General | 4/7/2025 12:25:00 PM

Some of the top high school hoopers and volleyball players in Kansas and Nebraska hit the hardwood Sunday, April 6 to compete in the 2025 Thunderbird All-Star Invitational at Arley Bryant Gymnasium on Cloud County Community College's Concordia campus.

The girls basketball all-stars hit the court first, competing in a 70-66 overtime instant classic won by the gold team that was coached by Linn High School head coach Trevor Kuhlman. Nemaha Central's Cami Dalinghaus was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Dalinghaus finished with a game-high 17 points, including three treys. Marilyn Soeken, a guard from Central Plains High School, was named the Defensive Player of the Game. Soeken has signed to play basketball at Cloud County next year.

In the boys basketball game, the gold team coached by Clifton-Clyde's Josh Skocny won 83-69. Great Bend's Ben Nicholson led the scoring with 25 points on his way to being named the game's Most Valuable Player. Will Otott of Marysville was named the Defensive Player of the Game. Otott also scored in double-figures with 12 points, while Andrew Cooper of Pike Valley, Peyton Retter of Concordia and Jack Skocny of Clifton-Clyde had 11 points each. Rock Creek's Coley Burgess led the black team with 25 points.

In the five-set all-star volleyball match, the gold team won four of the sets, 25-19, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23, 12-15. Zoey Sudbeck, a middle blocker from Nemaha Central High School, was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Sudbeck plans to play volleyball at Cloud County Community College next fall. Jenna Storz, a libero from Phillipsburg High School, received the game's Defensive Specialist award.