Hoops for a great cause, as South all-stars win both games | Sports

LONGVIEW — Kilgore’s Miah Thomas scored 22 points as the South team took a 91-72 win over the North in the Hoop for Autism All-Star girls basketball game Saturday night at Spring Hill High School.

The South All-Stars also won the boys game.

All proceeds from the event go to the Autism Center of Dallas.

Sabine’s Blaire Kaufman, suiting up for the North, scored 11 points.

The North team led early, but the South team closed the first quarter on an 8-2 run to lead 18-16. The South led 43-36 at halftime.

The South extended its lead in the third quarter to 70-53.

Thomas also had four steals. Lindale’s Shelbi Steen had 18 points, 18 rebounds, five steals and three blocks for the South. Brownsboro’s Kentoya Woods had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Winnsboro’s Rachel Pinnell had 10 points and five assists.

Gilmer’s Haylee Jordan led the North with 18 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks. Gladewater’s Haileigh Oliver had 12 points, and Kaufman, as mentioned, had 11.

Other scorers for the South were Kalaya Pierce (Lindale) 9; Lily Chamberlain (Lindale (5); Kalie Dunavant (Martin’s Mill) 5; Autumn Jackson (Mount Pleasant) 4; and Bayli Hooker (Brownsboro) 2. Brownsboro’s Shakayla Warren also played for the South.

Other scorers for the North were Carleigh Judd (Union Grove) 8; Abbie Ramsey (Frankston) 6; Peyton Borens (Spring Hill) 5; Macey Alston (Union Grove) 4; Makena Littlejohn (Union Grove) 4; Laikyn Smith (Hallsville) 3; and Chandler Bain (Saltillo) 2.

Before the game, a pre-recorded video of Neal McCoy inside of Panther Gym was played with McCoy delivering a quick speech, saying the pledge of allegiance and singing the national anthem.

South 101, North 84 (boys): Lindale’s Colton Taylor scored 17 points as one of seven players in double figures for the South in a 101-84 win over the North in the Hoop for Autism All-Star boys basketball game Saturday night at Spring Hill High School.

Kilgore’s Jeff Coleman and T.J. Gillen-Hall were coaches for the South all-stars, which included Kilgore’s own Isaac Hoberecht. Hoberecht scored four points for the South in the win. David Robinson from Sabine scored three for the North.

Henderson’s Bryson Collins and Tyler Legacy’s Matt Wade each scored 12 for the South, and Tyler’s Malik Ray, Carlisle’s Matt Rigdon, Mineola’s Jonah Fischer and Tyler Legacy’s Teon Erwin all added 10 points. Erwin also had 16 rebounds.

The North team was led by five-star recruit Daimion Collins of Atlanta. The Kentucky signee was selected for the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Game, but the game will not be played this year due to COVID-19. That allowed the East Texan to play one final game closer to home.

Collins finished with 31 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks for the North. Collins, who is 6-9, also dazzled the crowd with numerous high-flying dunks.

The first play of the game was a lob pass from Sulphur Springs’ Boo Wilkerson to Collins for the dunk. The North jumped out to a 26-19 lead after the first quarter as Mount Pleasant’s Zaveion Okoh knocked down a 3-pointer as time expired.

The South stormed back in the second quarter, ending the half on a 21-6 run to lead 53-46 at the break.

The South led 73-65 after three quarters and then pulled away in the fourth. Legacy’s Erwin and Wade both had dunks in the final 20 seconds.

Okoh had 17 points for the North, and Gary’s Ryan Ecker had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Other scorers for the South were Caden Smith (Mabank) 8; Ethan Montgomery (Cumberland Academy) 8; and Hoberecht (Kilgore) 4.

Other scorers for the North were Wilkerson 7; Nick Stewart (Carthage) 6; Jayson Tuck (Marshall) 5; Tyresse Jones (Spring Hill) 3; Robinson (Sabine) 3; and T’vondrick Henry (Pleasant Grove) 2. Hooks’ Carter Jackson also played for the North.

Brandon Ogden is a sports writer for the Tyler Morning Telegraph, which, along with the News Herald, is a part of M. Roberts Media.

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