Topic: Markel Humphrey to play in North-South All-Star game

[AtlTom]

http://www.ajc.com/today/content/epaper/editions/today/sports_24330e18f00ad0a10021.html

HIGH SCHOOLS: All-Star game still has appeal
Stan Awtrey - Staff
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Some of the big names have been marked off the boys roster, but that doesn't diminish the star quality for today's Georgia Athletic Coaches Association's North-South All-Star Game at Savannah State.
Louis Williams of South Gwinnett and Korvotney Barber of Manchester were both selected for the McDonald's All-American game. Wheeler standout Sharaud Curry and Crisp County's Lewis Clinch also asked to be excused.
Even with that quartet out of the action, the rosters are loaded with Division I players.
"Both sides have a lot of talent, no matter who's there," said Coosa's Larry Bing, who will coach the North team. "The game of basketball has obviously been good to all these participants involved."
The North team is led by Rashad Chase, a Georgia State signee who helped Mays win its second straight Class AAAA championship, and Mike Mercer, a Georgia signee who can emerge from the shadow of South Gwinnett teammate Louis Williams for at least one afternoon.
Other standouts on the North team include Octavious Spann of Banneker (Georgetown), Daniel Emerson of Norcross (Western Kentucky), Billy Humphrey of Dacula (Georgia) and Rasheem Barrett of Marist (Auburn).
Top players on the South team include Alade Aminu, a Georgia Tech signee who helped Stephenson reach the semifinals, and Charles Jackson of Tri-Cities, who has signed with Illinois. Other top players include Terrance Vinson of Lowndes (Virginia Tech), Markel Humphrey of Stockbridge (Marshall) and Uriah Hethington of Cairo (Middle Tennessee). Bill Atkins of Greenville, who is retiring after 32 seasons, will coach the South.
The only star missing from the girls roster is Marietta's Angel Robinson, another McDonald's All-America participant. She was replaced on the roster by Courtney Opie, who helped McEachern reach the semifinals.
"We've got some good players; one through 12, they're all good, quality players," said Central Gwinnett coach Cass Cassell, who will direct the North team. His father, Glenn Cassell, is a former North-South coach.
The North team includes Lindsey Moss of Chattahoochee (Tennessee), Susan Yenser of Harrison (Clemson), Christy Brown of Holy Innocents' (Clemson), Greteya Kelley of Collins Hill (Appalachian State) and Ashley Austin of Collins Hill (Evansville).
"It'll be good to work with the girls from Collins Hill," said Cassell, whose team was eliminated by the Eagles in the second round of the playoffs. "I'll be glad to be on the same side with them for once."
The South team, coached by Paula Jones of East Coweta, includes Terrell County's Tanae Davis (Florida State), Danielle Taylor of Beach (Georgia), Cayla Moore of Westover (Florida State), Tashera Lewis of Dodge County (Mercer) and Jada Frazier of Westover (New Orleans).
NORTH-SOUTH BASKETBALL
> When: Today
> Where: Savannah State
> Times: Girls game at 2 p.m., boys game at 4 p.m.

[AtlTom]

The game had 11 ties or lead changes in the second half and wasn't decided until Markel Humphrey of Stockbridge hit a 3-pointer to give the South a 107-105 lead. Tracy Rankings of Douglas County added a free throw for the final margin.

http://www.ajc.com/today/content/epaper/editions/today/sports_24539315f00a02921050.html

HIGH SCHOOLS: Aminu, Mercer steal the show
Stan Awtrey - Staff
Monday, March 14, 2005
Savannah --- Other than defense, there wasn't much missing from the annual Georgia Athletic Coaches Association's North-South All-Star basketball game.
There were countless 3-point shots, a dozen or so dunks, no-look passes --- even 6-foot-9 center Alade Aminu took a rebound and dribbled it the length of the court. The result was an entertaining 108-105 victory by the South, an outcome which seemed to please most of the 4,500 on hand at Savannah State.
"The first half was a chance for us to put on a show," said Aminu, a Georgia Tech signee who was voted the South's MVP after getting 22 points, seven rebounds and five blocks. "The second half we got down to business."
South Gwinnett's Mike Mercer, who has signed with Georgia, agreed. "They expect us to put on a show in the first half. And the second half we had to get down and play defense."
Mercer was named MVP of the North team after he had 23 points, five rebounds, four steals and four assists.
"You're talking about a lot of talent out there on both sides today," South coach Bill Atkins of Greenville said. "We started out hot, but we knew they'd come back because they had too much talent. I was happy with the way we stepped up in the second half."
The game had 11 ties or lead changes in the second half and wasn't decided until Markel Humphrey of Stockbridge hit a 3-pointer to give the South a 107-105 lead. Tracy Rankings of Douglas County added a free throw for the final margin.
The girls' game was lopsided, with the North taking a 78-65 win. The game was decided late in the first half when the North went on an 11-0 run to take a 41-31 lead. The South never got closer than nine.
The girls' game was a going-away party for Lindsey Moss of Chattahoochee, named the North MVP, and Danielle Taylor of Beach, the South MVP.
Moss, a Tennessee signee, finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Taylor, a Georgia signee, had 26 points --- her team's only player in double figures --- and six rebounds.
"I just wanted to come out and have fun," Moss said. "Our team just came together all week."
The North also got 15 points and six rebounds from Harrison's Susan Yenser (Clemson), 12 points from Centennial's Maria Taylor (Georgia) and 10 points from Holy Innocents' Christy Brown (Clemson).