By Larry Moko
Stars were visible all day Saturday in downtown Hamilton.
On display was the fourth-annual High School Classic where 10 all-star teams from Southern Ontario showed off their basketball prowess from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cathedral High School gym.
Music played throughout as divisional championships were contested for junior boys, senior girls and senior boys.
Hamilton Catholic took top honours in senior boys with a 73-66 decision in the final over defending champion Niagara. Earlier, the Hamilton Catholic senior girls also captured a title, 64-36, over Hamilton Public.
The junior boys' category went to Halton -- 75-56 over Hamilton Catholic.
Peel and London also participated in the action which featured two, 24-minute halfs of running time and slightly altered scoring rules.
There was no cost for admission and jerseys were free for the players.
Jerome Smith is the driving force behind the All-Star Classic concept. He's a product of St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School who went on to play for Mohawk College, Saint Mary's University in Halifax and for a team in Slovakia.
"I'm giving back to this generation," said Smith, who also serves as an executive director of the Mississauga Monarchs organization. "I just want to impact Hamilton as a whole."
Smith has seen the event expand in the last couple of years.
"Last year we were able to invite the regions of Halton and Niagara," he said. "This year, in addition to that, we added Peel and London."
Smith says the High School Classic rewards players with an end-of-the-season all-star experience and at the same time offers college and university coaches another opportunity for recruitment.
"It's great exposure," said Nathan Bruzzese, who serves as the senior boys' basketball coach at St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic Secondary School. He's also on the Mohawk Mountaineers coaching staff.
In the girls' final, the Most Valuable Player selection was Addison Turkstra of the Bishop Tonnos Titans. Other players on that Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic squad included Avery Hedley, Grace MacDonald, Lauren Daly, Caitlin Connolly, Bridget Dinning, Grace Fleming, Myah Ragona, Naomi Stanley, Ellaiva Decosta, Savannah Gallea and Diana Kastenka.
Aaron Daly of the Cathedral Gaels was named MVP in the senior boys' final. His Hamilton Catholic teammates were Josh Granger-Bigford, Antonio Salinas, Omaree Francis, Alex Balogh-Iredale, Isaiah Johnson, Samuel Wleh, Kai Olak, Adam Adili, Luka Pasalic, Salman Alakoozi, Thomas Connolly and Malcolm Detouche.
The Hamilton Catholic junior boys' roster was comprised of Keegan Green, Anthony Russo, Isaiah Audan, Adriano Dipelino, Isaiah Cyrus, Treyvon Williams, Nikitta Whitlock, Christian Hall, Matteo Fuca and Adrian Audu.
Other senior boys' scores were: Niagara 100 Halton 86; London 65 Hamilton Public 63, Hamilton Catholic 100 Peel 39; Niagara 78 Hamilton Public 65; Hamilton Catholic 71 London 61.
Glen Grunwald of Toronto Raptors, Canada Basketball and McMaster University athletics department fame received the Pioneer Award for his contributions to local basketball.
Photos by R.F. (Bob) Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
More photos on HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page
