• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Sunday, October 1, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Inner City All-Star Classic a success

by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
May 18, 2016
20
SHARES
404
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

PrepScenesquareDerek Reuben was hoping for a better turnout for the 23rd Annual Inner City Classic held last Sunday at Schoenecker Arena on the campus of St. Thomas University.

The game — which featured 40 senior boys and girls basketball players — had been held annually in June after the participants had graduated from high school.

“We changed the date from June to May in hopes of getting the players and fans to come out while school was in session,” said Reuben — one of the game’s co-founders. “I just felt it was time for a change.”

The change worked.

An enthusiastic crowd filled the gym to near capacity, looking on as Team Faith, coached by Minneapolis North Coach Crystal Flint, defeated Team Truth — led by DeLaSalle Coach Tanysha Scott — 89-73 in a girls’ game that was full of highlights.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

St. Paul Como Park boys’ Coach John Robinson led Team Wisdom past Team Knowledge — coached by Larry McKenzie of Minneapolis North — 126-119 in a boys’ game that had too many dunks to count.

The history dates back to 1994, when Reuben, Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball from Minneapolis North in 1988, became skeptical when St. Paul St. Agnes and Minneapolis Washburn won the Class A and Class AA state titles respectively that year — with predominantly Black lineups — yet were not selected for the all-state game.

Thus the Inner City All-Star Classic was born. A girls’ game was added in 2001 at the urging of late community activist Kwame McDonald.

Each game selected an MVP, crowned a three-point champion, and awarded the player with the top Grade Point Average.

Through it all, Reuben was pleased with how the games turned out. “I’m just glad people came out,” he said. “We need to support our youth.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Here is a snapshot of this year’s Inner City All-Star Classic:

Girls MVP Andrayah Adams with Derek Reuben. (Photo by Mitchell Palmer McDonald)
Girls MVP Andrayah Adams with Derek Reuben. (Photo by Mitchell Palmer McDonald)
Boys MVP Xavier Johnson with Derek Reuben. (Photos by Mitchell Palmer McDonald)
Boys MVP Xavier Johnson with Derek Reuben. (Photos by Mitchell Palmer McDonald)

 

 

 

 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

 

 

 

 

 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Girls’ Game

MVP — Andrayah Adams (St. Paul Como Park) scored 24 points to lead Team Faith.

Three-point Champion — Suzanne Gilrreath (Fridley) of Team Faith

Kwame McDonald Academic Award Winner — Tyrah Spencer (Bloomington Kennedy) of Team Faith

Boys’ Game

MVP — Xavier Johnson (Hopkins) scored 27 points to lead Team Wisdom.

Three-point Champion — Sam Baker (Benilde St. Margaret’s) of Team Wisdom

Kwame McDonald Academic Award Winner — Sam Jones (DeLaSalle) of Team Knowledge

 

Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mmcdonald@spokesman-recorder.com.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Saints triple their Black players (from one to three)

Next Post

A ‘simple’ job: marketing the WNBA

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald is a contributing columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

You Might Also Like

No Content Available
Next Post
A ‘simple’ job: marketing the WNBA

A ‘simple’ job: marketing the WNBA

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Oct 3
October 3 @ 8:30 am-October 4 @ 5:30 pm

Insects: Little Body, Big Impact | Nobel Conference 59 | Virtual or In-Person

Oct 4
6:00 pm-8:00 pm

An Evening with Liz Cheney

Oct 5
8:00 pm-10:00 pm Recurring

Dianne McIntrye Group In the Same Tongue

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: