Version No. 15 of The Show, all-star games sponsored by the Nuggets and Gold Crown, didn’t have many fans, but certainly provided some moments.
Below are some of them:
Both games combined to be decided by five points. The boys game had to go into an overtime season and it was different — first team that made a field goal won. And after a few would-be hero shots that didn’t fall, Denver East’s Brian Carey, The Denver Post Mr. Colorado Basketball, settled it with a floater in the lane …
It was fitting. Carey, bound for Texas Southern, carried the Angels all season long and he was the game’s high scorer …
Fastest dude on the court? Undoubtedly, Overland’s Austin Conway, who will be darting to Wyoming …
Broomfield’s Callie Kaiser was money. The Colorado State-bound guard was good, notably late, and game MVP Brooke Pemberton of Fossil Ridge offered steady scoring …
Denver South’s Charles Gavin, a burly sort, was good — again — inside. He knows his place …
Michaela Onyenwere has gobs of talent and the Grandview sophomore, also game MVP a season ago, nearly brought her team all the way back in the closing moments. She had 16 points and an array of rebounds, steals and assists. Know this: If she improves finishing around the rim and at the free-throw line, 30-pount outings will be a regularity …
Chaparral’s Jake Holtzmann (headed for Denver’s Pioneers) had only two points, but teammate Chris Moody (UCCS is next) went for 17, 14 in the second half …
How about this? 1A Jim Elliot Christian’s Tanner Smith took a charge from 5A Montbello’s Malik Hart. I’m assuming that’s the first charge taken by a Jim Elliot player against another from Montbello …
Yes, Colorado Academy’s Justin Bassey can play in any class. He showed it … again …
ThunderRidge’s Taylor Rusk is money. Late in games, she simply does it and she did a lot of it during the season. Her six points down the stretch helped the Gold Team win …
In case you were wondering, Overland’s De’Ron Davis, MVP of the 5A tournament, missed the game. He was elsewhere …
Tella ya what, I have large respect for Fossil Ridge’s Ryan Quaid, who does as well as he does with Type I diabetes …
Of the 40 players, eight were underclassmen, four for each gender …
Let’s face it. We are in Denver Colo. We’re never going to have thousands attend a prep all-star game unless, say, Chauncey Billups goes back to George Washington and still has eligibility remaining. That stated, the Nuggets’ Che Vialpando and Gold Crown’s Bill Hanzlik are gracious, provide opportunity and believe firmly in the game. Plus, the kids will always jump at the chance to play at the Pepsi Center. If you were a kid, wouldn’t you?
