Offense takes center stage in all-star game

All-star basketball games mean usually one thing — a lot of offense — and Tuesday night’s annual Local Sports Programming event was an offensive explosion.

Suffice to say, the digital scoreboard got quite a workout, as the White squad outlasted the Blue squad, 106-93, in the boys game at Morse Burley Gymnasium,

Players were given free rein, and there were several slam dunks, a lot of alley-oop passes leading to layups and dunks, and a ton of 3-point shooting throughout the boys game.

“That is what all-star games are all about,” said CHS coach Carlos Mendeguia, who coached the winning squad. “It’s really a reward for the seniors and all the hard work they have put in.

“For not practicing as a group, I thought we moved the ball around pretty well. It’s about shooting 3s, making spectacular plays and see who gets to 100 first. The kids get to play for one night against guys they have played against for two or three years. They get to see these guys in a different light.”

Carson seniors Cameron Price and Dilyn Rooker both had a lot of fun. Price scored six points and Rooker was scoreless, but made some nice passes.

“It was like a video game out there,” Price said. “It was all about improving your 2k rating. It was all about going out there and having fun. That’s what I expected and that’s what happened. I wanted to get a dunk, but it didn’t happen.”

“It was fun,” said Rooker. “It was fun to play with Cameron one last time. There is no MVP, so everybody is going to get their shots. I remember watching the game when Rafe (King) and Matt (Nolan) played, and for some reason I don’t remember it being this high scoring. I think there was some defense being played tonight.”

Mendeguia’s White squad led 49-47 at the half (two 20-minute halves were played), but Virginia City’s Clint Hess gave the Blue squad its last lead of the game, 54-53, when he rifled in a 3-pointer.

A 6-0 Blue run cut the White lead to 81-80 with 6:21 left, as Spanish Springs’ Brandon Barlow, Manogue’s Derek Novsek and Douglas’ Sam Broersma scored a bucket apiece.

The White squad bounced back with an 11-2 run to up its lead to 92-82. Galena’s Josiah Wood, who’s headed to Butte College, had seven of his 13 in that stretch, while Price and Galena’s Wes Meadows added a basket apiece. The Blue squad never got the deficit under six in the final four minutes of the game.

Reno’s Colton Crocco led the White squad with 22 points, Galena’s Jared Ford added 18, Reed’s Jamel Ramos added 16, Meadows 14 and Wood 13. Novsek led the Blues with 19, Broersma added 15, Zack Teats 11, and Hess added 10.

After the game, both squads posed for a group picture.

For Rooker and Price, it was the last time they played together, and it’s likely both have played their last competitive basketball game.

“I’m not going to play next year,” said Price, who’s going to attend Western Nevada College. “I’m going to WNC for a year and then I want to travel. I might not ever play basketball again. I’m just not sure right now.”

Rooker is also attending WNC. He wants to become a teacher, and he’ll get some mandatory course work out of the way at the two-year level.

“I’ve always known I wanted to teach one day,” Rooker said.

And, Rooker has always wanted to coach, too. He’ll get an early dose of that when he helps with the Carson freshman football squad this fall. Rooker was one of the smartest football players on the CHS roster a year ago.

“Coach (Blair) Roman asked me a while back,” Rooker said. “I’m excited about the opportunity.”

GIRLS

White 52, Blue 35

Breezi Holt of Bishop Manogue scored 14 points and Douglas’ Leona Mortimer added 10 to lead the White squad to an easy win in the girls contest.

The White squad led 36-28 with 8:10 to go in the game, and Holt keyed a 10-0 run with a couple of lay-ups to help extend the lead to 43-28. The Blue squad never got closer than 13 the rest of the way. Corrryne Millett of Douglas came on strong late, finishing with seven points, all in the second 20 minutes.

Carson was represented by Michelle Perry and Kayla Aikins. Perry was held scoreless and Aikins scored six points. Maddie Preston was scheduled to play, but was ill. Lowry’s Jasmine Marchand led the Blue with eight points.