Riverbend's Jessica Nelms (left), the Battlefield District's player of the year, will be one of a group of seniors who will participate in an all-star game between the Commonwealth and Battlefield Districts. REBECCA SELL/THE FREE LANCE-STAR Visit the Photo Place

Hoops stars will gather

Battlefield notebook

Date published: 4/19/2006

By TAFT COGHILL JR.

There will be no shortage of local standouts on hand when the first-ever Battlefield District/Commonwealth District All-Star game is held April 29 at Caroline High School.

Commonwealth Basketball Group director Richard Fortune announced the rosters for the game last night.

The Battlefield District teams include players of the year T.C. Cook of James Monroe High School and Jessica Nelms of Riverbend. The Commonwealth District features players of the year Chanelle Downing of Stafford and Jeremy Hence of Massaponax.

The girls game starts at 6 p.m. and will be preceded by a 3-point contest.

The boys game will start afterward and will feature a slam dunk contest shortly beforehand.

VHSL rules allow only seniors to participate in the game. Admission is $5.

Fortune said the Commonwealth Basketball Group got the idea for the all-star game from watching as many as 2,500 spectators take in similar games in Prince William County and Richmond. He said there will be some Division II and Division III scouts present to watch the action next week.

"People don't generally think of this as a basketball area," said Fortune, the former coach at Caroline. "We want to bring some recognition to the Fredericksburg area.

"We're going to try to get it off the ground this year and then keep adding to it."

Fortune said players may be added between now and the time of the game. He said he got a quick response from coaches and players when inquiring about availability.

"It's the first time we've had something like this in the area," Fortune said. "We're excited about it. It will give the senior class one last time to showcase their talent to the Fredericksburg area."

The Caroline track team will continue its tradition of participating in the Penn Relays this year.

The Cavaliers will leave for the University of Pennsylvania next Wednesday. Events will be held April 26-29.

Caroline athletic director Jimmy Blanton said the Cavaliers and veteran coach Sansberry Harvey have participated in the Penn Relays for the past "10 to 15" years.

Sophomore Marcus Dorsey will participate in the 1,600 relay for the Cavaliers.

He said the team will take 11 total athletes (six boys and five girls).

Rosters for the Battlefield District/Commonwealth District All-Star game: BOYS GAME Battlefield District Develan Rock (Caroline) Jamal Smith (Caroline) Matt Dobson (Chancellor) Jarod Hill (Chancellor) Demetrius Jones (Chancellor) T.C. Cook (James Monroe) Delano Green (James Monroe) Cequan Best (James Monroe) Kris Yager (Riverbend). Coaches: Antonio Coghill (James Monroe) and Broderick Roye (Caroline). Commonwealth District Jay Booker (Stafford) Chris Moffatt (Stafford) Jesse Maghan (Colonial Forge) Matt Slagle (Colonial Forge) Korey Kelly (Colonial Forge) Greg Agee (North Stafford) Kyle Lloyd (North Stafford) Delton Johnson (Brooke Point) Terrelle Bynum (Brooke Point) Tyler Pederson (Brooke Point) Tracy Thomas (Albemarle) Darrell Jackson (Albemarle) Jeremy Hence (Massaponax) Coaches: Bryan Zardezed (Colonial Forge) and Lane Byrd (Massaponax) GIRLS Battlefield District Chelsea Woolfolk (Caroline) Delisa Childs (Caroline) Lecia Mauge (Courtland) Sha'Tia Hart (Courtland) Caitlan Murray (Courtland) Ashley Sellers (Courtland) Sherri Washington (James Monroe) Erika Williams (James Monroe) Ayonia Mitchell (Riverbend) Jessica Nelms (Riverbend) Janay Weathers (Riverbend) Kristin Graham (Spotsylvania) Mikal Willmer (Spotsylvania). Coaches: Claude Tyler (Riverbend), Jodi Bowers (Courtland) and Johnnie Ellis (Spotsylvania) Commonwealth District Kristen Perez (Massaponax) Candice Miller (Massaponax) Shawana Terry (Albemarle) Monica McComsey (Albemarle) Tameka Hearn (Brooke Point) Marqui Mason (Brooke Point) Kelly Lanata (Brooke Point) Abby Mertz (Colonial Forge) Brittany Drogo (Colonial Forge) Erica Hopson (Stafford) Demi Bolling (Stafford) Chanelle Downing (Stafford) Coach: Michelle Darley (Colonial Forge)

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Date published: 4/19/2006