Jennings County’s Owen Law shoots against Columbus North’s Cooper Horn during the All-Area All-Star boys basketball game March 21, 2022, at Columbus Christian School.
The Republic file photo
In 2015, Columbus Christian boys and girls basketball coaches Kevin Roth and Ron Bridgewater put together an All-Star Game using players from The Republic’s All-Area teams.
Eight years later, the All-Area All-Star Games will have perhaps its biggest turnout in terms of players, at least on the boys side. Twenty girls and 26 boys from the All-Area team and honorable mention lists have committed to play in tonight’s 6 p.m. girls and 7:45 p.m. boys games at Columbus Christian.
“It seems like this year, we have more participants than we’ve had in the past,” said Bridgewater, who retired from coaching shortly after starting the games. “It’s always special when you get the best in our area playing together.”
Bridgewater and Roth put together this year’s event, along with Columbus Christian administrator Kendall Wildey, a former boys basketball coach at Jennings County and South Decatur and current assistant at Columbus North.
The games have had a beneficiary each year, and this year’s beneficiary will be a family who has adopted a two young Columbus Christian students following the death of both of their grandparents, with whom they had been living.
“We really love hosting this,” Wildey said. “It’s for a good cause. We love the fact that these kids in our area get an opportunity to play together in a showcase event, kind of one last hurrah for the year. We’re looking forward to it.”
Columbus Christian’s Sarah Lorimor drives to the basket during the All-Area All-Star girls basketball game March 21, 2022, at Columbus Christian School.
The Republic file photo
Columbus Christian’s Chris Noblitt and Edinburgh’s Amy Schilling will coach the girls teams. Jennings County’s Josh Land and North’s Paul Ferguson, both of which led their teams to sectional titles this season, will coach the boys teams.
The Panthers, who also won a regional crown, will have three players on one boys team and two on the other. The Bull Dogs will have three on each boys team.
Edinburgh’s Gracie Crawhorn drives against Trinity Lutheran’s Liza Froedge during the All-Area All-Star girls basketball game March 21, 2022, at Columbus Christian School.
The Republic file photo
“I just think it’s a nice thing for the area kids to come together and play in a little bit more relaxed atmosphere,” Roth said. “It’s a nice ending for the season, especially for the senior kids. Some of them compete against each other during the regular season. The North and Jennings County kids are split, so that will be interesting for them to compete against their own teammates.”
Wildey, Bridgewater and Roth have done a few things to spice up this year’s event, including naming an MVP for the girls and boys games. Also, longtime Hauser public address announcer and DJ Mike Asher will be the announcer and DJ for both of tonight’s games.
“We’re trying to just make everything a little bit more special for the players and coaches and spectators,” Wildey said. “The certificates we give to the players are going to be a little bit nicer. We’re going to have pizza for the players after the games. We’re going to have a hospitality room for the coaches and officials. We’re just trying to do some things to make it a little bit more special.”
