Ella Falk expects 2023 Lions All-Star game to be 'super fun'

JAMESTOWN — Ella Falk has been in the bleachers at her fair share of North Dakota Lions All-Star Basketball games.

This summer, it's her turn to be out on the floor.

The Jamestown High School senior is one of 12 Class A standout basketball players to be named to the 2023 North Dakota Lions All-Star Basketball Series roster.

Games are scheduled to be held at Bismarck High on July 10 and at Fargo Davies on July 11. The girls games are slated to tip off at 6 p.m. with the boys games to follow at 8 p.m.

Falk and the rest of the girl all-stars are scheduled to report to Bismarck for training camp. The Class A and Class B boys teams will train in Fargo

"I was very honored that I got selected," Falk said. "The Class of 2023 for both Class A and Class B has some incredible talent. I think it not only will be super fun for us players but it’ll be a great game to watch."

Falk ended her senior year with a whopping 419 points, 147 more than anyone else on her team. The senior averaged 17.5 points per game and set a new school record for the most points scored in a single game with 41. Falk also eclipsed the 1,000-point mark after playing only four games this season.

"I think the most exciting part about this game is it’s an opportunity for the best girls basketball players in the state to come together and compete," Falk said. "This won’t be the last time I play basketball but I think it’s a fun way for all of us to finish our high school basketball careers before we move on to the next steps in life."

Falk was 87.5% from the stripe and hit 39.7% of her shots from 3-point range. Falk now holds the JHS record for the most 3-pointers made in a game with nine. She led the team from the floor, shooting 54.1%.
The senior was the team's second-leading rebounder with 191 nabbed. She was tabbed as the Blue Jays' assist leader with 92 and while she only measures 5-foot-8, Falk led the team in blocks with 13. She had the second-highest total when it came to steals (28) and only had 31 fouls called on her — the lowest of any Blue Jay starter.

Falk has been with the Jays since her eighth grade season. She led the WDA in total assists for four straight seasons and did her part to get the Jays to three of the last four WDA tournaments. Falk also was a part of the Jays' first state tournament team since 2014. The Jays qualified for State in 2021.

Falk will be lining up next to the likes of Emily Ash of Dickinson, Bergan Kinnebrew of Century, Legacy's Alyssa Eckroth and Peyton Neumiller who was a standout for Bismarck High.

A slew of East Region stars such as Miriley Simon and Chloe Pfau of West Fargo, Mya Metcalf of West Fargo Sheyenne, McKenna Koolmo of Wahpeton, Valley City's Brooke Eggermont and Fargo North standout Arden Faulkner round out the Class A roster. Fargo Davies' Ashley Wacha and Maci Wheeldon are noted as Class A's two alternates.

Contributed / Matt Mullally, WDA Executive Director

"I’ve been fortunate to play on many different teams and in some cases I have played with some of my high school season opponents," Falk said. "As for team chemistry, I’m not sure it’s possible to create a ton of basketball chemistry in a couple of days. With that said, with the excellent coaching and talented group of girls, I’m sure we will be able to put together a couple of Class A wins."

The Class A squad will be headed up by Grand Forks Red River's Kent Ripplinger — who led the Roughriders to its first state championship since 1988 back in March.

While Class A has got what some might see as a "stacked" roster, it's going to take more than that to intimidate the Class B squad.

"I’ve watched so many Class B games and I really enjoy it," Falk said. "I watch a lot of games throughout the season and like to keep up with the standings and such."

The Class B group boasts players like Kidder County's six-year varsity team member Kennedy Harter, Olivia Dick of Thompson, Bowman Country's Ellie Powell, Kindred's Kacie Bruner and Ms. Basketball finalists Decontee Smith and Halle Crockett.

Crockett was named the Region 1 Senior Athlete of the Year. She set the Northern Cass record for the most points scored in a game (52) and surpassed the 2,000-career point mark this last winter. Crockett has signed to play collegiately at the University of Jamestown next year.

Edgely/Kulm-Montpelier's Norah Entzi, along with Harys Beauchamp of Beulah, Rugby's Josephine Wolf, North Prairie's Morgan Leas, Ms. Basketball finalist Natalie Decoteau of St. John and Grafton's Ainsley McLain will act as this year's Class B alternates.

"The Class B team that was assembled for this year is full of extremely talented girls all the way through the roster," Falk said. "I’ve been very lucky to have played with a lot of the girls on the team and they’re all such great people and basketball players. It will be so much fun to get to play against them."