It  took eight years, but the junior high school basketball All-Star Game is back in Fort McMurray.
The best girl and boy ballers from the city’s 16 junior high schools clashed at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre for the C.J. Phillips Frozen Hoops All-Star Game Saturday.
The event split the schools between North and South, with the North winning both the girls and boys games.
The girls battled first in front of over 250 fans for an entertaining 40 minutes of basketball. The North team, led by MVP Daniela Gomez, edged the South team 43-39.
“It was great playing with the other girls,” said Gomez, a standout forward for the city champion St. Martha Eagles. “I just played for the fun of it, and I did pretty good. It was awesome.”
Gomez, who plans on attending Westwood High School next year, finished the game with eight points and dominated the defensive glass. She was selected to the All-Star team by her teammates at St. Martha.
Also helping the North All-Stars to the win was Rebecca Collins of the St. Anne Crusaders and Laura Whalen of the Timberlea Timberwolves. Both players chipped in with eight points.
The South squad was led by Beacon Hill Bears forward MacKenzie Brenner, who scored a game-high 14 points in the loss.

In boys action the North held on for a 46-39 win, fighting off a late push from the South All-Stars.
Thickwood Thunderbirds guard Justin Price was named MVP for his team after leading the North with eight points in the win. The Grade 8 student adjusted quickly to his new teammates, who he had been playing against all season.
“It was cool to get to know them and play with them and not against them this time,” he said. “(The chemistry) was pretty good compared to what I thought it would be. We had a practice and that seemed to work it all out.”
Getting in on the scoring for the North was Price’s teammate at Thickwood, Odai Halabi, who finished the game with six points. Also chipping in with six points was the Westwood Warriors’ Cody Clyburn.
Leading the charge for the South All-Stars with a game-high 11 points was Dr. K.A. Clark Dinos forward Khalid Osman. Beacon Hill Bears selection Cole Mitchelmore added nine points in the loss.
In connection with the All-Star activities, members of the International Basketball League’s Edmonton Chill attended Saturday’s games as well as held a clinic for local players.
Making the trip north was Chill coach Clay Pottinger, former Santa Clara University forward J.R. Patrick and 6-foot-9 forward Anthony “Teon” Knox.
This was the first to time to Fort McMurray for all three while it marked Knox’s first time in Canada.
“This is our fanbase,” said Pottinger. “We relish the opportunity to be able to work with these kids. We’ve all gained a lot from the game of basketball, so it’s always exciting to give something back and see some up-and-coming kids.”
The afternoon clinic, held at Dr. K.A. Clark School, welcomed boys and girls from Grade 5 and up to work on their fundamentals and pick up some pointers from the pros.
The Edmonton players ran the kids through passing, shooting and dribbling drills as well as got involved in some of the competition. Some of the participants, like Dr. Clark’s J.T. Sampson, got to see first hand why these guys are pros.
“They are really big,” smiled Sampson. “I had to play defence on one of them.”
Anyone interested in photos from the weekend or more information can check www.fronzenhoops.com.