Valmeyer’s Emmi Stuart pulls down a rebound while playing for the USA East team during the recent United World Games. (photo courtesy Jerry Stuart, Big Stu Films)

A Valmeyer girl recently took her hoops game to the worldwide stage, participating in the United World Games.

Emmi Stuart, who will be a junior at Gibault Catholic High School this fall, was selected by STUDENTathleteWorld to represent the U.S. in the United World Games, an international sporting competition held earlier this month in Klagenfurt, Austria.

At 6-foot-2, Stuart shined as a freshman for Valmeyer, averaging nine points, seven rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. She transferred to Gibault midway through her sophomore season and is eligible to play for the Hawks this December.

Stuart played on the USA East team of eight young women from states east of the Mississippi River in the United World Games.  The teammates met for the first time in New York at the airport on June 13.

They had two practices before starting the tournament, going undefeated in pool play to advance. Stuart’s team lost by one point in the final against the USA West team.

“This game was non-stop action from tip to ending buzzer,” Emmi’s father, Jerry Stuart, explained. “Emmi’s team was up by one with 6 seconds to play and the West team hit a shot at the buzzer to win the game and go on to meet a team from Vienna, Austria in the gold medal game.”

USA East went on to play in the bronze medal game against a team made up of girls from several countries. Stuart’s team won this game by more than 20 points to take the bronze medal.

“Emmi played strong and impacted the game with a solid defensive game and added eight points on the offensive end of the floor,” her dad said.

USA West lost in the gold medal game to capture the silver medal in the 19U division.

Stuart has been asked to compete in the United World Games again in 2017.

“She looks forward to the (2017) games, but not the air travel,” her dad said.

Emmi traveled to play the United World Games with her parents and sister, Taylor, who will be playing for Valmeyer Junior High School as an eighth grader this fall before enrolling at Gibault as a freshman to play alongside Emmi during her senior campaign.