IN SPORTS: LODI ATHLETES JOIN ALL-STAR FUN

STOCKTON — A bevy of talent was showcased on the Delta College hardwood Friday night as area seniors competed one last time during the 2019 Senior All-Star Game at Blanchard Gymnasium.

McNair’s Alayssia Townsell scored a game-high 34 points to lead Team White to an 80-71 victory over Team Black in the girls’ game. Lodi’s Brook Aberle added 15 points and Bear Creek’s Sarah Ruiz scored 12 for the victors.

For Team Black, East Union’s Donja Payne led the way with 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, while Bear Creek’s Cassidy Byrne added 17 points. Lincoln’s Taylor Low scored 13 points and Sonora’s Sha’nece Garrett scored 11 points.

Townsell plans to attend UCLA in the fall and major in business economics, but she also intends to walk-on with the basketball team. But for now, she was happy to be a part of one last contest among friends.

“It was so fun,” Townsell said. “It was really good to have this one final game to play how I wanted, and to play up to my potential. I knew it’d be fun playing with people I grew up with. It was one last ride for all of us.”

It’s the kind of experience McNair coach Keith Collins hoped all his players took away from the game.

“When you say all-star, that’s what I expect and I haven’t seen anything less,” Collins said. “They’re a good group of kids, excellent in the classroom. I’m happy for them.”

Team White was 11-for-43 from 3-point range and led 23-20 after one quarter. Undaunted, Team Black later went on a 17-0 run in the second quarter that boosted it to a 43-39 halftime lead. Byrne made three consecutive 3s during that spell.

Team White won the third quarter and took a 48-47 lead on Townsell’s jumper, a lead it would not relinquish.

Team Black was 8-for-30 from beyond the arc but made just two of their last 18 attempts. Coach Willie Duncan, of Chavez, said it was fun to see the big names in the area compete one final time.

“It’s a good group of girls who go to different schools but it’s like they’ve been together the whole time,” Duncan said. “They’re like a sorority of girls who really compliment each other. They take it seriously, they do some hard work, but they have some fun, too.

“I like how they step it up and show that we really do have good basketball players in our area,” he added. “Just to have fun and be competitive, like they have been their whole year.”