LaSharra Riley and Lindsey Keller took the court one last time as opponents in the 26th annual Kansas Basketball Coaches Association’s Girls All-Star Basketball Game last week before resuming their collegiate careers as teammates at Oklahoma State.
Unfortunately for Riley, a former Topeka Washburn Rural post player, Keller’s South squad used some sharp shooting from beyond the arc in the third quarter to pull away for an 88-70 triumph at Washburn University’s Lee Arena in Topeka.
Ironically, Keller, who was named Miss Kansas Basketball in the pre-game ceremony, joined forces with Oklahoma freshman-to-be Joanna McFarland for the win.
“I had played with ‘Jo’ before,” Keller said. “It didn’t really matter who I was playing with or who I was playing against. I was just playing basketball.
“Sure, it was kind of weird. I would tell her (Riley), ‘hey good job.’ We are teammates, so we did have our inside jokes and what not. But, hey, we were playing the game of basketball.”
Teaming up with Keller, a Goddard graduate, and the former Derby stand out McFarland were fellow Division 1-A recruits Wichita Bishop Carroll’s Julia Marshall (Boise State) and Paola’s Taelor Karr (Kansas State), making the South squad a heavy pre-game favorite.
Riley did have some D-I help, but former Manhattan forward Catherine Carmichael (Kansas) will play volleyball in college.
“I absolutely enjoyed getting together with these Kansas girls and playing basketball,” Keller said. “Some of them I had already played with, while others I had played against. There was a ton of talent out there tonight. I just love playing the game.”
The North ignored the role of underdog during first half action and stayed within striking distance, trailing 40-34 at intermission. But once the third quarter began the South went away from its huge size advantage inside and started warming up from beyond the arc.
Abby Fawcett, who helped lead Bishop Carroll to last season’s Class 5A girls championship game against Bishop Miege, ripped the cords on a pair of 3-pointers to open the second half with a momentum swinging spurt for the South.
Fawcett’s Golden Eagle teammate Marshall hit a ‘3’ shortly after to push the South to a 13-point advantage. The lead grew to 64-48 going into the final quarter.
“We were not doing so well,” Keller said of the South’s inability to pull away from the North in the first half. “To be honest, I think we were a little tired. But we got pepped back up in the second half.
“The second half is about who has the most to give. We just went out there and took the game. We did get a little pep talk and the coaches are always there to let you know what you’re doing wrong.”
The South out scored the North 18-6 from beyond the 3-point arc, and by six points from the charity stripe after making 22 of 24 free throws for the game.
McFarland led all scorers with 24 points after knocking down eight field goals and connecting on all eight attempts from the free throw line. Marshall and Fawcett, who finished the game with four 3-pointers, added 16 and 12 points respectively.
Riley led a balanced North squad with 10 points. Kendra Spresser (Hoxie), Whitney Taylor (Ellis) and Carmichael tallied eight points apiece, while Morgan Skomal (Haven), Laura Kinderknecht (St. Mary’s) and Taylor Bird (Lawrence) scored seven points each.
South Boys 111, North 91
Five players scored in double figures as the South boys ran away with a 111-91 win over the North squad in what was thought to be a much closer match-up following the girls game.
The South squad allowed its North counterparts to score the first two points of the contest. Then it was off to the races as the South scored the next 11 points of the quarter.
After chalking up a 30-19 advantage as the opening quarter expired, the South poured in 38 second quarter points to take a 68-41 lead into intermission. The North out scored the South 50-43 in the second half.
Former Wichita Southeast guard Cecil Shaw led the balanced scoring attack with 18 points. Luke Meisch (Andover) and Joe Mitchell (Wichita Southeast) tallied 17 and 16 points, while Adam Bruner (McPherson) and Austin Bahner (Wichita Heights) added 11 and 10 points respectively for the South.
North forward Ben Steinlage (Centralia) led all scorers with 22 points. Mr. Kansas Basketball Jeff Reid (Topeka Hayden) and Canon Fields (Topeka Highland Park) finished in double figures as well by scoring 15 and 13 points respectively.
Alex Bruna (Hanover) and Danny Mundweiler (Olathe East) poured in 11 and 10 points for the North.
