Editoral Statement:

   The Indiana-Kentucky Basketball All-Star Series

   The series as we know it, might change as the newspaper industry in this country is in the same bad financial shape as almost every other industry and with Gannett (the Indianapolis Star) preparing (from a good source) another round of cuts in July, it is possible the Games could be held under a different sponsoring group, if one steps up to the three point line, so to speak, but it's going to take another major entity (Eli Lily kind of money) to accomplish this endeavor.

    With the CIB (they run the Fieldhouse) being behind the eight ball and defecits not likely to ever be over-come unless the Pacers and Colts and those who put on the different venues put up the bucks to do it and not on taxpayers (the ticket buying folks) backs the cost of renting these facilities will probably rise which in fact, be a larger obstacle to hold a charity event as does the Indianapolis Star.

   The Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Basketball Series has been a rich and important part of the high school basketball in this state and has produced many a smile on a child's face and players so it would be a tragedy to lose such a piece of the fabric of the game.

  My request would be get to Bellarmine today (Games start at 3 p.m.) and show Indiana's and Kentucky's appreciation of these games and give a signal to the powers that be, that this is a very, very good charitable event with great purpose.

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    INDIANA SWEEPS KENTUCKY IN ROUND TWO

      In front of 1,869 paid patrons both the Indiana Girls and Indiana Boys swept the series in Louisville at Bellarmine University.

     Bellarmine was a nice step up for the Kentucky part of the equation after last year's Garden's games and with Bellarmine footing the bill for everything except concessions it made for a good day for the Kentucky Eye Foundation.

     But with a little over 7500 fans for both sites games many at the game today felt the end of the series could have saw the curtain drop on the final scene.

     As far as the games were concerned, Indiana's Girls got a fired-up Kentucky contigent to deal with and the Bluegrass Ladies did not roll over and go away but instead fought Indiana tooth and nail all day and lost by ten 85-75 in a very competitive game.

    Whatever coach Steve Helton told his team on the bus ride back from Indianapolis last evening worked, maybe it was just a matter of pride but something put a step to their purpose and had the Indiana team down 43-32 at the half. A second half of excellent shooting by Indiana (51.4%) was to much to overcome that included two devasting three pointers by Lily Svete which inched the Indiana led to six points and Kentucky was never to overcome.

    Skylar Diggins, Indiana's Miss Basketball again loaded up her line on the stat sheet with 29 points, 2 assists and three steals before fouling out with just seconds remaining in the game.

    Once again the dynamic duo of Kelly Faris 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and 5 steals in 32 minutes of action and Alexandria Bentley 12 points, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal in 29 minutes produced timely shots, passes and on ball defense.

    The line-up again produced parity as tonight's big player was Penn High School and Florida recruit Lily Svete's 8 points and two assists in 12 minutes, De'Airra Goss 6 points, 3 assists and four steals in 17 minutes, Ta'Kenya Nixon's 5 points in 6 minutes, Sydney Weinert's 6 boards, 1 assist and 2 blocks in 17 minutes and Courtney Osborn's 5 points, 5 boards, 3 assists, 2 blocks and three steals in 19 minutes.

     The remaining Indiana line-up of Lecretia Smith 2 points in 8 minutes, Aulani Sinclair 2 points in 7 minutes, Skyler Gick 2 points, 2 assists and 2 steals in 11 minutes and Chrissy Steffen 2 points in 14 minutes along with Dragana Grbic who didn't score in her 2 minutes of floor time.

     Kentucky was led by UK bound Miss Basketball Adia Mathies 19 points, 9 boards, 2 assists in 31 minutes of action and Louisville bound Ashley Rainey's 18 points and 13 rebounds in 29 minutes worth of floor time.

    Tiara Hopper of Butler Traditional was the only other Bluegrass player to reach double figures with 11 points.

    Jacy Bradley added 8 while Ohio County's Mariah Robinson added 7.

