Each year, Lake County basketball culminates in the brightest stars from around the region joining together for one last contest: the Mission Valley All-Star game. 

Both the girls' and boys' games took place on March 17 at the Ronan Event Center, where top athletes from in and around the Mission Valley showcased the area's basketball prowess.

It is not just a parting gift for the standout seniors but a showcase of some of the area’s best talent from all age groups. 

Both games came down to just a couple of buckets, so here’s a look at how each team did and which athletes shone.

Mission Valley Girls All-Star Game

In the first of two close games, the girls started off with a bang. While the Dark team ended up taking the game in the end with a 55-46 victory, both teams played a close game with many players getting a chance to score and show off. 

The Dark Team's Most Valuable Player was Mission senior Shaedon Kain. She led the team with 10 points, five rebounds and one assist. 

Ronan senior Maddy Illig scored nine points as the second leading scorer. Charlo senior Brielle Zempel, Ronan Nefertiti Stewart, Mission senior Cora Matt and Two Eagle River junior Keke Tenas all had six points in this one. Polson junior Aleysia Black and Arlee sophomore Gracie Haynes scored four points for the Dark team. Arlee sophomore Kaylee Tanner and Hot Springs junior Kora Hensrud wrapped up the scoring with two points each.

The Light team’s MVP was Polson junior Hinkley Moss, who had nine points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Polson junior Rylee Taylor-Jefferson tied Moss for points with nine in this game. Mission senior Brooklyn McClure and Plains senior Katelyn Subatch tied with seven points. Ronan senior Natalie Adams was the sole player across either team with five points. Hot Springs senior Kara Christensen, Two Eagle River senior Jodessa Dixon, Charlo junior GG Hawk and Mission junior Kieran Incashola all scored two points. Ronan senior Nevaeh Perez wrapped up the scoring with one point.

Mission Valley Boys All-Star Game

If the first game was close, the boys contest was decided by just three points.

It was the first half that ended up deciding this game, with the Dark team taking the 52-49 lead. Despite continued offensive prowess, both teams scored 42 points in the second half and led to the Dark team winning 94-91.

Ronan junior Matiya Nenemay was the Dark team MVP with 17 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal. 

Arlee senior Aiden Swab followed that up with 15 points. Bigfork senior Austin Savik had 13 points as the third leading scorer. Two Eagle River seniors Thomas and Talon Addison scored 10 points each. Mission junior Vinny Shepard scored six points. Ronan senior Jhett McDonald scored five points. Arlee senior Josh Horn, Charlo senior Karson Cox and Mission junior Jason Leishman all notched three points. Bigfork senior Treker Hickey wrapped up the scoring with two points.

The MVP for the Light team was Two Eagle River senior Jayvian Burke. He earned 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one steal.

Polson sophomore Kyson Michel followed up with 19 points as well in that game. Arlee freshman Kade DuPuis-Pablo had 18 points. Ronan senior Kolby Finley wrapped up the double-digit scorers with 14 points. Bigfork senior Tamret Savik and Polson senior Cody Haggard each had five points. Plains/Hot Springs junior Ben Alrdridge got four points. Two Eagle Senior Ryiley Gates had three points. Bigfork senior Alex Ochs and Ronan junior Siouxpixm Qualtier rounded out the scoring with two points each.

Les Rice Memorial Three-Point Shootout

The final event of the day was the Les Rice Memorial Three-Point Shootout.

The rules are that each shooter gets three racks of five balls with a bonus ball worth two points at the end of each rack. Each shooter gets 45 seconds to make as many shots as possible.

The winner for the girls was Moss, who scored 11 points. She beat the next highest scorer in Kain by three points.

Finley was the boys three-point shootout champ with 10 points. Talon, Michel and LaFrombois all earned nine points as runner-ups.

    Mission senior Lex LaFrombois takes a leaning jumpshot on March 17 at Ronan High School. (Christa Umphrey Photo)
  

    Charlo senior Brielle Zempel goes up for a shot against Polson junior Hinkley Moss on March 17 at Ronan High School. (Christa Umphrey Photo)
  

    Polson junior Aleysia Black drives past Polson teammate and junior Rylee Taylor-Jefferson on March 17 at Ronan High School. (Christa Umphrey Photo)
  

    The Mission Valley Girls All-Star Team stands together on March 17 at Ronan High School. (Christa Umphrey Photo)
  

    The Mission Valley Boys All-Star Team stands together on March 17 at Ronan High School. (Christa Umphrey Photo)