Schoening caps HS career at annual Blair AAU Classic
—Photo by JAKE PARRISH/Press Metro’s Jordan Smith is closely defended by Region’s Kelly Horning of Coeur d’Alene, left, and Madi Schoening of Sandpoint on Wednesday at the Jack Blair AAU All-Star Girls Classic game at University High School.
SPOKANE VALLEY — Central Valley sophomore Lexie Hall scored a game-high 22 points, 14 coming in the first half as the Metro All-Stars, made up of players from the Greater Spokane League, beat the Region, made up of North Idaho players, 81-72 in the 23rd annual Jack Blair Memorial AAU Girls Basketball Classic on Wednesday night at University High.
Sandpoint senior Madi Schoening capped a brilliant high school career with four points and her usual strong defense, and will now take her talents to the University of Montana.
It is the 13th win for the Metro team since 2001.
Melody Kempton of Post Falls finished with 12 points for the Region, which was led by Jessie Loera of Moses Lake with 18. Loera, who was named Most Inspirational Player following the game, has signed to play with Gonzaga.
Kempton, who won the 5A title in the triple jump and high jump at the recent state track and field meet, admitted she hadn’t played much basketball in recent weeks. She probably wasn’t alone, as many of the participants play another spring sport.
The Metro jumped out to a 12-0 lead and built a 35-14 lead on a 3-pointer by Riley Lupfer of Lewis and Clark with five minutes remaining in the first half.
The Region (Idaho and smaller Washington schools) closed the first half on a 15-6 run to make it 41-29 at halftime
Jamie Loera of Moses Lake finished with 12 points — nine in the second half — for the Region, which pulled as close as nine late in the game.
Lupfer, who has signed with Boise State, finished with 14 points.
Region 29 43 — 72
Metro 41 40 — 81
METRO — Tayler Drynan (Gonzaga Prep) 0, Lexie Hull (Central Valley) 22, Payton Douglass (Mead) 6, Jaidyn Lyman (Mt. Spokane) 2, Jordan Smith (Mt. Spokane) 7, Riley Lupfer (Lewis and Clark) 14, Brooke Bailey (University) 4, Lacie Hull (Central Valley) 0, Hailey Christopher (Central Valley) DNP, injury, Kaiti Pannell (University) 3, Taylor Cunningham (Lewis and Clark) 9, Aaliyah Pauling (Mead) 14, Megan Dean (North Central), DNP, injury.
REGION — Jamie Loera (Moses Lake) 11, Jessie Loera (Moses Lake) 18, Madi Schoening (Sandpoint) 4, Shaye Swannack (Lakeside) 0, Allison Kirby (Timberlake) 6, Hailey Higashi (Saint George’s), DNP, injury, Keelie Lawler (Timberlake) 4, Sienna Swannack (Lakeside) 2, Nina Carlson (Lake City) 4, Melody Kempton (Post Falls) 12, Kelly Horning (Coeur d’Alene) 8, Hannah Burland (East Valley) 8, Lauren Rewers (Lake City) 1.