    Box score: C:\Documents and Settings\Chiefs\game-03.htm

   INDIANA BOYS COMPLETE SWEEP IN GAME TWO  64-49

   Box score: C:\Documents and Settings\Chiefs\game-04.htm

   Pictures and story to be placed on site Monday

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    INDIANA BOYS, GIRLS ALL-STARS SWEEP BEFORE SMALL CROWD

    INDIANA BOYS DOWN BLUEGRASS BOYS 78-65

    INDIANA GIRLS THROTTLE COUNTERPARTS 105-75

     In what could have been the final curtain for the 59 year old border war series, as we have known it,  the Indiana Boys broke open a close game behind Colt Ryan whose line wasn't all that impressive (12 points, 3 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals in 24 minutes of action) but his in your chest defense of Kentucky's Mr. Basketball Jon Hood was, as Indiana Boys defeated the Kentucky Boys 78-65 before a small but respectable crowd of 5, 775 fans at Conseco Fieldhouse. (NOTE: After the game I asked officials about the crowd and was informed it was actually 600 more than last year's game played at Conseco)

    Hood, the UK recruit got his team off on the right foot with a 3 pointer and scored the Bluegrass boys first nine points of the game. Enter Ryan who switched over to defend Hood who then scored 11 points the rest of the game and his touches were drastically reduced which gave Indiana the boost they needed.

    A flurry of points (9 in 5 minutes) by Matthew Kenney was another boost to the first half efforts.

    Scoring for Indiana were Errick Peck, who continued his outstanding play with 16 points, Ryan's 12 and Kenney's 11.  Indiana Mr. Basketball Jordan Hulls added six assists with Bruce Grimm Jr. adding 3, Derek Elston 6, Scott Wood 7, Stephen VanTreese 5, D J Byrd 7, Jake Odum 0, Kendal Brown 2, Patrick Bade 2 and  Justin Jordan 5.

    Kentucky was led by Hood's 20 while no other player posted double figures.

    In the Girls game, Indiana trailed early on before De'Airra Goss employed the same type defense as Ryan would later and woke up her teammates by causing turnovers and easy opportunities on the offensive end of the ball as the Indiana Girls won easily 105-75.

   Indiana Miss Basketball Skylar Diggins led the Indiana team with 25 points while Alexandria Bentley added 14 and Kelly Faris tacked on 11.

   Aulani Sinclair added 9 while both Chrissy Steffen and Sydney Weinert scored eight a piece.

   Kentucky was led by Tiara Hopper's 19, Kentucky Miss Basketball Adia Mathies 15 and Ashley Rainey's 11.

 

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  More pictures will be forthcoming in following days

 

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   Saturday June 13 the first of the two game series featuring the best of the Bluegrass state (Kentucky) and the Hoosier state (Indiana) at Conseco Fieldhouse will be played with the games beginning at 3 p.m. and then concluding the series at Bellarmine on Sunday June 14th.

    The final game of the Senior-Junior series went to the Seniors for both teams as the Senior girls dismantled the Junior girls team 118-63 behind the scoring of the 2009 Indianapolis Star Indiana Miss Basketball Notre Dame bound Skylar Diggins 22 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and steals in 20 minutes.

   Supporting Diggins were Skyler Gick's 15 points, 5 assists and four steals in 15 minutes, Penn High School and Florida bound Lily Svete 10 points and Indiana bound Aulani Sincliar's 10.

    Kelly Faris, Alexandria Bentley and Sydney Weinert added 9 in support.

    Lecretia Smith added 6, De'Airra Goss 6, Chrissy Steffen 6 points and 4 assists, Courtney Osborn 8, Butler recruit and Terre Haute South's Dragana Grbic 7 and Eastern Illinois recruit Ta'Kenya Nixon's 1.

    The Junior team was led by Tabitha Gerardot 19 and Courtney Moses 13 while no other junior scored in double figures.

         

 

    The Boys Senior Junior was much more entertaining as the Junior team didn't seem to miss Dominique Ferguson one bit, in fact, they looked relieved they could play their game and give the seniors the test they needed before Saturday's first game against Kentucky.

   In a spirited battle in New Albany, the Seniors won the battle 109-94 behind the all around play of Evansville recruit and Batesville graduate Colt Ryan (15 points, 3 boards, 4 assists and two steals in 23 minutes of action) and Stephen Van Treese (13 points, 6 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals in 20 minutes of action).

