Cape stars shine in classic win 100-97
For some at the SFABC All-Star Classic Monday night, it was time to call it a career. For others, it was time to start a new chapter.
The North team that featured four Cape Coral-area stars won Monday night’s high school all-star boys ‘basketball game 100-97 at Bishop Verot High School.
The North team led by 20 points in the second half, but the South scratched back into it late with two chances to tie in the final 11 seconds.
For Mariner’s Rodney Hunter, it’s time to transition to the college game. He’ll be playing for Columbia of the Ivy League next season.
And he got a small taste of college hoops Monday night, since the game was played in college-style 20-minute halves instead of high school quarters.
“It’s a lot more basketball so it’s fun, but I’ve got to get in shape,” Hunter said, who scored 11 points and had three assists in the game. “I love the atmosphere,” Hunter said. “I love to play with all the guys I’ve been playing with since fifth grade,” Hunter said.
That includes Fort Myers’ James Brunson, Lehigh’s Abed Abu-Khadier and Tritons teammate Logan Schell.
Before the game, Hunter and Fort Myers’ Mark Matthews were named co-Mr. Basketball for Southwest Florida.
Matthews led North to the win with 29 points Monday.
“It was a lot of fun,” Schell said. “A good time. Throughout the season we play all the guys. It’s just good to compete at a high level.”
For Schell, now it’s time to turn the page.
“I’ll be going to college for academics,” Schell said.
Island Coast’s Matt Jeannelas scored seven points for the North.
“It was fun,” Jeannelas said. “I played with all these guys. I grew up with them.”?For a night, rivals like Mariner’s Hunter and Schell, and Ida Baker’s Derrick Loza were teammates.
“I really didn’t like them when I played them,” Jeannelas said with a grin, “but tonight I liked playing with them.”
Meanwhile, for Loza, Monday night was a reward for toughing it out.
“It was a great opportunity to go up against good competition,” Loza said.
The Bulldogs found wins hard to come by during Loza’s playing career, including a 4-20 season this season. He did what he could, leading Baker with 16.7 points a game as a senior and team captain. Not bad for somebody who didn’t play the game until high school.
“I felt like I had to do everything I can to win,” Loza said of his career. “Sometimes it didn’t work out for us, but I did everything I could.”
His coach at Baker, Jay Sanderson, called Loza “the best kid I ever coached – or met. Derrick’s one of those kids we asked a lot of him. Even as a sophomore he started almost every game. We told him that we needed him to build something, help us build something. He bought into the program. Not once did I question his integrity or loyalty to the program. He stuck with it.”
In the girls’ game, Samantha Wood of Oasis netted eight points with three rebounds and three assists to help the Lee County stars register a 75-60 win over the Collier County stars. Oasis teammate Jordan Westendorf added seven points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Island Coast’s Leanne Ellis didn’t score, but contributed to the win with five rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Lindsay Stramel of North Fort Myers contributed six points and four rebounds.