The stars were shining at Durham College on Saturday as the 21st edition of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Basketball All-Star games took place. All of the events were held in the new facilities on campus in front of an OCAA All-Star game record crowd of nearly 1,500 fans.

Both men’s and women’s games came down to the wire as the women’s game was decided on a buzzer beater while the men’s game needed overtime to settle a winner.

The men’s game was an all-star classic as the teams were level at 85 points apiece after regulation time. The West managed to comeback from a 12 point deficit midway through the second half. In overtime, there was no doubt that the teams were taking the game seriously as Sheridan Nigel Johnson-Tyghter was issued a rare technical foul to send Durham’s Anthony Batchelor to the free throw line. The East pulled ahead at that point and managed to hold off the West attack to take the 98-94 win.

Coincidently enough, the last OCAA All-Star game to go into overtime was in 1999 were Bill Crowdis (Durham College) and Shane Bascoe were named game MVP’s, both of which were behind the bench as coaches for the team’s in the 2008 event.

Anthony McAleese (Niagara) and St. Clair led the game in scoring with 19 points apiece. For his efforts, McAleese was named game MVP. Leading the way for the East was Centennial teammates Aundre Rose and Rush McKenley who drained 18 and 17 points respectively. McKenley was named East MVP. CCAA All-Canadian, Anthony Batchelor (Durham), scored 10 points for the East, eight of which were in the second half.

In the women’s game was a nail-bitter as the teams were in a deadlock at 66-66 with less than twenty seconds left on the clock. After a West Region timeout, the ball found the way into Fanshawe’s Chelsea Brown’s hands who managed to fire off a buzzer beater that found the way through the hoop to give the West Region the two point win.

The GTA connection of Monique Faulknor of the Humber Hawks and Sarah Moxley of the Sheridan Bruins led West scorers with 12 points in the game. Rachael Niven (St. Lawrence), Britt Pegg (St. Lawrence) and Jeess Barrieau (Fleming) led the East Region with 11 points each. Rachael Niven of the St. Lawrence Vikings was named East Region MVP while Lisa Marie Iavaron of Mohawk Mountaineers was named West Region game MVP. Jill Leistra and Erin Emery represented the Lords for the East Region All-Stars.

Prior to the game, players from across the province took part in the Co-Ed Two-Ball competition and the Coca-Cola 3-Point Shootout. It was the unique duo of Jay Ripplinger of Sault College and Sarah Tice of the hometown Durham Lords who took home the title as they developed instant chemistry on the court to reign supreme.

The women’s three point shootout was as close as the all-star game as Jessica James of Niagara and Stephanie Chau of Seneca were tied after three rounds of the shootout. In extra time, Jessica James caught fire once again to take home the crown. In the men’s shootout, Mitch Mallette of the Cambrian Golden Shield set a pace no one could keep up with as he drained three after three that amazed the crowd and took home the title.

Between games, Bruno the Bruin of Sheridan College managed to out-dance his fellow competitors in the 10th annual best Mascot competition. Providing fans with some excellent dance moves including the moonwalk, Bruno had the fans on their feet in celebration.

Overall, all-star Saturday was another huge hit with the fans across Ontario. People in attendance were entertained with everything from slam dunks to break-dancing bears! It was also in support of a great cause as the event was themed "Think Pink" as an initiative to create awareness for breast cancer and the “Power of Pink” campaign.

2008 OCAA Basketball All-Star Saturday Results:

Men's Game
East 98 vs. West 94 (OT)
East Player of the Game: Rush McKenley, Centennial Colts
West Player of the Game: Anthony McAleese, Niagara Knights

Women’s Game
West 68 vs. East 66
East Player of the Game: Rachael Niven, St. Lawrence Vikings
West Player of the Game: Lisa Marie Iavaron, Mohawk Mountaineers

Coca-Cola 3-point Shootout:
Men's Champion: Mitch Mallette, Cambrian Golden Shield
Women¹s Champion: Jessica James, Niagara Knights

Co-Ed 2-Ball Champions:
Jay Ripplinger and Sarah Tice (Sault College and Durham College)

Best Mascot:
Bruin the Bruin, Sheridan College