Maurice Ware looked over at Blade Tackett, his South coach in the 43rd News Journal All-Star Classic, as he headed to check-in and uttered two simple words.
"It's showtime," Ware said as he entered the game with the South trailing the North by 19
Ware ignited the South and the entire gym as he threw down seven thunderous dunks, including a stretch of almost five in a row, as the South turned a 19-point deficit into a 115-113 win over the North in the Annual News Journal All-Star Classic.
Ware finished with a game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds to go with three assists. He shot 14 of 27 from the field.
"I just wanted to come out and impress everyone that came out to this game," Ware said. "They may have never seen me play so I just wanted to put on a show for them and make sure they got their money's worth."
The $8 ticket to get into the Classic was the bargain of the year. Especially when Ware and South teammate Mason Studer of Colonel Crawford teamed up for back-to-back off-the-backboard passes that led to highlight-reel dunks during the South's epic comeback. Studer finished with six assists and, according to him, no two were easier than his alley-oops to Ware.
"You just have to get it up there and he will go get it," Studer said still in disbelief. "It makes it easier as a point guard for sure. It is so much fun to play with a guy that athletic."
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