All-star game caps off exciting basketball season

Players from The Morning Journal coverage area laced up their shoes one more time to represent their high schools one final time. Six players were selected to participate in the Greater Cleveland Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game that was held at Gilmour Academy on April 22.

Included in the selections were Graig Mogus and Marsuan Robinson from Elyria, Cal Reghi from Westlake, Casey Kelly from Firelands, Ethan McQuate from Fairview and Ashton Price from Bay.

Many of the players were putting up any and every 3-pointer they saw, as well as a lot of dunks for both sides in every game.

While all three games followed the traditional allstar games little to no defense being played, this was more about both teams getting the chance to go out and play the game with some fun and allowed for players to be themselves and play a lot looser than usual, even without being with their usual teammates for the most part.

McQuate said the players had one more chance to play the game that they love and were able to jel just as fast as usual.

“It was a bunch of fun getting another chance to play and do something that I love,” said McQuate. “It was easy, we just kind of connected right away, and were able to go from there.”

While the 3s were raining and the dunks were jamming, this was the final chance that these athletes would have to suit up for their respective high schools.

While a myriad of the players will be continuing their athletic career at the collegiate level, all players were introduced as wanting to continue to play at the next level, this was their last chance to represent the school that they called home for four years.

Price went into detail on what it meant for him to be in the blue and red one last time.

“It means so much to me,” said Price. “Bay Village is a great community and getting to grow up there and represent them for the past four years was a blessing. It was fun to get to represent them again and get to play along with the best players in the area.”

Nobody played more basketball than Richmond Heights’ Lorenzo Nettles and Logan O’Brien, who after the conclusion of the first game of the evening were asked to play the second game as well due to some absences.

As far as results were concerned, the East side won the first game, while the West All-Stars won Game 2 and East would win the third and final game. But what really mattered was the fact that after playing through a full season after the last was unceremoniously ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.