Spokane Stars prevail in Arizona tourney

Prep basketball: The Spokane Stars elite girls team captured the championship in the 17U All-Star Division at the Arizona Elite Spring Classic in Phoenix during the weekend.

The Stars, who went 6-0 in the tourney to raise their overall record to 15-0, defeated Arizona Elite 48-26 in the title game. It was Arizona Elite’s first loss in 18 games.

Shelby Cheslek, a junior from Pullman, who has given Gonzaga University an oral commitment, had 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots in the title game. Jordan Loera, an uncommitted junior from Moses Lake who is being recruited by most Pac-10 schools, had nine points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and no turnovers.

Fourteen states were represented at the tourney. The Stars defeated Flagstaff (Ariz.) Hoops 79-21, MRC Rebels of San Francisco 63-15 and Portland (Ore.) Flyers 52-22 in pool play.

In bracket play, the Stars defeated the Emerald City Pioneers of Seattle 66-28 and the Columbia Cascades of Vancouver, Wash., 56-30 in the semifinals.

Coeur d’Alene junior Carli Rosenthal, who is drawing recruiting interest, averaged 10.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.5 blocks in the six games.

“This is one of the best teams I’ve ever had,” said Stars director Ron Adams, who is in his 30th year with the program. “This isn’t the best offensive team I’ve had, but they’re really, really good defensively.”