Each year the high school basketball season wraps up with a special event, not only for senior players, but also for a group of youngsters who may never get the chance to suit up in a varsity basketball game.

The 41st annual All-Star game was held last Saturday at Northampton Community College and featured representatives from 35 high schools around the Lehigh Valley. The Classic raises funds to support Via of the Lehigh Valley’s services for children and adults with disabilities and promotes community involvement.

Parkland seniors Nadine Ewald and Sarah Stagaard helped the West All-Stars to a 75-60 victory over the East. The two combined for 19 points in the first half, outscoring the entire East team alone, as the West went into halftime with a 39-18 lead.

“Starting really strong helped us out a lot,” said Ewald, the Moravian commit who finished with a team-high 19 points. “After we all got really comfortable, we just took the game away. I’m just really happy with them and with myself. This is a great team. I’m just happy the last game I’ll ever play in high school was with them, and we won.”

Stagaard, who tallied eight points, has been involved with lacrosse for the last month and said she felt a little rusty at first.

“I haven’t really played basketball since the season ended,” said Stagaard, who will go on to a college career in lacrosse at Grand Valley State next season. “I’m sure everyone hasn’t, really. It was a good feeling to be on the court.”

Parkland basketball was well represented in both the girls and the boys game. Although none of them could attend, seniors Devante Cross, Jack Dreisbach and Kyle Stout were nominated to the All-Star event.

Stout was named the Via player of the year at the banquet held last Wednesday night at Sands Event Center.

In the finale of the event, the West boys had much of the same success as the West girls did.

They had a double-digit advantage at halftime, leading 56-44 and held on for a 112-101 victory under the direction of Whitehall head coach Jeff Jones.

Zay Jennings (Central Catholic) led the team with 26 points, and Mario Delker (Northampton) chipped in 25 points.

In the earlier games, the two teams split the two games.

In the opener, the North girls had to hold on to a late surge from the South team for a 70-69 win. Renee Milos of Pleasant Valley led all scorers with 19 points.

The North boys were not as successful. The South squad took full control early and wound up winning 116-96. Kevin Ferguson from Pocono Mountain East had a game-high 23 points.