All-Metro Classic - Girls

All-Star girls game all about fun finish

Sydnie Jones (left) of Central Arkansas Christian and Camdyn McDaniel of North Little Rock scramble for a loose ball during Team Farr’s 74-65 victory over Team Treadway on Tuesday in the All-Metro girls all-star game in Little Rock.
Sydnie Jones (left) of Central Arkansas Christian and Camdyn McDaniel of North Little Rock scramble for a loose ball during Team Farr’s 74-65 victory over Team Treadway on Tuesday in the All-Metro girls all-star game in Little Rock.

It was all seriousness aside for these all-stars.

The best high school senior girls basketball players from Pulaski County met at Arkansas Baptist College on Tuesday night to play for teams coached by Pulaski Academy Coach Rick Treadway and Little Rock Hall Coach Selita Farr.

Team Farr, led by Hall guard Rakia Lane and North Little Rock guard Malika Monk, led by as many as 21 points and easily held on for a 74-65 victory over Team Treadway in an All-Metro Classic game that was filled with smiles and laughter.

Monk scored 18 points and Lane finished with 16 for Team Farr. Natalia Ready of Little Rock Parkview scored 16 points to lead Team Treadway. Lane and Ready were named as the Most Valuable Players.

"I have never been an MVP before, so that was fun," said Lane, who has signed a national letter of intent to play for the University of Central Arkansas.

Players exchanged high-fives with opposing players through the game, and laughter often followed turnovers, blocked shots, air balls and errant passes.

Obviously, no one felt pressured.

"It was very fun," said Caroline Hogue of Arkansas Baptist, a Team Treadway forward who has signed to play for Nebraska-Omaha. "I played with a lot of these girls all through AAU, so it was fun to play this last game with them."

Treadway said his job was simple.

"I just stayed out of the way," Treadway said. "This was for them. It's not even really about winning or losing. It's just for them to showcase their talent and their careers, to give them a chance to play one more time before they go on to college."

Sylvan Hills guard Sarah Beckwith scored field goals on three consecutive second-half possessions, including a three-pointer with 17:20 left that gave Team Farr a 54-33 lead. But Team Treadway fought back and was within 67-58 after a three-pointer by Pulaski Academy guard Alex Otwell with 5:30 left in the game.

Monk, who has signed to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks, made a three-pointer on Team Farr's next possession, and Team Treadway wouldn't get any closer than nine points the rest of the way.

"It's nice to know that at the end it doesn't really matter if you win or lose," Treadway said. "It's nice to see a bunch of kids get to end their high school careers on a good note with people they've played with all their lives."

Sports on 03/18/2015

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