All-stars Young, Ferrari lead the way
Washington High School forward Khalil Young whiped the sweat from his forehead, peered up at the scoreboard and grinned.
Young was Wash High’s sixth man this season, complimenting the team’s forwards on both ends of the floor. He displayed flashes of brilliance during the regular season and frustrated opponents with his athleticism. It was a role he embraced, soaking in every word and every lesson from head coach Ron Faust. His impact was often seen on the defensive end.
In the Washington-Greene County High School All-Star Basketball game Friday night, Young flashed refined play in the post and showed the crowd what he’s capable of doing with the basketball.
The 6-5 senior scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help the White Team run away with a 118-85 victory at Washington High School.
“I wanted to come out here and show everyone I can play and show what Coach Faust taught me this season,” Young said.
Chartiers-Houston point guard Alec Ferrari scored a game-high 21 points. Three other White Team players reached double figures: Burgettstown’s Hunter Lecker (17), California’s Malik Jackson (15) and McGuffey’s Damian McCloskey (15).
The group helped their team to 58 second-half points with a dominant transition game. Though Ferrari won Most Valuable Player honors for the White Team with three three-pointers in the first half and strong passing, Young caught the attention of White head coach Rich Tranquill of Burgettstown.
“He was phenomenal. He had to have had close to a triple-double,” Tranquill said of Young. “I lost count of how many shots he blocked. He was fantastic and, of course, Alec was dominant.”
Waynesburg’s Dom Sarra claimed MVP honors for the Red Team after scoring a team-high 19 points. The White jumped out to a 24-10 lead in the first half behind Ferrari and Lecker, but California’s Tray Matthews, who scored 15 points, narrowed the Red’s deficit to five points with an underhand layin.
Young entered the game and immediately took over, blocking shots, grabbing rebounds and capitalizing on put back attempts.
“At the beginning of this season, I thought I would be starting for Wash High, but I developed into a good sixth man for the team,” Young said. “I just played my role and listened to Coach Faust.”
He certainly took advantage of his role during the all-star game and was key to the White Team’s 13-5 run to finish the second half, which included a three-pointer by McCloskey, who crossed a defender, took a quick step back and sank a shot from the top of the key.
Jefferson-Morgan’s Rece Henneman chipped in 16 points for the Red, which trailed, 60-47, at halftime.
“We wish we got more kids to tryout from a few schools that weren’t represented, but the kids who came to tryouts showed they can definitely play,” Tranquill said. “There are a lot of nice guards in this area and the big men stood out. Everyone has a good time playing this game.”
California forward Lyndsey Huhn scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Red Team to a come-from-behind, 43-39 victory.
Huhn and Chartiers-Houston guard Jalynn Myers, who had a game-high 15 points, were named the Most Valuable Players of the game. Myers scored 19 points in the first 16 minutes to lead White to a 27-19 lead at halftime.
Red fought back and grabbed a one-point lead at the end of the third quarter with Huhn’s lay-in. The two teams traded the lead in the final minutes before Huhn’s put back with 10 seconds remaining clinched the victory.
Mapletown’s Emily Wagner added 14 points for Red.
“It felt really good because I missed playing,” Huhn said. “It’s nice playing with a bunch of random girls and trying to win the game.”
Myers, who plans to play collegiately at Wheeling Jesuit, dominated on both ends of the floor, forcing six turnovers and blocking a shot.
“I was really proud of her and I’m glad she had that kind of game,” White coach Laura Montecalvo said. “It’s a nice way to end her high school careers.”
Washington guard Taylor Ellis won the three-point competition, edging Myers in the final. … McGuffey’s Zach Maxwell won the dunk competition and Jefferson-Morgan’s Rece Henneman won the three-point competition during halftime of the boys game. … Huhn is the first girls player from Cal to win MVP in the 31-year history of the game.