While Marietta High's Amanda Brown and Waterford's Emily Brown are not related, they will be family for one night at least when Ohio's lady all-stars play West Virginia's in the 11th annual Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis Basketball Classic at Parkersburg South's Rod Oldham Athletic Center at 6 p.m. Friday.
In the BACF series, Ohio and West Virginis are deadlocked at five games apiece. Last year, the ladies from the Buckeye State won a 74-53 decision.
The play of the Browns could be one of the key factors if Ohio prevails again in this year's game.
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Waterford senior and Ohio BACF All-Stars captain Emily Brown (32) battles a Miller player for the ball during a contest.
Both Browns are 2012 All-Ohio honorees, and if they're on the floor at the same time, Ohio might have a nice, classic inside-outside game on offense.
"Emily and Amanda have actually play against each other before when we (Waterford) faced Marietta a couple of years ago," said Ohio BACF head coach and Waterford girls boss Jerry Close. "We didn't play Marietta this season, but they're back on our schedule next season."
This past winter, 5-foot-6 Amanda Brown was Marietta's second leading scorer, averaging 12 points per game. The Lady Tiger senior finished with 289 points, 80 steals, 144 rebounds, and a team-high 81 assists.
A lefty, she was 46 of 76 from the foul line.
Brown was very instrumental in helping Scott Cozzens-coached Marietta compile a 19-5 overall record. The Lady Tigers got as far as the regional semi where they bowed out to Jonathan Alder, 70-60.
Recently, in the annual District 13 Coaches Association girls all-star game at Jackson High, Brown drained three triples in a 46-34 triumph.
Emily Brown, a 5-9 swing player, was Waterford's leading scorer in her senior season, averaging nearly 19 points per game. A 1,000-plus points career scorer, she also averaged a team-high 5.9 rebounds and 3.4 steals a contest.
She will be the captain of the BACF Ohio all-stars.
Very athletic, Brown helped the Lady Wildcats post a 20-4 overall mark this past season.
The Browns won't be the only offensive weapons that Close will have at his disposal.
Allie Grace Proctor of Warren will be one of Ohio's best all-around players on the floor. An All-Ohio honoree, she averaged 12 points per game, and had one memorable triple-double in a win at Parkersburg High last December.
Along with being the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League (SEOAL) Co-Player of the Year and a District 13 first-team selection, the 5-6 Proctor was honored as the Most Valuable Player in the District 13 all-star tilt.
Warren was 18-6 in Proctor's senior season.
Allison Flowers of Belpre is another All-Ohio honoree, who paced the Lady Golden Eagles this past winter. In the District 13 all-star game, the 5-8 forward tallied a game-high 12 markers.
Looking at the rosters, Ohio could have a slight height advantage in the frontcourt over West Virginia. Sammi Hanson of Fort Frye is 6-foot, Mackenzie Haessly (Frontier) and Chasity Brooker (Meadowbrook) each is 5-11. Lauren Poe (Fairland) is listed at 5-10.
Rounding out the Ohio roster are Karie Fuller (Fairland), Meredith Harless (Jackson), Hannah Jones (Caldwell), Kelsey Lerch (Belpre), Kaitlin Pottmeyer (Waterford), and Carissa Wukelich (Shenandoah).
"There's a lot of talent on this team," said Close, who also coached the Ohio BACF all-stars in 2009. "And I'm just happy to have an opportunity to coach these girls. Typically, I'm just going to let them play their game and have fun.
"This is a great event, and it's very well run. It's all about helping people in need - and that's what it's all about."
