Because Mike Walker wants student-athletes like Ryan Sichting to have a shot at college scholarships, the New Castle basketball coach has given them an extra opportunity.

Sichting, who just graduated from Martinsville High School, is one of many such athletes who have been selected to play in Saturday's East-West All-Star Games at New Castle High School.

Sichting will play for the Class 4A West team in the finale of the marathon of games in the New Castle High School Fieldhouse.

The big-school boys start at 8:30 p.m., capping an eight-game run of boys' and girls' games for all the classes contested by the Indiana High School Athletic Association.

Two other area athletes are also on the list.

Monrovia's Rachel Hadley will compete in the Girls' Class 2A game, which is set for 1 p.m.

Mooresville's Heather Harper will display her talents in the 7 p.m. game for Class 4A girls.

These games are strictly for the benefit of the players, according to Walker, the founder and director of the all-star games.

He says the contests are designed to give "honor and recognition to both large and small communities all across Indiana."

Walker, a first team all-state selection on Crawfordville's final four team in 1958, has coached in Florida, California and now at New Castle.

Walker says the games give student-athletes an opportunity to attract attention of college coaches.

"My mom and dad were great parents, but as far as education went, they both dropped out of school in the eighth grade to go to work," he said. "My coaches were the only people who encouraged me to dream that I could actually go to college.

"I am sure there are thousands of kids out there who are in the same boat that I was in, as one of six kids growing up in Crawfordsville. All they need is a chance. We want to give them that chance."

The Class 1A girls’ game opens the day at 10 a.m. The 1A boys follow at 11:30 a.m. The boys' 2A game is set for 2:30 p.m. The 3A girls play at 4 p.m. and the 3A boys at 5:30 p.m.

Sichting helped the Artesians win the Mooresville sectional tournament. They topped Terre Haute South 54-46, Terre Haute North 57-52 and Plainfield 61-53. The Artesians were eliminated, 60-52, by Jeffersonville in the Seymour Regional.

The Artesians finished 14-10 after winning eight of their last 12 games.

Hadley helped Monrovia also win a sectional championship. The Bulldogs captured the Cascade sectional by beating Cloverdale 65-39, Cascade 50-35 and South Putnam 54-44 in overtime.

North Knox eliminated the Bulldogs 50-35 in the semifinal round of the Forest Park Regional Tournament. Monrovia finished its season with a 16-8 record.

There's another connection for Hadley. The West All-Stars will be directed by Debby Steffy, the South Put coach.

Harper helped Mooresville win 19 of 23 games, including a 53-44 decision of Martinsville during the regular season as the Pioneers avenged a loss to the Arties in the sectional championship game a year earlier.

MoPi won its first sectional game, beating Terre Haute North 57-40, but fell 49-39 to eventual sectional champion Northview in the semifinal round.

Dave McCullough of Noblesville will coach the boys' 4A West team. Wayne Allen of Castle will direct the Class 4A West girls.

source: http://www.reporter-times.com