    Mr. Basketball Jordan Hulls, an Indiana recruit co-led the team in scoring with 17, 3 rebounds along with Errick Peck giving yet another awesome effort (17 points, 4 rebounds in 14 minutes).

    The Junior team was led by Terone Johnson 25 points, 4 assists, hometown Donnie Hale's 15, DeShaun Thomas 13, Jeffersonville's Kegan Clark's 11 and Bloomington North's Julian Boatner's 10.

 

     The 2009 Indianapolis Star Indiana Girls All-Stars got their mission off in the right direction by securing the first game of their two games series with the juniors

    The Senior Girls opened up their portion of the evening in front of a good crowd at Benton Central High School by topping a game group of juniors (91-78) who made the senior team work most of the evening before a 20-5 barrage led by Alexandria Bentley and a key three point shot from hometown girl Skyler Gick opened up the game and forged the difference.

    The big 3 of Miss Basketball Skylar Diggins 19 points, 5 assists, 5 steals and only 2 turnovers in 27 minutes, Kelly Faris, 11 points, 4 steals in 24 minutes and Alexandria Bentley 21 points including a 7 of 8 effort from the line in 20 minutes of action led the way.

    Giving good assistance for the evening were Aluani Sinclair 9, Skyler Gick 5, Dragana Grbic 2, Lily Svete 6, Chrissy Steffen 3, Cree Smith 3, Courtney Osborn 4, Sydney Weinert 4, Ta'Kenya Nixon 4 points and De'Airra Goss recorded 9 rebounds a team high.

    Nixon, Svete and Osborn provided excellent defense throughout the evening with Osborn recording 5 steals in 14 minutes of action.

    The Juniors Girls were led by an outstanding effort from Tabitha Gerardot 14 points.

    Other Juniors scoring in double figures were Brandi Richardson 14, Andrea Newbauer 11 and Jasmine Penny 10 points.

     Ashley Pickering, the volleyball recruit from Purdue did a solid job of controlling the Seniors when she was on the floor.

     Purdue recruit Courtney Moses scored 5 points and 9 boards but struggled from the field with 2 of 12 shooting under heavy pressure and a team high six turnovers.

     The Girls games were officiated by Laura Gaybrick, Darren Wright and Kim Yelich.

     The Senior girls are looking to avenge a two game series setback last season including a drubbing by the Bluegrass Girls in Louisville Gardens.

      The Senior Girls are coached by National Coach of the Year Stan Benge, Beth DeVinney and Rachelle Newell while the Girls are coached by Mark Redding, Mark Hurt and Mark Monroe.

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   The Senior Boys split their games last year with their counterparts (Kentucky) and last night they looked to get some swagger back in their step as the took on Indiana's North Junior team in the Bison Dome.

   The Seniors led the Juniors by 4 at the break (45-41) before breaking open the game with a 18 point second half advantage to secure a 105-83 victory.

   On a night when  Mr. Basketball and Indiana University recruit Jordan Hulls scored 5 points, 3 assists and 3 steals in 22 minutes, the Seniors were led by North Carolina State recruit Scott Wood who was a deadly 6 of 10 from the floor including a perfect 4 of 4 from the charity stripe for 17 points in 20 minutes but this night belonged to Cornell recruit Errick Peck 19 points (9 of 12), 6 boards and a block in 15 minutes of action and Valparaiso recruit Matt Kenney's 14 points (6 of 10), 6 boards, 2 assists in 14 minutes of action.

    Louisville recruit Stephen Van Treese added solid play with 10 points, 11 boards in 17 minutes and Derek Elston, Indiana University's recruit with 10 points, 6 boards including four offensive boards.

    Kendal Brown, Southern Illinois recruit added excitement with 7 points, 5 assists and a steal in 15 minutes, Evansville recruit Colt Ryan's 9 points, 5 boards, 4 steals and heady play in his 16 minutes worth of action.

    Other Indiana players contributing to the win were Bruce Grimm Jr (East Tennessee State) 7 points, Patrick Bade 2 points, Indiana State recruit Jake Odum with 3 and recently signed (St. Louis) recruit Justin Jordan provided intensity and excitement in his 13 minutes.

