Rivals come together in all-star game

PABLO - Before the Mission Valley Girls' All-star game, Charlo sophomore Kinley Pope was nervous.

"I was scared," she said. "Oh man, they are all seniors. Plus, the girls from Hot Springs and Arlee are really aggressive."

Pope was one of two players in the game that were underclassmen. Arlee freshman Mahalia Hendren was the other.

Not expecting to be chosen for the game, Pope said she thought people were messing with her the day the rosters came out.

"I was like, ‘You're lying to me'," she said. "I didn't really expect to be chosen [as a sophomore], but it was really cool."

With rosters chalk full of all-state and all-conference members, the Mission Valley Girls' All-star game also featured many rival players.

Athletes from Hot Springs and Charlo were on the same team as well as Polson and Ronan players.

"People are always like, ‘I hate those Arlee and Hot Springs girls,' but they were really nice," Pope said. "It was a lot of fun."

The teams entered the game with no prior practices. Chemistry had to be formed during the warm-up period.

"We had one play and it worked once," Allaire said of the visiting team's strategy.

The home team went up 11-6 as Charlo sophomore Kinley Pope and Ronan junior Jonna Grant each scored baskets for the home team.

Two Eagle River Jaylen Carpentier dropped in a rebound to bring the visiting team within eight points before Mission senior Kyla Mitchell was sent to the line by Mission junior Adessa Durglo. Mitchell dropped the first in but Durglo grabbed the rebound off the second and led the charge as her team scored.

Grant was sent to the line and dropped in two before Durglo fouled Hendren. She sunk both shots, increasing her team's lead to six.

Polson junior Breanne Kelley stole the ball on the next play but Charlo senior Stephanie Maughan knocked the pass out of mid-air. The home team took possession but Maughan grabbed the ball and passed to Durglo who went down court for two. Durglo led the visiting team in scoring with 12 points.

The home team led 23-19 at the beginning of the second half. Grant increased that lead with two free throws. Maughan sunk a three for the visiting team before the home team used full court pressure to force a turnover as Kelley added a basket for a 33-25 home team lead.

Carpentier dropped in a basket and Allaire added one at the line to pull the visiting team within seven.

Many players from the same regular-season teams were split up, making it difficult at times.

"I wanted to [pass to Hendren]," Allaire said. "I had to take a second look."

The home team went on a five-point run with baskets by Grant and Mitchell before Hendren put the visitors on the board.

Trailing 52-36, Allaire passed to Durglo for the visitors last points in the 54-38 loss.

The rivalries that were in place before the game are still in tack after the game, Allaire said, but during the game they were forgotten.

"It was really weird to be on the same team [as our rivals]," she said. "Our teams didn't like each other at all."

The one player Allaire was glad to have on her team was Carpentier, who totaled six points.

"It would have been hard to go against her," Allaire said. "When Jaylen wants to box you out, there is no way to get around her."