Local all-stars compete in annual North-South exhibition
Salinas
One last chance to compete together. One last chance to show off for the fans.
Basketball was king, or queen, for one more night last Friday, as the First Annual Salinas Steinbeck Rotary North-South All-Star Basketball Classic took place at Hartnell College in Salinas.
Bringing together some of the areas top talent, including Hollister’s Marty Bueno, Tyler Ruiz, Elena Fata and Bri Romero, Gilroy’s Derek Jensen, Marshad Johnson and Angela Silveira, as well as Anzar’s Erik Olson, players were able to show off their skills for perhaps one final time for fans, teammates and even some interested local colleges in attendance.
Despite it deemed an exhibition, though, few on the floor didn’t go all out.
“One hundred percent,” said Romero, who had three points for the North all-stars Friday.
Led by 30 points from Soquel’s Hannah Passafuime, the North all-stars, which covered schools in the Santa Cruz, Gilroy and San Benito areas, defeated the South all-stars 76-64.
Romero and Fata, who both took a break from their softball-playing duties, seemed eager to play one last basketball game together.
“One hundred percent, but we were still out of it – softball mode,” said Fata, who had 11 points.
Added Romero, “It was kind of neat to play along with a bunch of different schools … Our basketball games were so much fun, we didn’t want it to end in a way.”
“And coach Kap was still there,” said Fata, noting the presence of San Benito coach David Kaplansky, who was at the helm for the North all-stars Friday.
“The girls told me at practice that they wanted to win this game,” Kaplansky said. “It was nice to see the girls go out, play as hard as they can and have a good time doing it.”
The North led by as many as 17 points during the second half.
“We were quicker and we just wanted to push it,” said Fata, whose North team pressed, forced turnovers and played otherwise tight defense throughout the game, three factors that are usually non-existent in exhibition all-star games.
That much was true for the boys game as well.
“I think everyone played 100 percent; everyone wanted to show what they can do,” said Jensen, who scored eight points for the North boys.
The South, however, led by 14 points from Alisal’s Elias Rivera, outlasted the North 87-83.
“We all wanted to play 100 percent, to show everyone who came to watch,” Jensen added. “This is the last time we’ll play for colleges …”
It was the first time some players had competed in two months, but San Benito’s Marty Bueno, the North’s second leading scorer with 13 points, appeared to not have lost a step.
“I play everyday pretty much,” Bueno said. “It’s disappointing to lose, you always want to win.
“It’s more fun. It’s pretty much running .. it was just a little fancier.”
Bueno’s teammate, Tyler Ruiz, scored a pair of points as did Olson of Anzar High.
Although the South’s Sal Moran of North Salinas pocketed the night’s lone official dunk, Gilroy’s Johnson came close. During a free-throw attempt by Bueno in the second half, Johnson threw down a one-handed slam on the rebound, but official’s said the ball was still in the cylinder.
“They said it was still on the rim. I thought it was coming off. I thought it was a clean dunk,” said Johnson, who had 11 on the night. “My legs aren’t 100 percent, but I was still getting up. I was surprised I was getting up.”
