inewood School's Doc Scheppler didn't pause a second when asked if Lauren Smith-Hams is the best player he's ever coached.
"She ranks right at the top," said Scheppler, a coach for 22 years. "It's not even close."
The point guard capped an illustrious prep career March 18 by leading the Panthers to their first-ever state crown. Pinewood beat Chadwick 61-45 for the Division V championship, as Smith-Hams poured in 31 points to set a new title game record. Twenty-four of her points came in the second half, which helped the Panthers (31-1) pull away.
The school's all-time leading scorer, Smith-Hams is being recruited by several colleges - including the University of Southern California.
"Lauren's going to be impossible to replace," Scheppler said. "She's just the consummate student-athlete."
Michael Duong - Los Altos tennis
What Los Altos High tennis player Michael Duong lacks in size, he makes up for in speed.
"He's a small guy, but he's quick and very athletic," said Cuong Duong, Michael's coach and uncle. "He gets to a lot of balls other players can't get to."
The senior has been the Eagles' top singles player all season and entered this week with a sparkling 9-1 record.
Michael started playing tennis at age 11, Cuong said, and he's come along way in a short time. Last year, Michael ranked ninth in Northern California among those under 18.
He's also been a steadying influence on his teammates.
"He's a quiet team leader," Cuong said. "He doesn't talk a lot, but he leads by example."