So you missed the star-studded extravaganza on March 27, when six of the area’s best boys and girls basketball players gathered at Hooley House for the presentation of The News-Herald’s boys and girls basketball players of the year?
No matter, you have on more chance to see them.
>> 2018 News-Herald Classic rosters, game information
Well, most of them.
The annual News-Herald Classic, a showcase of the area’s best seniors, will be held March 31, thus putting an end to a long-and-successful winter sports season in The N-H coverage area.
Among those taking part in this year’s event, which features the girls all-star game at 11 a.m. and the boys game at 1 p.m. are five of the six finalists for this year’s Clark Kellogg Award (N-H boys MVP) and girls player of the year.
The only reason it’s not a perfect 6-for-6 is that one of the finalists — North’s Destiny Leo — is a sophomore.
So if you missed an opportunity to see girls player of the year Naz Hillmon (Gilmour), Clark Kellogg Award winner Michael Bothwell (Cornerstone Christian), and finalists Sydney Snyder (Kirtland), Jerry Higgins (VASJ) and Adam Sulka (Chardon), then March 31 is your day.
If that’s not reason enough to come to Lakeland Community College for the two all-star games, here are 10 more reasons to make the trip.
• 10. Many — if not most — people in the area didn’t have a chance to go to the state boys or girls basketball tournament.
With that in mind, this is a chance to see five players who played in state championship games.
Representing Division II state runner up Gilmour are Hillmon and Emma Gurley. Playing one last time for Cornerstone Christian, the Division IV state runner-up, are Kendall Saunders, Jeremy Owens and Bothwell.
Get’em while they’re hot!
• 9. We’ve seen these players with their respective teams. Here is a chance to see some new and interesting combos.
How about Hawken’s Hugh Brown in transition along with Red Team teammate Shane Zalba hammering from 3-point range?
Ever wanted to see Perry’s Claire Dolan and Beachwood Taylor Royster — a pair of two-time All-Ohioans — on the same team?
Here’s your chance.
• 8. This is the time for players from smaller schools to strut their stuff against players from larger schools.
Andrews’ Gabby Culotta was a 1,000-point scorer, and Kayla White was a double-double player at Berkshire. Now they’ll be up against Division I and II players.
Fairport’s Corey Paugh and Kirtland’s Brandon Samsa play in the CVC Valley. They’ll test their mettle against bigger competition at Lakeland this weekend.
• 7. There is a 3-point shootout at halftime of each game. So the best 3-point shooters from the area will be in action, vying for supremacy as the area’s best long-distance dialer.
• 6. All-star games are usually offense-oriented, but don’t tell that to Kenston’s Corenna Maynard.
Arguably the best defensive player in the area — if not on a broader scope — Maynard will undoubtedly look to play some lockdown defense in this all-star event.
She makes watching defense fun.
• 5. While the concession stand is a popular place to be between games, don’t stray too far or too long.
The dunking that goes on during pregame warmups — yes, we do allow that, as opposed to regular high school games — can be quite the spectacle.
In short, there’s a lot of athleticism on the court, and that alone is well worth the price of admission.
• 4. Speaking of the price of admission, where else can you get two all-star games with prime talent for the small price of $5?
Additionally, all proceeds go to the Clothe-a-Child foundation, so the event raise money for a worthwhile cause.
• 3. The games don’t interfere with any other events that will be drawing major attention.
The Indians’ opening series at Seattle doesn’t resume until 4:10 p.m. For those waiting for the NCAA brackets to take a further beating than they already have, the Loyola Chicago-Michigan game doesn’t start until 6:09 p.m., with Kansas-Villinova tipping off at 8:49.
Plenty of time for some high school action.
• 2. It’s Easter weekend, yes. But it’s supposed to be 52 degrees with rain. So Easter Egg hunts will be a miserable, sloppy mess compared to the cozy confines of Lakeland’s gymnasium.
• 1. The biggest reason of all is this — we have some fabulous student-athletes in The News-Herald area.
Whether they participated in the state tournament, won league championships, earned All-Ohio honors or all-league honors, they played for the love of the game all season.
In most cases, this is their last game as a representative of their school.
What better way to go out than with each other in an all-star extravaganza with their peers from around the News-Herald area?
See you there!
Kampf can be reached via email at JKampf@News-Herald.com; On Twitter @NHPreps or @JKBuckeyes
Don’t miss
>> Photo gallery from 2017 News-Herald Classic
>> Photo gallery from 2016 News-Herald Classic