Arlington High School graduate Britt Nielsen and Addie Sullivan of Blair joined forces July 23 during the 45th Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star girls basketball game.
Their Blue squad fell to the Reds, 65-59, at Lincoln North Star, but both standouts enjoyed the experience playing alongside their fellow all-stars from across the state.
“Honestly, even with how little time we got, we all became really close,” Nielsen said.
“It was such a cool experience,” Sullivan added. “Met a lot of cool people.”
It was a competitive game on the floor, but Nielsen noted how the night was more about having a good time playing hoops.
“They were just really fun,” she said, describing her teammates. “They matched my energy.”
After the Red team jumped out to a quick lead, the Blues battled back and evened the score by the end of the first period, 16-16.
It was 34-29 in the Reds' favor through two quarters before Sullivan's first bucket on a cut to the basket tied it up again. Nielsen added two points during the third period as well before Sullivan's second make from inside the lane pulled the Blues within 54-52 during the fourth.
“It's just so cool to see all of these people on social media and then just connect with them in real life,” Sullivan said, noting how basketball impacted all of their lives and brought them altogether.
The Blue squad's Norah Gessert of Millard West led all scorers with 17 points, while Waverly's Annie Harms scored a team-best 14 for the Reds in victory. Gessert is set to play for the Creighton Bluejays next school year and Harms is headed to Morningside University.
Sullivan, however, will play her college basketball at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
“I'm very, very excited,” she said. “It's going to be a cool opportunity for school and basketball.”
Nielsen, meanwhile, is set to play softball at Iowa Western Community College. The chance to compete as a Reiver came together late in the process during June.
“I just didn't want to miss an opportunity if I had one,” the former Eagle said. “So, I talked to the coach and she got me on one of the squads.”
Nielsen said she isn't necessarily expecting to play in Iowa Western's varsity lineup, but is looking forward to the experience all the same.
“I'm excited,” she said. “I just wanted to be apart of another community because I love softball and I love meeting people.”
Both Sullivan and she met some all-stars on the Blue squad.
