Jones, Kingma pace South girls
Published 10:54 pm Wednesday, March 19, 2008
MILL CREEK — It was just like old times for Eryn Jones and Kristi Kingma.
Back when she was an eighth-grader, Jones played on a select basketball team with several future high school foes, including Kingma.
On Wednesday Jones, a Meadowdale High School senior, and Kingma, a Jackson High senior, teamed up again. The star guards combined to score 29 points for the South squad in its 57-55 victory over the North team in the 2008 Wesco Senior High School Girls All-Star Game.
Jones, who scored eight of her 14 points during a key third-quarter spurt, was named the game’s most valuable player. The Portland State University-bound standout said it was a thrill to play in the new all-star event, which also included a boys game. It was all organized by Meadowdale girls basketball coach Dan Taylor.
“I can see this becoming a tradition for years to come. It’s fun. It’s exciting,” Jones said. “It’s a good chance for everyone to play for a last time and go out in a good way.”
The South took a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter when Alli Streit of Meadowdale made a 3-point basket from the left corner. But the North, fueled by Allison Burns’ seven points, went on a 15-4 scoring run and cut the deficit to 55-53.
Kingma, a University of Washington recruit, stole a pass and sped to the other end for a layin, giving the South a four-point cushion with 1 minute, 55 seconds to go.
The North never got closer than two points. Mietra Smollack of Oak Harbor missed an off-balance, potential game-tying shot on the final play.
The competitive clash was a great opportunity for every player, South head coach Randy Edens said: “They get to wrap up their careers with a pretty special event.”
It was an unusual experience for Edens. He’s the head coach at Lake Stevens, but for the all-star game coaches guided players from opposite divisions. So Edens coached against five Lake Stevens girls who played for the North squad.
Three of them — Brittany Tri, Karri Gallagher and Mary Ochiltree — combined to score 26 points for the North. Tri led her team with 12 points, including eight in the first half.
Fighting the nagging urge to coach his Lake Stevens players, Edens had the enviable honor of leading a team that featured Jones and Kingma.
“They’re pretty amazing talents,” said Edens.
Taylor, who helped coach the North squad, said he hopes the all-star games become an annual tradition.
Said Taylor, “It’s a good opportunity for kids who don’t get to play in those all-state games to play with people they (compete) against all year.”
At Jackson H.S.
North1515817—55
South1618149—57
North: Ochiltree 6, Tri 12, Burns 11, Smollack 6, Gallagher 8, Scott, Masters 7, Tate 2, Personius, Thiel 3, Peterson. South: Bruns 6, Kingma 15, Jones 14, Riordan 4, Church 2, Lauber 2, Keller, Streit 4, Collins 6, Fritz 3. 3-point goals-Burns 1, Masters 1, Kingma 1, Jones 2, Streit 1, Collins 2, Fritz 1.
Boys game
North 100, South 84: At Mill Creek, Rodrick Rumble of Oak Harbor scored 19 points and Jason Waltman of Monroe scored 17 to lead the North to a decisive victory in the 2008 Wesco Senior High School Boys All-Star Game. Waltman helped the North pull away in the second half and was named most valuable player.
“Playing with the top players in our district — it’s definitely an honor,” Waltman said.
Marysville-Pilchuck’s Taylor Stevens scored 15 points for the North. The South’s top scorer was Meadowdale’s Paul Werner (15 points).
At Jackson H.S.
North17232832—100
South14241927—84
North: Rumble 19, Wright 5, Low 11, Scarth 11, McCardle 6, Carter, Wilde 6, Waltman 17, Stevens 15, MacIntyre 10. South: Dillon 12, Este-McDonald 2, Chhann 2, Beatty 7, Conti 11, Gorman 10, Werner 15, Golike 11, Kunduklija 8, Donaldson 6. 3-point goals-Low 1, Scarth 1, McCardle 2, Wilde 1, Waltman 1, Stevens 1, Dillon 4, Beatty 1, Conti 1, Werner 3, Golike 2, Donaldson 2.
