Region figures to give Metro a battle again

The Metro boasts the starting five from the powerhouse Central Valley squad, but the Region has won three of the last five games in the annual Jack Blair Memorial Girls All-Star Basketball Classic.

The 25th edition, featuring the top high school girls basketball players from North Idaho and eastern Washington, is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Central Valley High in Spokane Valley.

The silver anniversary game returns to CV, in part to honor the current Bears squad, which capped an undefeated season by winning a four-team national tournament in New York. CV was also the site of the first Jack Blair game in 1994, albeit in the old gym.

The Metro team consists of all-Greater Spokane League selections. The Region squad consists of players from North Idaho and elsewhere in eastern Washington.

The Region won last year’s game 84-73 at Post Falls High, as Gonzaga-bound Trojan star Melody Kempton earned MVP honors and Sandpoint’s Grace Kirscher, who has signed with Eastern Washington, scored a team-high 14 points.

Kempton and Kirscher are back on this year’s Region team, as is Post Falls point guard Bayley Brennan, who is headed to NCAA Division II Seattle Pacific.

Post Falls sophomore Tyler McCliment-Call, Lake City senior Keara Simpson, who will play at North Idaho College next year; and Genesis Prep junior Bella Murekatete are the other locals on the Region squad.

“I tell you what — that roster for the Region team is strong,” said Ron Adams, founder of the all-star game and director of the Spokane Stars.

Adams said McCliment-Call and Maisie Burnham, a sophomore from Liberty High in Spangle, are potential Division I players. McCliment-Call came up big down the stretch as Post Falls won its first state title since 2013.

Adams, who coaches McCliment-Call on the Spokane Stars, says he’s heard from schools in the Pac-12, West Coast Conference and Big Sky interested in her.

“Her skill level developed,” Adams said of McCliment-Call. “Her scoring, rebounding, quickness and speed got better. And she played with way more confidence this year.”

Another one drawing recruiting interest, Adams said, is the 6-4 Murekatete.

“She’s a force to be reckoned with in the middle, because she’s so athletic,” Adams said.

The Metro is led by the Hull twins, Lacie and Lexie, who have both signed with Stanford, and CV teammate Hailey Christopher, who has signed with Idaho. The other two CV starters in the game are junior guards Mady Simmelink and Camryn Skaife.

Adams said this will be his last year organizing the all-star game, but is optimistic he’ll be able to find someone else to run the game.

“The game will continue; I’ve got a year to work on it,” Adams said.

REGION — Hailey Marlow, 5-6, so., West Valley; Jayda Noble (injured), 5-11, so., Medical Lake; Maisie Burnham, 6-0, so., Liberty; Bayley Brennan, 5-8, sr., Post Falls; Grace Kirscher, 6-0, sr., Sandpoint; Sianna Swannack, 5-10, sr., Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls); Tyler McCliment-Call, 5-11, so., Post Falls; Genesis Wilkinson, 6-0, jr., East Valley; Melody Kempton, 6-0, sr., Post Falls; Bella Murekatete, 6-4, jr., Genesis Prep; Keara Simpson, 6-0, sr., Lake City. Coach: Marc Allert, Post Falls.

METRO — Ellie Boni, 5-10 so., University; Lexie Hull, 6-2, sr., Central Valley; Aspyn Adams, 5-8, jr., Mt. Spokane; Camryn Skaife, 5-5, jr., Central Valley; Claire Dingus, 5-11, sr., University; Mia Scelfo, 5-7, sr., Gonzaga Prep; Mady Simmelink, 5-6, jr., Central Valley; Lacie Hull, 6-2, sr., Central Valley; Hailey Christopher, 6-0, sr., Central Valley; Jacinta Buckley, 6-0, jr., Lewis and Clark; Dominique Arquette, 5-9, jr., Lewis and Clark; Quincy McDeid, 5-10, jr., North Central; Kinsley Barrington, 6-1, so., University. Coaches: Gabe Medrano, Lewis and Clark; Freddie Rehkow, Central Valley.