By By SCOTT NOVAK / Vigilant/Argus
The Michigan All-Stars hit 30-of-40 free throws Friday night at Bethel College to capture the Sports Fest 2005 girls' basketball championship.
Michigan, which held a slim 31-30 halftime advantage, outscored Indiana Metro 47-36 in the second half to claim the victory.
The duo of Cassopolis' Jealyn Foston and Niles' Amber Peters did much of the damage as they combined for 40 points.
Foston led all scorers with 22 points, while Peters finished with 18 points.
Peters scored 15 of those points during the second half.
Metro looked like they were going to run away with the contest in the opening 20 minutes as they raced out to a 15-4 lead.
But Michigan came back with a run of their own, outscoring the Metro All-Stars 19-8 to knot the game at 23.
Michigan hit 17-of-23 free throws in the first half to grab the one-point halftime advantage.
In the second half Michigan opened up a 10-point advantage before an 8-0 run cut the deficit to just 54-52 with just over nine minutes remaining.
It was all Michigan from there.
An 8-0 run and then numerous trips to the foul line sealed the deal for the Michigan All-Stars.
Besides Foston's and Peters' points, Michigan also got 11 points from Melanie Demler, seven points from both Dee Dee Thompson and Kate Whittaker, and six points from Kim Gear.
Michigan had 57 rebounds in the contest which helped overcome 34 turnovers.
Thompson and Foston each had nine turnovers for Michigan, while Demler and Peters both finished with seven.
Indiana was led by Tiffanie Graham's 18 points. Teisha Newsome finished with 10 points.
MICHIGAN 78
Melani Demler 4 3-3 11, Christine Drach 0 0-0 0, Jealyn Foston 6 10-11 22, Kim Gear 3 0-0 6, Kendra Kutz 1 2-3 4, Amber Peters 5 8-10 18, Melissa Olsen 1 1-4 3, Dee Dee Thompson 2 3-5 7, Kate Whittaker 2 3-4 7 Totals: 24 30-40 78
METRO 66
Amy Amacher 1 1-5 3, Krystal Duensing 2 0-0 6, Tiffanie Graham 7 4-8 18, Tori Johnson 1 1-2 4, Stefani King 0 0-0 0, Monica Macellari 2 1-6 6, Teisha Newsome 5 4-6 14, Kendra Reynolds 2 1-2 5, Katie St. Clair 4 1-1 10. Totals: 24 13-30 66
Halftime Score: Michigan 31, Metro 30
Three-point baskets: Metro 5 (Duensing 2, St. Clair, Johnson, Macellari). Total fouls: Michigan 22, Metro 25. Fouled out: Newsome (Metro)