West Tenn. all-star basketball games draw big crowd
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JACKSON, Tenn. — West Tennessee’s best in high school basketball were all in the same gym for one last time. “We came to have fun, but everyone wants to win,” Rachelle Parks said. The players gathered to compete in this year’s all-star game at Liberty Tech. “I’m playing with some people that are at the same stature,” Jay Howard said. “They made all-district teams just like you made them. It’s the same talent, and it’s good to play with them.” “It’s a good competition when you play,” Parks said. “Most teams, they have one or two key players. But when you play in an all-star game everybody is a key player, so it’s a good competition.” The competition consisted of 50 players representing 25 West Tennessee High Schools. “All the players that you have seen excel over the past year are here today,” Luke Carter said. And we are here to let them showcase their talents and see what they are capable of.” For some players it’s their last game, a culmination of four years of blood, sweat and tears, all worth it for a moment like this. “It feels pretty awesome,” Alle Dees said. “I get to come out here and play one last time because I won’t be playing in college, so I get to play basketball one last time.” There’s a little fun mixed into the all-star game as well, including a three-point contest and an opportunity to let the high flyers soar in the dunk contest. But they are still athletes looking to compete every second they lace up the shoes. “I’m actually playing against one of my teammates,” Dees said. “My game plan is to hopefully beat her, but I’ll also try to have fun, too.” Organizers say more than half of the players participating in Saturday’s all-star game on both the men’s and women’s sides will continue their basketball career at the college level.
