AABC selects senior all-stars; 6 Valley basketball players among 48 picked to compete in annual event

WASILLA — When a group of local basketball coaches came together to form a state association in 2010, there were a number of objectives in mind.

They wanted to create a unified voice for Alaska coaches. But the coaches also wanted to collectively promote the sport and Alaska players. Among the priorities for the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches was to create a senior all-star game, and bring the best players together on one court.

Four years later, the AABC Senior All-Star Game is now a staple of the Alaska prep basketball schedule.

The AABC has invited 24 of the top senior boys and 24 of the top senior girls in the state to participate in a pair of all-star games. The AABC all-stars will hit the floor at Anchorage Christian School Friday, with the girls playing at 5:30 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Palmer High hosts the all-star games at 5 and 7 p.m.

AABC president Dave Porter said the hardest part was trimming the list of nominations to create the teams.

“The talent’s really good. This year we had more seniors to pick from than we’ve ever had before,” Porter said.

Porter said between the boys and girls, there were nearly 150 nominations. A group of committee members, who remain anonymous, made the final selections from the nominated players.

Six Valley seniors made the final cut. Colony’s Damien Fulp and Palmer’s Adam Ramoth were both named to the boys’ all-star team. Colony’s Izzy Tweed, Houston’s Savannah Wells and Wasilla’s Amanda Hutchins and Shayla Johnson will represent the Valley on the girls’ side.

The list of all-stars also includes six seniors who were named player of the year for their respective classes by the AABC. Service’s Reece Robinson (4A), Monroe’s Scooter Bynum (3A) and Klawock’s Tyrus Morgan (1A) will play in the boys’ game. Anchorage Christian School’s Dallas Dickerson (3A), Dillingham’s Drew Carlos (2A) and Nikolaevsk’s Nianiella Dorvall (1A) will play in the girls game.

Thirty-seven of the 48 all-stars were named either first, second or third-team all-state by AABC.

“It’s very cool to get most of the players of the year in there. That doesn’t always happen,” Porter said.

Porter said the AABC will separate the list of 24 boys and 24 girls into a pair of 12-player teams for the all-star games.

AABC also invited eight head coaches from across the state to coach the teams during the games.

Galena’s Beth Buchanon and Glennallen’s Jim Lorence will lead the girls’ Blue team, and Kodiak’s Amy Fogle and Nikolaevsk’s Bea Klaich will coach the girls’ Gold team. Monroe’s Frank Ostanik and Glennallen’s James Fields will coach the boys’ blue team, and Kodiak’s Dave Andersen and Klawock’s Doug Edenshaw will lead the boys’ gold team.

AABC Senior All-Star Game rosters

Girls All-Stars Blue Team:

Izzy Tweed, Colony; Michelle Coderre, ACS; Shaina Burley, Galena; Jess Reiter, Delta; Shayla Johnson, Wasilla; Carissa Cannon, Kodiak; Riana Joseph, Bethel; Tara Thompson, Dimond; Taylor Murray, South; Kiana Edwards, Hutchison; Nianiella Dorvall, Nikolaevsk; Hannah Wandersee, Kodiak; Coaches: Beth Buchanon, Galena; Jim Lorence, Glennallen.

Girls All-Stars Gold Team:

Adriane Horn, Kodiak; Bryn Tennyson, ACS; Amanda Hutchins, Wasilla; Nadine Fraker, Bartlett; Jerica Nelson, Kodiak; Dallas Dickerson, ACS; Savannah Wells, Houston; Megan Pyles, Kodiak; Jayley Taylor, Ketchikan; Drew Carlos, Dillingham; Angela Miguel, Barrow; Chamira Cockert, West; Coaches: Amy Fogle, Kodiak; Bea Klaich, Nikolaevsk.

Boys All-Stars Blue team:

Eric Johnson, Grace; Ihro Raguindin, Service; Theodore Naneng, Bethel; Scooter Bynum, Monroe; Nate Simmers, ACS; Peyton Fullmer, Bartlett; Travon Brackett, West Valey; Matt Seymour, Thunder Mountain; Kyle Carlson, Lathrop; Lawrence Kaleak, Barrow; Austin Osborne, Dimond; Cass Matheis, Nome; Coaches: Frank Ostanik, Monroe, James Fields, Glennallen.

Boys All-Stars Gold team:

Tyler Eide, Nome; Adam Ramoth, Palmer; Eudy Gomez, East; Calvin Hoffman, ACS; Tyler Wells, Monroe; Thomas Jones, Eagle River; Damien Fulp, Colony; Immanuel Lopez, ACS; Seth Carstens, Nikiski; Tyrus Morgan, Klawock; Reece Robinson, Service; Ryan Lee, Thunder Mountain; Coaches: Dave Andersen, Doug Edenshaw.