South Girls, East Boys win U.P. All-Star Basketball Classic Games

ST. IGNACE, Mich. (WLUC) - Playing in an all-star game is always special, but it was extra special for Ally Schultz of St. Ignace and Colin Hudson of Escanaba here Saturday. They were selected as most valuable players at the 36th U.P. All-Star Classic. Making it extra special: it marked the final home game of her career for Schultz, and it was the last time Hudson, would play for his dad, former Escanaba boys coach Tracy Hudson. Tracy Hudson will switch teams this season, taking over the girls program at Escanaba for retiring Mike Beveridge.

Schultz, who moved to St. Ignace as a freshman from Bark River-Harris, scored 10 of her 17 points and had several assists in the decisive fourth quarter as the South girls held off North 78-68.

The 6-foot-9 Hudson, who also won the slam dunk contest, had 22 points and seven rebounds to help the East boys subdue the West 103-84 in the finale.Both games had early makings of runaways before the winning teams rallied down the stretch.

”We really came together as a team,” said Colin Hudson. “The third quarter we were kind of tired.” The West closed the gap to 63-60 early in the fourth quarter when coach Brad Besonen of Ewen-Trout Creek sent four of his E-TC players onto the floor together in the third quarter. E-TC finished as runner-up in the state Class D basketball tournament. Tracy Hudson said his son “is an unselfish player. He is not a volume shooter.

”Tracy Hudson added “we dug in when we had to. We got the last push and separation. We had a huge shift in momentum.” The game also marked the final time EJ Suggitt of Rudyard would play for his father, Jim, who was an assistant on the East team. The younger Suggitt will play baseball at Spring Arbor College. Colin Hudson will join his brother Carter at Bay College in Escanaba next season.

“He made a huge jump (this season). He has a bright future,” Tracy Hudson said of his youngest son.

Two other Eskymos, Connor Smale and Jared Hansen, combined for 18 points to help East claim the victory. Hansen, who is playing baseball for the Green Bay Blue Ribbons this summer, has a baseball scholarship to pitch at Central Michigan University.

The two games also served as goodbyes for two foreign exchange students. Claudio Bistolfi of Newberry is from Italy while Jonas Bicek of Marquette is from the Czech Republic. Bicek, who added 17 points for the East boys, won the pre-game 3-point shooting contest.

Westwood grads Zach Carlson and Zach Beckman led the West boys with 19 and 17 points, respectively, Mr. U.P. Basketball Jaden Borseth of E-TC added 15 points and Eric Abramson of E-TC added 13 points.

Schultz hit three 3-point field goals in the fourth quarter to spark her South team.”It went down to the wire,” she said. “You’ve got to be the one people can count on. We call it feed the fire. St. Ignace is known for its girls basketball and I am proud to be a part of it. It is a great feeling.”

The North girls led 52-42 before South cut into the deficit and then pulled away with an 18-12 fourth quarter advantage. Marybeth Halonen of Calumet and Alyssa Hill had 18 points apiece for the North girls. Natalie Prophet of Westwood, who added 10 points for the South girls, won the free throw pre-game contest. Jenna Mattson of Munising, who will play basketball at Bay College, won the pre-game 3-point girls contest.

South Girls: Claire VanGinhoven 9, Natalie Prophet 10, Tristan Smith 4, Cara Zawacki 8, Kennedy Guild 8, Brooke Besteman 9, Lucy Bennin 0, Natalia Ryvolova 5, Tessa Paquin 8, Ally Schultz 17.

North Girls: Jana Loukus 4, Emma Rutter 4, Landry Koski 5, Reide Osterman 2, Paige Sleeman 7, Riley Johnson 3, Jenna Matson 6, Marybeth Halonen 18, Alyssa Hill 18.

Boys East: Claudio Bistolffi 7, Jayce Kipling 6, Connor Smale 12, Tate Besteman 5, Ely North 5, Nolan Amundson 9, Colin Hudson 23, Jared Hansen 6, EJ Suggitt 22, Jesse Duran 8, Jonas Bicek 17.

Boys West: Zach Carlson 19, Marcus Boase 2, Zach Beckman 17, Eric Abramson 13, Kyle Sorenson 8, Kelsey Jilek 3, John Schutz 4, Jaden Borseth 15, Marcus Sutherland 2, Brendan Polkky 2.