Hoophall Classic provides special opportunity for local talent

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Midway through the opening quarter of the 2012 Spalding Hoophall Classic, Shadiar Thompson hustled his 6-foot-3-inch frame down the James Naismith Court at Blake Arena. His eyes glazed with determination, the sophomore itched with anticipation as Sean Collins grabbed a loose ball against the High School of Science and Technology.

Collins briskly fed the ball to his Commerce (Springfield, Mass.) teammate and Thompson lifted his white and red Nike sneakers off the hardwood and threw down a two-handed slam with authority for the first dunk of the Hoophall Classic Thursday afternoon at Springfield College.

It will be a dunk that will be long forgotten and replaced by a series of other highlight reel plays as the nation's top high school basketball players make the journey to Springfield, Mass. over the remaining days of the Hoophall Classic.

Yet for Thompson and other Massachusetts high school basketball players, many unknown outside of the Western Mass. region, this is their chance to shine, even if the stage is a little less bright during the opening two days of the now five day tournament.



"It's an honor to come down here to the Hoophall," Thompson said following the Red Raiders 60-48 victory over the Cybercats. "We know there are a lot of good, good teams that come from out of state to come and play. We just feel very fortunate to play."

The Red Raiders are the closest team to Springfield College's Blake Arena out of the 46 teams participating in the Spalding Hoophall Classic, now in its 11th year. There was no cross-country flight or a nice coach bus for Commerce's four minute trek to this high school showcase. Only 1.3 miles away from Springfield College, the Red Raiders were simply given rides by some their teachers and coach Gary Mindell.

Yet the short commute provided Thompson and his teammates, as well as other local teams, the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd, something other national powerhouses don't have the luxury of at the Hoophall Classic.

"We just take it as a regular game just on a bigger stage in front of a bigger crowd," Thompson said.

Thompson finished with 16 points, primarily because of his composure at the charity stripe (10-of-15) and 12 rebounds for a double-double while bringing the Blake Arena crowd to its feet with three emphatic blocks.

Here for a reason



It is this honor of being invited to such a tournament, and the opportunity to make a big play or two, that rings home to so many of the local high school kids.

Valerie Smith and the Central (Springfield, Mass.) Golden Eagles were one of only six girls teams to have the luxury to play in the predominantly boys basketball showcase.

"It was amazing honestly," Smith said following the Golden Eagles 41-27 victory over Sabis Charter School. "As a senior this is my first year being out there the whole game and being able to play and contribute with everything."

It was an ironic game of sorts for Smith after the senior transferred this year to Central after playing for rival Minnechaug Regional (Wilbraham, Mass.) the previous three years. During her freshman year Smith primarily sat on the bench during the Falcons thrilling 65-60 victory over Central.

"It's amazing because freshman year I didn't get to play in it so I was more like the cheerleader on the bench type thing," Smith said. "But now being able to be on the floor and actually contribute was really special."

Smith admits being one of the few girls teams selected is a tremendous honor.



"Yeah because out of all the teams they picked us to be here," said the forward. "Our record isn't that good, but we came out here and actually proved a point that we're here for a reason."

Dana Theobald and the West Springfield (Mass.) girls basketball team had the honor, or what some may say misfortune of drawing Cicero-North Syracuse (Cicero, N.Y.), ranked No. 4 in this week's girls basketball MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25, and arguably one of the best girls basketball players in the nation Breanna Stewart, committed to UConn.

Theobald, committed to Boston University, had a tough game against the Northstars going 1-for-22 for five points in a 60-20 loss, but Theobald and the rest of the Terriers could not be happier to be at the Hoophall Classic.

"It's an honor to be invited to the Hoophall Classic," said the senior. "It was such a good experience. We have been waiting for this game for years. It was a tough game and we gave it our all."

Theobald was even able to crack a smile postgame about playing against one of the nation's best.

"Breanna Stewart is amazing," she added. "Even when she blocked my own shot I was like ‘Wow that was a great block.' It's like a volleyball spike."



New atmosphere

Starting Saturday the major boys basketball teams in the nation will be featured. Team's such as this week's top three in the MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 No. 1 Simeon (Chicago, Ill.), No. 2 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) and No. 3 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) all will come to Blake Arena over the weekend and play to a capacity full crowd. All will be broadcast to a national audience.

It will be a completely different atmosphere then the one that has graced its presence for the teams playing in the classic's first two days.

However, despite the lack of a sellout crowd or a national audience for Mahar Regional (Orange, Mass.), Phil DiPhillipo could feel the energy in the arena when he put up a day-one high 25 points in the Senator's 69-43 victory over Hampshire Regional late Thursday night.

By the time the final buzzer went off just after 10 p.m. Blake Arena was nearly empty as DiPhillipo accepted his MVP of the game award at center court, but it did not matter to the senior.

"The lights are still on and it still feels definitely special," he said. "There are not a lot of Western Mass. teams that come, especially from our league, so it's an honor."



For DiPhillipo and many others this weekend is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"It felt good because it's the only time I'm going to be here," he said. "It's [my] first time getting invited being a senior and it was definitely worth it."

There is a special aura that comes with stepping foot on the court at Blake Arena during the Hoophall Classic, even if you aren't the next Kyrie Irving or Division I college sensation.

"It's definitely nice," DiPhillipo said. "I feel like I'm in the presence of legends and players who will probably go to the NBA."