GALLERY
CLEVELAND - Marah Strickland, who signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Maryland and women's basketball head coach Brenda Frese, was named the Most Valuable Player of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) High School All-America Game, which was played over the weekend in Cleveland, Ohio, the site of the NCAA Women's Final Four. The game capped a week which saw both Strickland and future teammate Drey Mingo showcased their talents in two all-star games.
Strickland, who will be graduating from Towson Catholic in Baltimore, Md., and Mingo, who attends Marist High School in Atlanta, Ga., were on the losing end of a 98-95 decision, as the White team fell to the Red team. Strickland tied for the team lead with 20 points in the game as a starter, shooting 4-for-8 from three-point range. She also had three assist and two blocks. Mingo grabbed four rebounds for the White team, which outrebounded Red, 64-54.
Current sophomore Marissa Coleman (Cheltenham, Md./St. John's College [D.C.]) was also a team MVP in the WBCA high school game in 2005.
Earlier in the week in Louisville, Ky., both participated in the McDonald's All-American game. As members of the East team, the two helped the squad to a rout of the West team, 105-76. Strickland tied for third on the team with 12 points, while Mingo added five on 2-for-3 shooting. She also grabbed three boards.
Strickland and Mingo are part of a five-player class who signed NLI's in the fall. Joining them are Kim Rogers of Virginia Beach, Va., Anjale Barrett of New York City and Kat Lyons of Kernersville, N.C. Rogers was an Honorable Mention WBCA All-American.
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