Forty-one of the area’s best basketball players competed in the 22nd annual Gerald A. Pilz and Friends All-Star Tournament at College of the Ozarks on Saturday.
The tournament, started by Gerald A. Pilz, showcases top-notch high school male and female basketball players who are graduating seniors. Some will continue their basketball career at the collegiate level in the fall.
That is the case for this year’s Red team member Ashley Forrest.
CLICK HERE FOR BOYS PHOTOS — CLICK HERE FOR GIRLS PHOTOS
Forrest scored a total of 15 points on the night, earning her the girl tournament’s MVP award.
Making it all the more special, Forrest will play on that same basketball court this fall.
The Branson High School graduate said, “I’ve been playing forever and I get to play on this court for four years, so getting to get the MVP on it and it being my last time and playing with the girls I played against forever was just an awesome feeling.”
She added excitedly, “I felt at home. This is my new home. Getting to play with Jessica (Estes) even, because she’s my new teammate, it’s an awesome feeling. I cannot wait.”
Of the three female teams, each won one of their two 15-minute games.
Purple pulled out a close 23-22 win over Red and narrowly lost to Blue, 29-27. Red topped Blue 36-29.
Black dominated on the boys’ side.
The eight-member team nabbed an eight-point win over Red, 45-33 and was victorious against Blue, 38-33. Blue beat the Red team 39-36.
The male MVP award was presented to the Black team’s Joe Johnson of Waynesville for scoring 19 points.
“It was just fun playing with my teammates and the other teams I played against. It’s truly a blessing to have this opportunity to play on an All-Star team,” Johnson said.
While the honor came as a surprise, the fun he had on Saturday didn’t.
And playing against his own Tiger teammates, Reggie Walker (Red) and Dwayne Morton (Blue), made it even more enjoyable.
“They were guarding me, so they made me work a little harder,” he chuckled.
There were also a couple more honors given Saturday night.
Two area high school basketball coaches were inducted into the Gerald Pilz and Friends All-Star Game Hall of Fame.
Blue Eye’s Ken Elfrink was honored first, followed by Gerald Pilz’s own son, Chris Pilz.
“We’ve been playing here for 22 years now,” the Waynesville coach said of him and his father. “He has a great love for kids and basketball and College of the Ozarks. Just pitching in and helping; it’s nice any time you get an award but it feels good to help out. When you get an award, it’s just being a team player. Usually when you’re a good team player those things happen.”
Girls All-Stars selections by team
PURPLE TEAM | ||
Name | High School | College |
Kaylie Rothdiener | Bolivar | Missouri State (student) |
Laurnea Jarmen | Hillcrest | William Woods |
Aleena DeRossett | Bolivar | Undecided |
Jordan Pryor | Hillcrest | Missouri S&T (student) |
Kaycee Gerald | Hillcrest | William Woods |
Peyton Greenlee | Marshfield | William Woods |
Coaches: Jeni Hopkins, Steve Frank, Eric Shaw |
RED TEAM | ||
Name | High School | College |
Jessica Estes | Miller | College of the Ozarks |
Hannah Cantrell | Kickapoo | Missouri State (student) |
*Ashley Forrest (MVP) | Branson | College of the Ozarks |
Sharon Lopez | Kickapoo | N. Conn. State |
Laura Vierkant | Kickapoo | Southwest Baptist |
Cassandra Andreatta | Blue Eye | Undecided |
Coaches: Jerry Songer, Ken Elfrink |
BLUE TEAM | ||
Name | High School | College |
Halie Allred | Hollister | Culver Stockton |
Jaslyn Williams | Central | Coffeyville CC (track) |
Lexie Vaught | Crane | Drury University |
Shauna Rinehart | St. James | Lincoln University |
Emmalee Taykor | Valley Springs, Ark. | Undecided |
Mikaylyn Calahan | Lebanon | Undecided |
Coaches: Lynn Long, Bobby Spencer, Gary Gorman |
Boys All-Stars selections by team
BLACK TEAM | ||
Name | High School | College |
*Joe Johnson (MVP) | Waynesville | St. Joseph College |
Juwuan Bryant | Lonoke (Ark.) | Bacone |
Michael Crossno | Southland | Robert Morris (Ill.) |
Tanner Gold | Crane | Central Methodist |
Christian Robbins | West Plains | Missouri State-West Plains |
Ryan Ward | Hartville | North Central CC |
Sam Marshall | Rolla | Drury University |
Thomas Clifton | Mountain Grove | Undecided |
Coaches: Kevin Smith, Zac Flippin, Tony Irons |
RED TEAM | ||
Name | High School | College |
Collin Gimlin | Sparta | OTC |
Courtland Yates | Seymour | Undecided |
DeMon Hyler | Belton | College of the Ozarks |
Jessey Childress | Southland | Robert Morris (Ill.) |
Grant Beasley | Columbia Hickman | Missouri State (student) |
Storm Price | Spokane | North Ark. |
Reggie Walker | Waynesville | UMKC (student) |
Coaches: Blaine Brewinton, David Kellums |
BLUE TEAM | ||
Name | High School | College |
Wyatt Eubanks | Strafford | N/A |
Brandt Cochran | Lawrenceville (Ill.) | College of the Ozarks |
Kobe Wands | Rolla | UMSL |
Dwayne Morton | Waynesville | Goucher |
Cade Martin | School of the Ozarks | College of the Ozarks |
Demauntte Youngblood | Fayetteville (Ark.) | Undecided |
Christian Brown | Rogersville | State Fair CC |
Kyle Cavanaugh | Fair Grove | College of the Ozarks |
Coaches: Joe Easter, Kendall Tilley |