The All-Area All-Star girls basketball game made its return Monday at Columbus Christian after it was canceled a year ago due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even though the Blue Team prevailed over the White Team 60-57, it was a great opportunity for both teams to have fun after the grind of the regular season that concluded last month.
The girls that made up the teams were from the nine Republic-area schools and were chosen from The Republic All-Area team and honorable mention list.
It was a great chance for the girls that normally play against each other during the regular season to become teammates, and the chance for the girls enrolled at smaller schools the chance to play with the girls from the larger schools.
“It was a really cool experience to get to play with players that we’ve obviously been playing against throughout the season,” Columbus East sophomore Gabby Dean said. “To get to meet them and play with them and play with different people was a really cool experience, and I’m glad that I got the chance to do it this year.”
Columbus Christian sophomore Kayla Jones added, “It was a really great experience because at our school, we don’t play really any hard teams like that. It really helps you improve to play with better people and against better people, so I thought that was really fun and good for me.”
It was the first time back on the court at Columbus Christian for Columbus North sophomore Lauren Barker, where she started playing for the Crusaders in the fifth grade.
It brought back those old memories for Barker.
“It’s a joy to play here. I’ve played here my whole elementary school years, basketball and volleyball,” Barker said. “In a lot of ways, this is my home, too. Columbus North has become my home for high school, but I love it here. I always feel welcomed, and I had a good time today.”
Columbus Christian senior Madison Henderson and Jones were both teammates with Barker during her time with the Crusaders.
When the rosters of the teams came out, Jones was excited to see that she was going to be teammates with Barker again.
“I haven’t played with her in a really, really long time, and she’s an amazing player,” Jones said. “I was excited to play with her again.”
The feeling was mutual for Barker, as well.
“As soon as I showed up, I gave them a hug, and I feel like we just clicked from there,” Barker said. “Her mom (Kay Jones) welcomed me, and it felt like I’ve been here the whole time. Kayla’s always been such a scrappy player, and Madison’s strong with the ball. It was a joy to play with them again. It brings back old memories, and I definitely do miss playing with them, so today was a lot of fun playing with them again.”
Barker finished with a game-high 22 points to lead the Blue team to victory. Jones had 11 and North senior Kanon Matsuno added 10.
For the White Team, East junior Koryn Greiwe finished with a team-high 21 points. Edinburgh sophomore Gracie Crawhorn had 10 and Jennings County freshman Juliann Woodard added nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
“It was my first time. I was nervous at the beginning, but once I first got in, I felt more comfortable because I’d seen my other teammates play, and they told me that it wasn’t as bad,” said Hauser sophomore Kyliegh Parrott, who played for the White team. “We all did our best to play together, and we did as well as we could.”
