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Boston, Ballard earn MVP honors in All-Star Classic
BSK--MUST All-Stars pic 1
Rashawn Ballard of Woodward School, with Megan (left) and Michaela Pangburn, was named the boys MVP in the Maryann Wallace Pangburn All-Star Classic. - photo by Photo Contributed

The best of the best in the Manteca Unified Student Trust basketball league converged at East Union’s Dalben Center this past Saturday for the seventh Maryann Wallace Pangburn All-Star Classic.

Nia Boston of August Knodt School was voted MVP of the girls game after scoring 21 points and leading the Division 2 to a thrilling 56-53 win.  Boys MVP Rashawn Ballard later spearheaded the Division 1 squad in a 65-56 victory.

The girls game was nearly won by the Division 1 all-stars, but a last-second shot was off the mark. Akayla Jones (Komure), making her second all-star appearance, grabbed 10 rebounds to help the Division 2 team win. Mossdale classmates Khiya Thornton and Kayla Fermi added eight points apiece.

Jasylyn Woods of Lincoln paced Division 1 with 14 points, while Kyaira Jacobs of Woodward had 13. Jordan Hayter (Brock Elliot) and Natalia Diaz (Nile Garden) collected 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively.

The triumphant Division 1 boys team dominated the first half and led by 18 at the break, but Division 2 roared back behind a full-court press that brought it to within two with 2 minutes remaining. Kyle Jackson (Brock Elliot) and Ballard sank key free throws as Division 1 slowly pulled away late. Ballard finished with 15 points and eight boards.

Jesse Martinez (Veritas) shared team-high honors for Division 1 with 15 points, and Jackson hauled in 15 rebounds. Daniel Whaley (Mossdale) and Ryan Borgeson (Stella Brockman) fired 14 and 12 points, respectively, for Division 2. Marcus Sequeria (Golden West) and Austin Scott (McParland) contributed 10 rebounds apiece.