Officials Name Teams for St. Patrick's Day All-Star Game
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Berkshire County Basketball Officials have announced the players selected for the Berkshire County Basketball All-Star Game to be played Friday, March 17, at the Boys and Girls Club in Pittsfield.
The girls game will tip off at 6 p.m. followed by the boys game at 8 p.m. It has been several years since the county has had a Basketball All-Star game so the officials have decided to sponsor the event and will use it as a fund-raiser for their Oswald Tower Scholarship award, which will be presented to this year’s recipient between games.
The officials also will be announcing their four sportsmanship award winners during halftime of each game, as well as their choice for the Coaches Sportsmanship award.
Coaching the girls teams will be Lenox’s Mike Nykorchuck and Pittsfield’s Joe Racicot.
Selected for Nykorchuck’s team, which will be honoring former official Wray Gunn Jr., are (note: Hoosac Valley’s and Lee’s girls would be preparing for Saturday’s state championship game and eligible to participate in Friday evening’s championship banquet at the Hall of Fame in Springfield if they continue to win):
Mount Greylock: senior Jenna Benzinger and junior Lauren Howard
Hoosac Valley: sophomores Lexi Mercier and Alie Mendel
Lee: seniors Karli Retzel and Kendra Williams
Lenox: senior Jackie Hathaway and sophomore Nicole Gamberoni
Mount Everett: senior Kelsey Netzer and sophomore Gwendolyn Carpenter (injured).
Drury: sophomore Brooke DiGennaro
Selected for Racicot’s team and honoring former official Wray Gunn Sr. are (note: Pittsfield’s girls also would be preparing for Saturday’s state championship game if they continue to win):
Pittsfield: senior Peyton Steinman and junior Bella Aitken
Taconic: seniors Janee Walker and Maddy Quinto
Hoosac Valley: seniors Fallon Field and Kailynne Frederick
McCann Tech: senior Allie Gibeau and junior Amiee Dowling
Wahconah: senior Ashley Zink
Monument Mountain: senior Addie McLaughlin
Miss Hall’s School: senior Grace Guachione
The coaches for the boys game are Mount Greylock’s Bob Thistle and Taconic’s Bill Heaphy.
Selected to play for Thistle’s team, who will be honoring fellow official Walt Miller are (note: Mount Greylock’s boys would be preparing for Saturday’s state championship game if they continue to win):
Mount Greylock: seniors Cam Hadley and Patrick Storie and junior Sean McCormack
Hoosac Valley: seniors Colin Rousseau and Keagan McGrath
Monument Mountain: seniors David Riegel and Joe Aberdale
McCann Tech: senior Jake Tower
Mount Everett: junior Cavan Brady
St. Joseph: freshman Kekoa McArdle
Selected to play for Heaphy’s team, honoring former official Ed Ladley, are (note: Taconic’s boys would be preparing for Saturday’s state championship game if they continue to win):
Drury: seniors Connor Meehan and Hayden Bird and sophomore Reece Racette
Taconic: seniors Deonte Sandifer and Izaiya Mestre
Wahconah: senior Luke Steinman and sophomore Brandon Roughley
Pittsfield: senior Tyrell Boire
Lenox: senior Michael Downer
Lee: sophomore Ben Harding
In addition to honoring the players and coaches, the officials also be honoring the all-star table officials from McCann Tech: official scorer George Canales, official timer Robert Davis and official 30-second Timer Wendy Dickinson. Berkshire County officials understand the importance of the job that these table officials perform for every game, though that work is often overlooked by the fans who attend the game. These unsung heroes are the foundation for a smoothly run game and the officials are very appreciative of their effort.
Tickets will be sold at the door and cost $5 for adults, $3 for students and senior citizens over 65, and free admission for all active or reserve military.