Takeaways From 4A District 3 vs District 4 All-Star Game
With the end of the regular and postseason play in the Gem state, it is time for All-Star festivities to take place. Across the state, all the various levels have been hosting their respective All-Star games to highlight the play of some of the state’s top players from this past season and on Monday night in Boise, Idaho at Bishop Kelly High School, the 4A District 3 vs District 4 All-Star game took place.
The game featured a number of big names who we got familiar with over the this last season. Teams from both districts were spotlighted as each team took the court in what turned out to be a very fun exhibition type of setting and matchup.
In the end, it was obvious that each team had a blast attempting highlight-type plays and then taking part in a very entertaining slam dunk and three point contest. Prep Hoops Idaho was on hand to take it all in, and celebrate with the rest of the crowd on the amazing season of each player in a fun-filled evening of hoops. Here are our takeaways from the matchup…
Dunk you very much
Burley’s Jackson Hill impressed the crowd with a series of dunks (ultimately taking home the dunk contest title) highlighted by the two we posted on Twitter during the game seen here:
Burley’s Jackson Hill wins the dunk contest in style! pic.twitter.com/pQIeZSzNaD
— Prep Hoops Idaho (@prephoopsid) March 13, 2018
and here…
Burley’s Jackson Hill with another dunk to wrap up the title! pic.twitter.com/5hn4guQhcn
— Prep Hoops Idaho (@prephoopsid) March 13, 2018
Familiar foes in 3 point contest
Bishop Kelly’s Max Rice who had the luxury of playing on his home floor made the final in the 3 point shooting contest against Vallivue’s Steele Hadlock. Rice hit 13 in the opening round and Hadlock had 14 three pointers to start things off. The two sharp shooting guards were then pitted against one another in the finals where it was Hadlock who came away with the win going for 14 three pointers in one minute.
Game flow had it’s moments
As always in terms of All-Star games, the actual contest was sloppy, yet fun for the majority of it, but did have it’s moments as well. At the end of the first quarter it was 24-19 with District 3 holding onto the lead. As things progressed in the 2nd quarter a number of players got things going as both teams seemed to be a bit more settled in with the 4 to 5 players rotations. Ridgevue’s Kenny Caldwell was aggressive and displayed his slashing abilities on a number of trips down the court while teammate Cayden Wright of Skyview got it going from beyond the arc with one extremely deep three ball in particular.
For District 3, Vallivue’s Steele Hadlock impressed all game and got into the mix early and often in the first half with some nice passes and his patented three point shooting. Burley’s Brock Whitaker got into a rhythm from deep as he tried to keep his team close to end out the second quarter. Minico’s Regen Polvson also contributed in the scoring category with a nice put back and also a three pointer. District 3 seemed to feed off the high energy of DJ Crump though as the Emmett standout was in show mode but was also aggressive and converted a sweet alley-oop in transition from Max Rice to close the half with a 52-39 lead.
In the third quarter, District 4 made a charge led by Burley’s Ryan Bagley who was playing well with teammates Whitaker, Andrew Ferrin and Hill. In fact, Bagley had perhaps the most impressive stretch from any player on the evening in the third quarter that was highlighted by a series of three pointers to bring District 4 ahead 73-68 to enter the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, Crump converted a sweet behind-the-back fake pass into a layup to get the team going and District 3 remained on the gas pedal as they had some swift guard play while also getting inside play from Skyview’s Jayson Hibbard. In the end, it was District 3 who came out on top with the 94-88 win.
Players going out in style
Again, this was unquestionably an exhibition type of game, but there were some standouts. Burley’s Ryan Bagley and Brock Whitaker really shined for District 4 as they scored with ease at times and really kept their team in the contest with a series of smooth transition buckets. Skyview’s Cayden Wright did his thing and displayed a very nice three point shooting stroke while his down low counterpart Jayson Hibbard ended with 14 points, mainly off of misses via put backs. Vallivue’s Steele Hadlock also turned some heads with his court vision and ability to cash in the deep ball.
Finally, Emmett’s DJ Crump was perhaps having the most fun out there Monday evening as he was always looking for the highlight play and looked very at ease in the jovial setting, but provided what the crowd wanted in some speedy fast break possessions with notable flare.