My fourth year as games director of the Indiana All-Stars was both surprise and suspense.
The surprise of this year’s All-Star games was that neither Mr. Basketball, Braden Smith of Westfield, nor Miss Basketball, Ayanna Patterson of Homestead, was able to play in either game because of injuries.
The suspense of this year’s series was in the girls’ opening contest against the Kentucky All-Stars in Owensboro, Ky. Alyssa Crockett of Westfield hit a driving jump shot in the last five seconds of the game to lead the girls’ Indiana All-Stars to a 67-66 victory. It was an exciting game where the biggest lead by either team was eight points and there were 11 lead changes.
In the second contest in Owensboro, the Indiana boys’ All-Stars played a quality game, leading in the second half by 29 points and cruising to a 104-77 victory. C.J. Gunn of Lawrence North scored 20 points to lead six Indiana boys in double figures.
On Saturday, in the girls’ All-Star contest at Southport High School, the Hoosier squad was beaten soundly by Kentucky 101-76. The MVP player for the Indiana All-Stars was Alyssa Crockett, and the annual Wooden/MCL Citizenship Award was presented to Ally Madden from Blue River Valley.
The boys’ contest at Southport, the undersized 2022 Indiana All Stars continued their outstanding play. They gave the fans of Indiana a great deal to cheer about in a 90-75 victory. C.J. Gunn was honored as the game’s MVP, and the Wooden/MCL Citizenship Award went to Conner Essegian of Central Noble.
A special thanks is in order to Perry Township Schools superintendent Pat Mapes as well as Southport High School athletic director Brian Murphy, assistant athletic director Nick Stevens, secretary Nicky Givens and the entire Southport community for their help in making the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star games a successful event for the second year in a row. Also, a special shout out to presenting sponsor Energy Systems Group and many other presenting partners who financially make the 2022 games a great event.
Looking ahead to 2023: The game dates are set for Friday, June 9 in Owensboro and Saturday, June 10 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Junior-Senior All-Star games will be played on Wednesday, June 7 at a site to be announced.
Currently, I am preparing to travel across Indiana in the 2022-23 season to find the best 26 senior players, 13 boys and 13 girls. I look forward to seeing the best of Indiana high school basketball.
As I have stated in the past: In 49 states, it’s just basketball, but this is Indiana. Let our schools and fans across the state of Indiana pull together and have a great 2022-23 school year in all academic and athletic endeavors. You may follow me this fall and winter on our Twitter account – @indallstars – which has grown to more than 4,600 followers.
Go Indiana! Beat Kentucky!
– Mike Broughton, Indiana All-Star games director
