Stars Blue wins own AAU girls hoop tourney

The Spokane Stars Blue went 5-0 to capture the eight-team Summer Heat AAU girls basketball tournament Thursday and Friday at The Warehouse in Spokane.

The Stars beat the North Idaho Elite 53-35, the Spokane Sandpipers 47-37, the Northwest Express 67-34, the Spokane Stars Red 59-30 and, in the championship game, the Sandpipers again 51-32.

Carli Rosenthal, who will be a senior at Coeur d'Alene High this fall, averaged 10.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 2.2 blocked shots and 2.1 assists in five games for the Stars Blue (40-2).

Brooke Litalien, who will be a sophomore at Post Falls High, averaged 5.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists.

The tournament was not sanctioned by the NCAA, though Spokane Stars director Ron Adams plans to have the tourney sanctioned next year.

The Stars Blue open play Wednesday at the 72-team MSNM Western Championships in San Diego.