By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Jessica Mitchell is following in the footsteps of her mom in the upcoming Lions District 26-E All-Star Basketball Twin Classic.
The Southwest 6-footer will be a member of the South in the game scheduled for 6 p.m. on June 7 in Joplin at Missouri Southern State University.
The boys game matching graduating seniors will follow in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Bill Baxley, game chairman, and Joyce Hughes, both members of the Seligman Lions Club, came up with 40 players, plus alternates, for the annual competition between the North and South in 40-minute games.
Jessica Mitchell’s mom, Lisa (formerly Alley), actually played in an all-star game in 1978 that was sponsored by The Joplin Globe.
“I believe our uniforms were red and white ... because I kept mine for a long time,” Lisa Mitchell said with a laugh on Saturday. “I don’t even remember whether our team won or lost.”
Lisa, a forward, continued her basketball career at Crowder College of Neosho and Missouri Southern.
Her husband, Charlie, a bit older, also prepped at Southwest and played at Crowder.
Jessica signed earlier this month to join Tina Robbins’ program at Crowder.
Jessica Mitchell left no doubt that earning a berth in the Lions event was important to her.
“I knew some of the girls that were on the team last year,” she said. “One of my goals was to get picked for that team. I’m excited about it.”
Southwest coach Kenny Ferguson said Mitchell will be all right at whatever Crowder wants her to do.
“She was versatile. She led our team (15-8 overall, 7-3 in the Ozark 7 Conference) in scoring and rebounding with respective averages of 16 and eight,” Ferguson said. “She also was a solid defender who guarded the best opposing player. She took pride in it.”
Mitchell said the fact her mom played at Crowder was a factor in choosing the Lady ’Riders.
“But it was more of how the coaches (Robbins and assistant Katrina Visina) acted and pointed out more about the game than just offense,” she said. “They also recognized I had the ability to play defense and pass the ball.”
Mitchell, who wants to become a veterinarian, indicated on her part there won’t be a ho-hum approach to the Lions game.
“I want to win whether it’s a pickup game or a championship game,” she said. “I hate losing.
“Sure, I want to have fun. But, winning is fun.”
Lions Club
District 26-E All-Stars
Girls rosters
North
Mannie DeCastro, Carl Junction, 5-6
Nikki Friar, El Dorado Springs, 5-7
Loganne Grider, Greenfield, 5-10
Kelsey Kirby, Liberal, 5-10
Carly Luebber, Thomas Jefferson, 6-0
Miranda Maberry, Lamar, 5-8
Liz Moriondo, Mount Vernon, 5-6
Ashleigh Rapp, Rich Hill, 5-7
Lindsay Rice, Nevada, 6-0
Mallory Stanley, Stockton, 5-9
Coach Brent Bartlett, Nevada
South
Melea Cook, Seneca, 5-7
Shyann Cooper, East Newton, 5-8
Kylie Fischer, Neosho, 5-7
Erin Gasser, Monett, 5-5
Bethany Haley, Aurora, 5-6
Jessica Mitchell, Southwest, 6-0
Kara Rosebrough, Pierce City, 5-9
Avery Roller, Purdy, 5-6
Brittany Vollenweider, Cassville, 5-11
Kristin Wilmes, McAuley, 5-7
Coach Stephanie Heman, Aurora
Boy rosters
North
Paden Bennett, Carl Junction, 6-1
Raul Cantu, Lamar, 6-3
Logan Cornish, Lockwood, 6-1
Joseph Fauvergue, Carl Junction, 6-3
Caleb Hutchcraft, College Heights, 5-11
Clinton Irwin, Hume, 6-2
Nick Judd, Bronaugh, 5-8
Jordan Kerbs, Nevada, 5-10
Jordan Kirbey, El Dorado Springs, 6-2
Kyle Wicklund, Carthage, 6-5
Coach Richard Marti, Lamar
South
Patrick Bennett, Seneca, 6-2
Denny Farmer, East Newton, 5-8
Patrick Dargan, Monett, 6-0
Tim Enayati, Diamond, 6-3
Codie Harmon, Southwest, 6-1
Tyler Parrigon, McAuley, 6-3
Jon Pendergraft, Wheaton, 6-1
Caleb Powell, Webb City, 6-5
Zach Smith, Verona, 6-3
Landon Zerkel, Webb City, 6-3
Coach Will King, Seneca
Sports
April 26, 2008
Mitchell to follow after mom as all-star
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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