's version of former Los Angeles Laker Kurt Rambis. At least, that's how one coach described Tomesheski's game. The group likes her post moves and toughness inside.
4. Kathleen Folkl, S.S. Seward (60, 2)
Vitals: Senior center, 6-0, 21 points, 14 rebounds.
The panel said: One coach called Folkl "a beast" inside. That's a compliment. Others liked her hands, and that she can dribble well and break the press.
5. Colleen Decker, Washingtonville (42)
Vitals: Senior forward/center, 5-11, 14 points, 12 rebounds.
The panel said: Don't mess with Decker inside. The coaching crew like her physical play inside. She finishes well and brings a ton of energy to the Wizards.
6. Sara Bender, Wallkill (20, 1)
Vitals: Sophomore center, 6-2, 14 points, 10 rebounds.
The panel said: Not bad stats, considering Bender, the Mid-Hudson Athletic League's top big girl, is always double-teamed. If not tripled. Bender puts up points inside, but can also hit a jumper.
7. Rachel Houghtaling, Sullivan West (13)
Vitals: Junior center, 6-1, 10 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists.
The panel said: Ever hear of a guard/center? That's Houghtaling, who gets the job done inside, but also runs the floor and guards players on the perimeter. The panel likes her strong inside game and athleticism.
8. Allison McKearn, James I. O'Neill (9)
Vitals: Senior center, 5-9, 13 points, 12 rebounds.
The panel said: All you want in a center — tough inside and rebounds well. One coach commented on McKearn's lanky frame. "She plays bigger than she is," he said.
9. Carly Collins, Monroe-Woodbury (7)
Vitals: Senior forward, 5-10, 9.7 points, 8 rebounds.
The panel said: A coach's best friend because of her hustle. She will take the charge, the floor burn, doesn't stop until the whistle blows. Collins can post up and knock down a mid-range jumper.
10. Megan Rufer, John S. Burke Catholic (5)
Vitals: Senior forward, 5-9, 12 points, 10 rebounds.
The panel said: Coaches like the fact that Rufer "has a nose for the ball" as a rebounder. She can score and distributes well.
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