A southern uprising

COEUR d'ALENE - The North may have picked up a couple more state team titles in southern Idaho, but it was the South that showed its players are still some of the best in the state following wins in both the girls and boys Idaho high school all-star games at North Idaho College's Christianson Gym on Saturday.

In the boys game, Vallivue's Zach Kelsh had 20 points to lead the South past the North 138-121, but it was Stefan Buratto of Sandpoint that stole the show with a 42-point performance, breaking the record of 23 set by Bo Gregg of Lewiston in 2006. The two shared MVP honors.

"I was coming in to play my game," said Buratto, who is attracting interest from some Division I schools as well as some local schools, including NIC. "It wasn't a goal to score that many points. We were down at halftime, so I wanted to do my best to get my team into a position to win."

Kelsh also claimed the top honors in the afternoon's slam dunk contest.

"I thought it would be real fun," Kelsh said of the game. "I hadn't played in this kind of environment, but I enjoyed it. In the slam dunk contest, I saw what everyone else was doing - and I kind of winged it."

The South won the girls game 115-91.

Post Falls senior Katelyn Loper, who hadn't played since an injury during the Trojans' Region I tournament game against Lake City on Feb. 9, finished with a game-high 36 points, breaking the previous mark of 33 points set by former Lake City High standout Richelle Fenenbock in 2007.

"I hadn't played in a while," said Loper, who has signed with Hofstra. "I'm speechless right now. After the Lake City game, I had hurt my shoulder and hadn't been shooting. I just wanted to give something back to the North Idaho fans because it was the last time they'd see me play."

In the 3-point competition, the boys defeated the girls 56-40 in the team competition, with Craig Spjute of Borah hitting 13 shots to Richfield's Teenie Kent's 7 in the finals to win the individual competition.

BOYS: Lakeland senior Joel Underdahl had 28 points for the North, who battled back from a 15-point halftime deficit to get within nine points before the South put the game out of reach.

"When I got hurt, I wasn't sure if I'd be playing in this game," said Underdahl, who returned from a torn ACL as a junior for the Hawks. "I was really more concerned about getting healthy."

Combining with former 4A Inland Empire League rival Buratto for 70 of the North's points, Underdahl was pleased with his performance.

"It was fun," Underdahl said. "I've been used to playing with most of these guys, but it was lots of fun."

Buratto hit nine 3-pointers.

"I'm kind of keeping my options open," Buratto said. "Everyone thinks I can play, but Sandpoint is kind of hidden away so I had to show what I can do."

Lewiston post Justin Podrabsky, who has signed to play quarterback at Idaho, scored 13 points for the North.

"It was fun the entire time," Podrabsky said. "I've been playing against these kids for four years, so it was good to get to know them and play on the same team. It was pretty nice to have someone score 42 points."

The boys game was the highest-scoring game in the event's history. The South now leads the series 4 wins to 3.

South 58 80 - 138

North 43 78 - 121

SOUTH - Jordan Thompson (Eagle) 11, Dan Goodale (Timberline) 2, Kade Olson (Hillcrest) 8, Jordan Johnson (Hillcrest) 12, Kameron Pearce (Jerome) 14, Zach Kelsh (Vallivue) 20, Taylor Kelly (Eagle) 19, Josh Fuller (Madison) 18, Jon Pulsifer (Twin Falls) 13, Craig Spjute (Borah) 18, Matthew Clark (Skyview) 4.

NORTH - Stefan Buratto (Sandpoint) 42, Justin Podrabsky (Lewiston) 13, Malcolm Colbert (Post Falls) 10, Connor White (Coeur d'Alene) 3, Shawn Reid (Post Falls) 5, Cody Lewis (Kellogg) 0, J.J. Stoddard (Lake City) 6, Joel Underdahl (Lakeland) 28, Jake Weimer (Priest River) 10, Connor Williams (Coeur d'Alene) 5.

GIRLS: Loper was named co-MVP of the game, along with Parma's Kali Roche, who scored 21 points.

"The fans have mean a lot to me," said Loper, who earlier this week was named Gatorade Idaho high school girls basketball player of the year. "Starting out as a freshman, it wasn't easy. I've always had great support. They've been spectacular."

The South team jumped out to a 58-45 halftime lead before the North climbed back into the game in the early stages of the second half to within 60-59.

They didn't get any closer as the South pulled away on the strength of a 34-8 run in the next seven minutes on the way to a 115-91 win. South eclipsed its previous high of 103 in 2006, and now leads the series 5-2.

"It was a good chance to play some of them again," Boise senior Jordin Juker said. "There was a lot on the line - but it was lots of fun."

Juker, who will be attending Brown University in Providence, R.I., in the fall, added that there wasn't too much of a rivalry between the two teams at the start of the day.

"There really wasn't much talk going on," Juker said. "Then they started talking about the North and the state tournament and Coeur d'Alene winning. We had to show them that we can still play basketball. Kudos to them though."

Lewiston senior Nicole Redd had 12 points for the North.

"I loved it," Redd said of playing with her North teammates. "During the season, we were rivals on the court, but all played the same style. We didn't get enough points today - but it was still fun."

South 58 57 - 115

North 45 46 - 91

SOUTH - Aubree Callen (Jerome) 15, Teenie Kent (Richfield) 9, Chelsie Luke (Meridian) 10, Callie Williams (Eagle) 8, Kali Roche (Parma) 21, Taylor Hagood (Centennial) 4, Jordin Juker (Boise) 19, Sienna Edmunson (New Plymouth) 12, Ariah Gonzales (Middleton) 4, Autumn Wilson (Clearwater Valley) 12, Hailey Felgenhauer (Fruitland; DNP, injured).

NORTH - Jessica Kramer (Lewiston) 11, Ryder Ashcraft (Kellogg) 2, Amanda Buttrey (Coeur d'Alene) 7, Chantal Ellenwood (Lapwai) 7, Dayna Drager (Coeur d'Alene) 6, Shaina Gustafson (Clark Fork) 2, Chelsea Morgan (Kellogg) 2, Nicole Redd (Lewiston) 12, Alyana Watson (Lakeland) 0, Emily Stecker (Lakeland) 6, Katelyn Loper (Post Falls) 36.