6-county All-Star Game brings basketball community together for 25th game after 2-year hiatus
More than 500 people filed into the Gregori High School gym Friday as one of the staples of local basketball, the Six County Senior All-Star Game, returned after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event came back for its 25th year and featured a girls game, three-point contest, dunk contest and boys game in a night where friends, families and fans could appreciate the careers of some of the best in the Class of 2022.
“We’re definitely happy we’re back,” said event coordinator Bobby Cole. “There was a phase where we almost weren’t gonna mess with it anymore … but this is the 25th year … and everyone that I see says they’re so happy that it’s back.”
Cole admits one thing he worried about during the planning process was the turnout. He didn’t know what to expect, but says he was happy that the event was able to bring together just about the same amount of people as it had before the pandemic.
“I didn’t know if we would get 500 (people), but we got a really good turnout for the first game back since being absent for two years,” Cole said. “It was an excellent crowd.”
The four original coaches were honored in between the boys and girls games. Karl Finch who coached at Modesto High, Vince Clemons of Merced, Rick Frances from Sonora and Brett Tate from Atwater were honored by Cole and received applause from the crowd for the legacies they’ve left in their communities on and off the court.
Most of the seniors hadn’t played a game in more than two months. Players had practice Monday and Tuesday at Modesto High and a dinner at the Redwood Cafe before ending the week with Friday’s game. Participating offered them the opportunity to wear their school’s colors one final time.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been on the basketball court,” said girls game MVP and three-point contest winner Giana Riley of Kimball. “The last time I touched a basketball was my last basketball game, which was in like February, but it was really fun. It felt good to be back out there.”
Riley led the Blue team to a 99-82 win with 16 points. She will attend Gonzaga on a soccer scholarship this fall.
Though it was an all-star event, things still stayed competitive in both games. Gregori High coach Marissa Shull said her team suggested they make a slight defensive adjustment when they were trailing in the first half.
“It was interesting when the girls said, ‘Hey, coach, can we press?’ It’s like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it, this is your game,’” Shull said. “They’re all competitive. They all want to win. That was their number one thing they said, well, we want to win. All right, we’re on the same page.”
In its 25th year, the Six County Senior All-Star Game has become a goal that local basketball players look forward to.
Gregori’s Kyle Monk was at the game as a fan when he was in eighth grade, so getting the call from Cole was a full-circle moment. He led the game with 25 points as his Red team won 111-100.
“I actually remember going to Modesto Junior College and watching the game with my dad,” said the boys game MVP, who will play basketball at Fresno Pacific University next year. “I’ve known about this, and for Bobby to call me … it was surreal. He said, ‘I don’t know if you’re busy or not.’ I’m like, ‘I’m not busy. I’m gonna play.’”
Beyer High coach Kyle McKim is an alum of the game, and thinking back on his time playing in 2003 brings back great memories.
“It was really similar,” the Red team coach said. “When I played, coach Clemons was my coach. It was just a fun experience. I still have my jersey from when I played it. It’s just a cool experience to say you were part of this, I think all the kids appreciate it, too.”
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2022 Six County Senior All-Star Game Award Winners
| Event | Winner | School |
| Girls Game MVP | Giana Riley | Kimball |
| Three-Point Contest | Giana Riley | Kimball |
| Slam Dunk Contest | Precious Nnaji | Patterson |
| Boys Game MVP | Kyle Monk | Gregori |
This story was originally published May 8, 2022 at 9:30 AM.