   The Junior boys were led by DeShaun Thomas 15 points and solid play in 19 minutes, Terone Johnson scored 12 points, 5 boards, 2 assists and a steal in 20 minutes and South Central's Jake Kitchell added 10 points in 11 minutes.

    Other Juniors giving good effort included Travis Carroll 7 points in 18 minutes, Donnie Hale 9 points, Russell Byrd 2 points, Jesse Berry 5 points, Zionsville's Chris Welker 9 points and Mikel Harris 6 points and a perfect 3 of 3 from the floor.

    Dominique Ferguson added 3 points but turned the ball over a team high six times, Xavier Jones 3 points and Kennis White added 2 points for the Juniors cause. 

    Officiating the Boys games were Matt Hans, Jeff Jackson and Robert Voss

    The Senior Boys team is coached by David Wood, Bob Nobbe and Marty Gaff while the Junior team is coached by Craig Teagle, Marty Beasley and Mike Saylor.

    Action returns Thursday night from New Albany as both the Seniors Girls and Boys take on the Juniors as they ready for Saturday's opening round of the 59th annual Kentucky-Indiana All-Star series.

 

 

      

  

 

    

 

 

 

   

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 The Indianapolis Star Indiana All-Stars are hard at work readying for the Anthem Kentucky All-Stars this week at Marian College.

  With the economy being in the tank and worsening, despite the media's and Wall Street's best efforts to try to misinform the public, the Indiana All-Stars support has remained solid according to All-Star Game Director Charlie Hall and he is appreciative of it!

   Hall commented, "we have not lost a single sponsor from last season and in these times we are proud of their commitment," then Hall added, "We have to thank Addidas, Marian College for these great facilities Steve Witty and Randy Shields and all the other sponsors for their great efforts to provide our Indiana players the best of everything."

   When Hall was asked about becoming the Indiana All-Star Game Director, Hall was, "honored and humbled, then said, "I have found it as a welcomed challenge, I have found that time management is the most important part of the job and all the little things that are as important as the game itself."

     Hall's rich history in Indiana started when played high school ball here, then coached at Kokomo, was an assistant at Ball State and as Hall recalled, laughlingly said, "hey, I was a scorer in my high school and a lot of people in my community said when I didn't make the team, including a hometown reporter," who is this guy named Larry Bird? who did make the team. It showed me that just scoring wasn't the most important part of the game."

   I am taking this job seriously and we are very fortunate in the fact, that we went 26 for 26 in the kids, great players but great kids!"

          Sydney Weinert, Fort Wayne Southside could be the unknown All-Star, as not to many people without basketball knowledge around the state know of her, till now.

   Weinert is a IPFW recruit who stands 6'2 and averaged 13.8ppg per game and when she was informed of the honor of being a member of the 2009 she said, "I just couldn't believe it, I worked real hard and my team had another great year with Coach (Andy) Rang."

   Weinert added, "it's great to be part of this group, these are great girls and we are getting to know each other and coach (Benge) told us, "hopefully, you will be making lifetime friends by being part of this. (the All-Star experience)

        

  Skylar Gick, Benton Central stands 5'7, averaged 21.7ppg and is a Valparaiso recruit and will get an opporunity not to many players receive in their lifetime, one more home game. Of course, the sectionals were held in the Bison Arena at Benton Central and as Gick said, "I thought that would be the last game I ever played there."

   And again that was before she received the All-Star nod and have one more chance to perform in front of the home folks in the Junior-Senior game scheduled for tomorrow night, June 9th which Gick said was, "cool".

   When asked if she was surprised to be named to the team she offered, "Yes, this class is guard oriented and loaded so to be a part of this is a very high honor."

   Gick has gone through changes in coaches at her high school during her career and found the transistion to Coach Benge to be an easy one, "he knows basketball and is easy to be around, he will get the best from us."

 

   and then there is the University of Connecticut bound Kelly Faris, the ultimate team-mate, 5'11, 27ppg, Heritage Christian, 4 time state champions in Indiana. How appreciative is Kelly, well let's let her explain in her own words,"I am blessed to be included in the best of the best, my faith and perserverence as always seen me through and I am looking forward to the challenge."

