Several Highlands basketball players will be showcasing their skills in Bessemer City on Saturday as part of the West-Midwest 1A All-Star Game.
The game times are 5 p.m. for the women’s all-star game and 6:30 p.m. for the men’s all-star game. At the end of each game scholarships will be handed out to several of the participants.
Representing Highlands will be Ezra Branham, Bea Bryson, Riley Conner, Bella Wilson and Lilly Bryson. Highlands head coach Brett Lamb will be on the West coaching staff.
“The all-star games are a lot of fun and when you’re coming off a good season, it’s a great way to kindof wrap everything up and recognize the girls,” Lamb said. “The West team is going to be strong this year. Cherokee had a great team, Swain, Robbinsville, there were a number of West teams in the 1-A state playoffs who won multiple games.”
The All-Star Saturday festivities include morning practice sessions for each team, followed by lunch and a banquet. This year’s keynote speaker is 1991 ACC Player of the Year and NC State alum Rodney Monroe.
Earlier this week the Little Smoky 1-A Conference announced its annual All-conference selections. On the girls side of the ledger, Bryson, Conner and Branham were each named first-team All-conference. Wilson was listed on the honorable mention list.
Highlands boys were represented on the All-conference first team by James Earp. Nathan Keener and Landon Green were each named honorable mention.
“Coach (Kaitlyn) Bishop and I are really proud of all of our athletes, and especially those who were recognized as All-conference,” Lamb said. “It’s an honor to make that list because it shows that you made an impact on the other coaches in the league and they were willing to vote for you.”
Highlands’ girls basketball team finished the season with a 19-7 record and advanced to the second round of the NCHSAA 1-A State playoffs. Highlands’ boys finished the season with a 7-16 record.