FALLON " Ten hearty girls played 32 minutes of practically non-stop basketball on Tuesday at Fallon's Elmo Dericco Gym in the Fallon Optomist All-Star game.
Because several players decided not to show up, the East team, coached by Carson's Todd Ackerman, arrived with only seven players. The West team, coached by Debbie Hellen of Damonte Ranch, had only three players show up.
So, two of the East players switched sides and the game was on.
When it was over, Hellen's West All-Stars had themselves a 61-57 win over Ackerman's East All-Stars.
"They never gave up," Hellen said of her team. " We have some really awesome seniors who were willing to put everything out there on the court. We told them if they have a three pointer, take it. That was our strategy right away."
It worked as the West built a 26-18 lead after the first quarter. The East cut it to five, 33-28, at halftime and to four, 49-45, after the third quarter but couldn't get any closer. Morgan Thacker of Lowry High led the West with three 3-pointers and 18 points while Jayme King of Fernley tallied 12 points and also drained three 3-pointers.
According to Hellen, her team was shorter but got the better of things on the boards.
"I'd like to say it was the coaching but I think it was better technique," she said. "They'd get inside and box out really well.
"I'd like to say it was the coaching but I think it was better technique. They'd get inside and box out really well."
The East's Brandi Vega of Carson High had the hottest had of anyone, draining six 3-pointers and scoring 28 points. Megan Tabano of Reno High added 14 for the East.