By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
There was one game left to be played for five Nantucket basketball all-stars over the weekend. After a three-year absence, the best players on the Cape and Islands met for the 17th Cape Cod high school all-star basketball games Sunday at Sandwich High School.
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Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Five Nantucket all-stars played in the Cape Cod high school all-star basketball games on Sunday at Sandwich High School including Senior, Jordan Ferreira, as he goes in for a layup. |
The Whalers all-stars played for the Upper Cape squad, which beat Lower Cape in both games. Senior Whitney Butler, sophomore Shantel Hanniford and junior Angela Paterson played for the girls team, which won 103-95, while junior Josh Butler and senior Jordan Ferreira played for the boys squad on the winning end of a 140-110 offensive shootout.
Junior Delroy Lawrence was also named to the all-star team, but did not play in the game.
Paterson led the Lady Whalers with 12 points, while Butler scored 10 and Hanniford knocked down eight. For the boys, Ferreira scored 21 points and Butler scored 18 and pulled down 10 rebounds.
“That was a great show, girls and boys. There was some really good talent. What’s amazing to me, is they don’t practice at all. It’s a one-game thing, and they are able to gel and hustle and play a good brand of basketball,” boys basketball head coach Beau Almodobar said.
“Games like that can be intimidating in the beginning, with all the better players on the Cape. All-star games are offensive games. You’ve got to show your offensive skills. No one is out there playing much defense,” girls basketball head coach Willis Ferreira said. “I thought all three of those kids played like they belonged there. They didn’t look out of place, and that goes to show me that our team was pretty good. That we can have three players in that game and they all did something a little different. They held their own and deserved to play in that game.”
For all five Nantucket all-stars, it was the first regional all-star game they have played.
“It was pretty exciting. It was probably my best year playing-wise,” Butler said. “It was a lot of fun. A lot of the girls, I like the way they play, the way they pass, they way they are always looking for the open player.”
“I get to learn other stuff from people older and better than me,” said Hanniford, who added that she picked up a few tips and a few moves.
The three Lady Whalers were subbed onto the court together with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter. It was business as usual with Paterson launching three-point shots and Butler and Hanniford patrolling the paint.
“It was nice to be playing with them considering it is the last time I will get to play with them, Angela taking three’s and Shantel taking it to the hoop,” Butler said.
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Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Angela Paterson drives inside against Barnstable’s Morgan Kendrow during the all star games.
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The game was close throughout. Butler hit five of six free throw attempts early in the fourth quarter to open up a six-point lead for Upper Cape.
“She is the type of kid that does all the little things. I thought she did a really good job yesterday. She got to the foul line and she made her shots. I thought it was real good for her. I think she was under-appreciated throughout the season for what she does and I am happy for her to have some success,” Ferreira said.
Paterson drained a three-pointer and a jump shot with under two minutes remaining to seal the win for Upper Cape.
“Her skills, offensively she is very talented. To be able to shoot the ball the way she shoots it, it’s pretty good. I think she is a great ball-handler and a very good passer,” Ferreira said.
The boys all-star game was not as close. Lower Cape was playing short-handed as the Upper Cape squad relied on a bevy of offensive weapons.
“It is a good accomplishment to be named an all-star,” Jordan Ferreira said. “I expect a fast-paced game, a lot of up and down and not much defense. A lot of scoring.”
With the final Upper Cape score well over the century mark, Ferreira had plenty of opportunity to put up some big points, knocking down 21 including four three-pointers.
“I think he deserves it. In my eyes he clearly belongs with some of the best kids on the Cape. He has got good court vision, he runs the court well, and I know he can shoot. I am going miss him,” Almodobar said.
Butler also played well for Upper Cape.
“I was trying to work for it and I accomplished it. I am here to make a name for myself. I have worked hard on hustling and taking advantage of the ball instead of making mistakes,” Josh Butler said before the game.
In addition to playing a sound game of basketball, Butler was hoping to dunk the ball a few times. He got his chance on a break in the fourth quarter.
“He is one that has really grown this year as a player from the beginning of the season to the end. His contributions down the stretch, the last 10 games, really helped us to do good things and I think the other coaches saw that,” Almodobar said. “Delroy wasn’t there, but I don’t think we would have gone as far without those two big guys. Delroy is another one that has in my eyes matured as a player, his toughness, getting rebounds and going up strong.”
In the skills competition, Paterson and Josh Butler each advanced to the final round of the three-point shooting contest. Sandwich’s Ellery Gould nailed 23 three-pointers to Paterson’s 14 to take the crown. Barnstable’s C.J. Nicholas outlasted Butler in the finals with 17 baskets to 13.
Chatham’s Taryn VanEsselstyn and Bourne’s Courtney Donovan were co-winners of the Kim Craft MVP award following the girls game. Donovan scored a game-high 24 points and collected 12 boards for Upper Cape, while VanEsselstyn scored a team-high 20 points for Lower Cape.
In the boy’s game, Falmouth’s Jamie Heide, Bourne’s Erik Robbins and Mashpee’s Joey Lopes shared the Frank Finn MVP award. Heide scored 27 points and had 17 rebounds.
There were also seven 1,000-point scorers recognized: Paterson and Ferreira, as well as Lopes, VanEsselstyn, Gould Barnstable’s Jill Lyon and Morgan Kendrow.
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