Rosenthal, Litalien help Stars win tourney

Helped by two North Idaho players, the Spokane Stars AAU girls basketball team capped a 46-2 season by winning the NSNM Western Championships last week in San Diego.

The Stars went 6-0 in the 72-team tourney, beating the Vegas Elite 74-23, Arizona Venom 63-53, Way To Win (Seattle) 46-31, Utah Swish 42-32, Orange County (Calif.) National Elite 47-31 in the semifinals and, in the finals at the Jenny Craig Pavilion, the Arizona Warriors 52-43.

"Unbelievable," said Stars coach Ron Adams, whose team won five of the six tournaments it played in this season. "It's the most unselfish team I think I've ever coached in 30 years, with the best chemistry by far."

Post Carli Rosenthal, who will be a senior at Coeur d'Alene High this fall, averaged 8.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 blocked shots in the tourney for the Stars. Guard Brooke Litalien, who will be a sophomore at Post Falls High, averaged 3.2 points, 1.0 steals and 1.6 assists off the bench.

Adams said Rosenthal continues to be heavily recruited by most schools in the West Coast Conference, Big Sky and Big West.