Mangas Helps All-Stars Post Exhibition Game Win
PLAINFIELD – Kyle Mangas helped the Indiana All-Star team bounce back in a big way Thursday night.
The Senior squad rolled past the Junior All-Stars 134-92 in an exhibition game at Plainfield High School.
The Senior team had lost a 122-110 decision to the Junior squad on Tuesday night in an exhibition contest at New Albany High School.
Mangas, who had 10 points in Tuesday night’s game, got a starting assignment Thursday night. The former Warsaw star guard had four points to go with four assists, a steal and a rebound in 23 minutes of playing time. He hit 1-4 shots from the field, including 0-2 on 3-pointers, and was 2-2 from the free throw line.
The Senior All-Stars won despite being shorthanded. The duo of Kris Wilkes of North Central and Jaylen Minnett of Terre Haute South were suspended for the game due to “conduct that violates team rules and policy” according to All-Star Games Director Charlie Hall. Wilkes, a UCLA recruit and the Mr. Basketball Award winner, had 33 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday night. Minnett did not score in Tuesday night’s game.
The Senior team led 62-46 at halftime Thursday night and outscored the Juniors 72-46 in the second half. The winners shot 52-93 overall from the field, including 13-31 from distance, and were 17-19 from the line. The Senior team outscored the Juniors 72-20 in points in the paint and had a 29-9 edge in second chance points thanks to a huge 64-34 rebounding advantage.
Jack Nunge led the Seniors with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Cooper Neese had 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Jalen Adaway had 20 points and 11 caroms and Mack Smith 20 points. Six players scored in double figures for the winners.
Johnny Bernard led the Junior All-Stars with 15 points. Walter Ellis from South Bend Adams had 12 points and South Bend Riley star Damezi Anderson six points.
The Junior team shot just 35-89 from the field, including 19-54 from distance. They were 3-5 from the line.
The Junior squad was without star Romeo Langford once again Thursday night. The New Albany star guard, one of the nation’s top recruits in the Class of 2018, is currently in Europe involved in an Adidas event.
The Senior All-Star Girls Team crushed the Juniors 107-67 Thursday night.
The Senior team, which won 112-76 Tuesday night, was shorthanded just like the boys squad. The duo of Chyna Anthony of New Albany and Ajane Thomas of North Central were suspended for the game, along with Wilkes and Minnett. Anthony had 22 points and 12 rebounds Tuesday night and Thomas had two points.
The Senior girls squad led 57-38 at halftime and outscored the Juniors 50-29 in the final half. The winers shot 40-84 from the field, including 8-25 from distance. The Seniors had a 52-22 scoring edge in points in the paint and a 22-5 advantage in fast break points.
Dana Evans led the winners with 19 points. Maliah Howard-Bass had 15 points and Madison Wise 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Miss Basketball Karissa McLaughlin from Homestead had 12 points. McLaughlin, whose mother Sheila Whitaker played at WCHS and whose father Bert was a standout player at Grace College, will play at Purdue.
Former South Bend St. Joseph star Nicole Konieczny had a big night for the All-Stars. She hit 5-7 from deep to score 15 points.
Keya Patton led the Juniors with 20 points.
The Juniors shot just 23-78 from the field, including 11-39 from 3-point land, and were 10-19 from the line.
Indiana will host Kentucky in the annual All-Star series Saturday night. The girls game is set for 5 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with the boys game at 7 p.m. The teams will then play Sunday at the Frankfort Civic Center with the girls contest at 2 p.m. and the boys at 4 p.m.