Mission Valley ready for All-Star showcase
POLSON GUARD Robin Erickson drives to the basket in the Divisional game against Frenchtown at the Butte Civic Center. Erickson was selected to play in the Mission Valley All-Star basketball game. (photo courtesy of Bob Gunderson)
RONAN GUARD Micalann McCrea drives to the basket in the Divisional Tournament against Columbia Falls at the Butte Civic Center. McCrea was selected to play in the Mission Valley All-Star basketball game. (photo courtesy of Bob Gunderson)
Ronan Maidens girls basketball coach Steve Woll has seen a lot in his 23rd season of being a part of putting on the Mission Valley All-Star basketball game to commemorate the end of the season for the Mission Valley basketball players.
Woll said he likes the more laid-back atmosphere the all-star game provides and it gives Mission Valley players an opportunity to showcase skills they may not get to show off during the regular season.
“We have seen all kinds of things over the years,” Woll said of being one of several coaches to organize the All-Star game. “We’ve seen showcases of sportsmanship and showmanship. The all-star game is tactical and pretty eventful.”
“The players are nominated by coaches who can’t vote for their own players,” Woll said. “All of the coaches for the boys and girls basketball teams from eight schools and the top-24 vote get split up into teams and we all have a good time.”
Woll attributes the success of the tournament to the length of time several volunteers have devoted over the years towards making this tournament come to fruition.
“The right people know what to expect and they are only as good as the people, refs and clock keepers and whoever helps,” Woll said. “It’s awesome and everyone looks forward to the event.”
The last two years of the tournament has become a celebratory moment as the Arlee Warriors have brought back their second consecutive MHSA Class C state title.
Woll was complimentary towards the Warriors, including Pitts, his coaching staff, and players for what they’ve done on putting the Mission Valley basketball team on the map.
“What they’ve done in the past few years has really helped shape the brand of basketball for the Mission Valley,” Woll said. The shape of Mission Valley basketball is sitting pretty good. It was an awesome year with the valley teams and it was a great year.”
The following are a list of players participating in the Mission Valley All-Star game:
GIRLS 2018 ALL-STAR
TEAM A (Light)
1. Alyssia Vanderburg (JR) Arlee
2. Lindsay Laws (SR) Plains
3. Karolyna Buck (SOPH) Mission
4. Noelle West (JR) Arlee
5. Jessica Thompson (SR) Plains
6. Jaelyn Askans (SR) Ronan
7. Sydney Brander (FRESH) Mission
8. McKennzie Cannon (SOPH) Hot Springs
9. Kyra Aimsback (SR) Two Eagle
10. Sakoya Gaustad (SR) Charlo
11. Kara Altmiller (SR) Plains
12. Quinn Motichka (SR) Polson
GIRLS 2018 ALL-STAR
TEAM B (Dark)
1. Jaime Berg (SR) Bigfork
2. Micalann McCrea (SR) Ronan
3. Kaelyn Smith (SR) Polson
4. Rakiah Grende (JR) Bigfork
5. Olivia Perez (JR) Polson
6. Shae Anderson (SR) Bigfork
7. Kaitlyn Cox (SR) Charlo
8. Kianna Finley (SR) Ronan
9. Stacy Gray (SR) Hot Springs
10. Tyrah Hammond (JR) Charlo
11. Nellie Desjarlais (JR) Arlee
12. Leila Marsh (SR) Mission
BOYS 2018 ALL-STAR
TEAM A (Light)
1. Zeke Misa (SR) Ronan
2 Logan Taylor (SR) Bigfork
3. Beau Santosteven (SR) Bigfork
4. Jay VonHeeder (SR) Plains
5. Will Mesteth (SR) Arlee
6. Brendan McDonald (SR) Two Eagle
7. Wacey McClure (JR) Mission
8. Robin Erickson (JR) Polson
9. Landers Smith (JR) Charlo
10. Tyler Carr (JR) Hot Springs
11. Levi Alexander (SR) Mission
12. Greg Whitesell (JR) Arlee
BOYS 2018 ALL-STAR
TEAM B (Dark)
1. Phillip Malatare (SR) Arlee
2. Shade Main (SR) Polson
3. Anthony Camel (JR) Ronan
4. Chase Chappuis (SR) Bigfork
5. Tyson Petticrew (SR) Charlo
6. Brandon Knutson (SOPH) Hot Springs
7. Tanner Ovitt (SR) Plains
8. Connor Lanier (JR) Polson
9. Toby Odom (SR) Charlo
10. Jacob Hugs (JR) Mission
11. Dallas Durheim (JR) Ronan
12. Kyle Weeks (SR) Plains