With a nearly 20% surge in attendance in Indianapolis and a clean sweep of the girls’ and boys’ doubleheaders in June, the 2007 Indiana All-Stars left little to be desired.
Mr. Basketball Eric Gordon, with 32 points, paced the boys’ win in Bowling Green, KY, 92-79 the first weekend. Shortly before, the Hoosier girls, with six players in double figures, stopped Kentucky, 104-80.
“What can I say,: girls coach Larry Pringle said after the game. “They went out and got the job done tonight. I thought our guard play was awesome. My hat’s off to those kids for the way they handled the press.”
Sydney Smallbone led Indiana with 23 points. Corrie West followed with 15 and then came Miss Basketball Ta’Shia Phillips with 13 points and eight rebounds, Becca Brusezwski and Brittany Bowen with 12 each and Sha’la Jackson with 11.
Etwaun Moore backed up Gordon with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Five other players had six or more as Indiana took a 47-33 halftime lead in the boys’ game and then coasted to victory for Coach Mike Miller.
Sha’la and Etwaun also shared the prestigious John Wooden/MCL ALL-Star Citizenship Award presented to a player on each Indiana team at halftime of their respective games. The 11 candidates were nominated by their schools. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges from the Indianapolis-based interstate restaurant company. Each player received a gift certificate and each school’s athletic department received a check for $500.
The game scripts were virtually duplicated a week later before over 7,424 in Conseco Fieldhouse, with one exception.
Kentucky’s girls jumped out to a 44-34 intermission lead. Phillips played only the first 3:40 of the first half after picking up a second foul. “In the second half, she showed why she’s Miss Basketball,” enthused Pringle. “She’s awesome, strong and she’s got heart. When we needed her, she was there.” In the final half she scored 12 points, had 10 rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Seven players had five or more points in the 90-72 win. Bruszewski, named the game’s MVP, had 14 plus nine rebounds and three assists, Smallbone had 13 while Jassmine Ussery tossed in 11.
The boys also manhandled Kentucky, 104-87, taking a 44-31 halftime lead. Reporters after the game raised the question “Just how good was Indiana’s 2007 boys’ team?” Miller had an answer. He’s watched this group since they played with his son, Kyle, in elementary school.
“I think these guys (the ’07 team) would agree with me. We’d be happy to keep this group together and play any and all takers,” Miller said, evoking the 2006 All-Stars led by now pros Greg Oden and Mike Conley for comparison. “ If Oden wants to come back with Conley and get last year’s team together, we’ll take ‘em on. It’d be a great game. I don’t know if we’d get them or not, but we’d play them….”
Scott Martin was named the game’s MVP. He had 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes. Gordon had 20 points, Matt Howard had 12 and nine rebounds. Ben Botts and Nate Blank each scored 11 points.
