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Sports

Mustang Girl Hoopsters Shine on Opposing Teams

Mira Costa's Kylie Nakamine and Joelle Herron each score in double figures, one on the red team and one on the blue.

Mira Costa post player Joelle Herron excelled as a scorer during her basketball career in Manhattan Beach, oftentimes the recipient of passes from star point-guard Kylie Nakamine.

On Thursday night, the two senior hoopsters were on opposite sides in the South Bay Athletic Club’s All-Star Game, with Nakamine’s blue team taking a 68-63 victory.

“It’s always fun when you play against each other, it doesn’t happen often, but it’s friendly competition,” Nakamine told Manhattan Beach Patch.

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A collection of the best senior players from around the South Bay were split into a blue and red team for the classic contest.

In the first quarter, Herron made two free throws and also rebounded her own miss to then score two inside, pulling her red team even with the blue squad at 17-17.

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The senior spent much of the game on the perimeter, demonstrating the outside shooting touch she excelled with in the Mustangs' CIF playoff games.

“It was fun to do a few different things that you don’t always get to do" Herron told MB Patch. "I just played wherever they wanted me to go and had fun.” 

In the second quarter, Nakamine got to the line and predictably knocked down both shots, something she did all season long. [The Max Preps website lists her as tops in girls basketball, with 93 percent shooting from the line. In February, she tied a girls basketball state record, going 18 for 18 from the line during a game against West Torrance.]

The red team held an 11-point advantage late in the second quarter, but Peninsula’s Shannon Tsumaki made a three pointer before halftime to cut the deficit to 39-31.

In the second half, Nakamine ignited her blue team, connecting from long distance and then on a layup.

“It was a really fun game," said Nakamine. "It was my first time playing with a lot of those girls.”

Nakamine pushed the tempo, getting the ball ahead to Inglewood’s Camille Baker for a layup, putting the blue team in front at 40-39.

The lead flip-flopped with Herron regaining it for the red team on a bucket mid-way through the third. The game remained tight up through the fourth quarter.

With 52 seconds remaining, Nakamine would not take her chances at half court, instead electing to make a lengthy pass ahead to Baker, again for a streaking layup and putting the blue team up for good at 67-62.

Baker finished with a game-high 15 points for the blue team with Nakamine not far behind with 12.

Herron and Carson guard Chante Miles were the high scorers for the red team with 10 points each.

Nakamine has earned an academic scholarship to both Gonzaga University and UC Davis, but has yet to make a final decision on which school she will attend.

“Gonzaga is probably in the lead right now," she told MB Patch. "They are a fun team to watch. Their point guard [Courtney Vandersloot] is crazy good."

Herron is deciding between Southern California area schools Biola University and Point Loma. While she does not intend to continue playing basketball in college, Herron will be busy with plans to study biology and pre-med.

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