Photo | Paul Adkins
Logan High School’s Stevie Browning (32) goes into the lane for two points in action last season. He’s set to take part in the upcoming North-South game. He has signed on to play college basketball at Fairmont State.
It was quite a season for Jordan Simpson and Stevie Browning.
Both were prolific scorers for their respective teams and both led their schools to the state high school basketball tournament back in March.
The two will be honored with spots in the upcoming North-South All-Star Basketball Classic, set for Friday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the South Charleston Community Center.
Both Simpson and Browning were among the state’s top scorers.
Simpson, a 6-foot-2 guard, averaged 26.5 points for the Hillbillies, which lost 62-57 to Charleston Catholic in the Class A state tournament quarterfinals and finished the season with a 14-12 record.
Browning, a 6-2 guard, checked in at 25.3 points per game and led the Wildcats to the Class AAA state tourney where Logan was beaten 63-50 to Martinsburg in the opening round, finishing the roundball campaign with a 17-9 mark.
The Logan County pair are set to play for the South All-Stars, which have dominated the series 23-6 since 1983.
Out of the 26 players picked on both squads, 17 are headed to play college basketball or football, according to Bill Gillispie, the North-South game director.
Simpson might not be going to play collegiate basketball or football but he has signed on to play college baseball at Division II West Virginia State. Simpson became Man High School’s all-time leading basketball scorer this season and was the captain of the Class A All-State Team.
Browning is set to play college basketball at Division II Fairmont State.
The North won last year’s game, 105-86.
The South will look for revenge this year with a star-studded roster.
Also set to play for the South are: Tolsia’s Jacob Copley, Tug Valley’s Mason Park and Wyoming East’s Marcus Schofield. Also on the roster is Huntington St. Joe’s Josh Pierson. Pack, a 6-9 center, led Tug Valley to the Class AA state championship this season, the Panthers’ first state crown since 1999.
A Kanawha Valley flavor also exists on the South roster as well with Winfield’s Cameron Powell, George Washington’s Tino diTrapano, South Charleston’s Ot Elmore, Hurricane’s Garrett Tinsley and Poca’s Clint Parsons. Elmore (16.7) was a Class AAA all-state second-team selection, Tinsley (19.4) was the AAA third-team captain and Parsons (18.3) was a Triple-A third-team pick.
Wheeling Park’s Boo Lathon, the state player of the year, heads the North All-Stars. He averaged 19.6 points and 10.7 rebounds for the Patriots this past season.
Also set to play for the North are: Hedgesville’s Q.J. Peterson; Parkersburg’s Devin Hoehn; Jefferson’s Garrett Grantham; and Parkersburg Catholic’s Daniel Collie. Peterson helped lead seventh-seeded Hedgesville to the 3A state title.
The South will be coached by Tug Valley’s Garland Thompson and Oak Hill’s Fred Ferri. Dave Retton of Fairmont and Rick Frame of Braxton County will lead the North.
Before the North-South game, there will be a skills competition beginning at 6 p.m. A free-throw contest and the 3-point contest will take place at 6:15 with the slam-dunk competition at 6:30.
All tickets are $5.
The West Virginia Athletic Directors Association, which has taken over operation of the all-star game, will also award two scholarships.
North-South Basketball Classic rosters
South Cardinals
Player Ht Wt PPG School
Cameron Powell 5-10 155 10.8 Winfield
Josh Pierson 5-11 165 23.6 Huntington St. Joe
Tino diTrapano 6-0 170 12.5 George Washington
Jordan Simpson 6-2 160 26.5 Man
Stevie Browning 6-2 160 25.3 Logan
Ot Elmore 6-2 175 17.8 South Charleston
Garrett Tinsley 6-2 170 19.3 Hurricane
Cameron Shannon 6-2 175 15.7 Woodrow Wilson
Clint Parsons 6-4 200 16.4 Poca
Marcus Schofield 6-4 200 17.6 Wyoming East
Jacob Copley 6-4 205 22.8 Tolsia
Taylor Smith 6-6 215 13.1 Wyoming East
Mason Pack 6-9 225 18.6 Tug Valley
North Bears
Player Ht Wt PPG School
Q.J. Peterson 5-10 170 20.1 Hedgesville
Garrett Grantham 5-11 180 21.3 Jefferson
Jordan Lacy 5-11 180 14.8 Braxton County
Devin Hoen 6-1 165 22.0 Parkersburg
Daniel Collie 5-11 170 16.8 Parkersburg Catholic
Zach Martin 6-0 160 18.6 Ravenswood
K.D. Arnett 6-1 190 19.8 St. Marys
Tyrek Collier 6-2 165 17.9 Washington
Easton Hutton 5-11 155 12.7 Braxton County
Boo Lathon 6-2 200 19.8 Wheeling Park
Van Jones 6-1 170 14.8 Fairmont Senior
Justin Wade 6-6 225 18.9 John Marshall
Robbie Smelser 6-8 185 17.9 Hampshire
Coaches: Rick Frame, Braxton County; Dave Retton, Fairmont Senior
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