After two years missed, local 6-county All-Star basketball event returns for 25th game
After a two-year hiatus, the Six County All-Star Game is coming back for 2022.
Modesto Slam-N-Jam founder and director Bobby Cole worked for months with Modesto Christian High School girls basketball coach Robb Spencer and partner and co-sponsor Dave Halvorson of American Chevrolet to bring back the event.
On Friday, May 6, nearly 50 senior boys and girls basketball players will compete in the event at Gregori High School. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the girls game tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m. and the boys at 8 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the door. Prices are $12 adults, $10 seniors, $8 high school students with ID, and $5 for youth K-8 who wear their program basketball jersey.
“It’s fantastic,” Cole said of bringing the game back after the break. “I feel sorry for a couple of classes because for two years, we didn’t have it. It’s a big game in our area and kids look forward to it.
“Getting the best athletes in the same gym even though they come from different leagues and divisions … it’s really great to see how well some of the small schools compete with the mediums and all the way up to the large schools.”
This is the 25th anniversary of the boys game. The first was played in 1995, and this year’s event will have the four original coaches — Karl Finch (Modesto), Vince Clemons (Merced), Rick Frances (Sonora) and Brett Tate (Atwater) — as special guests.
“They have been really big-time coaches for us as far as high school sports,” Cole said. “We’re going to honor them with an award and thank them for being our first coaches for the Six County All-Star Game.”
The game will have numerous players that made The Bee’s first, second or honorable mention All-District boys and girls teams including boys large-school player of the year, Kyle Monk of Gregori, and girls player of the year, Pitman’s Aleyah Higa. Participants practice together twice at Modesto High during the week before suiting up for Friday night’s game. The game will have four 10-minute quarters and the night will also include 3-point and slam dunk contests.
Six County Senior All-Star Game Rosters
Boys
Cameron Frazier (Atwater), Robert Salmon (Pitman), Precious Nnaji (Patterson), Jaelin Butler (Lathrop), Kyle Monk (Gregori), Luka Molin (Argonaut), Shandon Boswell (Turlock Christian), Austin Moore (Modesto Christian), Giovonni Primofiore (Beyer), Joey Fross (Escalon), Landon Beyette (Argonaut), Kobe Harris (Kimball), Cam Lockette (Los Banos), Mateo Tangaan (Golden Valley), Isah Baptista-Andrate (Kimball), Daniel Malagon (Turlock), Joseph Richmond (Beyer), Jack Henderson (Denair), Cooper Feldman (Denair), Logan Gillespie (Ripon), Kyle Ericksen (Turlock), Julian Kuper (Central Catholic), Ben White (Sonora), Alex Argandar (Modesto Christian), Verlis Smith (Ceres), Lance Dondero (Mariposa)
Coaches: Kyle McKim (Beyer), Nick Nathanson (Turlock), RJ Henderson (Denair), Daniel Motz (Turlock Christian)
Girls
Paytin Curran (Calaveras), Kylie Van Os (Tracy), Kodi Nairn (Turlock), Giana Riley (Kimball), Jordyn Allison (Atwater), Ciera Cozart (Patterson), Aleyah Higa (Pitman), Ashley Lomeli (Gustine), Kaylee Huthinson (Ripon), Celeste Leon (Ceres), Abbie DiGrazia (Pitman), Soleil Gouzenne (Escalon), Randi Adams (Calaveras), Aydryanna Ege (Davis), Ranaye Manu (Patterson), Skyler Dietz (Buhach Colony), Kiera Flores (El Capitan), Anissa Sanchez (Los Banos), Ailene Lopez (Atwater), Emily Newton (Argonaut), Gabbie Gascon (Argonaut), Maya Manzanares (Atwater), Mariela Fernandez (Atwater)
Coaches: Marissa Shull (Gregori), Erica Hernandez (Turlock), Lorinda Sanchez (Los Banos), Frank Azevedo (Gustine)
