CONWAY -- Kyra Collier and Daryl Fimple enjoyed one more victory together Thursday night in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star girls basketball game.
Collier played for Fimple at North Little Rock and the soon-to-be UALR guard finished with 17 points and seven rebounds Thursday night to help the East All-Stars defeat the West 92-72.
Collier, who was part of North Little Rock's Class 7A state championship team in March, was named the All-Star game's most valuable player.
"It's been an amazing run," said Fimple, who was the East's head coach. "She's an amazing kid. It's like I told these guys, the reason why she's so good, she stays after practice and shoots, even after an All-Star practice.
"You've got to love that kind of kid."
The relationship between Collier and Fimple was a special one. They shared a hug outside the East locker room as it was the final high school activity for her before she reports to UALR on July 2.
Even though it was an All-Star game, there was a time or two during Thursday's game when Collier said she felt like it was a regular-season game.
"I was about to cry, just hearing him yell at me again," Collier said. "I'm going to miss him a whole lot. He's a second dad. We'll always be in contact."
Two University of Central Arkansas players shined on their future homecourt Thursday for the East. Conway's Alexis Tolefree scored 12 points and Greenwood's Maddie Goodner had 10 points.
Bradford's Karlie Senko added 10 points for the East, including two three-pointers.
Fimple said he wasn't afraid to have his team shoot the ball, especially since it was an All-Star game. His players obliged, as the East made 13 three-pointers.
"We knew they could all shoot it, because we've watched them in four practices this week," Fimple said. "The kids were so good."
The East also dominated the glass, outrebounding the West 69-49. Little Rock Central's Kiara Williams, who has signed with Arkansas, had a game-high 10 rebounds.
The East led 17-15 after the first period and extended their lead to 37-21 at the end of the second period. Shameka Ealy of Russellville hit two three-pointers for the West's only points in the period.
Goodner's three-pointer late in the third period made it 53-32, and the East led 53-34 at halftime.
The West got within 69-56 at the end of the fourth period. But the East pulled away in the fifth period, as Collier scored eight of her 17 points in the final seven minutes.
Playing in the All-Star game was a memorable experience for Collier, she said.
"It was a lot of fun," Collier said. "All of the players across the state, we came together. We wanted to make it one to remember, with everyone going off to college."
Williams was named most outstanding player for the East, while Kingston's Hannah Villines was the West's most outstanding player. Villines led the West with 15 points.
EAST (92)
Taylor McGraw 1 0-0 3, Karlie Senko 3 2-3 10, Kyra Collier 5 6-6 17, Kiara Williams 0 3-4 3, Logan Oestreich 1 2-2 5, Jacie Andrews 1 0-0 3, Alexis Tolefree 3 4-4 12, Maddie Goodner 3 2-2 10, Elizabeth Henderson 0 2-2 2, Alyssa Nichols 2 0-0 5, Erykah Johns 2 0-4 4, Madison Riley 1 0-0 2, Gracen Ratliff 2 0-0 4, Deria Ratliffe 3 0-0 6,, Shameka Ealy 2 0-0 6. Totals 29 21-27 92.
WEST (72)
Ta'Sheanne Armstrong 2 3-5 9, Hannah Villines 5 3-4 15, Shanna Shavers 4 0-0 8, Delanei Hurt 0 1-1 1, Ally Teague 3 0-0 8, Lauren Stanek 0 0-0 0, Kory Westerman 2 3-6 7, Jameisha Jones 2 2-2 6, Ashley Brannon 0 0-0 0, Madison Brittain 0 0-0 0, Payton Tennison 2 1-2 6, Kallee Cowert, 0 1-2 1, Haley Borgeteien-James 0 0-0 0, Kim Crown 0 4-7 4, Chasidee Owens 1 5-8 7. Totals 21 23-37 72.
East 17 20 16 16 23 -- 92
West 15 6 13 22 16 -- 72
Three-point goals -- East 13 (Senko 2, Tolefree 2, Goodner 2, Ealy 2, McGraw, Collier, Oestreich, Andrews, Nichols), West 7 (Armstrong 2, Villines 2, Teague 2, Tennison). Team fouls -- East 22 , West 17.
Sports on 06/24/2016