Boys all-star game should feature a lot of talent

The Silver team in this year's Fallon Optimist All-Star Classic basketball game is looking like gold for Tuesday's encounter with the Blue team.

Led by Nevada-bound Armon Johnson of Hug, the Silver team brings a loaded group of all-league and all-region players to Fallon for the annual fundraiser.

The game begins approximately at 7:30 p.m. or 20 minutes after the conclusion of the girls' game at Churchill County High School's Elmo Dericco Gym.

Cost is $ 5 for adults and $3 for students with I.D. Seniors are $2. The Fallon Optimist Club uses the money to help support community youth programs.

Hug coach Brian Voyles also selected three more players from his team plus four from Galena, this year's Class 4A state basketball champions.

Before the end of the season, Northern 4A coaches selected Johnson and North Valleys' Archie Kovich as players of the year. Johnson signed a letter of intent earlier this year to play basketball for the University of Nevada, but Kovich decided to trade his basketball shoes for cleats to play football at Southern Utah College.

Galena has two All-Sierra Nevada first-team and two honorable mention players competing in the game. First-team members selected in March were J. D. Peters and Tristan Hill, while honorable mention picks were Bryce Crook and Eric Maupin.

The All-Sierra Nevada team differs from the coaches' Northern 4A selections. Sports writers in the coverage area of Sierra Nevada Sports Media newspapers selected a first team and honorable mention.

Voyles said he hasn't planned anything special for the Silver team.

"We'll have a passing game and run a two-man attack - wing and post," he said. "That will make it more exciting."

Rob Streeter, whose team lost to Galena in the 4A regional finals, also has an experienced squad of seniors including many who played their ball in the Northern 3A.

He said his team will have a practice Monday night and another one Tuesday afternoon in Fallon.

Streeter selected two players from Douglas, Mike Gransberry and Joe Nady. Another player, 6-foot-10 Keith Olson, is unable to play because of recent foot surgery.

Gransberry earned first-team honors on the All-Sierra Nevada team, and Nady was honorable mention.

Fallon also has one player on the Blue team. Charlie Lockwood, an All-Sierra Nevada honorable mention forward, will don his basketball uniform for a final time.

Kovich averaged more than 30 points per game for North Valleys, and he will be joined by teammates Jason Lons and Craig Davidson.

Dayton has three players on the Blue squad including All-Sierra Nevada first-team point guard Erik Hopper. Travis Wood, who recently signed a letter of intent to play football at Sacramento City Junior College, and Jacob Jones will represent the Dust Devils.

Erick Geddes of Silver Springs and Garey Smith of Yerington were also selected.