'AREA'S BEST': ALL-STAR GAME PITS NORTH AGAINST SOUTH

Call it Southeast Missouri's version of the McDonald's All-American game.

Twenty of last season's best senior basketball players will share Richland High School's basketball court in the first-ever North vs. South "Area's Best" All-Star game at 7 p.m. on April 23..

The event was concocted by Richland head coach Micoe Cotton.

"I'm a basketball fan," said Cotton. "I got in touch with a couple of coaches and they really liked the idea. Any extra money we make will go to charity, but this year we're just hoping to break even. I'm hoping to make it an annual event."

The North will consist of Cape Central's Kelly Illers, Kelly's Jim Hulshof and Jason Glastetter, Scott City's Lance Amick and Jon Beck; Scott Central's John Fort, Oran's Billy Loper, Sikeston's Tyler Trum and Charleston's Jeff Ewing and Larry Mitchell.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Beck. "It's going to be nice to have that many post players instead of just (Ryan) Weatherspoon. I hope everybody plays well. It should be a lot of fun."

The South will be represented by Richland's Corey Gipson, Doniphan's Nic Wilson, Clarkton's Tommy Winshester, Puxico's Ryan Harmon, New Madrid County Central's Vest Baker and Terrell Williams; Malden's Terrell Mathies and Chris McCoy, Delta C-7's Justin Rose and Portageville's Torry Saxton.

Sikeston's Brandon Barnes and Woodland's David Massa were scheduled to attend, but had prior engagements.

To choose the teams, Cotton used U.S. Highway 60 as a divider for southeast Missouri. Only seniors were eligible.

Cotton chose coaches for each team based on team success this year. Mitch Wood, who led Oran to the Class 1A sectionals will coach the North. Portageville head coach Jim Bidewell has other obligations, so his assistant Chris Wilson will be coaching the South.

"The North has a lot more height than we have, but they're short on guards," said Gipson, the leading scorer in Southeast Missouri. "Hopefully we'll be able to work the ball around a little and shoot the ball a little better. I'm really excited about the whole thing. Everybody on our team is a nice player. I think it's an honor to be selected for this team. Everybody is going to get the chance to show what they've got and have fun doing it."

The event will open with a coaches version of the North versus South game.

At halftime of the coaches game, there will be a slam dunk competition and a 3-point shootout for the high school players.

Although the game is mostly about fun, the intensity level should be just as high, if not higher, than any high school game.

"I think everybody is coming to have fun, but still coming to play serious," Gipson said. "I think everybody wants to say they can play with anybody in Southeast Missouri."

AREA'S BEST

The North

G Jon Beck Scott City

F Lance Amick Scott City

F Kelly Illers Cape Central

G Jim Hulshof Kelly

F Jason Glastetter Kelly

G John Fort Scott County Central

C Billy Loper Oran

G Tyler Trum Sikeston

C Larry Mitchell Charleston

G Jeff Ewing Charleston

Head coach: Mitch Wood, Oran

The South

G Corey Gipson Richland

G Nic Wilson Doniphan

G Tommy Winchester Clarkton

G Ryan Harmon Puxico

F Vest Baker NMCC

F Terrell Williams NMCC

G Terrell Mathies Malden

C Justin Rose Delta C-7

G Torry Saxton Portageville

Head coach: Chris Wilson, Portageville