The best of the best in high school basketball put on a show Saturday night during the 2019 Flint Hills Optimist All-Star Classic.
In the girl’s game the Red All-Stars managed to outlast a second-half surge by the blue team to pick up a 66-62 win. The red team got out to an early start in the first half and managed to lead by 17 at the half.
The Blue All-Stars would utilize the make it take it rule to come as close as two points but could never overtake the lead. Abby Oliver of Wabaunsee was named the girl’s MVP leading the Red Team and all other scorers with 22 points.
Oliver says the Blue Team certainly made it a competitive game towards the end.
The girl’s three-point champion was Kirsten Young of Burlington.
In the boy’s game, the Red All-Stars jumped out to a quick lead but could not maintain the momentum as the boys in blue battled back to claim a 101-87 win. Despite trailing throughout the majority of the first half, some key possessions in the final minutes of the first would see the Blue All-Stars tie the game 48-48 at the half.
In the second half, the momentum would completely shift as the Blue All-Stars outscored the Red 57-39 enroute to the win. Bryce Sommer of the Blue All-Stars and Montanna Giffin of the Red All-Stars were named co-MVPs for the game.
Sommer had 14 points while Giffin had 17. Sommer gave all the credit to the play of his teammates.
The boy’s three-point shooting champion was Jace Watkins of Burlington.
Maya Eidman of Chase County and Parker Myers of Mission Valley were the recipients of scholarships awarded by the Flint Hills Optimist Club.
