By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
The 12th Annual Miss Basketball Showcase tournament takes place this weekend in Kearney, Neb., which will feature 64 teams from 17 states.
"The Showcase has really become our marquee event. It's a big-time event for the participants, the college scouts and our community," Mr. Basketball and Miss Basketball tournament founder Doug Koster said.
As of July 9, 159 college coaches from 28 states will be scouting at the event, making it one of the premier girls basketball showcases in the entire country. College coaches from as far as New Hampshire, New York, Virginia, Florida, and California will inject an economic jolt into the town of nearly 30,000 in central Nebraska.
The tournament will culminate with the championship game July 15 at 7 p.m. at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The title game will double with an all-star game featuring players from the Kearney local area.
Two of the top players at this year's event are junior Taber Spani of Metro Academy of Shawnee Mission, Kan., and Samantha Heck of North Calloway High School in Kingdom City, Mo.
Spani averaged 28.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season for Metro Academy, which finished 36-4 last season and claimed third in the National Christian Home School Basketball Championships.
Heck, a junior next season, averaged 21.8 points and 12.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore.
In 2006, South Dakota Elite took home the tournament title after a 58-40 victory over the Missouri Rage.
"With more than 600 athletes participating, there are prospects for colleges of all sizes. A long list of them will eventually play for NCAA Division II, III and NAIA programs, but there is a good number that will receive scholarships to play for an NCAA Division I school," Koster said.
Miss Basketball Showcase Top Players
Name, Hgt., AAU Team, High School
Taber Spani (Jr.), 6-1, Missouri Valley Eclipse I, Metro Academy
Ashley Arlen, 6-1, Iowa Elite, Cascade
Alexis Yackley, 5-7, Dakota Hardwood Threat, Sully Buttes
Amber Wollschlager, 6-0, Dakota Hardwood Threat, Milbank
Kelly Krei, 6-2, IBCA Iowa Select I, Iowa City West
Amber Kirschbaum, 6-0, IBCA Iowa Select I, Spirit Lake
Indy Uhlenhopp, 5-11, IBCA Iowa Select I, North Butler
Elyseia Dunn, 6-1, Wichita Spooks, Pembroke Hil (Kansas City)
Samantha Heck (Jr.), 6-2, Herzog Starzz, North Callaway (Kingdom City, Mo)
Virginia DeWare, 6-2, Playing With Purpose, Bixby
Jaleshia Roberson, 5-9, MO Trailblazer Explorers, Hickman (Kansas City)
Jordan Hooper (So.), 6-1, Pinnacle Bank Nebr I, Alliance
POOL A
IBCA Iowa Select I
Tulsa Giants (Okla.)
Twin Lakes Stars (Kan.)
WYCO Pride (Colo.)
POOL B
Colorado Springs Blitz
ECI West Gold II (N.D.)
Iowa Elite
Texas Titans
POOL C
Alegent Crusaders (Neb.)
Fox Valley Hustle II (Wis.)
Kansas Swoosh
Missouri Valley Eclipse I (Kan.)
POOL D
Arizona Sting
Iowa Lightning I
Lakeville North (Minn.)
Kansas City Hustle (Kan.)
POOL E
Kansas Dream Team
New Mexico Attack
Oklahoma Select
Quad City Select (Ill.)
POOL F
All Iowa Attack I
Black Hills Roundup (S.D.)
Fox Valley Hustle I (Wis.)
Wichita Bearcats (Kan.)
POOL G
All Iowa Attack II
NW Mo Runnin Rebels (Mo.)
Southern Minne Magic I (Minn.)
Wichita Spooks (Kan.)
POOL H
Arizona Thunder
Herzog Starzz (Mo.)
IBCA Iowa Select II
Midwest Trailblazers (Neb.)
POOL I
Kansas Hoop Service II
Mid-Missouri Hustlers (Mo.)
Minnesota Breeze
SCU Hoops (Okla.)
POOL J
Kansas Elite
Rocky Mountain Rage (Colo.)
Sho-me Heat (Mo.)
Team Runza (Neb.)
POOL K
Iowa Lightning II
Kentucky Level 1 Ballerz
Minnesota Swish
WYCO Pride Select
POOL L
ECI Minnesota Gold
Missouri Rage
Missouri Valley Eclipse III
Playing With Purpose (Okla.)
POOL M
ECI East Gold
Missouri Valley Eclipse II
Oklahoma Swish
Pinnacle Bank Nebraska I
POOL N
Kansas Hoop Service I
Northern Lites (S.D.)
Southern Minne Magic II (Minn.)
Tulsa Swoosh (Okla.)
POOL O
ECI West Gold I (N.D.)
Kansas On Fire
MO Trailblazer Explorers (Mo.)
Pinnacle Bank Nebraska II
POOL P
Arkansas Blue Bombers
Dakota Hardwood Threat
Team Colorado
WCS Hustlers (Kan.)
