White Auditorium will be the center stage Saturday for the Flint Hills Optimist Club’s All-Star Basketball Classic.
High school seniors from 20 schools across the area will participate in their final game in a high school uniform.
The all-star classic began over 30 years ago and was organized by Ron Slaymaker to showcase area athletes. Now run by the Flint Hills Optimist Club, member Ken Hanson says the love for the event is very evident by those involved both currently and in the past.
This year’s coaches include Kayla Abney and Michelle Stueve-Corpening for the girls. Eric Porter and Dylan Farr are coaching the boys teams.
All four coaches also played in the classic during their senior years of high school. Both games will played using the college men’s timing rules with two 20-minute halves with the “make-it-take-it rule” in effect for the last two minutes of each half.
A banquet was held Monday night with Slaymaker serving as the keynote speaker. The evening included the announcement of the annual scholarship winners.
The scholarships were awarded to Cadence Ptacek of Eureka and Truman Bailey of Olpe.
Game times for Saturday are 6 p.m. for the girls with the boys to follow. Admission is $5 and gates will open at 5 p.m.
