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The women biggie-sized the score of the McDonald’s All American Game at Freedom Hall. The 24 high school stars that united from across the nation combined to score 181 points, with the East team taking home a 105-76 victory.
The Wednesday night game was the sixth installment of the McDonald’s Women’s All American Game, and marked the first time the event had been played in Louisville. The players represented 17 different states and will be attending 15 different Division I universities.
The game implies that the rich will get richer among the college basketball ranks. Eight of the participants will be headed to teams playing in this year’s NCAA Final Four, including three that are headed to the University of Tennessee.
All of the women that participated in this year’s game scored and received at least 14 minutes of playing time. The game was very fast paced, but poor shooting plagued the West. The East squad shot 40.6 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from the three-point line, while the West squad shot 31.3 percent from the field and 12.0 percent from the three-point line. The teams combined for 44 turnovers that led to 44 points. The East team outscored the West 20-4 on fast break points.
While the game was televised, what happened behind the scenes has the biggest effect on the high school seniors. All 24 of the All Americans visited the Kentuckiana Ronald McDonald House and interacted with the families and play with the children.
“It was a great opportunity for us,” said Khadijah Rushdan, the 5-foot-9 guard from New Castle, Del. “Seeing the children was one of the real bright spots.”
A portion of all proceeds from the 2007 games will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana. The McDonald’s All American Game has generated over $5 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities in its 30-year history.
