Malone, Moore Selected as Top Players in South Bay

Keith Malone of Serra and Rosiland Moore of Inglewood were named the South Bay basketball players of the year, and Cliff Warren of Rolling Hills and Joseph Orona of San Pedro were chosen the top coaches at The Times’ basketball awards presentations last weekend.

Malone, a 6-3 1/2 senior forward, led Serra to a Camino Real League title and the CIF 5-A finals and was named 5-A player of the year. He averaged 26.4 points a game. As noteworthy was his relentless effort and nose for the ball, enabling him to dominate inside against taller players.

Moore, a senior 5-9 guard, averaged 21 points a game and combined with teammate Kelli Knox to form the CIF’s highest-scoring back court. Moore led Inglewood to the co-championship of the Ocean League (with Hawthorne) and shared league most valuable player honors with Hawthorne junior Andrea Kabwasa.

Malone topped the 10-man All-South Bay team, whose other members were James Johnson of Chadwick, Eric Jordan of Inglewood, Elden Campbell of Morningside, Jeff Pelton of Palos Verdes, Steve Florentine of Redondo, David Whitmore of St. Bernard, Anthony January of Carson, Zlatko Josic of San Pedro and Michael Courtney of Westchester.

Moore was joined on the All-South Bay girls team by her Inglewood teammate Knox, Hawthorne’s Kabwasa, Tia Thomas and Shaunda Greene of Morningside, Jennifer Rosen of South Torrance, Karyn Bolger of San Pedro, Tammi Booker of St, Mary’s, Areatha Vees of Redondo and Tiffany Carresi of Mary Star.

Warren’s award marked a notable comeback as well as fine coaching job. The molder of a CIF powerhouse at El Segundo in the 1960s, Warren had not coached since 1968. He took over a Rolling Hills team with no returning starters and little height and produced a 21-6 record to reach the CIF 4-A quarterfinals. He returns his starting team intact next season.

Orona took San Pedro’s girls team to the Los Angeles City 3-A title, utilizing the talents of two-time All-South Bay choice Bolger and all-leaguer Tonia Reynolds. It was San Pedro’s first City title in 14 years.