Stars from big and small schools shine in Ventura County all-star basketball games
Shawn Tuano is a Southern Section boys basketball champion and the Division 5AA Player of the Year, but he was still playing for respect Friday night.
"I wanted to show that Villanova Prep players can play with the best," he said. "I wanted to prove that we belong."
Mission accomplished.
The Wildcats' 6-foot-3 forward, playing with and against the very best seniors in the county in the Ventura County All-Star East/West Boys Basketball Game, definitely fit right in.
The small-schools standout tallied a team-high 24 points, made big plays on both ends of the court, and was named the Most Valuable Player even as the West ended up on the losing side of a 120-106 verdict at California Lutheran University's Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center.
"It's a big honor," he said. "I was motivated to play well tonight, and I also had fun. It was fun to be with all these great players."
London Gamble of Westlake was also inspired for her appearance in the girls all-star game.
"It's my last high school game and I wanted to play hard and go out a winner," she said. "I was playing with and against girls I've known for a long time. It was a big deal for me to play well tonight."
Gamble, who is bound for Sienna University, racked up 28 points and controlled the action on both ends of the court to spark the East's 97-63 victory.
Westlake teammate Mariah Elohim put up a game-high 35 points, including 15 in the third quarter. Myla Scott of Pacifica and Amaya Fuentes of Ventura each scored 16 points for the West.
"It's my last chance to play with London, so I really wanted to go out a winner," said Elohim, who knocked down seven 3-pointers. "We've been through so much together. I really appreciate the opportunity to play with her one last time."
No matter what side of the scoreboard players were on Friday night, everyone felt like winners.
Samson Hall of Moorpark scored a game-high 26 points, Jacob Jordan of Oak Park put in 16 points and Angel Navarro of Simi Valley had 16 points for the East boys. Buena's Darin Cole scored 17 points and Jaiden Randolph scored 12 points for the West.
"It was about having fun and getting out there one last time in a high school game," said Hall. "I've been playing against these guys for four years. It was cool to be on the same team tonight."
Navarro heated up as the game went along, scoring 14 points in the second half.
"I got more and more into the flow," said the Pioneers' stellar 6-3 guard. "I wanted to represent my school one last time, and it was definitely a lot of fun. There were a lot of great players on the court. It was just fun to compete."
Dylan O'Neill of Oxnard demonstrated his sharpshooter skills by winning the 3-point shooting contest. The 6-1 guard coolly knocked down 16 treys in 30 seconds.
"That's part of what's so much fun about playing in this game," said O'Neill. "It's coming out here and having a good time. It means a lot to me to be chosen for this game."
O'Neill played a starring role for an Oxnard team that not only excelled on the court, but in the classroom. The Yellowjackets finished No. 1 among all Southern Section boys basketball teams with a collective 3.79 team GPA.
O'Neill could boast a GPA of 4.0.
"It was really cool for us to be recognized what we accomplished in the classroom," he said. "We're all proud of that."
Pacifica's Scott also savored his chance to play in the girls game. She hit three treys as part of her points total.
"I know everyone out here," she said. "I've grown up playing with and against them all. I just wanted to have fun tonight and play one last game as a high school player. I was able to do that."
Loren Ledin is the Prep Editor for The Star. He can be reached at loren.ledin@vcstar.com or 805-437-0285.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Stars from big and small schools shine in all-star basketball games
