Mission Valley All-Star studded showdown
<p>Polson’s Cedrick Smith splits two defenders - including teammate Riley Sampson (right) - on his way to the basket in Friday’s Mission Valley All-Star Game in Pablo. Smith finished with 12 points.</p>
<p>Ronan’s Zachary Wagner, scored 15 points for the home team. The senior led the Chiefs in scoring during the regular season.</p>
<p>Ronan’s Carston Baertsch drives past Charlo’s Kail Pope and his own Chiefs teammate Zachary Wagner Friday night. Baertsch, a senior, scored five points in his final basketball game as a Ronan Chief. </p>
<p>Arlee’s Whitney Malatare drives past Bigfork’s Tessa Robertson in the first half of Friday night’s All-Star game in Pablo. Malatare finished with 15 points. </p>
<p>Charlo’s Jordan Ludeman brings the ball up court as an abundance of all-star subs wait in the wings to check in the game.</p>
<p>Mission’s Stephanie Lewandowski drives the lane through traffic and attempts a left-handed layup during Friday night’s All-Star game. Lewandowski finished with a game-high 19 points to help lead the home team to a 72-67 win.</p> <p> </p>
PABLO – It’s typical to see Arlee’s Rocky Lewis bear down defensively on Charlo’s Webb O’Neill in a white-knuckle 14-C division rivalry game, but it’s rare to see O’Neill dish the ball outside to Lewis for one of his patent 3-point shots. That was the case in the 2013 Mission Valley All-Star Game Friday night in Pablo, as plenty of local rivals teamed up, while many teammates were the ones battling hard against one another.
The girls game kicked the night off and the female all-star standouts didn’t disappoint in entertaining the crowd - albeit not always playing fundamentally sound - overall they gave an engaging performance.
As she demonstrated all season long for the Mission Lady Bulldogs, Stephanie Lewandowski led the game in scoring with 19 points and lifted the home team to a 72-67 win over the away team. Lewandowski’s effort both offensively and defensively was contagious and raised the intensity level of the entire game. As the game approached its final minutes, it was evident both teams wanted to win.
Trailing 35-34 at the half, the home team outscored the away team 38-32 the rest of the way to take home a comfortable six-point win. Bigfork’s Tessa Robertson had 14 and Ronan’s Raymi Clairmont had eight for the home team. Arlee’s Whitney Malatare led the away team with 15 and Charlo’s Rachel Hoyt added nine.
After the game, smiles and hugs flooded the court as each player let the all-star experience soak in.
The boys took the court next and an abundance of buckets would soon follow. It took a few minutes for each player to find his groove, but once the ball got rolling, the scoring was on.
The home team came out of the gates early and jumped to a 15 point first half lead. It didn’t take long however, for the away team to surge back, as they were able to take a 47-44 lead into the break.
The second half resembled more of a 3-point shootout than a basketball game, as each team didn’t hesitate to dial it up from long distance. Even Polson’s big man Riley Sampson hoisted a few from downtown, and we quickly found out why Sampson wasn’t relied on for his outside shooting.
The game then turned into the battle of the Bulldogs as Mission’s Nikko Alexander and Stuart Grant exchanged baskets, provoking one another to answer back following each made shot. But it was Alexander that got hotter, hitting an array of 3-point. The lax defense quickly changed after Alexander connected on his ninth 3-pointer. Teammate Dylan Evans quickly took the responsibility of guarding his fellow Bulldog and the senior guard did a great job in shutting Alexander down the rest of the way.
From there, the score continued to go back and forth.
Down by three with under a minute remaining, the home whites had a chance to tie, but a late turnover squandered the opportunity and the away team walked out with the 100-95 win.
The up-tempo and high scoring game was a perfect finish to an exciting season of Lake County basketball. For the home team, Alexander led all scorers with 31, Ronan’s Zach Wagner and Arlee’s Josh Reed each had 15. Bigfork’s Seth Roessmann scored 20 to lead the away team. Grant had 15 and both Arlee’s Rocky Lewis and Polson’s Cedrick Smith had 12 for the away team. Charlo’s Webb O’Neill and Jeremiah Crawford each had eight to round out the scoring for the home team.
The game friday marked the 18th annual Mission Valley All-Star Game.
Boys All-Stars
Home 44 51 -95
Away 47 53 -100
Home - Tra Ludeman 3, Zach Wagner 15, Will Davey 8, Riley Samson 6, Chris Landon 8, Riley Sampson 6, Chris Landon 8, Nikko Alexander 31, Kail Pope 3, Jon Baker 6, Josh Reed 15.
Away - Seth Roessmann 20, Tim Woll 2, Rocky Lewis 12, Dylan Evans 4, Tyler Kirby 5, Stuart Grant 15, Carston Baertsch 5, Cedrick Smith 12, Dave Cross 9, Webb O’Neill 8, Jeremiah Crawford 8.
Girls All-Stars
Home 34 38 -72
Away 35 32 -67
Home - Stephanie Lewandowski 19, Jordan Ludeman 5, Aspen Runkel 2, Raymi Clairmont 8, Ashleigh Lynch 4, Mahalia Hendren 14, Skyla Perry 1, Jessica Hanson 2, Alicia Codrette 3, Tessa Robertson 14.
Away - Loren Erickson 5, Rachel Hoyt 9, Haley Berkram 2, Aspen Jore 6, Courtney Clairmont 10, Alexis Schick 5, Whitney Malatare 15, Daryl Conko-Camel 6, Ashley Holmes 2, Mackenzie Banner 7.