Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Sabrina Byrnes
The SDSSAA girls All Star Basketball game took place at Lockerby Composite School Thursday evening, which showcased the best basketball players in the Greater Sudbury Area in a fun, spirited game, mixed with a little bit of friendly rivalry.
Team Green was coached by Lockerby coaches Sean Green and Mike Sheridan, who led the Vikings to Division 1 and NOSSA AAA titles this year. Team Poirier was coached by Lo-Ellen Park's Yves Poirier, who led the Lo-Ellen Knight's to the NOSSA AA finals.
Team Poirier defeated Team Green 82-73 in the friendly competition. Team Green was leading by six points at the halfway mark, but Team Poirier jumped ahead during the added free throw competition during halftime. Each team had three minutes to make as many baskets as they could from the three-point mark, with each basket added as one point to the teams score. Team Poirier added an additional 34 points, while Team Green only added 21 points.
"Overall, it's really not about winning or losing at this point, it's just about these girls coming out and showcasing what kind of talent we have here in Sudbury," said Poirier.
"Just being a part of it is a privilege and we enjoyed it and the girls worked hard and we had a lot of laughs and a lot of fun."
Poirier joked about the healthy rivalry between the teams.
"There's always a little bit of friendly competition because you know everybody who's playing so you poke away at their weaknesses a little bit, but overall it's just about having fun"
Erin Simpson, Team Poirier's top scorer, said it's quite significant to be able to play in these all star games.
"It means a lot because it's the best players in the city, so to be in this game is an honour," Simpson said.
"I thought it went really well, I mean we don't play with each other, but I think we worked well as a team."
Simpson, who is a student at Lockerby and is coached by Green - the opposition's coach - joked that she was going to rub it in a little bit to her coach that her team defeated him.
Green was quite pleased with the talent he saw out on the court.
"It's the second time I've had a chance to be involved in this game and I thought the caliber of the basketball was really good. The kids get along really well. It's nice for some of the kids to get an opportunity to play with each other. They beat each others brains out all year, so it's a lot of fun," he said.
However, Green joked he wasn't too impressed with some of the girls on the other team for beating his team.
"I'm not very happy with them right now" he said.
"There's a couple of girls on the opposite team that are going to pay for it next September and they know that. Payback is sweet," he said laughing.
