By Michael Sudhalter

Special to The News

WINNIE — Kaitlyn Gil wanted to make the most of her last opportunity to wear a Port Neches-Groves jersey.

The Lamar signee did just that, earning the East Team’s Most Valuable Player honors in a 3-1 victory over the West in the Christus All-Star Volleyball Classic on Friday night at East Chambers High Gymnasium.

“It was exciting to represent PNG one last time,” Gil said. “Wearing that PNG uniform was a great honor, and playing for [recently retired PNG coach] Barbara Comeaux last season meant a lot to me.”

East head coach Ashlee Broussard of Orangefield enjoyed the opportunity to coach Gil.

“It was such an honor,” Broussard said after the East’s 25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 25-22 victory. “She makes you better as a coach, and she makes all of the players around her better.”

Joining Gil was former Mid-County rival, Destiny Miguez of Nederland.

“The game made me miss volleyball,” said Miguez, who will play soccer at LSU-Eunice next season.

Goose Creek Memorial’s Brooke Byer was named the West Team’s MVP.

THOMAS REPRESENTS

EAST IN GIRLS GAME

Cassidy Thomas of Nederland was the only area representative in the Christus All-Star Girls Basketball Classic.

She scored two points — on a first half layup — for the East in a 72-55 loss.

“Playing in the game was cool, and it was a new experience,” said Thomas, who will play basketball this winter at Concordia University Texas in Austin.

The East trailed 36-29 at halftime and 48-41 at the end of the third quarter. They opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run to take a brief 49-48 lead.

The West answered with 11 unanswered points en route to victory.

The MVPs were Crosby’s Ta’Nya Gibson (West) and Silsbee’s Dakota Matthews (East).

BOYS GAME

There was a boys basketball game on Friday night, but it did not feature any players from Memorial, Nederland or PNG.