SPOKANE VALLEY - Sometimes the ball has to bounce right for the underdogs to make it a game.

For all the bounces that went the Region's way in the first half, they were just as equal for the Metro squad in the second half.

After grabbing a 46-42 lead at halftime, the Metro - a squad made up of players from the Greater Spokane League - pressed past the Region - a collection of North Idaho and other area leagues from the Spokane area - by a 100-80 score in the 22nd annual Region vs. Metro Jack Blair Memorial Girls All-Star Basketball Classic on Monday at University High.

Metro's Otiona Gildon scored 14 of her 19 points in the second half, grabbing most valuable player honors in the process.

"We knew that they were going to shoot 3's (the Region made 7 of 17 in the first half), and those were half of their 42 points," Metro coach Freddie Rehkow said. "It's hard when you get this kind of a collection of talent to get them to move the ball. You do the things you do normally, and I thought there was too much 1-on-1 in the first half and we came out a little tense. At the half, we talked about moving the ball around and it was pretty fun to watch when we got going."

The Region opened a 29-21 lead with 8:54 remaining the first half, but the Metro bounced back to tie the game at 32 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Riley Luper.

"We played a little loose in the first half and stayed right with them," Region coach Marc Allert said. "The team we were playing against, they're pretty good. We knew they were going to make a run. They were just more physical than we were. In the second half, they got on a roll and hit some shots. They're a good team."

The Metro had five Division I commits on their roster, with the Region only having one (Pullman's Emily Drake who has committed to Weber State).

Lake City senior Clarissa Smith scored 10 points - all in the second half - for the Region team.

"It was definitely a lot of fun playing with the higher competition," said Smith, who has signed to play at North Idaho College next year. "It set me up for more stuff in college. It was a lot of fun to go against some of those girls - not that I'll see them in college - but it was a lot of fun."

Post Falls freshman Melody Kempton had 12 points for the Region.

"Basically, we came out to have fun," Kempton said. "We just wanted to shoot around, have fun, and maybe win. It was a lot of fun and is more fun to me to play against kids that are at a higher level. You get a chance to get out and run a little more."

Shayna Allert, who will graduate from Post Falls High tonight, had three points for the Region.

"It was a lot of fun," Allert said. "We weren't supposed to win. It was just a chance to come out and show off your talent. And we had a lot of talent on our team too, but they're a good team."

The Metro has won 18 of the 22 games in the series, with the Region winning the past two seasons.

Lewis and Clark's Luper - a Boise State commit - scored 20 points for the Metro, followed by Laura Stockton, who will be attending Gonzaga, with 19.

Drake led all scorers with 26 points for the Region.

Region 42 38 - 80

Metro 46 54 - 100

REGION - Jamie Loera (Moses Lake) 2, Jessie Loera (Moses Lake) 7, Clarissa Smith (Lake City) 10, Savannah Chadwick (Colton) 3, Shayna Allert (Post Falls) 3, Hailey Higashi (St. George's) 3, Zoe Moser (Colton), injured - did not play, Rachel Bozlee (Northwest Christian) 3, Erin Higbie (West Valley) 3, Melody Kempton (Post Falls) 12, Emily Drake (Pullman) 26, Hannah Burland (East Valley) 8.

METRO - Michaela Kay (Lewis and Clark) 2, Lexie Hull (Central Valley) 10, Emma Kennedy (University) 1, Laura Stockton (Gonzaga Prep) 19, Lacie Hull (Central Valley) 0, Riley Luper (Lewis and Clark) 20, Brooke Bailey (University) 5, Madison Hovren (Central Valley) 17, Otiona Gildon (Gonzaga Prep) 19, Oona Harrington (Gonzaga Prep) 10, Shyla Carr (Shadle Park) 9, Sue Winger (Mead) 3.