Mission Mountain All Stars shine on the Mission Valley one last time

By B.L. Azure

Lady Bulldog Kim Christensen scoots by Charlo's Samijo Kain en-route to the Land of Plenty Points at the girls' game at the Mission Mountain All-Star Classic. (B.L. Azure photo)

ST. IGNATIUS - The folks at the Dog House rolled out the blue carpet for area Mission Mountain All-Star players and their fans Thursday. The always-fun event gave the fans one last opportunity to see the players strut their stuff before they put a period on the end of the 2007-2008 basketball season.

The evening started out with the girls' game and closed out with the boys' game. Charlo boys basketball coach Jared Miller coached the girls MMAS Blue and Mission Bulldogs coach - and recent father of twins (boy and girl) - Steve Woll coached the MMAS White girls. Charlo Lady Vikings coach Bret Thompson coached the MMAS Blue boys' team and Arlee Scarlets coach Tim Morin coached the MMAS White boys' team.

Scarlet on Scarlet. Arlee Scarlet Jordan Pfau looks for an open teammate as fellow Scarlet Chelsea Allaire puts the D down. Samijo Kain (11) and Matea DePoe of Hot Springs are waiting in the wings to help. (B.L. Azure photo)

In the girls' competition the White team with tenacious defense and an on-target offensive attack surged out to a big lead early and were able to maintain it throughout the first half. With Hattie Bowen of Bigfork, Ishan Wylie of Ronan, Samijo Kain of Charlo and Matea DePoe of Hot Springs leading the offensive charge the White team led by 23 points (53-30) at the half.

The White team extended their lead to 30 points early in the second half but then the Blue team clamped down its defense and began to put the ball through the hoop. The Blue team managed to cut the lead to five in the second half but couldn't get any closer before falling by six points (82-76).

The MMAS White was led by Hattie Bowen with 18 points; Ishan Wylie canned 12, Samijo Kain had 11 and Matea DePoe had 10 points.

Jordan Pfau of Arlee led the MMAS Blue with 12 points; Shianne Montgomery of Charlo and Kaylee Larson of Ronan had 9 each, and Kim Christensen of Mission and Alyssa Fierro of Bigfork each had eight.

Two Eagle's Arley Grandchamp attempts to put the Grandchamp clamp on Drew Flagen of Hot Springs during the Mission Mountain All-Star Classic Thursday at the Mission Dog House. (B.L. Azure photo)

The boys got off to a sluggish start with both teams in single digit scoring more than nine minutes into the game. The pace picked up a tad after that as players from both teams found their shooting touch. The game went nip and tuck with the MMAS White up by a deuce (31-29) at the half.

Then the Blue with Mission's Mr. Bulldog Dallas Cordier leading the charge with a cluster of four 3-bombs put the Blue up for good midway through the second half. The Blue with Cordier, Bigfork's Roland Benedict, Arlee Warrior Cubby Pierre and Hot Springs' Nick Pavelich getting downright offensive soon surged out to a double digit lead and were never in danger after that.

Luke, I'm you're defender. Arlee Warrior Cubby Pierre applies some D against Mission Bulldog Lucas McDonald at the boys' game of the Mission Mountain All-Star Classic. (B.L. Azure photo)

Cubby Pierre led the Blue with 18 points; Nick Pavelich and Dallas Cordier each had 15 points and Roland Benedict had 13.

Two Eagle's Matt Hewankorn led the MMAS White with 18 points; Drew Flagen of Hot Springs had 13 and Levi Dockstader of Bigfork had 11 points.