Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COLUMBUS — There will be plenty of opportunity for star gazing this month.

Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ Lexie Barrier and Chesapeake Panthers’ Gage Rhoades can be spotted on the basketball court as the two All-Ohio first team players participate in two all-star games.

First up is the 25th annual Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Ky.

The two players will play in the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches’ Association’s North/South All-Star games the weekend of April 22-23.

The boys’ games will be play on Friday, April 22, at Otterbein University. Divisions 3-4 will be at 6:30 p.m. and the Divisions 1-2 at 8 p.m.

The girls’ games will be held on Saturday, April 23, at Denison University. The Divisions 3-4 game will be played at 2:30 p.m. followed by the Divisions 1-2 game at 4 p.m.

Barrier average 18.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 4.2 steals a game. A McDonald’s All-American game nominee, she finished with 1,662 career points to set the Ironton all-time record.

Barrier — who signed with James Madison University — had 738 career rebounds, 295 assists and 163 blocks. She helped Ironton to the girls program’s first-ever unbeaten regular season and its fourth Final Four berth.

Barrier was an Associated Press first team selection the past two years and was special mention All-Ohio as a freshman and sophomore. She was both the District 13 Coaches’ Association Player of the Year and the AP Southeast District Division III Player of the year the past two years.

Rhoades has put together a star-filled career as a four-year starter for the Panthers.

Rhoades averaged 20.6 points. 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game from his guard position this past season.

With a 1,000-career point milestone to his credit, Rhoades was first team Associated Press Division III All-Southeast District the past two years. He was an AP first team All-Ohio selection this past season and was special mention the previous two years.