Salte, Trautman named MVPs in all-star showdown
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 6:35 AM PDT
By Rick McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleKelso's Sadie Salte and Matt Trautman of Mark Morris took their respective games to the next level to earn Most Valuable Player honors in the ninth annual Lower Columbia High School All-Star Basketball Games at Lower Columbia College on Tuesday.
Salte was an efficient 7-of-11 shooting, which included hitting 2-of-4 3-pointers for a game-high 16 points while leading the White team to a 74-54 victory over the Red in the girls game.
Trautman notched a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds as the Red rolled to a 105-85 victory over the White in the boys matchup.
GIRLS: White 74, Red 54
The White team bolted to a 23-8 lead midway through the first half, highlighted by 3-pointers from Salte, Wahkiakum's Courtney Helms and Brittany Welch of R.A. Long. The Red cut its deficit to 23-13 moments later after a putback by Naselle's Sylvia Herrold and a 3-ball from Woodland's Ashley Hughes, but a 9-0 run that included two fast-break layups from Salte pushed the White to a 37-18 halftime lead.
"I feel I play better when I play with better people," Salte said. "I've been lucky I've played with good players my entire career, and I wanted to get out on the floor and see what I could do along with everyone else."
Salte also grabbed eight rebounds, dished an assist and blocked a shot in 26 minutes.
"I didn't end my season really well last week at state, so I wanted to come out here and be ready to play," she said. "I couldn't find my rhythm at state, but I was able to find it here. I like the court and playing here, so I plan on becoming a Lady Devil at LCC."
The White team needed about five minutes in the second half to get its offense in gear. A 14-4 run, which included three putback layups from Jennifer Hamilton of Mark Morris and consecutive steal-and-layup conversions from Helms, pushed the White to a 56-27 lead with 8:55 left.
The Red finally found its stride moments later for a 16-6 run that included back-to-back 3-balls from Toutle Lake's Janae Wall and Hughes, but the Whites were on cruise control as they coasted to victory.
Three other White players scored in double digits. Hamilton finished with 12 points, Helms 11 and five rebounds, and Kelso's Jill Karnofski added 10 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Clatskanie's Nikki Green and Ilwaco's Lanie Kary grabbed eight rebounds apiece, with MM's Kelsey Urling and RAL's Brittany Welch snagging seven apiece. Kary also dished three assists and made three steals.
Hughes led the Red with 16 points, with Naselle's Herrold adding 14 points and six rebounds. Woodland's "Twin Towers" of Cassie Koering and Natalie Smith grabbed 11 and seven rebounds, respectively, and TL's Denali Preston dished eight assists.
BOYS: Red 105, White 85
For the first 15 minutes, it appeared the White team - coached by LCC baseball pitching coach Rob Hippi - was on its way to a blowout victory with a 33-22 lead.
But Red coach and former LCC standout Ryan Chinchen had other ideas. Chinchen rotated in his reserves, who responded with 23 unanswered points and coasted to a 47-35 halftime lead.
TL's Brandon Bartlett and MM's Jyles Petersen led the Red explosion, with Bartlett knocking down three 3-pointers and Petersen chipping in a trey, a layup and three free throws.
Bartlett scored 18 to share high-scoring honors with Trautman, and Petersen finished with 17.
Trautman was also instrumental in the Red offense in the first half, scoring 10 of his 18 with 5-of-7 shooting during the initial 20 minutes. His offensive performance for the game more than doubled his 8-point average during his senior campaign at MM.
"They say that all-star games are about showcasing your talents, so I tried to go out there and show what I have," Trautman said. "I stepped it up from the regular season, took a few more shots and had some fun. I don't know why I tried harder, but there were a lot of good players on my team and it made me feel better."
The 6-foot-7 Trautman isn't sure of his college destination, but LCC is an option.
"I've also been contacted by the Evergreen State College, and the University of Hawaii has asked me to send some video," he said. "I'd like to play college basketball somewhere."
The White team maintained its 12-point deficit five minutes into the second half following a jumper from TL's Brandon Hoff, but was unable to get any closer. The Red went on a 12-5 run that included three buckets from RAL's Matt Ellis and two from Kelso's Nathan Downs to stretch the lead to 74-55 midway through the period.
Both teams combined to hoist 207 shots, with the Red making 46-of-108 and the White hitting 37-of-89.
Six players, including Trautman, Bartlett and Petersen, scored in double digits for the Red. RAL's Tanner Bradley scored 12 points and dished four assists,. Downs added 11 points and seven rebounds, and Ellis had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Ilwaco's Matt Kaino pulled 10 caroms and Wahkiakum's Josh Rongey snagged seven. Petersen had five assists.
Five White players also scored in double digits. MM's Jeray Key had 17 points, Kelso's Colin Kelly 13, Ilwaco's Ryan Blake had 11, and Rainier's Hazze Walker and Kelso's Garrett DeGraaff added 10 apiece.
Kelly also grabbed 10 rebounds, Hoff had eight, and DeGraaff and Blake snagged seven apiece. Walker, DeGraaff and MM's Justin Waldher handed out four assists apiece.
GIRLS: White 74, Red 54
RED (54) - Ashley Hughes 16, Denali Preston 7, Cassie Koering 6, Janae Wall 3, Natalie Smith 0, Sylvia Herrold 14, Brittany Wright 4, Brandi Keightley 4, Chelsey Nehring 0.
WHITE (74) - Sadie Salte 16, Jennifer Hamilton 12, Jill Karnofski 10, Kelsey Urling 4, Brittany Welch 3, Courtney Helms 11, Samantha Johnson 7, Nikki Green 7, Lanie Kary 4.
Halftime: White 37, Red 18.
BOYS: Red 105, White 85
RED (105) - Tanner Bradley 12, Nathan Downs 11, Matt Ellis 10, Clint Burgoyne 6, Matt Kaino 2, Matt Trautman 18, Brandon Bartlett 18, Jyles Petersen 17, Conrad Ritchie 7, Josh Rongey 4.
WHITE (85) - Ryan Blake 11, Hazze Walker 10, Brandon Hoff 7, Justin Waldher 2, Luke Lindquist 2, Jeray Key 17, Colin Kelly 13, Garrett DeGraaff 10, Scott Pisapia 7, Kyle Burkhalter 6.
Halftime: Red 47, White 35.
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