The Smith Center Recreation Commission will be hosting the 3rd Annual Sunflower Shootout all star basketball game on Saturday, March 16, at the Smith Center High School gym.
The games will feature senior all stars from the Mid-Continent League against a team of all stars from a 14-county area in North Central Kansas.
The girls game will tip off at 4:00 p.m. with the boys game set for 6:00.
There will also be 3-point contests at halftime of each game.
The Mid-Continent league girls roster includes Sydney Benoit, Alexis Ryan and Trenna Cox, all of Smith Center; Bailee Fritts, Trego; Shelby Stewart and McKenzie Cooper, Hill City; Bailey Hensley, Ellis; Hannah Friend and Shelbe Pywell, Plainville; and Tawni Griffey, Norton. They will be coached by Perry Mick of Ellis and Brad Roadhouse of Osborne.
North Central Kansas girls are Danica Casey, Natoma; Brittany Kirchhoff, Thunder Ridge; Devin Nutsch, Republic County; Kora Bergstrom, Pike Valley; Claire Bruna, Hanover; Megan Stegman and Samantha L'Ecuyer, Washington County; Danel Stithem, Hoxie; Angela Ritter, Golden Plains; and Erin Schroeder of Beloit St. John's/Tipton. Coaches are Scott Romeiser of Washington County and Ryan Doebele, Hanover.
The Mid-Continent league boys team features Koby Beougher, Stockton; Payton Buckmaster, Smith Center; Seth Derr and Sean Newlan, Phillipsburg; Luke Lohrmeyer and Tyler Walters, Ellis; John Griffith, Trego; Solomon Wilson, Hill City; Nolan Weiser, Plainville; and Jacob Brooks, Norton. Keith Sides of Phillipsburg and Trego's Lance Ziegler will be the coaches.
The North Central Kansas boys squad includes Tyler Bruggeman, Decatur Community; Chase Wilkens, Washington County; Trenton Kuhlman, Republic County; Trevor Lowe, Thunder Ridge; Todd Kane, Colby; Phillip Murphy, Natoma; Quinton Isaacson and Cade Huncovsky, Pike Valley; Wyatt Flinn, Rock Hills; and Seth Armbrister, Palco. Their coaches will be Chris Drees of Palco and Kurt Grafel of Natoma.
A few of the players invited were unable to participate due to prior commitments, but Smith Center Recreation Director Mike Hughes said there was plenty of talent available to play.
"We have assembled some of the top high school basketball talent in the state for this event, and we are really excited about it," said Hughes. "We are trying to make this an exciting and fun event for the players, and think the fans will enjoy the evening as well. Anyone who enjoys basketball will truly want to see this event."
Admission for the event will be $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children ages 5 to 12, and children 4 & under are free.
This event is sponsored by the Smith Center Recreation Commission.