All-STARS: Valley players participate in annual event

WASILLA — Call it their encore performance.

Less than a month after leading the Wasilla Warriors to their second-straight 4A girls state titles, three Warriors were back on the floor for one more high school event. Kaylyn Kelly, Catherine Baham and McKenna Dinkel each participated in the 3A/4A girls’ contest during the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches Senior All-Star Games Saturday at the Wasilla Fargo Arena in Anchorage. The trio were among four Warrior girls invited. Another senior Willow Drorbaugh could not play due to injury.

Dinkel was part of a the Gold team that scored a 71-64 win over the Blue. Dinkel, a starter, finished with two points and two assists in the win. Colony’s Claire Steiner also played for the Blue, and finished with three points, four rebounds and two steals.

Baham, Kelly and Houston’s Aspen Ruth all suited up for the Blue. Kelly started and collected two points, two assists and two steals. Baham hit a three-pointer, and finished with five points, five rebounds and two assists. Ruth had two points, five rebounds and two steals.

The Valley featured four players in the 3A/4A boys’ game. Wasilla’s Kobe Brown and Houston’s Ben Bitler helped lead the Blue to a 116-104 win over the Gold. Brown led all Valley players with 16 points. Brown also had five assists and five rebounds. Bitler grabbed 11 rebounds to go along with his three points. Isaac Houck had three points and six rebounds for the Gold. Taylor started and finished with two points and two rebounds.

Susitna Valley was represented by Ellie Beitsch, who played in the 1A/2A girl’s game. Beitsch started and helped the Gold beat the Blue 96-64. Beitsch finished with 13 points and five rebounds.

The night featured four all-star games, with 1A/2A contests and 3A/4A games for both the girls and boys. The group of players who also accepted invitations to the games included six of Alaska’s players of the year for the 2016-17 season. Ninilchik’s Austin White (1A boys), Petersburg’s Stewart Conn (2A boys), East Anchorage’s Moses Miller (4A boys), Scammon Bay’s Kiah Charlie (1A girls), Bristol Bay’s Rylie Lyon (2A girls) and Barrow’s Rose Mongoyak (3A girls) all received AABC Player of the Year honors and will play in the all-star games. There was also 45 players who were named to the AABC all-state teams, and 17 who were named first-team all-state.

Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches Senior All-Star Games

Saturday, Wells Fargo Arena

3A/4A Boys: Blue 116, Gold 104

Blue (116) — Saviers 1 0-0 3, Thomas 6 0-0 15, Brown 7 1-2 16, Brantley 2 0-0 5, Gallahorn 5 0-0 11, Huckabay 10 3-4 25, Smith 1 2-2 4, Trailer 3 3-5 9, Jones 4 0-0 11, Bitler 1 0-0 3, Auble 3 0-0 6, Jenkins 3 0-0 8; Totals: 46 6-10 116.

Gold (104) — Cauging 4 1-2 12, Osborne 2 2-2 7, Fromm 9 2-3 22, Jackman 5 2-2 13, Taylor 1 0-0 2, J. Williams 4 0-2 9, Z. Williams 3 0-0 6, Miller 2 3-4 8, Bioff 3 1-4 8, Parker 6 0-2 14, Houck 1 0-0 3; Totals: 40 11-21 104.

3A/4A Girls: Gold 71, Blue 64

Blue (64) — Garner 2 2-2 7, Dela Cruz 4 5-6 15, Reitan 2 0-0 5, Laker 2 0-0 4, Ruth 1 0-0 2, Kelly 1 0-2 2, Baham 2 0-0 5, Burgess 0 2-2- 2, Kidder 8 2-4 19, Majdukovich 1 0-0 6; Totals: 23 11-16 64.

Gold (71) — Pinckney 3 1-2 9, Amaktoolik 1 0-0 2, Kornstad 1 1-2 3, Shamburger 3 0-0 6, Vollertson 0 1-2 1, Hawley 1 0-0 2, Dinkel 1 0-0 2, Steiner 1 1-3 3, Dibert 7 0-0 14, Voliva 8 1-2 17, Mongoyak 2 0-0 6, Uhila 2 2-2 6; Totals: 30 7-13 71.