CHESAPEAKE – Viva Las Vegas.

Thursday, July 20, 2000

CHESAPEAKE – Viva Las Vegas. And basketball.

Chesapeake Panthers senior basketball standout Anthony Delimpo got a chance to mix basketball and the glitter of Las Vegas after being selected to play in an all-star series last weekend.

Delimpo and his Chesapeake teammates attended the Charlie Huggins’ Eastern Ohio Basketball Camp at Wilmington College and Delimpo enjoyed even more success.

Huggins, the father of Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Bob Huggins, and camp officials selected four players from among the 324 on hand to be part of their All-Ohio all-star team. Other players were chosen from 10 camps held in Canton and Cleveland during a three-week period.

‘It’s always rough. They don’t call fouls, so it’s good for us. You go up there knowing you’re going to get beat up,"

The all-star team flew to Las Vegas last Friday for a series of games and Delimpo returned Tuesday.

Delimpo’s team went 2-2 in the all-star series.

"I did all right, but I didn’t play outstanding," said Delimpo. "I was kind of surprised to make the team. I was hoping I’d make it. Coach (Norm Persin) told me last year I almost made it.

Persin, the Panthers veteran head coach, said Delimpo earned his spot on the team at the Huggins’ camp despite a nagging ankle injury.

"He played well and he was hobbled by a bad ankle," Persin said. "He’s improving his game, but he still has some work ahead of him."

Besides the Huggins’ camp, Delimpo also was chosen to participate in the Robert Morris College Five-Star Camp July 7 in Pittsburgh along with 546 other players.

Delimpo was picked to play on one of four all-star teams and played in a series of games while college coaches grabbed folding chairs and surrounded the courts.

"It was outstanding. I felt I learned a lot and I played against some outstanding players," Delimpo said. "And there were coaches everywhere. it was quite an experience."

Delimpo said he thought the camp would be similar to other area camps, but admitted he was mistaken.

"It wasn’t what I expected. I’ve played against so many different players and learned so much. It’s hard take it all in. It’s a lot of hard work," Delimpo said.

He added the Las Vegas camp was difficult, too.

"But it’s been a lot of fun. Vegas was fun, but it was still a lot of basketball and a lot of work. It was very intense. It was almost military. They were very strict," Delimpo said.

Last season, Delimpo was second team All-Ohio in Division III, a first team all-district and All-Ohio Valley Conference selection. He averaged 16 points, 11.0 rebounds, and shot 63 percent from the field as Chesapeake won a fifth straight OVC championship and advanced to the Division III district finals.

The Panthers finished the regular season 18-2 and and 20-3 overall.