3 locals tabbed for all-star game

In part because only three North Idaho players were selected to the Region roster this year, the 22nd annual Jack Blair Memorial Girls All-Star Basketball Classic will return to the Washington side of the Washington/Idaho border for an unprecedented second straight year.

This year's game returns to University High in Spokane Valley - site of last year's game - and is scheduled for June 1 at 7:30 p.m.

"U-Hi asked if they could have it again," explained Ron Adams, promoter of the game, and president of the Spokane Stars AAU girls basketball program. "With this Metro roster, we're going to draw a ton of people. Next year, we'll put it in Idaho someplace."

The game pits the Metro, comprised of Greater Spokane League players, against the Region, comprised of players from North Idaho and elsewhere in eastern Washington.

The Metro has won 18 of the 21 games, but the Region has won the past two, and three of the the last six.

The three North Idaho players on the Region roster include a pair of seniors, Shayna Allert of Post Falls and Clarissa Smith of Lake City, along with freshman Melody Kempton of Post Falls.

A fourth North Idaho players was invited, but had to decline.

Other notables on the Region roster are Erin Higbie, a senior at West Valley and a former Coeur d'Alene High player, along with Jessie Loera of Moses Lake, who Adams said "is one of the best guards in the country."

Marc Allert of Post Falls, who coached the Region to victory two years ago, will co-coach the Region team along with Clark Vining of Colton.

The Metro squad includes Gonzaga Prep standouts Laura Stockton (who has signed with Gonzaga) and Otiona Gildon (who has signed with Oregon), along with Sue Winger of Mead, daughter of former Coeur d'Alene High standout Mike Winger, who has signed with Idaho; and Madison Hovren of Central Valley, who is headed to West Point.

Adams said 11 of the 12 Metro players are or will play basketball in college.

"They don't have any size, but they're highly skilled - they're loaded with Division I kids," Adams said. "To be going against a team like that will be like going against a college team."

Adams said the Region team is "highly talented, but younger. They're loaded with guards; they'll match up well" with the Metro.

He said the Metro is "a little bit deeper." But he said of the Region, "they know they're underdogs; they have nothing to lose."

REGION

Jessie Loera, jr., Moses Lake; Jamie Loera, fr., Moses Lake; Melody Kempton, fr., Post Falls; Hannah Burland, jr., East Valley; Hailey Higashi, so, St. George's; Zoe Moser, jr., Colton; Shayna Allert, sr., Post Falls; Clarissa Smith, sr., Lake City; Erin Higbie, sr., West Valley; Emily Drake, sr., Pullman; Savanna Chadwick, sr., Colton; Rachel Bozlee, jr., Northwest Christian.

Co-coaches: Marc Allert, Post Falls; Clark Vining, Colton.

Shyla Carr, sr., Shadle Park; Michaela Kay, sr., Lewis and Clark; Brooke Bailey, jr., University; Laura Stockton, sr., Gonzaga Prep; Lexie Hull, fr., Central Valley; Lacie Hull, fr., Central Valley; Madison Hovren, sr., Central Valley; Otiona Gildon, sr., Gonzaga Prep; Oona Harrington, sr., Gonzaga Prep; Sue Winger, sr., Mead; Riley Lupfer, jr., Lewis and Clark; Emma Kennedy, sr., University.

Coach: Freddie Rehkow, Central Valley.