MARION – The postseason selections from down state continue to present themselves for a few local basketball stars. An elite group of the state’s 2014-15 seniors will participate in the 27th annual North-South Indiana All-Star Classic.
This girls’ and boys’ doubleheader will be played at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion on Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m. (girls) and 4 p.m. (boys).
Twenty-four girls will compete in the first half of this doubleheader highlighted by 2015 Indiana Miss Basketball Ali Patberg of Columbus North, a Notre Dame commit, along with 10 other Indiana All-Stars including, Jenna Allen, Bedford North Lawrence (Michigan State); Alexa Bailey, Bedford North Lawrence (Butler); Jordyn Frantz, NorthWood (Saint Louis); Victoria Gaines, Merrillville (Michigan State); Darby Maggard, Fort Wayne Canterbury (Belmont); Dominique McBryde, Bedford North Lawrence (Purdue); Michal Miller, Michigan City (Arizona); Madeline Raster, South Bend St. Joe (Harvard); Tori Schickel, Evansville Mater Dei (Butler); and Brittany Ward, Pike (Butler).
Other featured performers include 2015 Class 2-A IHSAA state champions Sydney Hall and Allison Schofield of Heritage Christian as well as 2015 Class 4-A state runner-ups Josie Fisher and Grace German of Homestead. The North girls will be coached by Fort Wayne Canterbury’s Wayne Kreiger while Mooresville coach Mark Hurt will lead the South girls.
Twenty-four boys will compete in the second game featuring four Division I recruits who will stay “in state” led by future Purdue Boilermaker Ryan Cline of Carmel as well as Butler-bound Sean McDermott of Pendleton Heights, Valparaiso signee Derrik Smits of Zionsville and Tahjai Teague of Pike, who will attend Ball State.
Also featured in the game are four players that competed in the IHSAA State Finals. Matt Holba of Class 3-A Guerin Catholic (Lehigh) and Bryce Moore of Class 2-A Park Tudor (Western Michigan) were state championships. Austin Compton of Class 2-A Frankton (St. Francis) and Ryan Fazekas of Class A Marquette Catholic (Providence) were state runner-ups.
There are many high-scoring boys, including eight that averaged more than 20 points per game. They are Ryan Welage (30 ppg) of Greensburg (San Jose State); Dylan Windler (27.2) of Perry Meridian (Belmont); Hyron Edwards (25) of East Chicago Central; Devin Cannady (22.4) of Mishawaka Marian (Princeton); Ryan Curry (21.6) of New Palestine; Fazekas (21.5); Trevor Waite (21.1) of Tri-West (Indiana Wesleyan); and Cline (20). The North boys will be led by Brent Brobston, head coach of Frankton while Carmel’s Scott Heady will coach the South.
The 2015 Classic game director is Indiana Wesleyan Athletic Director Mark DeMichael. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling (765) 677-2317.