By Chris May
Contributing Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Riding an Indiana
All-Star-laden, yet balanced, offensive squad, the North girls beat their South
counterparts, 84-66, in the 18th Annual North-South Indiana All-Star
Classic April 23 at Lawrence North.
The North,
which featured six of the eight Indianapolis
Star Indiana All-Star participants in the event, pushed to a 41-29 lead at
halftime and coasted to the 18-point victory.
The North
got a strong start from its eventual leading scorer, 6â??1â? post Susan
Lester of Pendleton Heights. Combining her rebounding skills
with an accurate jump shot, the Indiana All-Star and future Butler
Bulldog
scored six of her teamâ??s first 11 points in the opening 3:40 of the
game.
As strong
as she started the game (played in the collegiate style of two 20-minute
halves), Lester also finished the first half. In a span of just over two
minutes in the latter portion of the half, Lester added seven more points, including
a 3-point play, to give her 13 at the break.
Hamilton
Southeastern guard Kylie York drained a trio of threes in the first half for
nine points, while Melissa Lechlitner of South Bend St. Josephâ??s and Kokomoâ??s
Audrey McDonald had six each.
The South
got its spark from Purdue-bound guard Fahkara Malone, who had 11 points at the
half. Her team struggled to just 29 points after hitting only nine field goals
in the first 20 minutes, and Malone was not excluded from the shooting woes.
The North then
delivered a knockout punch defensively by allowing only five points in the
first 8:45 of the second half, swelling its lead to 25 points before coasting
to the win.
Lester
would finish with a team-high 19 points for the winners, with three of her
teammates also hitting for double figures. York finished with 16 after hitting for
another trifecta in the second half, Lechlitner had 13, and McDonald added 10.
Among the
other significant contributions from the North were Yorktown
center Andi Winney (eight points) and Chanell Ridley of Ft. Wayne Concordia Lutheran
(seven).
Malone,
one of the two Indiana All-Stars on the South squad, recorded a game-high 23
despite less-than-stellar shooting from the field. She was the only player from
the South to hit double figures.
The teamâ??s
other All-Star, Castleâ??s Maria Olsthoorn, scored five points. Indianapolis
Lutheranâ??s Laura Bugher had seven, while Mooresvilleâ??s Lauren Kenney and Rachel
Ehret of Lawrence North had six each.
Shari Dowd
of Pendleton Heights coached the North to the win, Lawrence Northâ??s Jodi
Whitaker coached the South.
NORTH (84) â??? Lester 19, York 16, Lechlitner 13,
McDonald 10, Winney 8, Ridley 7, Thornton 4, Reed 3, Jones 2, Seiss 2, Becker 0
SOUTH (66) â??? Malone 23, Bugher 7, Ehret 6,
Kenney 6, Olsthoorn 5, Harper 4, Huffman 4, Egenolf 4, Farris 3, Finkton 2,
Lauck 2
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