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All-star setting might help Packer forget

After being upset by Clearwater in the playoffs, Largo's Billy McDade plans to enjoy tonight's game.

By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 4, 2002

Billy McDade's standout career at Largo had many sweet moments but a bitter ending.

He hopes to change that tonight in the Pinellas County All-Star Classic at Largo when he leads the North team against the South.

McDade went scoreless in the last six minutes of his final game with his Packers, a distressing 62-59 district semifinal loss to Clearwater.

"I don't know if you ever get over that, but I have a little," McDade said. "It should be fun, my last game and my last chance to play in front of my home crowd."

In a game that probably won't feature much defense but lots of fastbreaks, McDade should excel in the wide-open style, along with teammates Dalen Cuff (East Lake) and Matt Walker (Seminole).

The South will counter with Times Player of the Year Kevin Dorsey of Lakewood, St. Petersburg's Jason White and Gibbs' DeAngelo Woodie.

Lakewood's Marcus Morrison would normally be the star in a game like this, but he's playing in the Florida-Georgia All-Star Game next week in Orlando and the number of all-star games players can compete in is restricted. Morrison is also visiting Ohio State this weekend.

With no Morrison, the 6-foot-9 McDade becomes the favorite in the dunk contest to be held at halftime.

"It would have been nice to have him there," said McDade, who went to Osceola Middle School with Morrison. "I'm basically going to wing it. I've been practicing everything, but I don't know what I'm going to use yet."

He did, however, say he had something in the 360-degree variety in his repertoire.

Fun will be the operative word tonight if past games are any indication.

Two years ago, the North won 103-101, and last year, the game ended in a 93-93 tie in contests filled with more laughing and smiling than textbook basketball.

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