Photo Story: Kentucky-Indiana All-Star Game

On Saturday afternoon the heavily-favored Indiana All-Stars defeated the Kentucky All-Stars 71-64 in the first game of the annual two-game series. Vanderbilt signee Merideth Marsh led the Kentucky squad with 15 points, and Vanderbilt's second signee, Amber Norton, scored 11.

The game took place in Diddle Arena on the campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky.



One of Norton's responsibilities was to help defend Amber Harris, considered one of the top high school players in the country, ranked as high as #1 by at least one recruiting service.



Seven of Norton's 11 points came from the free throw line. She scored eight points in the first half to help the Kentucky All-Stars to a 37-33 halftime lead.



Marsh got into early foul trouble and had to spend extra time on the bench in the first half. In the second half, she broke loose, hitting four 3-point shots.



When you're hot, you're hot. This might look like a difficult shot, but it went in, too.



Indiana decided that clamping on Marsh was a defensive priority, and she was face-guarded for the rest of the game.



Kentucky had led almost the entire game, but Indiana took the lead with a few minutes left in the game, and the two teams battled with intensity down the stretch.



This free throw by Norton cut the Indiana lead to four points at 66-62, and then a layup by Lacquisa Wharton with an assist from Marsh cut it further to 66-64, but time was running out.



With thirty seconds left in the game, Kentucky was forced to foul to regain possession, but Indiana hit too many of their free throws to seal the victory.




After the game, Notre Dame signee Ashley Barlow, who led all scorers with 23 points, Harris, and Rutgers-bound Dee Dee Jernigan enjoyed talking to the press.



Arnika Brown, Miss Kentucky Basketball, and Marsh represented the Kentucky All-Stars at the press conference.

"It's disappointing to get beat here in your home state," said Marsh, "but I think we have a really good chance of getting together with each other next week and working our butts off and going up to Indiana and representing Kentucky really well up there."

The rematch will take place next Saturday at 5 p.m. in Conseco Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis, Indiana..


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Photos copyright 2006 by Whitney D for VandyMania.com.