AREA'S BEST: CAPE CENTRAL'S CONNER LEADS NORTH TO VICTORY

SCOTT CITY -- Twenty-one of the best high school basketball players in Southeast Missouri met at Scott City Friday night.

Twenty-one hosses, if you will.

But when all was said and done, Ross showed which hoss was boss.

Cape Central's Ross Conner dominated the "Area's Best" All-Star basketball game and was named the player of the game for the North team Friday night as the North squad cruised past the South 98-77 in front of a large crowd at Scott City's gymnasium.

Conner, a 6-foot-4 forward/center, scored a game-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting. He grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and threw down a game-high two dunks. He also had a block and was 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Conner, who is yet to sign with a college to play basketball, wanted to make a statement in front of the several scouts in attendance.

"I had to," said Conner. "I was one of the few players who is still unsigned so I had to have a good night. I hope this will lead to something good in the future. Hopefully, I'll get some better offers now."

Conner converted on several easy opportunities but made some difficult shots as well. But nothing got the crowd going more than his two almost identical two-handed flushes in the second half.

"I was talking to Eric (Wessel) before the game and we had kind of a down season," said Conner. "And we just wanted to end the season on a real good note and we did."

"Ross Conner, an unsigned player I think certainly opened up some eyes tonight," said Scott City coach Derek McCord who coached the North. "There were several college coaches from several states in attendance. This is just a great event and I think it's something the players and fans from Southeast Missouri will look forward to every year."

Conner was part of a North squad which was bigger and generally more athletic. Conner teamed up with Scott City's Ryan Weatherspoon (12 points) and Sikeston's Bryan Ellitt (six points) for a front court of three players of 6-4 or taller. Coupled with a backcourt of Ronald Watson (6-3) and Jreece Johnson (5-11), the North towered over the South and dominated under the boards.

"It was great to see them execute the way they did in the first half," McCord said. "We ran some pick-and-roll stuff and some back-screen stuff that we only worked on a few times. We were able to free up Ross Conner for some easy baskets early. Their defensive presence in the paint -- Conner and Weatherspoon -- was a big factor early and set the tone."

The North pretty well dominated from the tip, although the South kept the game within the 10-12 point range until the fourth quarter. The North jumped out to a 15-5 lead in the first quarter, but the South's subs got the game to within 23-17 going into the second quarter. The North led 47-37 at halftime and 69-57 going into the fourth quarter.

"We had height and quickness on our side," said Watson, who finished with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and a block. "We just dominated the boards. We wanted to have fun, but we heard people saying that the South was going to win by 10, 15, 20 points. We wanted to come out early and prove everybody wrong."

Those associated with Scott City enjoyed a good night.

McCord coached the North squad to victory and both Scott City representatives -- Weatherspoon (12 points, five rebounds, three blocks) and Watson -- played well.

"This is the last time I get to play in this gymnasium," said Watson. "It was nice to play well and win."

"Tonight was such a great night," said McCord. "Not just because these kids are great players, but because they're great kids too."

Jreece Johnson, the area's leading scorer this past season, added 14 for the North squad, hitting a game-high four 3-pointers. Andre Morgan of Sikeston added 11 for the North.

* Ellitt won the slam dunk competition, which was not as flamboyant as last year. However, two of the best dunkers around -- Conner and Portageville's William Durden -- did not compete. Cape Central's Eric Wessel did, however, throw one down.

"That was my goal going in," said a grinning Wessel. "I just wanted to show everybody that I could dunk."

* Kennett's Anton McKinney won the 3-point contest, making eight of 12 attempts.

* Jeremy Kellum, of Clarkton, was named the South's player of the game with a team-high 14 points.

* The South won the coaches' game 82-69.