AMHERST — It was only an all-star game and for only a night, but Honesty King looked strangely out of place wearing a gold basketball shirt.
She spent her four-year career playing for Elyria High, and the Pioneers’ colors are bright red and white.
On the other hand, she looked entirely natural in the center circle of the Steele High School gym Tuesday night holding the big wooden plaque she received as Lorain County Miss Basketball for 2008.
She was honored between games of the annual Lorain County Girls Basketball Coaches Association senior all-stars doubleheader. It was presented by Keith Maysey of Elyria Coca-Cola, which sponsors the award.
“I’m glad I won it,” said King. “I knew I was in the running for it, but I didn’t know because I thought it might be between me and Kinesia (Thorpe of Admiral King). I want to thank everybody that helped make it happen.”
King, who became the Pioneers’ point guard this season, led the team to a 16-7 record and an appearance in the Division I district final. Elyria was knocked out of the tournament by Thorpe and Admiral King in the championship game at Medina.
King was the area’s leading scorer this season, averaging 19.2 points per game. She also averaged nearly five rebounds to go with four assists and three steals per game. Early in the season, she tied the Pioneers’ single-game scoring record — 34 points — which she set last season. She averaged 13.7 points in her 70-game career.     
King is the Pioneers’ seventh Miss Basketball, their second in four years and the fifth coached by Mike Walsh. Elyria has captured more Miss Basketball awards than any other school in the county.
“Honesty has been a very, very special player,” Walsh said. “I’ve seen a dramatic improvement from her freshman year to her senior year. Honesty’s got to be the best I’ve ever seen in that way. She came to me as pretty much a street-ball, rec-ball type player and she has turned herself into a very good, smart basketball player. Not only that, she is an outstanding young lady.”
Walsh called on King to make a change from a 2- or 3-guard to point guard this season. King admitted early in the year it was a tough transition.
“It was scary for her because she was always used to being the person that we got down the floor and set screens for to get her open,” Walsh said. “Then all of a sudden the ball was in her hands to make decisions and at first she wasn’t sure she’d be able to do that. But she found out it’s nice to have control and know where the ball goes.”
King, who lived in Lorain until she was in the seventh grade, started playing basketball when she was 5. She played organized basketball in the fifth grade.
“I’m so proud of her, she’s worked so hard,” said Joan King, her mother. “This is very special. She’s looked forward to this and she’s worked for it. I had high hopes that she’d win it, but there are a lot of other good players out here.”
Honesty King will attend Cleveland State University on a basketball scholarship.
“I think she’s just going to have an outstanding career because she’s found out how to work at the game,” said Walsh. “Her senior year was phenomenal while everybody was basically trying to just stop her. When she goes on to college, she’s going to be out there with players just as good as she is and the focus isn’t going to be just on stopping Honesty King. She can have a very, very good career.”
In addition to the Miss Basketball award presentation, the coaches association inducted two former members into its hall of fame.
They are former Vermilion coach Skip Davis, who recorded 355 victories in a 26-year career, and Neale Horwedel, longtime former Midview high school and middle school coach. It is said that Horwedel has been called “Coach” by more students than any other coach in the history of the Midview district.

Honesty King’s stats

Senior season    Career

23 games    70 games
441 points (19.2)    957 points (13.7)
110 rebounds (4.8)    267 rebounds (3.8)
94 assists (4.1)    163 assists (2.3)
69 steals (3.0)    152 steals (2.2)
35 3-pointers    84 3-pointers

Miss Basketballs

2008    Honesty King, Elyria
2007    Ali Stack, Firelands
2006    Audra Mihalic, Amherst
2005    Kate Verhoff, Elyria
2004    Holly Earl, Clearview
2003     Christina Jackson, Southview
2002    Lisa Verhoff, Elyria
2001    Netra Williams, Admiral King
2000    Jessy Verhoff, Elyria
1999    Holly Koepp, Lorain Catholic
    Layla Willis, Clearview
1998    Monica Ross, Midvew
1997    Tyshekwa Madison, Elyria
    Rebecca Sandor, Avon Lake
1996     Kristi Littleton, Vermilion
1995     Megan Chawanski, Avon Lake
1994     Stacy Fifer, Avon Lake
1993     Beth Becker, Firelands
1992     Sherri Horvath, Amherst
1991     Kyle Lathwell, Lorain
1990     Renee Aggers, Vermilion
1989     Monica Taylor, Elyria
1988     Ann Forbes, Elyria West
    Chris Nagy, Lorain
1987     Anita Godlewski, Lorain Catholic
1986     Ann Gilbert, Elyria
1985     Amy Welch, Elyria West
Contact Bob Daniels at 329-7137 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. 

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