Blackfoot Morning News - Area stars shine at district game

By MARK HIGH
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IDAHO FALLS — Sixth district senior All-Stars took to the Idaho Falls High School basketball court for one last hurrah on Wednesday evening as 40 of the areas brightest stars laced them up for one last tussle on the hard wood.
As with most all-star games, the game itself featured it’s fare share of questionable shots, brilliant highlights and little defense but at the end of the night, new friendships had been formed and a lasting memory was etched into the fabric of all those in attendance.
In the girls game Shelley team mates, Sheryl Bitter and Katie Kelley helped lead the last squad to a 89-70 victory as the duo teamed up with their long time rivals, Sophia Hepworth and Jocelyn Ostermiller of Sugar-Salem. “We’ve always kind of wondered what it would be like to play together and it was nice to play with each other instead of against each other for once.” Sheryl Bitter said. “It was a one last time sort of thing and it was nice to play a nice relaxed game with out the pressure of trying to win a game for once.”
Back court running mate Katie Kelley concurred with Bitter as she played the entire game with a smile warm enough to warm the frigid temperatures outside the gymnasium doors.
“I had know idea that I was going to be on the team.” Kelley said. “I really didn’t expect to be here playing but I had a lot of fun, being here, playing with all the girls, it was fun.”
At the half, the sixth district referees presented a girl from each of the classifications with the 2010 sportsmanship award and a scholarship to a school of their choice. In the 4A/5A division, Blackfoot guard Olivia Yancey was the lucky recipient a selection that caught her off guard.
“I thought that they give the scholarship awards at state not here so I didn’t know anything about this tonight.” Gardner said. “Oh, man. It was awesome. It was good to get to know the girls that you’ve been playing against. It was good to get to know the other girls personalities. It was a lot of fun.”
Firth center Micahlyn Jolley was equally impressed with the nights festivities as the four year varsity player for the Lady Cougars mixed it up with the districts best.
“I was excited and honored to be able to come and play with all these girls.” Jolley said. “It was kind of intimidating at first, thinking oh they are 4A and 5A but after a couple of minutes playing with them you realize that they are just a bunch of girls like me.”
In the boys game the Firth tandem of Wyatt Jolley and Kriff Jensen placed the finishing touches on a magical year as the state champs helped lead the South squad to a 102-89 victory over their brothers to the North.
Jensen lit it up in the first five minutes of the game as the talented guard scored 7 of his 18 points in the opening salvo.
“This just gives you confidence that hey, I can play with these guys.” Jensen said. “I just tried to go out and have fun and I had a blast. When I was a little kid I used to play with Jordan Johnson so it was good to get to play with him again.”
With Johnson running the point with the first unit on the floor, Wyatt Jolley was left to handle the point guard responsibilities with the second wave of South players and Jolley impressed all in attendance with his smooth ball handling and deft touch from long range.
“I was surprised, I didn’t even know about it until Kriff told me I about the game last night or this morning some time.” Jolley said. “I was happy, I always wanted to play in this game and I thought that it might be like come in and everybody would be like it’s mine, it’s mine but that wasn’t like that at all. We all became friends and just tried to help out each other.”
On the North squad, Shelley’s LaKoda Stommel and Blackfoot’s Zach Packer took to the court and both players proved that they more than belonged on the all star rosters.
“This was just fabulous. Coming out and having the opportunity to play with a bunch of great basketball players is just awesome.” Stommel said. “It was fun joking around with them and it was a lot of fun.”
Packer echoed his team mates sentiments.
“It was a lot of fun playing with a bunch of guys of this caliber.” Packer said. “It was different, not a lot of defense played and that is what I do. I’m a defensive player but it was nice to have one last game after how the season ended and have one last shot at playing a high school basketball game.”
Indeed Packer made the most of his opportunity, scoring 13-points to end an other wise tough year for the three year varsity Bronco.
“It’s nice to get to know the other players from the different teams and get to know their personalities and be friends with them.” Packer added. “I think I learned some more important lessons than basketball this year.”

Girls game
East 31 15 23 20 - 89
West 15 14 15 26 - 70

East-Sheyenne Dupree 4, Chari Hawkins 8, Sofia Hepworth 17, Brin Neff 5, Katie Kelley 5, Sheryl Bitter 11, Lacie Widerburg 23, Jocelyn Ostermiller 4, Liz Robinson 6, Brooke Brower 6
West-Kylee Searle 8, Aubrey Nelson 9, Katie Harker 7, Grace Hansen 10, Micahlyn Jolley 9, Jesika Haralson 3, Olivia Gardner 4,, Tanae Smuin 3, Mailie Garner 17

Boys game
North 19 16 25 27 - 87
South 31 17 34 20 - 102

North-Jason Struhs 13, LaKoda Stommel 6, Damon Johnson 3, Jose Abreo 5, Josh Fuller 21, Trey Infanger 9, Zach Packer 13, Parker Anderson 2, Caleb Brown 14
South-Brantley Brooks 3, Jarin Hull 12, Wyatt Jolley 7, Kade Olson 21, Jordan Johnson 5, Luke Erwin 9, Kriff Jensen 18, Kole Krosch 13, Bryten Farley 5, Todd Hess 9

Last Updated ( Monday, 15 March 2010 )