    Faris is impressed with her teammates and remarked about this year's team, "This team has a high basketball IQ!" 

    When asked about the format change (going to back to back games) Faris said," sometimes we used to play 10 games a day in the AAU but of course that sometimes wasn't against the talent we will be playing, so we will have to make adjustments as we go along."

    Faris said in conclusion, "this is such a great honor."  

        

  The 2009 Indiana Miss Basketball is Skylar Diggins, 5'10, 29ppg, Notre Dame recruit whose shows say it all, next play. "Sometimes when we just don't get it, I look down at my shoes (on them are the words next on the left foot and play on the right one) which reminds her don't dwell on just what happened learn and then apply to the next situation."

   Diggins is crediting Alexandria Bentley and De'Airra Goss early on in camp for helping the team adapt to Coach Benge's offense and defense. They have both been really helpful to all of us, if we just don't get to the right place, they both played for Coach so they understand what it is he is trying to get us to do, they are very helpful."   

   When asked what it was like to be named Miss Basketball, Diggins offered the following, "this is what you work for, you give credit to all those who helped you, the Lord, your family, your friends, it is a blessing untold and I am humbled by the honor.

   Diggins gives her summer team the Family three of the last four Miss Basketball's in the State of Indiana.

   Others were Amber Harris and Ta'Shia Phillips.

    Both Diggins and Faris are members of the Under 19 year olds who will play for the USA.

    Family head coach Kevin Merriweather commented, "Skylar does whatever it takes and whatever role she needs to play she does the best, she always gives it her best effort."

   

            

  All-Star head coach Stan Benge, when asked if Indiana has a mission to get even said, "No, this is a different group of girls but our goal is to beat Kentucky don't get me wrong."

   When assessing the team Benge said, "this group fits my style of coaching, we set out to get a team that played defense and after the first two days of practice we have a good group here. These girls are super people and the quality of their character is better."

    Skylar Diggins is "special", you just know when she is behind, which hasn't been often, she turns it up another gear, this year when we (Ben Davis) were ahead at Conseco, I could see her just turn it up and Kelly (Faris) is yet another special player who is versatile and I am glad they are both on my side."

   When asked about finding out about the Indiana All-Star head coaching job Benge said, "I really hadn't given it much thought, after being an assistant in 1985 I figured I would not be doing it again." "The only coach who had ever coached twice was Tom May (Crown Point) but that was due to other circumstances so yes, I was very surprised and am honored."

   

  

 Justin Jordan Fort Wayne North Side 5'11, 27.4ppg is a dynamo of a guard while opponents defense his shooting Jordan is just as sound in the assist game.

   Justin had this to say about being selected to the Indiana All-Star team, "I was ecstatic, my family was proud, what a high honor, not many players in Fort Wayne make the team, so I was surprised as well."

   Jordan also offered this in conclusion, "my job is to get everyone involved and that is exactly what I am planning on doing, just look around at all the talent."

  

   Head coach David Wood, West Lafayette is "honored and filled with joy" to be the coach of the Boys Team and has plans to play transition basketball against his Bluegrass counterpart.

   Wood talks about having Jordan Hulls (Mr. Basketball), "he just understands the game, I just have to show him one time and he has picked it up and is applying it."

   "We have a team of 13 players who have been working real hard and are physical," said Wood.

    "We are looking forward to these games, my assistants Bob Nobbe, Greensburg and Marty Gaff, Kouts are valuable on our defensive end and sets, the kids are picking it up and we hope to be ready for our juniors tomorrow night."

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    While true the Indiana-Kentucky game has lost some of it's glamour and interest in the last few years and no one is sure of how long it will continue but don't tell that to this year's group of All-Stars they are ready to continue the history of the series and it will all be played out once again for the 59th time Saturday June 13 in Conseco and Sunday June 14 in Louisville at Bellarmine University.

  

 

 

 

Information on both the Anthem Kentucky All-Stars and the Indianapolis Star Indiana All-Stars

www.kyallstars.net/KyAllStars/index.asp

www.indystar.com/allstargames