High school girls basketball: North nabs narrow victory in 5A All-Star matchup

SALT LAKE CITY — Brighton's Kylie Hirschi came out of the blocks fast, scoring the first six points of the game to stake the 5A North All-Stars to an early lead on their way to an 88-83 victory in the Utah Women's Basketball Coaches Association all-star games staged Saturday at Highland High School.

Hirschi led all scorers with 22 points, and Syracuse's Jennifer Hazlett had 15 in the 5A North team's win.

It was a classic all-star game in that there wasn't too much teamwork or defense, but it was a great showcase for individual skills.

North coach Rob Reisbeck said that was the game plan all along.

"We said at the first that we were just going to run and gun, and we got out and pushed the ball," he said.

Reisbeck's regular job is coaching the Syracuse High girls basketball team. His star player, Hazlett, knocked down all 15 of her points in the first half and may have ended up as the game's leading scorer, but she left at halftime for another engagement.

Meanwhile, Hirschi didn't let up. "We really got up and down. Our team ran the floor pretty good," she said.

In scoring those first six points, Hirschi alternately used both her left and right hands. Asked if she was ambidextrous, she said, "I can go with my left, but I'm stronger with my right."

By the end of the first quarter, the North had settled into a 27-23 lead. Shortly after the beginning of the second quarter, the South's Amy Krommenhock launched a 3-pointer that pulled them to within one point at 29-28, but the South could never get over the hump and take the lead in the first half.

It was a game of runs as the North jumped out to a 40-29 lead, only to see the South tie it at the half at 46 apiece.

At the beginning of the second half, the South momentarily took the lead 49-47, but it was short-lived as the North went on a 14-0 run to lead 61-49.

The South still had a couple of runs left in them but never got closer again than five points.

Bingham's Nicole Newbold put up 18 points and Mariah Duran of Murray hit five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points to lead the South All-Stars.

4A ALL-STARS 99, 3A ALL-STARS 93:Nancy Warner of Springville coached the 4A team and said the 3A stars were on fire to start the game, jumping out to a 10-2 lead.

"But our defense got us back in the game," Warner said.

Amy Andrus of Sky View led the 4A squad with 22 points. Morgan Bailey of Timpanogas added 16.

Judge Memorial's tandem of Erica Martinez and Mikelle Mancini had 24 and 19 points, respectively, for the 3A stars.

2A ALL-STARS 65, 1A ALL-STARS 63: The 1A team had a chance at the buzzer to tie the game, but the shot rolled in and back out again.

The 2A All-Stars were led by Caitlin Hatch of South Summit with 14 points and McKinzie Robins of North Sevier with 13. Jessica Madsen from Duchesne hit 14 points for the 1A team and Andrea Mayer of Milford added 10.

Vicki Bohney, President of the UWBCA, organized the tournament and said officials for all three games donated their time to come and officiate.

e-mail: wjewkes@desnews.com