The IAABO Board 28 Hampshire-Franklin Basketball All-Star games that were scheduled for Friday were canceled on Wednesday amid growing concerns related to COVID-19.
The games were schedule to be held at Smith Academy. Despite efforts by the IAABO Board 28 to move forward with the event, hosting the games became impossible with facility and public gathering restrictions that have been put in place.
The all-star games have been an annual event that both recognize the efforts and accomplishments of local senior student-athletes while also serving as a fundraiser for the IAABO Board 28 William F. Casey Scholarships.
“Board 28 would like to thank the local organizations and officials who have contributed to the event and the Casey Scholarship Fund, and the Board will continue to explore additional opportunities to raise funds for the annual scholarships,” the organization said in a statement.
The girls team from Franklin Tech and the boys team from Hopkins Academy were the Jack Leaman Sportsmanship Award winners.
Longtime former Amherst Regional boys coach Jim Matuszko is the Tom Cove Award winner for his long-lasting contributions to the game of basketball in Hampshire and Franklin Counties.
Local players selected for the East girls team: Erin Klaes, Amherst Regional; Sonia Dugger, Belchertown; Kaeleigh Croteau and Nora Young, Granby; Thea Hanscom and Gabby Palmisano, Hopkins Academy; Erin Gilrein and Karlie Guimond, Smith Academy.
Local players selected for the West girls team: Kyla Roy, Easthampton; Marie Diemand, Frontier Regional; Grace Van Buren and Donna Viel, Gateway Regional; Jackie Babyak and Katie Taylor, Hampshire Regional; Amanda Mieczkowski, Emily Sledzieski and Caroline Tanner, Northampton; and Bridget Sears, South Hadley.
Local players selected for the East boys team: Tabor Bowman, Amherst Regional; Owen Raines, Belchertown; Luis Gaj, Granby; Ryan Antes, Hopkins Academy; David Cavanaugh, Smith Academy; and Colin Ferrara, Smith Academy.
Local players selected for the West boys team: Nate Morse and Sean Sabourin, Easthampton; Collin Boudreau and Brett Robinson, Frontier Regional; Spencer Czarniecki and Dominik Lewinski, Hampshire Regional; Gavin Bullock and Jake Brittain, Northampton; Andrew Pierce, Carlos Rivera, and Jaxson Venne, Smith Vocational; Hunter Carey and Brady Marion, South Hadley.
On Thursday, several local players are currently scheduled to participate in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Western Massachusetts Senior High School All-Star Games in Springfield.
Three games will be held on the Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams. The first game at 5:30 p.m. will be between boys in Division 3 and 4. Lewinski will play for Team 1, while Carey will play for Team 2.
The 7 p.m. game will feature girls from Division 1, 2, 3 and 4. Holyoke’s Destiny Calderon is on Team 1. Klaes, Young, Mieczkowski and Jill McGrath, of Northampton, are on Team 2.
The 8:30 p.m. game will be between boys from Division 1 and 2. Jovaughn Smith-Antuna, of Holyoke, is on Team 1. Brittain is on Team 2.
The Hall of Fame will also recognize one boy and one girls as their Western Massachusetts Players of the Year.