The trio of Parkland seniors Jimmy Hahn, Nick Rindock and Justin Zajko carried the boys' basketball team to a District XI Class AAAA championship this past winter.

During the 39th Annual Via All-Star Basketball Classic on "Super Saturday" at Northampton Area Community College, those three helped the Lehigh Valley West squad jump out to an early lead and capture a 97-96 win over the Colonial League boys.

Hahn, Rindock and Zajko, who combined to score 31 points, made the first five LV West buckets in their early game spurt. Led by Parkland head coach Andy Stephens, the LV West's margin neared double digits at halftime, 56-47, and they would hold on down the stretch, despite the Colonial League taking a 84-83 lead in the final moments.

Zajko, a selection on the Via All-Star Boys Team of the Year, tallied 13 points, while Rindock scored 12, and Hahn added six.

"We're always together, and we always know where we are on the court," Zajko said. "I think playing together for so long, we know what we can do. We got it done. It was fun."

Salisbury's Justin Aungst hit a three-pointer in the final 30 seconds that brought the Colonial League to within one, 97-96. But the LV West squad was able to hold off any more damage in the waning moments.

Joey Nicolini of Emmaus and Notre Dame-Green Pond's Tanner Reed each led their respective teams with 20 points.

For Parkland senior Olivia Brown, Super Saturday's opening game was more than just one last chance to play with her teammates and peers. She was also under the guidance of her AAU basketball and Dieruff head coach, Cathy Piston, for one last go around.

"It's a wonderful way to end it," Brown said. "She is such a great coach, [and] I wouldn't be the player I am today without having been under her wing."

After seeing a seven-point lead for LV West girls vanish into an 11-point advantage for the Colonial League, LV West had one last run in them to close the game.

A 61-50 lead for the Colonial League was quickly cut to just one point after Allen's Tanisha Jones hit a three-pointer with roughly 1:18 remaining. And following a crucial turnover by the Colonial League, the LV West had a chance to tie it in the final seconds. However, a mid-range jumper from Brown hit off the rim, and the Colonial League escaped with the 64-62 win.

"It's really fun to have the best of the best girls in the Lehigh Valley come together and play on one team," Brown said. "It was really fun no matter the outcome. It was fun to get on the court again after being off a few weeks."

Brown finished with eight points, all coming in the second half, while Kristen McCarty led the trio of Lady Trojans with nine points (all three-pointers). Brynne Brouse scored two points in the loss. Leading the way for LV West was Andrea Watkins of Emmaus with 16 points.

"The Colonial League is just as competitive, I would say, as the LVC," Brown said. "So it was good to play against them."

The Via All-Star Banquet was held on March 26 at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center. All of the players were recognized at the banquet, while the boys and girls Via All-Star Teams, Via Players of the Year and scholar-athlete winners were named. Former NBA player James Worthy was the keynote speaker at the ceremony.

The event kicked off with the Via All-Star Basketball Clinics on March 23. Players from all of the Via teams helped a number of kids with special needs with the game of basketball at Northampton area Community College.

"I really liked the clinic part," Zajko said. "It was a really good experience, and we were happy to be a part of it."

"That was such a good experience to help them, and to get them playing and running up and down the court," Brown said. "Just seeing the smiles on their faces made my day."

The third game on Super Saturday featured an 85-83 win for the Lehigh Valley East girls over the Mountain Valley girls. In the finale, the Mountain Valley boys outlasted the Lehigh Valley East boys by a 125-122 final.