SPRINGFIELD — With dozens of pictures of NBA greats looking down from the mezzanine, local basketball players took part in the Western Massachusetts Senior All-Star Games at the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night.
The Division 3-4 boys game started the night with Team Red beating Team White, 107-93.
Team Red had Jordan Desrosiers from Mahar and Tyler Lavin from Turners Falls on the roster.
Pioneer Valley Regional’s Garrett Cote played for Team White.
Lavin won MVP honors with a fiery 34-point effort from mostly beyond the arc.
“It was pretty exciting,” Lavin said. “It was my last official high school game. I just came out ready to shoot and play. For me, once I hit two in a row I know it’s a good day.”
Lavin made 10 3-pointers and found teammates often with five assists.
“I just keep shooting and I feel the rhythm coming,” Lavin said.
The scene had each player come to the middle of the floor on top of the Hall of Fame insignia at Jerry Colangelo Court during introductions with the lights dimmed and a spotlight in the middle of the floor.
Players arrived early to get their uniforms.
“It’s pretty unreal coming here,” Cote said. “I was not even waist high as a little kid coming here all the time. It’s an incredible feeling. This is really dream that every kid would wish for to play at the hall of fame. This where everyone comes to get recognized.”
Cote led Team White with 26 points on six 3-pointers.
The 3-pointers went up often for both teams, but there was some ball movement among the two teams.
Team Red lit up the silky nets for most of the game from the 3-point line. But Lavin was especially hot hitting shots from all over the gym, especially in the fourth quarter.
Desrosiers stepped into a 3-pointer on the first possession of the game as well as the second half for Team Red and calmly nailed both of them.
Desrosiers finished with 15 points and had the support of several friends and family wearing “Team Jordan” shirts.
Raegan Hickey was the lone Franklin County representative in the Div. 1-4 girls game. Hickey scored five points for Team Red who got trounced by Team White, 80-51.
“It was definitely an honor,” Hickey said. “Being one of the best players in Western Mass.”
Greenfield’s Samantha Smith missed the game vacationing in Hawaii.
“I wanted to play with her one last time,” Hickey said. “But she’s having fun on vacation, so I guess it’s fine.”
Greenfield’s John Hickey was courtside coaching his daughter for the last time.
“It didn’t feel like the last time because of the venue,” coach Hickey said. “It was fun. I don’t usually coach this thing but it’s her senior year and I got the opportunity to have one more time with her.”
Aaron Williams of Sabis International won the Western. Mass. Player of the Year Award. There was a tribute video for Willams at halftime.
Jaliena Sanchez from Springfield-Central won the award for the girls.
