The trio of Nicole Lacherza, Maggie Melhem and Kalista Walters were three key seniors in Bethlehem Catholic's district championship season and run in the PIAA Class AAA tournament.

In a little less competitive atmosphere, the three seniors had a big impact in Saturday's Via all-star basketball game.

Walters scored a team-high 25 points in helping the South all-stars down the North team, 81-79, in the first game of Saturday's quadruple-header of the Via All-Star Basketball Classic at Northampton Community College's Spartan Center Gymnasium. Melhem added 17 for the South girls, and Lacherza's late free throw helped seal the South's victory.

"It was sad," Walters said of playing in a Hawks jersey for the final time. "I keep saying I didn't know it was going to go this fast. I think I just looked at it as this is the last time, so let's have a fun game and make it as fun as could be."

Walters and Melhem combined to score the first 11 points to help the South jump out to a 15-5 advantage and lead 46-32 after the first 20-minute half.

Behind the play of Pocono Mountain West's Jackie Benitez, who scored a game-high 31 points, the North cut the South's lead to just six early in the second half. Benitez scored 20 in that second-half surge, but Lacherza hit one of two free throws that pushed the South's advantage back to 80-77 in the final seconds.

But while she exited the last game of her high school career with a victory, Saturday's game meant more than just leaving as victors.

Not only did Walters get to suit up with her Hawks teammates one last time, but she also took the court with players of Dieruff from the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. She also had the unique opportunity to play with members of the Colonial League, including Salisbury center and Lehigh University recruit Meagan Eripret, whom she had never played with before.

"It was good," Walters said of playing with Eripret. "I could dish to her, and it was a different look because Maggie is not that big in the post. It was definitely a great opportunity. I think she is a great player, and I think she is going to do great things."

Walters was also named the Via Player of the Year.

"Throughout my years at Becahi, I had a couple of milestones," Walter said. "To add onto it one more time, I'll always take it."

In the second game of the day, the North boys all-stars defeated the South, 105-82. Liberty's trio of Jaevan Dobbins (14), Ludwin Gonzalez (11) and Anthony Miller (8) combined for 33 points in the loss.

The North jumped out to a quick 20-point lead at 49-29 in the second half, and much of the same over the final 20 minutes of play. Stroudsburg's Dan Cuevas (Via Player of the Year) led the North all-stars with 21 points, and East Stroudsburg South's Andre Jackson added 19.

"Playing with Ludwin and Anthony was a good experience," Dobbins said. "Playing for the last time, it was pretty said because I've been playing with them since elementary school up until now."

Freedom's Taylor Garza scored six points for the East girls all-stars in their 80-73 victory over the West.

FOURTH GAME

In the East boys all-stars 87-84 victory over the West team, Freedom's Demond Farley scored a game-high 16 points in the victory.

There was more than just a foursome of basketball games to commemorate the Via of the Lehigh Valley events at Northampton Community College. A week before the games, the college held a clinic for athletes with special needs. The Via all-stars played a key role in helping with that clinic; they also had the opportunity to attend the Via All-Star Banquet last Wednesday at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center.

"The experience was pretty good," Dobbins said. "We're doing it for the kids with disabilities and stuff like that. It was a good atmosphere and just having fun."