IDAHO ALL-STAR BASKETBALL GAMES: One Schoening moment
<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Region's Zach Hillman, of Post Falls High School, soars towards the basket at the 13th Annual High School All Star Game on Saturday at North Idaho College.</p>
<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Region's Jakob Lynn, of Coeur d'Alene High School, drives to the basket at the 13th Annual High School All Star Game on Saturday at North Idaho College. Lynn later broke his right arm in the game.</p>
<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Region's Cierra Dvork, of Lake City High School, goes in for a lay-up as Metro's Zoe Wessels watches at the 13 Annual Idaho High School All Star Game on Saturday at North Idaho College.</p>
<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Region's Aubree Anna Johnson dives for a loose ball while looking for an open teammate at the 13 Annual Idaho High School All Star Game on Saturday at North Idaho College.</p>
<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Region's Madi Schoening, of Sandpoint High School, dribbles up court at the 13 Annual Idaho High School All Star Game on Saturday at North Idaho College.</p>
COEUR d’ALENE — It seemed improbable at the time for the Region girls trailing 18-1 just a few minutes into the 13th annual Idaho High School All-Star Games at North Idaho College on Saturday afternoon.
But those final 30 minutes, that made all the difference.
Sandpoint’s Madi Schoening — who has signed to play at Montana — scored 26 points and earned MVP honors for the Region in a 100-94 win over the Metro squad made up of Division I signees Destiny Slocum (Maryland) and Dominique Williams (Weber State).
In the boys game, Borah High’s Rylan Bergersen scored 20 points to earn MVP honors and Timberline High’s Brock Rice — son of Boise State coach Leon Rice, who was in attendance — added 25 as the Metro team beat the Region 131-111.
This year, the format of the game changed from a North vs. South format to a Metro (Boise-area schools) against the Region (rest of the state).
Post Falls senior Max McCullough hit eight 3-pointers in the championship round to beat Sugar-Salem’s Abby Allen in the 3-point contest, held between the girls and boys games. Overall, the boys beat the girls 46-28 in the 3-point contest.
Mountain View’s Damen Thacker won the slam dunk contest, beating Rylan Bergersen of Borah High of Boise.
Under the old format, the South (southern Idaho) girls won nine of the first 12 games from the North (districts 1 and 2), and the South boys won eight of 12.
GIRLS: The Region team’s plan was to put their best Division I player against the best player in the state.
And it worked, eventually, as Schoening guarded Slocum for most of the game.
“They told me right from the beginning that I’d be the one guarding her,” Schoening said. “I love the challenge. We talked about it yesterday and a little more in the morning, and (Lake City and Region coach Bryan Kelly) told me I was going to start on her, and I told him I was ready for her.”
The Region didn’t take its first lead until the third quarter, gaining a 54-53 lead on a jumper by Jade Skidmore of West Jefferson.
“Coming from an 18-1 deficit, that was tough,” Schoening said. “I think the positivity from the bench and everyone feeling even though we’d been against each other all year, we were on the same team and we’d come together to get it done. We were able to pick each other up and it was a great feeling.”
Slocum, from Mountain View High in Meridian, finished with 13 points and nine assists.
“I definitely liked playing against that kind of competition,” Schoening said. “I’ve known of her for years, so I was really excited to get the chance to go up against her. I’d never played against her and it seemed like we were battling the entire game. But it was fun.”
Post Falls forward AubreAnna Johnson scored 14 points for the Region.
“The Community Colleges of Spokane is interested in me, and Colby College in Kansas, they’re interested in me and my sister (Clarissa), so we’re going to visit them during spring break,” Johnson said. “It was really nice to end with a win. We were a little disappointed to lose our state (play-in) game at the buzzer and just to finish with girls I know was really nice.”
Slocum was selected to compete in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago on March 30.
“To me, it was just kind of fun,” Slocum said. “It’s just fun to be able to get all the players together, the best in the state, and have fun. It did get a little intense, but that’s competition and that’s great. You’ve got the best girls in Idaho right here.”
