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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Sunday, June 21, 2009 10:23 PM CDT
Harper earns Leadership Award in IBCA All-Star game

By MIKE MONAHAN, Staff Writer
mmonahan@jg-tc.com

BLOOMINGTON — Recent Charleston graduate Stephanie Harper earned the South team’s Leadership Award and scored six points in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 3A/4A All-Star girls’ basketball game at Illinois Wesleyan’s Shirk Center Saturday.

“It was definitely fun and a good experience,” said Harper, who is headed to play at Kentucky State. “It was fun to meet all the other girls and a have a chance to play with them.”

Harper’s South team lost 75-64 to the North team. The South team rallied from a 17-point second half deficit to seven points, but that was as close as they would get. The North led 37-25 at the half.

The South team, coached by Jim Martin of Lincoln-Way East, practiced once Friday and again Saturday morning. Harper knew four of the players including Salem’s Amanda Olrey (eight points), Taylorville’s Jay Stewart, Edwardsville’s Megan Sharpe (6 points) and Springfield’s Allison Anderson (6 points). The South was led in scoring by Morton’s Brooke Bisping, who earned the MVP award, with 10 points.

Five players at a time rotate in and each player played at least 12 minutes. For the final seven minutes it was up to the coach on who would play.

“At first I was kind of intimidated,” said Harper, Charleston’s all-time leading scorer (1,767), rebounder (1,000) and leader in steals (268). “Once I got there it was fun and I am glad I got a chance to do that.”

Charleston girls’ basketball coach Jeff Miller and family was in attendance.

This isn’t the only all-star game for Harper as she is set to be in Saturday’s game at Olney Central College.

“Right after the game they announced the award,” said Harper. “I wasn’t expecting it. It was the first all-star game I played and I won this award and it was very meaningful to me.”

Each participant got to keep their jersey’s as well as shoes.

The North team’s MVP was Hoffman Estates (16 points) and Ashley Wilson of Wheeling (17 points) and Wheaton North’s Brooke Olson received the North’s Leadership Award.

Steffanie Davis, a 1996 Charleston graduate is believed to be the last CHS girl to play in the all-star game.

Contact Mike Monahan at mmonahan@jg-tc.com or 238-6854.

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