A-K Valley’s top seniors set for 27th annual Cager Classic basketball all-star games

By: Bill Hartlep
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 | 1:07 PM

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Some of the top senior boys and girls basketball players from the A-K Valley and beyond will take part in the 27th annual Cager Classic, set for April 6, at Highlands High School.

There will be a girls game at 5:30 p.m., followed by a boys all-star contest at 8.

A skills competition, featuring a 3-point shootout, individual hot-shot and co-ed hot shot, again will be held, starting at 7 p.m. April 5, also at Highlands.

Players will practice April 4 to kick off the three days of activities.

The games will feature senior players from both sides of the Allegheny River. Schools represented are Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Burrell, Butler, Cheswick Christian Academy, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Freeport, Hampton, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Mars, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, St. Joseph and Valley.

Last year, Highlands’ Jimmy Kunst had 32 points as the West won the boys game 122-101, setting a scoring record for the event.

Freeport’s Melaina DeZort had 14 points to lead the West girls team to a 67-60 victory over the East.

Advance tickets are available at B&J Sporting Goods. Adults are $6, and students are $4. Tickets also will be available at the door.

The rosters for the game are subject to change.

27th Cager Classic

April 6, 2024

Highlands High School

Rosters

Girls

East

1, Abbie Johns, Kiski Area

2, Isabella Barbour, Fox Chapel

3, Jessica Chwalik, Butler

4, Lola Abraham, Riverview

5, Emma Paul, Armstrong

11, Angelina Brush, Franklin Regional

14, Sophia Yard, Apollo-Ridge

25, Sarai Weaver, Armstrong

32, Skye Byrnes, Fox Chapel

34, Megan Marston, Plum

40, Pascale Olczak, Plum

Coach: Rich Mull, Plum

West

1, Adah Fuller, Knoch

3, Jaden Gaillot, Freeport

4, Kalleigh Nerone, Highlands

5, Naturelle Ewing, Knoch

11, Kate Myers, Highlands

12, Emma Rick, Hampton

14, Kathleen Milon, Hampton

15, Julie Spinelli, St. Joseph

22, Morgan Croney, Freeport

23, Shelby Wojcik, Highlands

24, Jocelyn Bielak, Highlands

25, Emma Swierczewski, St. Joseph

42, Brooke Kmetz, Freeport

Coach: Shawn Bennis, Highlands

Boys

East

0, Isaiah Gonzalez, Kiski Area

1, Jacob Staraniec, Valley

2, Cam Rowell, Franklin Regional

3, Cooper Rankin, Franklin Regional

5, Braylon Littlejohn, Butler

10, Isaiah Riggle, Armstrong

11, Joey Discello, Burrell

12, Nate Sprajcar, Riverview

13, Esau King-Buchak, Burrell

14, Remi Black, Mars

15, Jack Valasek, Armstrong

22, Macky Bennis, Burrell

Coach: Mike Fantuzzo, Burrell

West

0, Cameron Reigard, Highlands

1, Brady Sullivan, Freeport

2, Wayne Love, Deer Lakes

3, Alex Nyilas, Hampton

5, Billy Schaeffer, Deer Lakes

6, Brendan Getlak, Plum

15, Bradyn Foster, Highlands

23, Jordyn Tavarez, Highlands

24, Peter Kramer, Hampton

25, Brian Talarico, Leechburg

32, John Hughes, Springdale

33, Mason Gent, Springdale

34, Grant Rochkind, Cheswick Christian

Coach: Rich Macura, Freeport

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Burrell, Butler, Cheswick Christian, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Freeport, Hampton, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Mars, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, St. Joseph, Valley