Experienced Region vs. young Metro
For the first time since 2013, the game featuring the best high school girls basketball players in North Idaho and eastern Washington returns to North Idaho.
The 24th annual Jack Blair Memorial Girls All-Star Basketball Classic is scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Post Falls High School.
The game alternated between Spokane-area and Coeur d’Alene-area sites for the first 21 editions. Two years ago, when it was North Idaho’s turn, organizers couldn’t line up a gym to match the date they wanted to play the game. Last year they tried to plan it for Post Falls High, but opted against it because of construction at the school.
The game pits the Metro (first- and second-team all-Greater Spokane League selections) vs. the Region (players from North Idaho and elsewhere in eastern Washington).
This year’s Region squad features seven North Idaho players — seniors Allison Kirby and Keelie Lawler of Timberlake, juniors Melody Kempton and Bayley Brennan of Post Falls, senior Nina Carlson of Lake City, junior Grace Kirscher of Sandpoint and senior Maryssa Hogamier of Wallace.
The Metro squad is led by Central Valley junior twins Lexie and Lacie Hull, who have verbally committed to Stanford.
“This will be a close game,” said Ron Adams, the game’s promoter and president of the Spokane Stars AAU girls basketball program. “You have older D-I kids playing for the Region team (six seniors, six juniors).”
The Metro team has three seniors, four juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen.
“Tremendous guards,” Adams said of the Region. “This will be a fast-paced game. Melody (Kempton, who has verballed to Gonzaga), she’s as good as there is in either state as a 4/5. She finishes better than anybody on either team. And the two guards from Timberlake (Kirby, who has signed with Idaho, and Lawler, who has signed with Division II Western State Colorado) are the real deal.”
Carlson will join Kirby at Idaho. Hogamier plans to play at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont.
Other college-bound players from the Region: Elle Burland of East Valley (Holy Names Academy), Christine Denny of Liberty (Carroll) and Hailey Higashi of St. George’s (Hawaii Pacific). And Adams said junior guard Jamie Loera of Moses Lake has at least a dozen Division I schools interested in her.
NOTES — Adams stresses that fans interested in getting autographs and/or pictures with the players must do so between 6:30 and 7 p.m. After that, he said, the players won’t be available until after the game ... Admission is $7 for general admission, $5 for senior citizens and students. Also, those wearing Spokane Stars shirts will be admitted free.
REGION — Jamie Loera, jr., Moses Lake; Sianne Swannack, jr., Lakeside (Wash.); Elle Burland, sr., East Valley; Christine Denny, jr., Liberty; Allison Kirby, sr., Timberlake; Hailey Higashi, sr., St. George’s; Keelie Lawler, sr., Timberlake; Bayley Brennan, jr., Post Falls; Nina Carlson, sr., Lake City; Melody Kempton, jr., Post Falls; Grace Kirscher, jr., Sandpoint; Maryssa Hogamier, sr., Wallace. Coaches — Matt Miller, Timberlake; Marc Allert, Post Falls.
METRO — Camryn Skaife, so., Central Valley; Lexie Hull, jr., Central Valley; Mady Simmelink, so., Central Valley; Jaidyn Lyman, sr., Mt. Spokane; Aspny Adams, so., Mt. Spokane; Ellie Boni, fr., University; Olivia Mayer, fr., Gonzaga Prep; Lacie Hull, jr., Central Valley; Hailey Christopher, jr., Central Valley, Quincy McDeid, jr., North Central; Molly McDermitt, sr., Gonzaga Prep; Aaliyah Pauling, sr., Mead; Jacinta Buckley, so., Lewis and Clark. Coach — David Pratt, Mt. Spokane.