One last time to shine: Area players to hit the court for Mission Valley All-Star Game
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Mission Valley basketball fans will get one last chance to watch their favorite high school players in action March 22 as SKC hosts the 16th annual Mission Valley All-Star Game.
An event started 16 years ago through the combined effort of area coaches Steve Woll, Lloyd Phillips, Les Rice and Bret Thompson, the event showcases the best players the area has to offer. While the event is open to freshmen through seniors, many coaches use the game as a chance to let their seniors have one last moment of glory.
"It's fun for all the kids who have competed against each other to get one last chance to play together," Ronan head coach and event organizer Steve Woll said. "I enjoy it. They kids and they fans enjoy it. It's kinda one last look at some of the seniors and a last hurrah for them, their parents and their fans."
The Mission Valley All-Star Game features players from nine area schools, including Ronan, Polson, Mission, Charlo, Arlee, Two Eagle River, Big Fork, Plains and Hot Springs. Each season, coaches are asked to nominate the players on their team that they believe deserve to take part in the all-star game. The coaches then get to vote in the players they think should make the team, but are not allowed to vote for their own players.
The event has become so popular over the years that fan support helped keep it going even when the game looked to be in danger of disappearing a few years ago.
"We thought about doing away with it a while back," Woll said, "but the kids, coaches and especially the fans said they wanted to see it keep going."
It's a good thing that the event survived as Woll says it has become an important goal to strive for to many area players.
"To some kids, being named an all-star really mean a lot," he said. "It can mean the world to some of them. I have had kids tell me that it was their goal to be named to the all-star team while in high school."
As for what fans can expect from the game, Woll says that it is always an entertaining show of skill.
"They are always high scoring games, especially the for the boys," he said. "They usually score more than 100. It's all offense and very little defense."
This year's games will be held Tuesday, March 22 with the girls starting at 7 p.m. with the boys following at 8:30. Fans are encouraged to get there early as the parking lot is sure to fill up.
"We usually have a very good turnout," Woll said. "A lot of people in they valley like basketball and it always shows at the all-star game."
