They're here, now let's play basketball

While some of the brightest stars might not be on the floor a little later today at North Idaho College during the 14th annual Idaho Statewide All-Star Basketball Games, it could be a blessing in disguise.

Maybe for the players on the court.

And also for those putting the game on in the long run.

WHEN ROSTERS were announced for the game and players had committed to play in the game, a few of the top athletes in the state were unable to play due to scheduling conflicts surrounding spring break.

In fact, seven players — some going to play at the Division I level — had committed to play in the game before having to back out two weeks ago due to travel plans.

Among those were Mandy Simpson of Boise, who has committed to play at Oklahoma, 5A Player of the Year Tori Williams of Centennial High in Boise, who signed with Utah and Lauren Brocke of Centennial, who has signed with Wichita State.

“Some of the players didn’t realize the game was moved back,” said NIC athletic director and event organizer Al Williams. “We tried to put the rosters out in plenty of time, but the kids didn’t realize what weekend it was on until they’d already committed.”

Traditionally, the games have been played the second Saturday in March — the weekend after the state boys basketball tournament — but NIC pushed the event back due to the Cardinals joining the Northwest Athletic Conference in men’s basketball and women’s basketball for the 2016-17 season. The conference held its championship tournament the past two weekends in Everett.

“Next year, it won’t be as big of a deal,” Williams said of playing the all-star games later in the month. “We’ll still have it at the same time and plan accordingly. Now that they know, it shouldn’t be a problem in the future.”

As a result, and since they didn’t want them to miss the game, Jacquelyn Mallet of Timberlake and Lillian Rhea of Lakeside, who originally were listed as alternates on the Region team, will play on the Metro team, which is comprised of players from around the Treasure Valley.

“The roster had been set for the Region for a while,” said Williams, whose committee placed Leah Doughtery of Madison, Amanda Rudd of Sugar-Salem and Jenna Abbott of Teton on the Region roster. “We just wanted to fill spots instead of having them not play. We just wanted to have them in the game.”

The lone player unable to play from the Region girls team is Lake City’s Lauren Rewers, who is on an official visit to Hawaii, according to Williams. Rewers has signed to play at Hawaii next season.

NOW ABOUT that blessing.

Thanks to the Cardinals having their conference tournaments a little later in the season, both the men’s and women’s coaching staffs at NIC have been able to help with the planning and arraignments for players coming to town.

“Our coaches, usually they’re at nationals when the game is played, but have been able to help with alternates and keeping the rosters fairly split,” Williams said. “It’s been good to have them here to help coordinate the game. For different reasons in the past, we’ve had to get different support from the staff to call that they’d been selected. This year, the coaches have called and it has more of a personal touch. For the recruiting side of things, it’s been better this way.”

The format was switched from North vs. South to Region vs. Metro last year, with the Region girls and Metro boys getting wins.

“It’s always fun to see the players come in with their letterman jackets on and go through practice on Friday afternoon,” Williams said. “When you see those kids from Fruitland, Sugar-Salem and Dietrich, you wonder if they can be competitive with those bigger 5A schools. I watched the kid from (1A Division II state champion) Genesis Prep (Stephane Manzi) and really think he can play at the level we’re at right now. I’m always surprised to see that they can compete and get to see what they’ve done. And for us, we do get excited when you see the players, but also that pride from the parents and grandparents. You’d kind of like to think we do this for those parents and grandparents to get to see them play one last time at this level.”

Something they’ll continue to do, no matter who’s showing up.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JEPressSports.