BY RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
IN SHORT: Kim Sitzmann of Cabot and Meaghan Kellybrew of Lonoke both played great basketball at this week’s University of Arkansas All-Star Classic.
FAYETTEVILLE — Kim Sitzmann of Cabot and Meaghan Kelleybrew of Lonoke turned in excellent performances for the East girls All-Star team Thursday night. The duo helped lead the East squad to a 71-55 victory and break a three-year streak of West wins in the summertime All-Star Classic.
Sitzmann was named the East Outstanding Player for her 17 points as the East ladies ended a three-year drought and beat the West 71-55.
Kelleybrew got on the board with 4:40 left in the period. She soared high for an offensive rebound, and was fouled on the putback attempt. She hit both shots for her first two points of the game.
She got a block, a steal and two more rebounds before the period was over. She also hit a lay-in at the buzzer that was waived off by the official, who ruled that the shot had not been released before the buzzer.
Sitzmann was the first East player to score in the third period when she hit a shot from the middle of the lane with 6:44 on the clock.
She got a steal and turned it into a layup with 2:30 left that tied the game at 29 apiece.
With the score still tied, she hit one of two free throws with 1:53 remaining before intermission that gave the East squad the lead the rest of the way.
She added another steal and layup combo, and found teammate Amanda Morris under the basket for a layup at the buzzer that gave the East squad a 38-33 advantage.
Sitzmann didn’t start the fourth period, likely due to picking up three fouls in the third, and got on the board again with 1:42 on the clock.
That shot gave the East a commanding 55-36 lead.
After the West scored, Sitzmann made it a 19-point lead again with a bucket just four seconds before the end of the frame.
The West started the final period with a short run that cut the East lead to 12, but Kelleybrew put an end to the West charge by knocking down a three pointer with 6:53 left in the game.
Sitzmann got loose downcourt after a Kelleybrew steal, and hit a wide open layup, and the UALR- bound forward added another rebound and bucket on a putback with 5:36 left in the game.
Sitzmann led the team in scoring with 13 points, and in steals with three.
She also added two rebounds and two assists to her totals.
Kelleybrew, who is heading to UCA later this summer to begin her freshmen season, finished with seven points, four rebounds and two blocked shots.
The Lonoke graduate said after the game, that she was not surprised that this group ended the recent West dominance in the girls All-Star game.
“This team bonded well and came together on day one,” Kelleybrew said.
“We got along really well, and we competed hard every day. Every day a different team would win, and we knew we could win this game.”
As for the experience of All-Star Week, Kelleybrew was ecstatic.
“It’s a great feeling. I never dreamed I’d be here, and I had a great time.”
Sitzmann also had a wonderful experience.
“We worked a lot and practices were extremely competitive, but I had a blast through all of it,” Sitzmann said.
“This team’s chemistry was so great. I’ve never been on a team with this kind of chemistry. Coming from Cabot, where we’ve had some pretty good teams, so that’s really saying something.”
