SOUTH DEERFIELD — Both Amherst Regional’s Meikkel Murray and Hopkins Academy’s Sam’i Roe will likely play a postgraduate year at a prep school after graduation, the players said Friday.
Murray and Roe spoke about their future after the IAABO Board 28 Hampshire-Franklin County all-star game Friday night at Frontier Regional.
Neither player is 100 percent sure about which prep school they will choose and Murray hasn’t ruled out playing for a Division 3 school.
“Prep school somewhere I am just not sure yet,” Murray said. “I have taken a couple D-3 visits but I think I want to go to prep school.”
Murray mentioned Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut as a possible destination. Roe is leaning heavily toward a post graduate year at Wilbraham & Monson.
“I am PGing,” Roe said. “It’s about 75 percent.”
Junior college and Vermont Academy could be options for Roe.
In the game, the East beat the West 135-104. Murray led the East with 34 points to earn his team’s Most Outstanding Player award, while Roe had 21 points with five 3-pointers.
The exhibition featured multiple dunks by Murray, and copious 3-point attempts by both teams.
Like the NBA, defense was not a priority.
South Hadley’s Nate Poirier’s had 15 points with three 3-pointers for the East. Colin Gould of Franklin County Technical School also netted 15 for the winners.
Amherst’s Tajahn Joyner scored 12 points, and set up Murray on a picturesque alley-oop late in the game.
Kevin Mendez of Greenfield High School was the West’s Most Outstanding Player with 28 points. Shane Mastello of Gateway Regional threw in 14, while Mohawk Trail Regional High School’s Torsten Sloan-Anderson and Matthew Babyak of Hampshire Regional both finished with 12.
• In the girls game, Northampton’s Lauraine Joensen scored 22 points and earned Most Outstanding Player honors to help the West beat the East 66-60.
Joensen played her last game with teammate Megan McCarthy, the two posed for pictures after the game.
McCarthy will attend Bryant University to play lacrosse when her high school career is over.
“We had three great teams,” Joensen said. “Great teammates and coaching staff.”
Joensen will play at Division 1 Canisus next season.
“I am really looking forward to playing against those better players,” Joensen said.
South Hadley’s Sophie Gatzounas, on her way to Navy in the fall, scored 18 points for the West and Helena Diaz of Frontier chipped in with 6.
Belchertown’s Kayla Henry led the East with 12 points and was its Most Outstanding Player. Henry will attend Stonehill College to play soccer.
Julia Carey of Athol High School added 7 points for the East.
An estimated $1,800 was raised for the IAABO Board 28 William F. Casey Scholarship Fund.
