Local trio enjoys all-star experience

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Three area girls basketball standouts enjoyed a proper send-off Saturday.

Crystal Lake South four-year varsity guard Katie Burton, Hampshire four-year varsity guard Chrissy Heine and Johnsburg four-year varsity point guard Megan Lopez played their final high school basketball game this weekend after they were selected to be members of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s annual All-Star game.

“I was talking to [Johnsburg coach Mike Toussaint] before I left, and it was weird to talk about it being my last game ever,” Lopez said. “But it was a great last game. It was just a lot of fun.”

Being chosen was an honor in itself, but stepping onto the court at Illinois Wesleyan’s Shirk Center in Bloomington with the state’s top girls basketball talent was thrilling, Heine said.

“Words can’t really describe it,” she said. “It was a blast. Normally, you have your last high school game during the season, but I was lucky enough to have this as my last game with this amazing team full of talented players. It was unreal.”

Burton also enjoyed the weekend.

“Even at practice (on Friday) we didn’t go very hard, but the level of play was so high,” Burton said.

Burton, Heine and Lopez played for the Class 3A/4A North team, which beat the 3A/4A South team. Class 1A and 2A All-Stars also were split into North and South teams.

Burton, who has committed to Wisconsin-Whitewater, said she logged significant minutes, as did Lopez and Heine, who has signed with St. Xavier.

Because the weekend was an all-star affair, New Balance rewarded each athlete with a new pair of shoes, a workout penny, a pair of shorts and a new uniform.

On Friday, the IBCA honored the athletes with a banquet at which players were introduced individually with their parents.

Athletes slept in Wesleyan’s dorms with a randomly assigned roommate, which made the experience that much more interesting, Burton said.

“I was glad they did it that way because it allowed me to meet more people,” said Burton, who was paired with West Aurora standout Devin Vaughn.

“Overall, I would say if anyone ever has the opportunity to do this they shouldn’t pass it up. It was really exciting and such an honor.”