Blue Team all-stars win in overtime

BY SHANE HENNIGAN
Times Shamrock Writer

In a game that was merely an exhibition, J.C. Show wanted to redeem himself and make one final play of his illustrious career.

After missing the potential game-winner in regulation, the Abington Heights’ senior went coast-to-coast for a three-point play with four seconds remaining in overtime to give the Blue Team a thrilling 115-114 victory over the Red Team in the annual Lackawanna League all-star game Monday night at Valley View High School.

Show scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed five rebounds on his way to being named his team’s most valuable player.

“I definitely wanted to make a play to help us win,” Show, a Bucknell University recruit said. “We were just trying to have fun, but at the same time when it got to the fourth quarter and overtime, both teams kind of upped the defensive intensity a little bit, trying to play to win. And it’s more fun that way.”

Susquehanna County athletes on the Blue Team included Montrose players Cameron Dean and Erik Burgh.

Elk Lake’s Tanner Reyan and Matt Woolcock played on the Red Team.

With just less than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Holy Cross’ Connor Jones drained a 3-pointer to put the Red Team ahead, 98-94. But the Blue Team responded with an 11-0 run, started by a Show basket.

After a missed basket by the Red Team, Abington Heights’ Evan Maxwell, who finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, grabbed the board and dished it to Montrose’s Cameron Dean, who finished the play with a dunk to tie the game at 98. Show then gave the Blue Team a 100-98 lead with 2:38 remaining.

Valley View’s Mike Rotell, who finished with 12 points, added another basket and Show drained a 3 with 1:45 left to give the Blue Team a 105-98 lead.

The Red Team, however, responded with a run of its own, led by Riverside’s Connor Mailen, who finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Mailen’s offensive putback cut the lead to five and his 3 on the next possession made it a two-point game.

And after a Blue Team miss, Mailen grabbed the rebound and passed it to Elk Lake’s Tanner Reyan, who scored with 15 seconds remaining to tie the game at 105.

As the crowd rose to its feet, Show took the ball up court, drove to the right elbow and pulled up, but his shot clanked off the back rim and the game went to overtime.

The Red Team started overtime on a 9-2 run. Mailen’s basket put it ahead, 114-107, with just under a minute remaining. Rotell responded by banking in a 3 and after a missed free throw by the Red Team, Rotell was fouled and made both free throws to cut the lead to 114-112 with 13 seconds remaining.
After the Blue Team was forced to foul, the Red Team missed another free throw, which was rebounded by Show. Taking the ball up the far sideline, Show drove in for the tying layup and was fouled. His ensuing free throw was nothing but net, and a desperation half-court shot at the buzzer by Honesdale’s Kevin Miller came up short.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Show said. “We got to practice and play pick-up with each other (Sunday). Some of them I’ve played AAU with the past couple years. You have so much respect for these guys and what they’re able to do and see what they’re all about.”

The Blue Team was also led by Mid Valley’s Alex Prislupsky and Carbondale Area’s Isaiah McCord, who each scored 11 points.

Jones was named MVP of the Red Team. He scored a game-high 26 points, including five 3-pointers, and grabbed 10 rebounds.

“This was awesome,” Jones said. “Throughout the season, you’re working so hard to beat these guys, and now you’re working hard to be teammates. The whole game it’s fun, fun, fun but at the end our competitive nature comes out.

“I’ve always wanted to put 100 points on the board and to be able to do it with the kids you compete against is pretty cool.”

Reyan finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds and Holy Cross’ Connor Callejas added 12 points for the Red Team.

All-star members included:
BLUE TEAM
Coach: Mike Abda, Mid Valley
No. Name School
1 – J.C. Show Abington Heights
2 – Evan Maxwell Abington Heights
3 – Alex Prislupsky Mid Valley
4 – Mike Rotell Valley View
5 – Cameron Dean Montrose
6 – Ethan Danzig Abington Heights
7 – Martin Walsh Mid Valley
8 – Mike Becchetti Dunmore
9 – Jimmie Aversa Old Forge
10 – Jamel Blanding Wallenpaupack
11 – Sean Padden Scranton
12 – Isaiah McCord Carbondale Area
13 – Erik Burgh Montrose

RED TEAM
Coach: Al Callejas, Holy Cross
No. Name School
1 – Kevin Miller Honesdale
2 – Tanner Reyan Elk Lake
3 – Connor Callejas Holy Cross
4 – Connor Jones Holy Cross
5 – Joe Raniero Delaware Valley
6 – Noah Beh Scranton Prep
7 – Cole McConnell Honesdale
8 – Matt Woolcock Elk Lake
9 – Connor Mailen Riverside
10 – Mason Marsico West Scranton
11 – Shane Fowler Delaware Valley
12 – Kevin Bannon Scranton Prep
Red Team (114) – Connor Jones 10 1-1 26, Tanner Reyan 8 2-2 20, Connor Mailen 5 2-2 15, Connor Callejas 5 2-4 12, Mason Marsico 4 0-0 8, Kevin Bannon 3 1-2 8, Matt Woolcock 3 0-0 8, Shane Fowler 3 0-0 6, Cole McConnell 2 0-0 5, Noah Beh 2 0-0 4, Joe Raniero 1 0-0 2, Kevin Miller 0 0-0 0 . Totals: 46 8-11 114.
Blue Team (115) – J.C. Show 7 1-1 19, Evan Maxwell 8 2-2 18, Mike Rotell 4 2-2 12, Alex Prislupsky 4 0-0 11, Isaiah McCord 4 0-0 11, Martin Walsh 4 0-0 8, Ethan Danzig 3 0-0 8, Jimmie Aversa 2 1-2 7, Cameron Dean 3 0-0 6, Mike Becchetti 2 0-0 6, Sean Padden 1 2-2 4, Erik Burgh 1 0-0 3, Jamel Blanding 1 0-0 2. Totals: 44 8-9 115.
3-point goals: RED 14 (Jones 5, Mailen 3, Reyan 2, Woolcock 2, McConnell 1, Bannon 1), BLUE 19 (Show 4, Prislupsky 3, McCord 3, Rotell 2, Danzing 2, Becchetti 2, Aversa 2, Burgh 1).
Rebounds: RED 59 (Reyan 12), BLUE 61 (Maxwell 12).