Metro 34 14 25 21 — 94
Region 21 23 26 30 — 100
METRO — Abby Allen (Sugar-Salem) 8, Rian Rawlings (Century) 11, Erika Linford (Liberty Charter) 3, Allison Law (Kuna) 17, Issy Hadden (Boise) 8, Zoe Wessels (Council) 13, Sierra Schmeckpeper (Council) 0, Jenny Stevens (Eagle) 4, Lindy Westendorf (Cole Valley Christian) 2, Destiny Slocum (Mountain View) 13, Dominique Williams (Centennial) 15.
REGION — Kaliegh Ranisate (Genesee) 8, Cierra Dvorak (Lake City) 11, Riley Couch (Sandpoint) 0, Payten Rhodes (Timberlake) 0, Madi Schoening (Sandpoint) 26, Shaylee Gilchrist (Minico) 2, Whitney Meier (Lake City) 7, Taylor Whitney (Lapwai) 0, Kallee Nickerson (West Jefferson) 4, Jade Skidmore (West Jefferson) 9, Lindsay Cook (Hillcrest) 20, AubreAnna Johnson (Post Falls) 14.
BOYS: For the first time in his high school career, Post Falls’ Max McCullough didn’t get the chance to play in front of the best-of-the-best in the state at last week’s state high school basketball tournament in Nampa.
But he more than made up for it on Saturday, scoring 19 points for the Region — 14 coming in the second half.
“It was fun,” McCullough said. “I didn’t get to play against those guys at the state tournament this year, so it was fun to get to come back and play with all the best seniors in the state. It was a good way to end my career; it was a good time.”
McCullough wants to continue his playing career next year. Where, that’s that another story.
“I don’t really know yet,” McCullough said. “I’m going to go and visit some schools, but am just going to play it by ear and hopefully make my decision as soon as possible.”
Schools interested include: North Idaho College, Community Colleges of Spokane, Big Bend, Blue Mountain, both Whitworth and George Fox at the Division III level, and NAIA Great Falls.
He’s not currently receiving interest from any Division I schools.
“I’ve heard from some schools worried about my size,” the 5-foot-11 McCullough said. “That’s what I’ve been battling my entire life playing basketball. I don’t know, I’m just kind of waiting to see what the best opportunity is and if it comes, take it.”
Mason Baker of state 5A champion Highland scored 21 points for the Region. Caleb Symons of Genesis Prep had 15 points and Post Falls’ Zach Hillman had nine points, seven coming in the first half for the Region.
“Playing with Zach again was awesome,” McCullough said. “Getting a chance to wear the same jersey again was pretty cool. With us being good friends, it was exciting to get to do that. Now, I’m just ready for that next step, whatever that is.”
Sandpoint guard Davan Norris hit his first seven 3-point field goals, finishing with a team-high 22 points for the Region.
“Going to play football at Montana Tech,” said Norris, who played quarterback for the state 4A runner-up Bulldogs. “This is my secondary sport. It was a fun game. Definitely going to try and walk on at Montana Tech to the basketball team. It’s awesome to get to play in this game. The experience itself, it’s great. The camaraderie we had after barely knowing each other was really good. Now, it’s all about gaining weight and playing football. Since I was young, that was a dream of mine to play college football. Now that I get to live it out at Montana Tech, it’s awesome.”
Metro 33 24 36 38 — 131
Region 25 20 33 23 — 111
METRO — DeAndre Jones (Borah) 21, Kasey Crossland (Buhl) 16, Justin Wade (Teton) 3, Jake Johnson (Kuna) 3, Brock Rice (Timberline) 25, Lucas Orme (Firth) 4, Talon Pinckney (Centennial) 9, Damen Thacker (Mountain View) 12, Travis Yenor (Ambrose) 15, Connor Burkhart (Firth) 4, Rylan Bergersen (Borah) 20.
REGION — Tommy Miles-Williams (Lapwai) 7, Mason Baker (Highland) 21, Max McCullough (Post Falls) 19, Austin Smellie (Preston) 4, Jakob Lynn (Coeur d’Alene) 3, Jake Bruner (Prairie) 5, Davan Norris (Sandpoint) 22, Carlos Collado (Sandpoint) 6, Zach Hillman (Post Falls) 9, Caleb Symons (Genesis Prep) 14.