All-Star rosters set

Article Photos

ESCANABA - The largest field of players in Upper Peninsula All-Star Classic history will converge on Escanaba High School June 27 for the 24th annual event.

A total of 27 boys and 20 girls will compete in the twinbill, staged by the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame.

Proceeds are used for the UPSHF's scholarship program that awards $500 to two boys and two girls in each graduating class.

The girls play at 1 p.m. and the boys at 3 p.m. A variety of skills events (slam dunk, free throw shooting and 3-point shooting) begin at 11 a.m.

A breakfast open to the public will be at 9 a.m. at EHS.

Heading the all-stars is C.J. Paquin of Cedarville, the Associated Press Class D Player of the Year in Michigan. He was also the U.P. Class D Player of the Year.

Paquin, headed to Northern Michigan University on a basketball scholarship, appeared in the state Final Four all four seasons, helping the Trojans win the Class D state title in 2007.

The Trojans finished second earlier this year.

He will play on the North team that features three Marquette Senior High School players who will also play collegiately: Tyler Geary and Joe Simon at Lake Superior State, and Erik Powers at Minnesota-Duluth.

The South boys are led by U.P. Class ABC Player of the Year Brett Beland of Menominee and Josh Mickelson of Manistique. Mickelson will play at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis.

The North girls are led by U.P. Class ABC Player of the Year Samantha Manderfield of Houghton, an all-stater who will play at Michigan Tech.

Jessica Duncan of Cedarville leads the South girls. The U.P. Class D Player of the Year and Class D all-stater will play at Siena Heights University of downstate Adrian.

Two of this year's four scholarship recipients will play for the South girls in Kelsey Roberts of Kingsford and Brooke Granquist of North Central.

Roberts plans to play basketball at Tech, while Granquist will run track at NMU.

Six Classic cagers will also play in the U.P. All-Star Football Game this Saturday in Marquette: Paquin, Mickelson, Mickael Cantin of Pickford, Travis Depuydt of Mid Peninsula, Tyler McGaha of Baraga and Pat Flood of Iron Mountain.

Norway High School will serve as the Classic host in 2010 and 2011.

The rosters:

BOYS

North -Joe Simon, Tyler Geary and Erik Powers, Marquette; CJ Paquin and Taylor Smith, Cedarville; Tony LaPlant, Ewen-Trout Creek; James Loukas, Calumet; Chastin McKelvie, Rudyard; B.J. Scalcucci, West Iron County; Pat Flood, Iron Mountain; Jake Meneghini, Norway; Tyler McGaha, Baraga; Mickael Cantin, Pickford. Coaches: Ben Leiker (Norway) and Brad Nelson (Marquette).

South - Jace Daniels and Zach Hamilton, Escanaba; Andy Lauscher, Gladstone; Josh Mickelson and Jared Turan, Manistique; Levi LaTulip, Big Bay de Noc; Andy Augustine, Rapid River; Travis Depuydt, Mid Peninsula; Tom King, Bark River-Harris; Charles Marsicek, North Central; Jason Dionne, Carney-Nadeau; Justin Chartier, Superior Central; Brett Beland and Tyler Eland, Menominee. Coaches: Rick Pepin (Rapid River) and Pete Pericolosi (Menominee).

GIRLS

North - Samantha Manderfield and Helen Richards, Houghton; Hailey Gervais, Hancock; Jordyn Pierce, Sault Ste. Marie; Elisa Reynolds, Baraga; Brittany Turin, Ontonagon; Taylor Watters, Westwood; Erin Connor, L'Anse; Miranda Aho, Jeffers; Alyssa Erspamer, Marquette. Coaches: Dick Franti (Ontonagon) and Julie Filpus (Houghton)

South - Kelsey Roberts and Jordan Zeni, Kingsford; Amanda Coveyou, St. Ignace; Kayla LaMuth, Manistique; Brooke Granquist, North Central; Kristen Derusha, Bark River-Harris; Lauren MacArthur, Engadine; Jessica Duncan and Ashley Sweeney, Cedarville; Kaitlyn Owens, Menominee. Coaches: Mike Cross (Kingsford) and Dorene Ingalls (St. Ignace).