High school all stars from St. Thomas and St. Croix showed their basketball skills Saturday night in the Ronald Charles Gymnasium at St. Croix Central High School in the second half of the 15th annual Sun Stroke All V.I. Hoop Classic.
The second day of the Hoop Classic gave the high school players the opportunity to show their basketball abilities to recruiters.
Sun Stroke Promotion President Rashidi Clenance said a recruiter from Panola Junior College sat in the stands watching the youngsters throughout the game. The game also was available live on www.ihigh.com, a website that provides schools, colleges and other youth related organizations web tools and video streaming connecting athletes around the word, for college coaches who could not attend the event on St. Croix. He also said a video of the game, recorded by Michael Nissman, will be sent to potential college recruiters.
“This is the kids’ opportunity to showcase their talents,” Clenance said.
He said Panola College gave scholarships to two high school all-stars after taking part in the tournament two years ago.
One of the students recruited by Panola was Lanice Bough, whose father, Donald Bough, was the St. Croix high school all-stars coach for both the girls and boys.
The gymnasium was filled with eager fans ready to see what the St. Thomas and St. Croix high school all-stars girls and boys had to offer.
At the start of the girls’ game, the St. Thomas team took an early lead and held it throughout, winning by a landslide over the Crucians, 87-57.
Schools representing the St. Thomas and St. Croix teams included Charlotte Amalie High School, Ivana Eudora Keen High School, Antilles School, St. Croix Educational Complex and the St. Croix Central High School.
During half time, Cher Will of the Caribbean Education Initiative, funded by Tim Duncan, donated an automated external defibrillator – a medical device for restarting the heart, to the STEC. Will also provide a piece of cake to Clenance since it was his birthday. The initiative had presented a similar device to St. Croix Central High School the previous night during the tournament’s first day.
The excitement continued with boys from the St. Thomas and St. Croix high school all-stars team matching skills. Though the score was closer, the outcome was the same, with St. Thomas defeating St. Croix, albeit by a much closer score, 67-60.
Throughout the breaks within each game, the crowd grooved to the music provided by the four-time roach march champions, the Fusion Band, who started the music at 6 p.m. prior to the 7:15 p.m. tipoff of the girl’s game. A 13-year-old DJ also provided music.
Clenance also gave free cell phones and cash to the audience who took in his games, which were reminiscent of the game show "Let’s Make a Deal." He gave $50 to an audience member who wore a San Antonio Spurs jersey. Cell phones provided by Choice Wireless were given to audience members who crawled on the floor, steered by directions shouted from the crowd. He also made two young boys dress in oversized jerseys and pants for cash. Clenance also gave a basketball to a six-year-old who loves basketball.
The game was sponsored by Tim Duncan, Adidas, Caribbean Education, Budget and Choice wireless.
The rosters of the high school all-star teams were:
St. Croix Girls All Stars
Coach Donald Bough, Central High
1. Kadesha Barry, semnior, guard, Central
2. Danielle Christian, sophomore, forward, Educational Complex
3. Patrice Arthurton, junior, forward, Central
4. Missah Edwards, freshman, guard, Complex
5. Perla Prentice, sophomore, forward, Central
6. Shanice James, junior, forward, Central
7. Kalilah DeCastro, senior, forward, Complex
8. Dinijah Dowdy, junior, guard, Complex
9. Vielka White, senior, forward, Central
10. Tyra Murray, sophomore, guard, Central
11. Raquel Rivera, senior, guard, Central
St. Thomas Girls All Stars
Coach Myron Corbett, Charlotte Amalie
1. Germequa Bell, senior, guard, Charlotte Amalie
2. Akia Frett, junior, guard, Eudora Kean
3. Ranai Evans, junior, guard, Charlotte Amalie
4. Jahrima Simmons, senior, forward, Charlotte Amalie
5. ShaQuana Foy, senior, guard, Antilles
6. Viniqua David, junior, forward, Gifft Hill
7. Jerusha Corbett, junior, guard, Charlotte Amalie
8. Sherelle George, freshman, guard, Charlotte Amalie
9. Renique Francis, sophomore, center, Charlotte Amalie
10. Halima Francis, freshman, center, Eudora Kean
11. Gabrielle Spencley, freshman, center, Antilles
St. Croix Boys All Stars
Coach: Donald Bough, Central High
1. Malik Miller, senior, guard, Educational Complex
2. Rakeem Richardson, sophomore, guard, Central High School
3. Jahmar Ryan, senior, guard, Country Day School
4. Samuel Joseph, junior, forward, Complex
5. Kelvin Thomas, senior, guard, Central
6. Tikoy Felix, junior, guard, Complex
7. Yanick Toure, senior, forward, Complex
8. Jahkiebo Joseph, sophomore, guard, Central
9. Roy Canton, sophomore, forward, Central
10. Romani Hansen, sophomore, forward, Central
St. Thomas Boys All Stars
Coach Joel Fleming, Eudora Kean
1. Sekayi Petersen, senior, guard, Charlotte Amalie
2. Elisha Arnold, senior, guard, Charlotte Amalie
3. Akiyo Neille, junior, guard, Eudora Kean
4. Stephaun Adams, junior, guard, Eudora Kean
5. Dominick Purpura, senior, forward, Charlotte Amalie
6. Rowhann David, senior, guard, Eudora Kean
7. J’moi Smith, senior, guard, Charlotte Amalie
8. Kyu Matthews, junior, forward, Eudora Kean
9. Jecoy Julius, senior, forward, Eudora Kean
10. Careem Albert, junior, forward, Gifft Hill
