Justin Bibbins of Division IV state champion Bishop Montgomery shines in Collision All-Star game putting some of the CIF Southern Section’s best basketball players versus the L.A. City Section. McDonald’s All-American Tom Welsh also stands out. We also rundown California performers in national all-star games.
Whenever point guard Justin Bibbins steps out on the court, he is often the smallest player. He usually sets the tone with his leadership and speed in the open court and his team wins more often than not.
It’s what he did in leading Bishop Montgomery to the CIF Division IV state title in March. On Saturday night in the Collision XVI All-Star Game at Redondo Union, he was at it again, setting the tone in the CIF Southern Section’s 110-86 victory over the L.A. City Section.
The 5-foot-9 Bibbins, bound for Long Beach State, hit three 3-pointers and dished out 4 assists in the game’s first four minutes. His production and court presence helped the CIFSS team open up a 23-5 lead and the L.A. City team could never recover. The score was 57-41 at halftime.
“Every time I step out on the court, I want to play hard and play the right way,” said Bibbins, who finished with 17 points and six assists. “Once we got out there and got the big lead, we just played our game.”
Right away it was evident the L.A. City didn’t have a post answer for McDonald’s All-American Tom Welsh of L.A. Loyola. He was a recipient of a couple of early Bibbins’ assists and finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. It was also a nice homecoming for Welsh, who is a resident of Redondo Beach.
Welsh’s high school coach, Jamal Adams, coached the victorious CIFSS team with good friend Ryan “Moose” Bailey of Brentwood of Los Angles. Bailey graduated from Loyola in 1995. Adams also coached at the Jordan Brand Classic in New York City on Friday.
The L.A. City Section was led by the Westchester duo of Cameron Young (18 points, 7 rebounds) and L.A. City Section Division I Player of the Year Elijah Stewart (15 points).
The L.A. City and the Southern Section are now tied 8-8 in the all-time series.
In the girls game, the CIF Southern Section downed the L.A. City Section, 76-43. The game’s MVP was Michelle Curry (Culver City). She had 13 points and 13 rebounds. The Southern Section now leads the all-time series, 13-3.
There is one boys basketball All-Star game in SoCal with national-level players left on the docket this spring. The BallIsLife.com All-Star Game is set for May 3 at Long Beach City College. BallIsLife.com Publisher and Event Operator Matt Rodriguez confirmed Mr. Basketball USA Cliff Alexander of Chicago Curie will be in attendance.
Here a rundown of how players with California ties fared in national all-star games:
2014 McDonalds All-American Game
Stanley Johnson (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 4-10 FG, 0-3 3-Point, 8 points 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist, 20 minutes
Tom Welsh (Loyola, Los Angeles) 0-0 FG, 0 points, 2 rebounds, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 8 minutes
Note: The West team won 105-102 as Jahlil Okafor (Whitney Young, Chicago) and Justin Jackson (HCYA, Houston) were named team MVPs.
2014 Jordan Brand Classic
Stanley Johnson (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 10-18 FG, 3-5 3-point, 24 points, 3 assists, 25 minutes
Kameron Chatman (Columbia Christian, Portland, Ore. via Long Beach Poly) 3-5 FG, 0-2 3-point, 7 points, 2 assists, 11 minutes
Shaqquan Aaron (Rainier Beach, Seattle via Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-7 FG, 1-2 3-point, 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 15 minutes
Note: The East team won, 158-147, and all three players participated with the West club. The MVPs were Jahlil Okafor (Whitney Young, Chicago) and Mr. Basketball USA choice Cliff Alexander (Curie, Chicago).
2014 Nike Hoop Summit
Stanley Johnson (Mater Dei, Santa Ana): 1-6 FG, 0-1 3-point, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 25 minutes.
Note: Team USA defeated the World Select Team 84-73. Eleven players suited up for Team USA and Johnson started.
