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Sports
Sports
ST. IGNACE/IRON RIVER — Three recently graduated West Iron County basketball players competed in the U.P. All Star Basketball Classic held on July 10 at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace.
Justin Nelson and Nathan Thomson competed for the West boys squad, which lost to the East team 103-96. Jordan Shamion competed for the West girls team, which fell to the East 87-80.
West Iron girls basketball coach Eric Shamion coached the West girls team.
Nelson was the star for the Wykon contingent and stood out from the crowd overall with 40 points and 18 rebounds. He sank five 3-pointers and led the West squad’s comeback from a 50-33 deficit at halftime.
Nelson also won the slam dunk contest.
“It was really special to wear my high school jersey for one last time along with Nate,” said Nelson, who will play at Bay College next season. “As soon as I got on the floor, my goal was to represent the West Iron County Wykons. I just went out there and did what coach (Dan) Schive always taught me, to play every game like it’s your last.”
Thomson scored five points for the West squad.
Brandon Frazier of Escanaba, who scored 17 points for the winning East team, was named the most valuable player.
The boys game was played with collegiate timing rules, with two 20-minute halves and a 30-second shot clock.
In the girls game, Jordan Shamion scored two points. West teammate Emma Anderson of Menominee tallied 35 points to lead all scorers. Gladstone’s Megan Crow, who played for the East squad, scored 21 points and was named the game’s most valuable player.
“It was a great experience, coaching some of the best senior basketball players in the U.P.,” Eric Shamion said to Matt McCarthy of the Iron Mountain Daily News. “There was quite a bit of talent on the floor throughout the whole game. Not only outstanding athletes, they are great kids as well.
“It was also special for me as a dad to watch my daughter play her last game as an all-star.”
The girls game was played with four 10-minute quarters and a 30-second shot clock. The game stayed competitive throughout with the West leading by two after the first quarter and then the East grabbing a one-point lead at halftime.
The East extended that lead to 71-59 after three quarters, before the West cut the final gap to seven.