Players still get to hoop it up

The boys and girls games stay fun, despite a fee.

lakewood» The Show went on without much of a hitch.

Indeed, the all-star basketball games for boys and girls changed. Previously hosted by the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center, they were picked up by the Biokats Sports Network and held Friday night at Colorado Christian University. No one seemed to mind. The girls game resulted in a 76-46 blowout, but the boys enjoyed a totally different finish, settling the matter on a 25-foot, fallaway 3-pointer at the buzzer to cap a 100-97 final.

Perhaps the one glaring difference in the 16th version of the games was that each of the 38 participants — from all over the state and chosen by a panel that included media — had to pay a $50 fee, but most everything else was status quo. And the fees next season will be handled.

“We were able to make it work,” Biokats’ Jerry Howard said.

The game was in line with NCAA and state rules, and players received a couple of shooting shirts, some shorts and other workout gear, Howard said.

“And in the future we’ll get more lead time, get more sponsors and just provide more,” he said. “We’ll change the date and make it much sooner, in early April or late March.”

But the on-the-fly version of the games worked. Brenna Chase of Broomfield — MVP of the victorious Blue Team (ThunderRidge’s Alyssia Martinez was MVP for the White) — said she was happy the offseason games were continued.

“Oh, yeah, for sure, I was so excited that we were going to have it,” the BYU signee said. “You can see the good and new players, and who’s going to be good next year in Colorado.”

Overland coach Danny Fisher, who has overseen the past two Class 5A title teams, called it “a blast, and the kids had so much fun."

He added that the games “are necessary.”

Fittingly, the two MVPs, Rangeview’s Tyrei Randall and Overland’s Jervae Robinson, both played in Aurora, which has dominated big-school play. Randall headed the White with 23 and Robinson won the game for the Blue with 27.

“I couldn’t think about going out (in his career) any other way, like a dream come true,” Robinson said. “This is a great opportunity, and I’m thankful.”