All smiles for South | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

Unless they win a state championship, most high school seniors do not have a very fond memory of their final game.

For the 21 participants in last night's 20th Annual Anne Arundel County Senior All-Star Game Co-Sponsored by the Dick Hart Foundation and Capital-Gazette Newspapers, they leave with memories of their final game being one that began with all smiles and ended the same way despite the score.

The South team, sponsored by the Capital-Gazette, used a 10-2 run to start the fourth quarter and assumed control on its way to a 76-67 win over the North, sponsored by the Hart Foundation.

Annapolis' Leah Pinkney scored six of her 13 points in the fourth quarter and added team-highs of 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocks to earn South MVP honors.

"We wanted to go out and have a lot of fun," Pinkney said. "It's our last game, senior year, so we were hoping it was going to be a real fun game."

A game like last night's also gives players a chance to try something they wouldn't normally try in a regular season game.

For Pinkney, she pulled the trigger and nailed a 3-pointer with 3:06 left in the third quarter to break the seventh tie of the game and give the South the lead for good, 47-44.

"I shot a three. I haven't shot one all year, so that was a big highlight," she said.

Pinkney is the third straight player and fourth in the last six years from Annapolis to win South MVP.

Southern's Kim Schneck also finished with 13 points and added three rebounds and three assists for the South, which won for the third time in the last four years and now holds a 14-6 all-time advantage.

Arundel's Danielle McFadden had nine rebounds to go with her seven points for the South.

Old Mill's Aleah Queen led all scorers with 16 points and added three rebounds, while Patriot teammate Patrice Jones was named North MVP and added 12 points, a game-high 16 rebounds, six steals and three blocks.

"We wanted to win. It's OK that we lost, though, because it was all fun and games and we were out there to have a good time," she said.

Jones had just four points in the first half, but she scored some key baskets in the third and fourth quarters to keep the North in the game. She also forced a turnover with two minutes left and helped the North pull within four.

"[Winning the MVP
just shows that all the hard work you put in all year paid off. I have a big smile on my face. It just made my day," she said.

Northeast's Kelly McGahagan (eight points) and Meade's Meische Cox (five points) each pulled down eight rebounds, while Old Mill's Ariana Guyton (eight points) grabbed seven.

"We would have like to have won, but you know what, we had fun. We were a little short on size, but the girls we had gave it their all. We played well together," said the North coach, Glen Burnie's Dan Mangum.

Meade's Laneisha Taylor added eight points five rebounds and four steals, while Glen Burnie's Jessica Taylor pitched in with four rebounds and three steals for the North.

South 16 16 20 24 - 76

North 16 12 20 19 - 67

South (76)

Mink 1 0-0 2, Pinkney 6(1) 0-2 13, Shrader 2(1) 0-0 5, Reagans 5 0-2 10, Kennedy 6 1-1 13, Wagner 2(1) 0-0 5,

K. Schneck 6 1-2 13, H. Schneck 1(1) 1-2 4, Nucci 1 1-2 3, Sullivan 1 0-0 2, McFadden 2(1) 2-4 7. TOTALS: 33(5) 6- 15 76.

North (67)

J. Taylor 2 0-0 4, Dailey 1 0-0 2, McGahagan 3 2-2 8, L. Taylor 3 2-2 8, Papsan 1 2-6 4, Queen 8 0-0 16, Guyton 3 2-2 8, Jones 5(1) 1-2 12, Cox 2 1-2 5, Phillips 0-0 0. TOTALS: 28(1) 10-16 67.