Blake Barnes is going to give Nathan Copley some company.

The South Point Pointers’ 6-foot senior guard is heading for the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches’ annual North/South All-Star Game Sunday at Capital University.

Barnes was the alternate behind Copley as the District 13 representative to the North/South Game.

With an opening on the roster, Oak Hill head coach Norm Persin worked with the association officials to get Barnes the extra roster spot.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it. Our family truly appreciates coach Perin’s help,” said Barnes.

Copley — the Chesapeake Panthers’ 6-foot-2 senior guard — was the Division III District Player of the Year and a first team All-Ohio selection by the Associated Press.

Copley averaged 14.5 points as the Panthers finished second in the AP poll and reached the regional finals.

Barnes averaged 230.3 points per game this past season.

Copley and Barnes will play in the Division III-IV game. The two not only played against each other as members of the Ohio Valley Conference, but played together on a summer AAU team. They both scored more than 1,000 career points.

The two girls’ games will be at noon and 1:30 with the boys’ Div. III-IV game at 3:30 followed by the Div. I-II game at 5 p.m.

Fulks, Salyers in showcase

Fairland High School will have two players in the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Top 100 Underclassmen Showcase on Saturday at Denison University and Capital University.

The girls will be at Denison and the boys at Capital.

Freshman Chandler Fulks will be a member of the girls’ showcase while Evan Salyers participates on the boys’ side.

Players are put through a series of drills and games that are conducted for the purpose of showcasing their talents to the numerous college coaches in attendance. Each of the 16 districts are represented by at least five players who are nominated by district representatives.

Fulks — a 5-7 freshman guard — averaged 12.6 points per game to lead the team this past season. The 6-4 Salyers is a junior and topped the Dragons with a 15.1 scoring average.

The showcase is for freshmen, sophomores and juniors from across the state. Lady Dragons’ head coach Jon Buchanan and assistant Adam Alt will serve as instructors and coaches at the girls’ event.

Ohio tops Kentucky

The 20th Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game last Saturday saw Ohio come out a winner in both the boys’ and girls’ games.

The girls won 63-50 as all 13 players scored including Ironton’s Nikki Elswick who had two points in the win.

The Ohio boys won 102-100.

—— Sinatra ——

Jim Walker is sports editor of The Ironton Tribune.