Rosters listed for District I All-Star Game

MULLAN — It’s that time again, as the best of the Class of 2019 descends on the Mullan Pavilion for the District I All-Star Game.

Now that the dust has settled in Boise and the teams have returned home from the State Tournaments, the senior players will get one last time to represent their school on the hardwood in a game that is more about entertainment than anything else.

“To see the talent in our part of the state from 5A through 1A-D2 work together is super cool,” Mullan athletic director Stetson Spooner said. “The debates are always out there whether a small school player can hang with 4As and 5As, it’s something that's talked about all year long and then we get to see it. And as a small community and small school AD I love seeing the bigger schools stars come shine in person instead of having to just hear about it during the long, busy basketball seasons. It’s nice to be able to just sit back and watch what North Idaho has to offer.”

While talent usually predicates these kinds of events, this one has a more humanity based component as well.

“The recognition that goes along with being selected is in large part to the coaches,” Spooner said. “The cool thing about that is the fact that character, class, and the things that the media and fans can’t usually see, whether it be in the locker rooms, hallways or community come into play. By having a great talent level, attitude, work ethic, being coachable and seemingly doing things the right way as a student athlete has a fun reward and some well deserved notoriety at the end of a long career.”

The night is always a fun one as the games give way to both the 3-point and dunk contests, including a shootoff between the winners of the boys and girls 3-point winners to crown the grand champion.

Spooner hopes the night can be about building relationships outside of the comfort zones that the kids have existed in.

“I personally believe that the more these kids can be talked about and meet each other the better off they will be moving forward after high school,” Spooner said. “Games like these and shriner football games and things like that create a lot of relationships between players, coaches and even communities.”

There are always hurdles in scheduling, which can lead to players missing the game that really should be involved, but Spooner always seems ready to have a fill-in player and keeps the event running strong.

“It's always tough to compete with TSA and Boys State Basketball as well as the NIC playoffs and their all star game later this month,” Spooner mentioned, “but as long as we can still pack a gym for these kids and keep North Idaho standouts coming together to put on a show we will continue to do so.”

The District I All-Star Game in Friday, March 8, at the Mullan Pavilion.

The girls game begins at 5 p.m. and everything else will follow it.

Rosters for the game are as follows, but are subject to change.