At 5-foot-10, Collin Rodgers is the shortest player on the West boys team for Saturday’s 29th Cager Classic all-star basketball game at Highlands High School.
But the Deer Lakes senior guard, who helped the Lancers advance to the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals this season, hopes to stand tall on the court with a group of players against whom he had some of his fiercest battles over the past four seasons.
Highlands’ Carmine Lacava, Troy Bielak, Ty Hall and Preston Foster; Knoch’s Derek Lang, Teegan Finucan and Vincent DeFelice; and Freeport’s Carson Kane, once heated section adversaries, will stand together with hopes of bringing home a victory.
That, Rodgers said, is a good feeling to have entering what always is a more relaxed basketball setting.
“It will be a lot of stress off the shoulders,” said Rodgers, who also will team up with seniors from Central Catholic, Hampton and Mars against standout players from Cheswick Christian, Leechburg, Kiski Area, Apollo-Ridge, Franklin Regional, Burrell, Valley and Butler.
“I am looking forward to just going out there and have fun and play free,” he said. “It will be unique to play with and against a lot of familiar opponents and also play with and against some guys who I am more unfamiliar with. There is so much incredible talent on both teams. It will be a cool twist from what we all face during the season and into the playoffs. This will be one final fun run before our high school careers are over.”
Rodgers, who will head to Penn State and major in business, said he expects this game to cause a lot of its participants to take a step back and reminisce about their journeys and the ups and downs of their careers.
“Three short years ago, I was a freshman going on a crazy run with such an amazing team (WPIAL Class 3A champions, PIAA runner-up),” Rodgers said.
“Now, it’s over, and it is eye-opening to see how quickly it went by.”
Riley Stephens hadn’t picked up a basketball since Plum’s home loss to Peters Township on Feb. 13 in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A girls playoffs.
But she hopes her skills and stamina will still be there throughout the three days of the Cager Classic festivities.
The Mustangs’ 1,000-point scorer, who helped lead her team to its first section championship, is ready to show what she can do against some of the area’s top seniors as part of the East team with Gemma Sadoski from section rival Franklin Regional and others from Burrell, Riverview, Kiski Area, Butler and Leechburg.
“I don’t think I’ve lost my (shooting) touch, yet,” said Stephens, who averaged 20 points this season.
“It might take a little bit of time to get into a groove, but I should be OK. I am really interested to see how we will come together and interact with each other. I didn’t play AAU or anything like that, so I have been playing with the same people my whole life. This will be something new, but I am looking forward to it.”
All four teams met with their coaches Thursday evening at Highlands to quickly formulate a game plan for Saturday’s games. Coaches each year have somewhat of an embarrassment of riches with experienced talent, and the challenge is how to best utilize their players throughout the game.
The Cager Classic will have players from schools in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler and Westmoreland counties.
The annual skills competition Friday at Highlands is a prelude to the all-star games. It will feature a 3-point shooting contest and a hot shot contest, where a participant will have 45 seconds and eight locations on the floor in which to rack up points.
Rodgers and Stephens said they hope to be a part of one of Friday’s competitions.
Saturday’s girls all-star game will be at 5:45 p.m. with the boys to follow at 7:45 p.m. Each team will have an MVP, and the winner will receive a $500 scholarship. Two more scholarships will be awarded through an essay contest.
Tickets are $4 for students and $7 for adults.
Spectators at last year’s games were treated to a classic overtime boys contest.
Mars’ Drew Navetta hit a 3-pointer with 36 seconds left in regulation to help the West team forge an extra period of basketball.
Valley’s Mikael Allen, who used a monster dunk to extend the East team’s lead with 48 seconds to go in the fourth, finished with 20 points and earned East MVP honors. He scored eight of his 20 in overtime, and his offensive rebounding helped his team finish a 117-109 victory.
Kiski Area’s Colin Keller (14 points), Jacob Musselman (14) and Carson Heinle (12) also scored in double figures for the East. Plum’s Will Beckner (12), Burrell’s Tucker Bitar (11) and Armstrong’s Jacob Szep (10) also finished in double figures.
Navetta led the West team with 25 points and was named the team’s MVP. Mars’ Austin Campbell (18 points), Deer Lakes’ Nathaniel Moore (18), Butler’s Tayt Lucas (14) and Hampton’s Griff Jarrell (12) finished in double figures.
