Muddy River Showcase: All-stars on both sides taking business-like approach to girls game

QUINCY — After running up and down the court for the better part of an hour Thursday night, the Illinois girls all-stars wrapped up their final practice before Saturday’s inaugural Muddy River Showcase.

They weren’t quite done, though.

Hallie Ray and Abbie Johnson, teammates at Illini West, asked if they could stick around John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center and spend some extra time shooting. When finished, Johnson asked Illini West coach Grant Surprenant if she could get in the gym Friday morning to get more shots up.

Injuries and scheduling conflicts have left the Land of Lincoln undermanned, but it hasn’t diminished the Illinois girls’ approach.

This is serious business.

“I told them I don’t want to lose,” said Surprenant, who will guide the Illinois squad against Missouri at 3 p.m. Saturday on the JWCC campus. “I don’t believe any competitor wants to lose, even in an all-star game.

“We’re having fun and enjoying every minute of this, but I still want us to play well.”

It’s all he’s ever seen from this group.

Last winter, the players on the Illinois roster helped their teams compile an .825 winning percentage with every team winning at least 20 games. Three teams won regional titles and one captured a state championship.

They all played against each other in the regular season, so the familiarity should help with chemistry.

“We have a really competitive area here, and we all kind of play the same style of basketball,” Johnson said. “So we all have that connection and are clicking in general even though we’re coming from different teams. I think it will be a really good game and give us a chance to bring everything together one last time.”

That’s enticing to the Missouri all-stars as well.

“It’s really fun to meet everyone and play with people I’ve never played with before,” Marion County guard Halle Keilholz said. “It’s a lot different since I’ve played with my teammates since we were all 10. It’s different, but exciting.”

It’s all business, too.

Marion County coach Reed Plunkett, who will lead the Missouri all-stars, works on the family farm, but while he was in the tractor, he was planning practices and looking for the most updated information about the game.

“There’s a reason for everyone’s excitement,” Plunkett said. “This is something special.”

Both teams expect to get up and down the floor with the pace being pushed by some dynamic backcourt players and all-staters.

Illini West point guard Caydee Kirkham set the Chargers’ career records for points (1,464), assists (410) and 3-pointers (210) and was an all-state selection by both the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and the Associated Press.

Marion County forward Delaney Straus was a first-team all-state selection after guiding the Mustangs to the state quarterfinals as she averaged 16.4 points. She also is one of the area’s most decorated cross country and track and field athletes.

Sprinkle in a wealth of talent around each of them and the inaugural girls game could turn out to be a barn-burner.

“I think everyone really wants to play well and represent their schools and their communities,” Keilholz said.