The Front Row with MARK NELKE May 9, 2010

I’ve seen most of the previous 16 editions of the Jack Blair Memorial Girls All-Star Basketball Classic.

That includes the first one, in 1994, in which Idaho was led by Alli Nieman of Sandpoint and Jen Kerns of Coeur d’Alene.

That final was Washington 70, Idaho 63, back when the game pitted Eastern Washington’s all-stars against those from North Idaho.

North Idaho lost the next six games by an average of 20.5 points. In 2001, the format was changed to Metro (all-Greater Spokane League players) vs. Region (North Idaho, and everyone else in Eastern Washington) in an effort to make the game more even.

Even after that, the Region team took a few lumps. In 2006, the Metro won 74-40. In 2008, the Region had its best chance to win, but missed 13 of 22 free throws and lost 74-70.

Finally, last year, the Region, loaded with talented North Idaho seniors and led by MVP Camille Reynolds of Lakeland High, broke through with a 92-74 triumph at Lake City High. It was the first time the team with North Idaho players on it won the showcase game for girls basketball in the Inland Northwest.

This year’s game is scheduled for June 7 at 7:30 p.m. at University High in Spokane. And for the second straight year, the Region team, at long last, has to be considered the favorite.

During the most recent high school season, 5A Inland Empire League girls basketball teams won 10 of the 13 games against GSL squads.

Why the evening of the playing field, after all these years?

Part of it is cycles. Great players come, as they did a few years ago in the GSL, but they also must go. But most of it is, more girls outside of Spokane are playing more basketball. And against better competition.

“More Region kids are playing club ball,” said Ron Adams, president of the Spokane Stars AAU girls basketball program, and director of the Jack Blair game. “North Idaho is a hotbed for girls basketball. They’re going to be strong for years to come.”

THE REGION team will be represented by five North Idaho players — senior Katelyn Loper of Post Falls; senior Dayna Drager, junior Carli Rosenthal and freshman Kendalyn Brainard of Coeur d’Alene; and junior Sydney Butler of Lake City.

Also on the region team is junior Jordan Loera of Moses Lake; senior Katelyn Maley of Rosalia; junior MacKenzie Taylor of Freeman; junior Lexie Zappone from Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, Wash.; juniors Shaniqua Nilles and Hannah Love of West Valley; and junior Shelby Cheslek of Pullman.

The 6-foot-5 Cheslek has already given a verbal commitment to play at Gonzaga University. Loera, a point guard, is being recruited by more than 40 schools, Adams said. Arizona State, Stanford and Washington State are among the Pac-10 schools that have offered her a scholarship, he said.

Adams said 17 schools have called about Rosenthal — all from the Big Sky, Big West, West Coast Conference and Western Athletic Conference.

“This Region team is without question the best (Region) team in the 17-year history of the game, talent-wise,” Adams said.

THE METRO team is led by guard Jazmine Redmon from Mead, who is No. 2 all-time in scoring in the GSL, and has signed with Gonzaga; and Tia Presley, a junior from Gonzaga Prep.

They’ll be joined by senior Jenni White of East Valley; senior Kelsey Matthews, sophomore Brooke Gallaway and senior Loree Hill of Central Valley; sophomore Devyn Galland and senior Haylee Hendricksen of Lewis and Clark; sophomore Lindsay Stockton (daughter of John) of Gonzaga Prep; senior Zoe Scott of University; junior Riley Holsinger of North Central; junior Taylor Ingebritsen of Mead; and sophomore Aleisha Hathaway of Shadle Park.

Adams said the Region team should have the advantage in size and depth.

“The Metro team has speed, quickness and athleticism — just no size,” he said.

The No. 1 purpose of the game is to showcase girls basketball in the area. But it also helps if the game is competitive — and it’s an even bigger deal now, now that Region has shown it can win the game.

Exhibition or not, there is still a certain amount of local pride on the line from both sides. Adams said Redmon and Presley, in particular, have told him they’re looking forward to another shot at the Region team.

“Sometimes you don’t see it coming,” Adams said. “They see it coming this year.”

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via e-mail at mnelke@cdapress.com.