LEXINGTON – Five Crawford County boys basketball athletes hit the court one more time for another shot at the hoops for the 38th Annual All Star Classic basketball game at Lexington High School Thursday night.
Kalvin Rinehart and Houston Blair, both from Galion, Grant Loy of Buckeye Central and Owen Adams of Colonel Crawford, played on the South All Stars team with Galion head boys basketball coach Colby Bright coaching the team.
Alex Crall of Wynford was the lone man representing his county on the North All Stars team, but (lucky for him) his team won 114-93.
“It’s a great feeling,” Crall said.
The 38th annual All Star Classic was part of a doubleheader charity event and preceded by the the Instant Classic Charity basketball, which featured Ohio State University football alumni members against All Star alumni members.
Members on the OSU team were Roy Hall, Jamie Wood, Nick Patterson, Corey “Pitt” Brown, Gary Berry, Antonio Smith, Tyler Everett, Jay Richardson and Damon Dillard. The team was coached by Obie Stillwell and charity roster spots were Tommy Siegenthaler and Dustin Griffin.
Proceeds from the games go to the children’s department of the Rehah Center, a subdivsion of Catalyst Life Services, which offers services for unmet medical and rehabilitation needs in the North Central Ohio community.
The event raised about $17,000 for an not-finalized net total of about $7,500 in proceeds, said Melissa Drozda, events and volunteer coordinator for the center.
“The Instant Classic Charity and 38th Annual All Star Classic games were great events,” she said.
This year’s event came in second for the highest turnout and proceeds raised, Drozda added.
More than 1,000 people attended the games.
The teams started practiced Monday through Wednesday for the event, but Bright said he and the two Galion athletes got the heads up in February.
“There’s no x’s and o’s for this one,” Bright said with a laugh. “Luckily there’s two Galion kids this year, which is pretty cool.”
The game gives a proper sendoff to Blair and Rinehart after they recently concluded their basketball season earlier this month.
“I had a blast,” Blair said in reference to his senior year, adding that he appreciated the opportunity to play in the All Star Classic.
“There’s a lot of good players here,” he said. “We just try to make the most of it.”
He intends to play basketball at the college level and hasn’t decided what school he will attend next year.
The game also reunited former teammates together with Adams playing again with Blair and Rinehart.
“I used to go to Galion so it was pretty cool to play with Kalvin and [Houston],” Adams said.
The game also brought Adams and Loy together, whose teams are conference rivals, but the rivalry doesn’t extend off the court.
“We’re competitive during the game, but after the game we’re all friends,” Adams said.
Loy agreed.
“It’s all good fun,” he said.
Like Adams, who signed on to play football at Ohio Dominican University, Loy will take the college football route. He plans to attend a junior college and is looking at schools outside of Ohio.
At halftime, the South All Stars were ahead of the North All Stars 46-42.
The North All Stars shot 43 of 103 and made 13 of 19 free throws, while the South All Stars shot 38 of 91 and made 8 of 17 free throws.
Crall shot 2 of 3 including a 3-pointer for five points. Rinehart shot 3 of 4 for eight points, while Blair made all three of his shots for six points. Loy shot 2 of 8 for five points, while Adams shot 1 of 5 for three points.
Mario Young, from Mansfield Senior, had the game high of 22 points for the South All Stars, while Billy Buckley of Madison led the North All Stars with 20 points.
The Rehab Center has been a beneficiary of the annual All Star Classic games for all but one of the 38 years hosted.
“We are truly thankful,” Drozda said.
