Special thanks to
Dave Porter at
Tornadoalleyhoops.com
Friday's
GamesPennsylvania all-stars
top New Jersey all stars
105-82
Mid Penn Girls 76 Keystone Girls 61
Keystone Boys 89 Mid Penn Boys 84
BY MICHAEL BULLOCK
Saturday, March 31, 2007
For The Patriot-News
Kirk Peters and Austin Cook may have been part of the Pennsylvania side as Stage 1 of the Roundball Classic came to a close last night, but the jerseys hanging from their shoulders were the same ones they sported whenever Susquehanna Twp. played at home.
Playing at the Susquehanna Twp. Field House for the final time -- and in front of a nice gathering -- Cook pocketed a team-high 15 points and Peters tacked on 10 more as Pennsylvania capped the all-star three-bagger by cracking New Jersey 105-82.
Harrisburg's Alphonso Dawson and Steve Kirkpatrick of Cumberland Valley
also cracked double figures for Pennsylvania, scoring 14 and 11 points,
respectively.
Bayonne's Nico Sampson topped all scorers with 18 points. Jamar Mason added
13, all after halftime.
New Jersey MVP
Matthew Washington- 6'10"
Patterson Catholic
(Photo credit: Tornadoalleyhoops.com)
"It's a good feeling and a good chance to have some more fun," said Peters, the springy 6-3 forward who plans to continue playing at Penn State-Altoona. "It's been a good run the last two years.
"This was a good end to a basketball career."
Tied 36-36 at the halftime break, Cook and Peters each scored eight second-half points as a Pennsylvania group comprised mostly of players from the Harrisburg and Lancaster areas was able to open up a comfortable lead. Then, using a late spurt, the Keystone State blew it open.
Once it was over, Cook had no clue he was Pennsylvania's top scorer.
Pennsylvania MVP
Alphonso Dawson
Harrisburg H. S.
(Photo credit: Tornadoalleyhoops.com)
Since impressing the college scouts in attendance was each uncommitted player's objective and entertaining everyone was a close second, individual play was plentiful. And, since both clubs had longer rosters than usual, minutes were limited since each guy needed floor time.
Regardless, all of the players had opportunities.
Kenny Garrett of NJ won the Slam Dunk Contest
(Photo credit: Tornadoalleyhoops.com)
Rosters for the game
HERE
Enter Harrisburg's Laron "Manny" Williams.
On the floor near the end of the game, Williams was trailing teammate Joey Hoban down the floor when the Malvern Prep distributor suddenly tossed the ball off the Pennsylvania backboard. Suddenly, the 6-4 Williams elevated, grabbed the ball and executed a powerful two-handed slam.
Later, Cook's pass from the right corner found Williams for another dunk.
"That was crazy," said Cook, referring to Williams' first jam. "I was coming down the floor behind him, looking for some loose change if he missed. Then, he just goes up, grabs the ball with his fingertips and flushes it right in. Those Harrisburg guys are really athletic.
"I don't know what they eat down there; it must be a gene or something. They're so athletic, but it was a pleasure to play with them." NOTES -- Solanco's Nate Kreider and Anthony Rivera of Lebanon each scored 11 points as the Keystone boys beat Mid-Penn 89-84 in the middle game. Mechanicsburg's Chad Zeigler topped Mid-Penn with 14 points, 12 from beyond the 3-point arc. ... The Mid-Penn girls decked Keystone 76-61 in the opener. ... New Jersey's Kenneth Garrett claimed the slam dunk title, edging Dawson, Harrisburg's Lamar Drayton and Trinity's Fran Kuntz. ... Six more games -- four involving the boys and two featuring the girls -- will be played next Saturday at Steel-High's Benkovic Gym. ... Dawson posted three dunks.
MICHAEL BULLOCK: 255-8124 or mbullock@patriot-news.com
Friday's other games:
Mid Penn Girls 76
Keystone Girls 61
Mid Penn MVP Sydney Daviston Susquehanna Twp.
Keystone MVP Erika Barron Tamaqua
Keystone Boys 89 Mid Penn Boys 84
Mid Penn MVP Chad Zeigler Mechanicsburg
Keystone MVP Anthony Rivera Lebanon
(stats courtesy Colin Lacey)
Saturday's schedule HERE