The West rallied to win last year’s girls all-star game 66-60 as Fox Chapel’s Bella Urso scored nine points, including seven in the second half.
St. Joseph’s Gia Richter was strong from beyond the arc and was named the West MVP. She scored a team-best 12 points.
Mars’ Carmella McDole also contributed 10 points for the West team.
Franklin Regional’s Madison DeRiggi, who was named the East’s MVP, was one of three players from the East to score in double figures. Riverview’s Katerina Tsambis scored a team-high 11 points, and Burrell’s Julianna Fisher finished with 10.
29th Cager Classic
Highlands High School
March 28, 5:45 p.m. girls; 7:45 p.m. boys
Rosters
Girls
East
2. Casey Brancato, Burrell, 5-10
4. Isabel Chaparro, Riverview, 5-10
11. Gemma Sadoski, Franklin Regional, 5-6
12. Mikayla Coury, Burrell, 5-4
13. Gianna DeVito, Kiski Area, 5-11
14. Alison Pencak, Kiski Area, 5-6
15. Hayden Lookabaugh, Leechburg, 5-5
21. Emily Hoffer, Butler, 5-7
22. Abby Shea, Leechburg, 5-4
33. Riley Stephans, Plum, 5-7
43. Sydney Heinack, Kiski Area, 5-3
Head coach: Tom Brush (Kiski Area). Assistants: Courtney Zezza, Ashley Polka
West
1. Lauren Gamble, Apollo-Ridge, 5-3
2. Gracoe Spagnola, Deer Lakes, 5-2
5. Alexis Cashdollar, Mars, 5-9
11. Neah Ewing, Knoch, 5-6
12, Mya Moore, Mars, 6-0
13. Sydney Sharkins, Deer Lakes, 5-6
14. Nia DiSanti, Freeport, 5-6
21. Mya McClain, Apollo-Ridge, 5-7
23. Jaisa Gailott, Freeport, 5-2
24. Maggie Simonetti, Springdale, 5-5
25. Kasey Cienik, St. Joseph, 5-10
Head coach: Geoff Dutelle (St. Joseph). Assistants: Ashley Domachowski, Jim Neely
Boys
East
1.Brady Rochkind, Cheswick Christian Academy, 6-2
2. Mason Scitticatt, Leechburg, 5-8
3. Amaree Gonzalez, Kiski Area, 6-0
4. Stainton Forbes, Butler, 6-3
5. Brayden Myers, Apollo-Ridge, 5-8
10. Colin Holt, Franklin Regional, 6-4
11. Sam Conte, Burrell, 6-0
12. Joseph Rosio, Cheswick Christian Academy, 5-8
13. Aven Shirley, Kiski Area, 6-0
23. Zane Beatty, Apollo-Ridge, 6-5
24. Jaden Wall, Valley, 6-1
32. Gavyn Orr, Burrell, 6-4
35. Andrew Gettinger, Butler, 6-6
Head coach: Todd Rosio (Cheswick Christian Academy). Assistants: Ben Pollock, Zack Kosor
West
1.Carmine Lacava, Highlands, 6-2
2. Derek Lang, Knoch, 6-9
3. Collin Rodgers, Deer Lakes, 5-10
4. Troy Bielak, Highlands, 6-5
5. Ty Hall, Highlands, 6-0
11. Memphis Cypher, Armstrong, 6-2
12. Garrett Brumbaugh, Armstrong, 6-0
15. Carson Kane, Freeport, 6-0
20. Zack Danner, Hampton, 6-4
21. Teegan Finucan, Knoch, 6-2
22. Ryan Hower, Central Catholic, 6-4
23. Preston Foster, Highlands, 6-3
24. Nick Santoro, Mars, 6-3
30. Vincent DeFelice, Knoch, 6-2
35. Ben Delisch, Mars, 6-6
Head coach: Michael Foster (Highlands). Assistants: Craig Riggle, Isaiah Riggle, Reuben King
Women’s Officials: Chris Ziemianski, David Ptaszkiewcz, Bob Marchi
Men’s Officials: Andrew Cressler, Greg Engel, Mike Jarosinski