All-Stars enjoy one last night of hoops

By Ryan Jones

Nick Brown of Warren JFK scored 24 points and won the slam dunk contest.

BOARDMAN — For those looking to hold onto fleeting winter days and the last gasps of the High School basketball season — the 39th Annual Al Beach Classic presented by the Mahoning Valley Coaches Association featured some the finest hardwood competitors in the Schoolgirl and Schoolboy all-star games.

In the Schoolgirl Classic the Red team (Mahoning and Columbiana Counties) toppled the White team (Trumbull County) 80-61, while in the Schoolboy Classic the White (Mahoning and Columbiana) squad ran away from the Red (Trumbull) and posted a 109-86 victory.

Warren JFK senior Nick Brown, who totaled a game-high 24 points in the Schoolboy game, said he didn’t like losing big to the White team, but that he had fun competing against the best players in the area.

“It was great to run up and down with these guys,” he said. “I know some of us were out of basketball shape, but to compete was fun.”

The 6-foot-7 pivot captured the boys slam dunk contest by besting East’s Kenny Carter.

For his final dunk Brown threw down a vicious one-handed windmill — an aerial display that appeased his teammates and gave him the title.

“That’s only about the third time I’ve gotten it to go down,” he said about the windmill. “I told my teammates that I had something special for the last dunk. Last year I competed and I don’t think I made any dunks, so I wanted to have a better showing this year.”

Campbell Memorial’s Dorian Jones, who led the White team with 17 points, was named MVP.

I’ve got another all-star game [Frank Bubba Classic] to play in Friday, maybe I’ll win MVP in that one too,” he joked. “But it’s awesome to play against different competition, especially when everyone is so good,” he said. “I just came up and played my game and ended up winning MVP.”

Kevin Blinsky (14 points), John Williams (14 points) and Olonzo Johnson (13 points) led a balanced attack for the White squad.

Williams, a 6-foot-4 senior from Austintown Fitch, canned four triples in the contest and another 16 to be crowned winner of the 3 point shootout.

“I felt good during warm-ups,” Williams said. “I knew I was going to be on fire. I just kept looking at the same spot on the rim and the shots kept falling.”

For the Red squad Anthony Cleveland totaled 19 points and Todd Medallis chipped in with 11.

In the Schoolgirl Classic, Crestview’s Chelsea Bowker put on a 3-point clinic. The 5-foot-11 St. Bonaventure recruit nailed seven 3-pointers as she led the Red team to an 80-61 win.

“Playing in this type of game is awesome,” said Bowker who scored 23 points. “You get to play with kids who all have the same potential you do. The game is faster and more aggressive. It was an honor to be a part of the game.”

With Bowker sizzling on the perimeter, Ursuline’s Victoria Miles found plenty of room to operate in the paint.

The 6-0 senior totaled 10 of her 13 points in the first half.

“Our team had chemistry, and so did Chelsea and I even though we’ve never played together before,” Miles said. “It felt great to be selected out of many deserving players. To go out and represent your team and high school is what it’s all about.”

Kalie Luklan scored 11 points for the Red team.

Kelsey McGregor led the White squad with 13 points, while Kelly Barzsak tallied 11 points and Cara Julian added nine.

Maggie Sell (United) won the 3-point contest by making one more trey (12) than Champion’s Erika Stevens (11).