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All-star game becomes study of contrasts

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By ROBYN DISNEY

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 31, 2001

TAMPA -- The two Hillsborough County all-star teams had two different ways of approaching the game Friday.

The White team was grounded, content with layups and short jumpers as it won the Tampa Bay Basketball Coaches' Association All-Star Game 135-124 at Hillsborough Community College.

The Blue team was hardly on the court as its players made high-flying dunks and played an up-tempo game.

The scoring leaders established their team's pace. The Blue's Tiras Wade of Tampa Bay Tech scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half, with the majority coming off of dunks.

For the White team, James Anthony of Armwood scored most of his points from the free-throw line, making 9-of-10 in the first half.

"You have to be entertaining," Wade said. "That's what the fans want to see. It was getting kind of boring, so we decided to put on a show."

The game was slow in the first half because of the White team's dominance. It jumped out to a 23-5 lead, led by King's Richard Blocker, who scored eight points in the first five minutes.

"They came out ready to play," Wade said. "We were lazy at the beginning. But they came out strong."

Anthony said the team's fast start came as a result of intense practices. "I knew after the second practice that we were going to win," Anthony said. "I had no doubt. We probably could beat anyone in the nation."

The Blue team went into halftime trailing 67-50.

Wade, who won the dunk contest during halftime, dunked the ball seven times in the second half and encouraged his teammates to join in on the fun.

"We just came out to have fun," he said. "This was a chance to show off and entertain the crowd. We wanted to get the crowd into it."

While Wade and his teammates showed off their aerial moves, the White team held its lead by making free throws -- it converted 28-of-37 for the game -- and scoring off of rebounds.

"We just came out here to do our thing," Anthony said. "We were doing some flashy stuff, too, but not as much." Wade and Anthony could be teammates in the near future. Anthony will visit East Tennessee State soon while Wade said the school is on his list as well.

But for now, Wade said he is just looking to have fun.

"I always want to come out and have a good time," Wade said. "Of course, I want to do a good job. But I want to have fun, too."

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