UPDATED: Gambill plays in inaugural Class Basketball All-Star game

NEW CASTLE -- Megan Gambill (with ball) looks for an opening against the Metro All-Star defense here Saturday in first half action. (By Travis David). [Order this photo]

Gambill played for the Class A/2A State team, which squared off against the Class A/2A Metro team. Gambill poured in 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field.

The University of Southern Indiana bound player also contributed with three assists, two steals and two rebounds in helping the State All-Stars to a 95-75 victory.

NEW CASTLE -- Megan Gambill goes up for two of her 10 points here Saturday in the Indiana Class Basketball All-Star Classic. (By Travis David/Greene County Daily World). [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

State All-Star team coach Brad Gossett of Waldron was impressed with the guard from Union (Dugger).

"She is a very nice player to have on the team," Gossett said of Gambill. "She is very versatile and has many skills on the court which everyone was able to see today.

"I could tell just from the brief time this weekend that she has a lot of passion for the game and she fit in well with the rest of the girls."

Indiana State University bound recruit, Andrea Rademacher of Borden, pumped in a game-high of 25 points and was named the MVP for the game.

Gambill's high school coach for the past three seasons, Benji Boyd, was also impressed with her performance.

"I thought she played just outstanding," Boyd said. "I felt like her positioning on both offense and defense was very good, which makes a coach proud."

Gambill, who also participated in the Indiana Top 60 workout a month ago, said her goal was to make her coach proud.

"It felt amazing just being invited to the New Castle All-Star game," she said. "Playing well for Benji was one of my main goals Saturday."

Gambill's only other previous trip to the world's largest gym was in 2000 to watch former Bulldog and Iowa University standout, Brody Boyd, the son of Benji.

Gambill missed a workout with her all-star teammates on Friday, but mentioned it didn't take long to feel comfortable with the 11 other girls on her squad.

"The girls and I hit it off very well," Gambill said. "We had two strings who we played with pretty much the entire game with a couple extra subs, which is something very new to me coming an eight-man team (high school)."

The career assist leader for the Lady Bulldogs (490), said Southern Wells product, Meghan Prible, made her feel welcomed right away.

"She was one of the first girls that I talked to in warm-ups," Gambill said of Prible. "We hit it off very well taking turns at running the point."

Gambill played approximately 16 minutes in the 40-minute contest. Gossett rotated five girls in and out of the line-up at four minute intervals throughout the game.

Boyd said Gambill made an impact when she was in the game.

"It was obvious that she made a difference and helped the team win," the Lady Bulldogs coach said. "Everytime her five was put in, they would stretch the lead out."

In the first three times Gambill entered the game, the State team was either trailing or had a single-digit lead. When Gambill exited, the team had blossomed to double-digits.

Gambill admitted she was not happy with her performance in the Top 60 workout last month, but it was a different story this past weekend.

"I was more relaxed this time out," she said. "In all, I am just happy that I got to represent Dugger one more time and that I proved to myself that I can play with the best in the state."

Boyd said the Top 60 workout was more about the individual and not a team concept, which does not favor Gambill.

"She had more of a chance to prove herself this weekend," Boyd mentioned. "This was more of a team concept where as the Top 60 workout was everyone for themselves, which is not what she is about."

Gambill was one of just two players in the Class A/2A game that has not signed a letter of intent to play at the next level. She will try and walk-on at the University of Southern Indiana in the fall. Boyd said there is no reason why she should not be on the team.

"She won't see any better talent at USI then what she played against this weekend," Boyd said. "It was obvious she belongs in that company. I think it would be crazy of them (USI) if they don't give her a shot.

"It would just absolutely floor me if she doesn't make the team. The coach should fall in love with her when he sees her play."

Gambill became just the fourth Lady Bulldog player to eclipse the 1,000 career point plateau as she finished with 1,023 points. She will conclude her prep career Saturday when she plays in the Class A East/West All-Star game at Blackford High School in Hartford City.