Stark, DeLong will head North
Lindsey Stark will play her first basketball game at her future home Saturday.
The game also is the final one the Coeur d’Alene High senior will play with her best friend, Jenna DeLong.
Stark, a guard, and DeLong, a forward, will be on the North team that plays in the fourth annual Idaho High School All-Star basketball doubleheader at North Idaho College’s Rolly Williams Court. The North-vs.-South games begin with the girls contest at 1 p.m., followed by the boys at 3:30.
It will be a bittersweet time Saturday for Stark.
“It will be our last basketball game together,” the NIC-bound Stark said of her and DeLong, who is headed to Drake University to play softball. “But I’m excited to play with the girls from the North. The South has dominated. I think this year the North really has a chance.”
The South is 3-0 in the games that were the brainchild of North Idaho College athletic director Al Williams. Last year, in the most lopsided game featuring the state’s top seniors, the South hammered the North 103-46.
Joining Stark and DeLong on the team are: Lake City guard Richelle Fenenbock, who was a key player in the Timberwolves’ drive to the 5A state championship; Lakeland guard Natalie Nichols; Kootenai guard/wing Cassie Scheffelmaier; Kellogg guard Steph Cantrall; Post Falls post Sean Topp; Lewiston guard Brittany Devorak; Wallace guard Cara Hayman and forward Lisa Carver; and Moscow wing Lauren Bender. Bonners Ferry guard Becky Lowther was invited, but can’t play because she’s recovering from hip surgery. Coaching the North is Chris Johnson of Post Falls.
Stark and DeLong are in the middle of the softball season, so they’re likely to be a little rusty.
“I went over to the gym with my dad and boyfriend and shot around for about an hour last week,” said Stark, who last played at the District I All-Star game in Mullan. “I’ve been doing a little jogging. It’s tough to get your basketball legs when you haven’t played for a while. But all of us will probably see an equal amount of playing time so it should be fine.”
Stark is familiar with NIC’s gym. She practiced a few times years ago when Greg Crimp was NIC’s head coach. He also coached an AAU team that included Stark.
“I wanted to be at home and I love Coeur d’Alene a lot,” Stark said of her decision to play at NIC. “I’ll be close to my parents and they can go watch me play. And I can still watch my high school team play. It’s just a good fit for me. I’m not ready to go to a four-year school yet.”
Notes
Here’s the North boys roster: Bonners Ferry guard Josh Hawks; Coeur d’Alene guard/wing Nate Bligh; Lake City guard Ty Stoddard; Lakeland forward Bubba Bartlett; Lewiston post Andrew Packwood; Lewiston guard Shane Moser; Moscow guard Shane Miller; Post Falls forward Brandon Haas; Post Falls guard Spencer Pingel; Priest River guard Micah Smith; Sandpoint wing Drake Hanson; and Timberlake guard Cody Jones. Coaching the team is Kent Leiss of Coeur d’Alene.
•The South boys lead the series 2-1. … Three players of the year dot the South roster. They are: Madison wing/guard Matt Hansen, Shelley guard Darryl Simons and West Jefferson guard Blake Skidmore. … The South team also includes 11 All-Idaho (all-state) selections. … Mountain View 7-foot post Scott Thompson is headed to Santa Clara University. … The North and South girls rosters include six All-Idaho players.
•Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students and seniors citizens. … The event will include a 3-point shooting contest with the girls competing against the boys and a slam dunk contest.