North holds on to beat South at All-Star Classic

MOSES LAKE - All Star games tend to have little defense and a blase attitude.

Last night at Big Bend Community College it was the complete opposite at the school's women's basketball All-Star Classic at the Peter DeVries Activity Center.

The North, leading by 12 at halftime, saw the South make a late run and watched as a potential tying three-pointer missed the mark as time ran out to hold on for a 73-70 win

Both teams were mostly comprised of senior high school athletes from the Columbia Basin and some from nearby.

"I was pleased to see the high quality of basketball these girls exhibited tonight," Big Bend women's basketball coach Preston Wilks said. "It really was a fun game to watch.  I felt this game distinguished itself from previous years by the level of intensity from both squads.  You could tell these ladies wanted to win tonight, and that the recognition of playing in an all-star was fine and dandy, but bottom line, both teams came to win tonight.  We hope to see a couple of these young ladies playing for us next year."

Leading the North's attack was Moses Lake High School senior Kayla Bernsen who scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds. The Western Washington-bound Bernsen was aided by Almira/Coulee-Hartline's Nikki Osborne who finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, and four steals while being named MVP of her team.

Lacey Hirst of Odessa-Harrington went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, while ACH's Sarah Gloyn added two treys herself.

Gloyn also won the three-point Moneyball contest.

Quincy's Desiree Durfee led the South with 20 points, while Chiawana's Shelby Ellsworth finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and three steals, to be named the team's MVP.

It was Ellsworth's steal late in the game that set up their last shot opportunity.

Warden High School's Lindsay Cole was the South's Moneyball finalist where she fell to Gloyn.