G.I.'s Crouch playing in NCA All-Star Game

Jory Crouch was a three-sport athlete growing up.

The Grand Island Senior High graduate played baseball, football and basketball, but basketball was always his first love.

"Ever since I can remember, I played baseball and football," Crouch said. "I loved playing football. It's just that I've always been a basketball player. I worked the hardest at that sport, but I still enjoy baseball and football."

From now on, it will be all basketball for Crouch because he will join the Nebraska Wesleyan program this coming year. But first, he'll play in the Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Basketball Game tonight at Lincoln North Star High School.

The girls game begins at 6 p.m. with the boys following at 8 p.m.

"I was surprised," Crouch said of his selection to play in the All-Star Game. "I thought we had a good season. I thought we have a lot of good players on our team. It's just an honor for me to be named as one of the best in the state and to get to play with some of the best athletes in the state."

Crouch averaged 12.3 points a game for the 17-5 Islanders. He was also the team's second-leading rebounder.

"He really came on at the end of his junior year," Grand Island coach Dave Oman said. "He just did a lot for us. He ran the floor as well or better than anybody. He was able to go outside. He was able to go inside and penetrate.

"He worked hard and had a great attitude. He was a big part of our success as were several other guys."

Crouch shot 46 percent from the field and 59 percent from the free-throw line last season. He was also one of the top 3-point threats for the Islanders, although he didn't shoot as many as some of his teammates.

"I thought I got better since my junior year," Crouch said. "I was a better basketball player. As a junior, I played more as a post player. I've always been a little quicker for a big guy. I worked on my perimeter skills and became more versatile so I could drive better and shoot better."

Crouch said strength work he did for football paid off on the basketball court.

"Football made me more of a physical player," Crouch said. "All the workouts for football improved my basketball because I became stronger. Coach (Jeff) Tomlin is a great coach. He teaches you a lot about work ethic and that helped me out with basketball."

That work ethic will certainly help Crouch when he begins his college basketball career.

"He really runs the floor well," Oman said. "I think he has an opportunity to be a really good college player. I just think he really has an upside to his game, and he has a really good work ethic."

 "Playing hard any more is a big key to being successful in basketball. You have to have kids who give a great effort. I think he'll be a good small college player."

Crouch will be joined on the Red team by St. Edward's Shavontae Samuels. The 6-foot guard was one of the leading scorers in the state last year at 27.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

Grand Island Central Catholic's Alicia Statler will play for the Blue team in the girls game. Statler, who was captain of The Independent's All-Heartland Super Squad, averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds a game for the Crusaders.

Cross County's Megan Allison, who led the area in scoring at 25.7 per game, will play for the Red team.



NCA All-Star Basketball

BOYS

Red Team

Porter Birtell, Lutheran High NE; Jory Crouch, Grand Island; Koang Doluony, Omaha Bryan; Wes Eikmeier, Archbishop Bergan; Mike Fox, Beatrice; James Futch, Bellevue East; Zach Rosenboom, Oakland-Craig; Shavontae Samuels, St. Edward; Nick Schleich, Lincoln Southeast; Jens Scholl, Deshler; Jeremy Wallace, Omaha Bryan; Antoine Young, Bellevue West.

Head coach -- Fred Kluck, Bruning-Davenport.

Assistant coach -- Ben Ries, Norfolk.


Blue Team

Kendal Bender, Humphrey St. Francis; Jesse Carr, Ainsworth; Garth Hamilton, Lincoln East; Josias Hueser, Papillion-LaVista South; Josh Jones, Omaha Central; John Levorson, Crete; Mitch Liberty, Falls City; Josh Lynch, Elkhorn; Kyle Obermeier, North Platte; Andrew Palmer, Waverly; Jake Reinders, Omaha Skutt; Josh Riser, Lincoln High.

Head coach -- Dave Mroczek, Minden.

Assistant coach -- Chris Kraus, Hyannis.



GIRLS

Red Team

Megan Allison, Cross County; Ashley Arp, Kearney; Eva Benson, Overton; Katie Birkel, Lincoln Southeast; Kilee Edson, Fairbury; Mia Gilreath, Omaha Burke; Brittany Gunn, Omaha Burke; Tessa Kreutzer, Holdrege; Kristine Ortmeier, West Point CC; Alexa Phipps, South Sioux City; Jordan Searcey, Lincoln Pius X; Morgan Wilken, Crofton.

Head coach -- Bill Rice, Lincoln Pius X.

Assistant coach -- Aaron Losing, Crofton.



Blue Team

Autumn Boyer, South Sioux City; Cheryl Braithwait, Arapahoe; Nicole Brungardt, Norfolk Catholic; LeaAnn Jameson, Minden; Debi Johnson, Perkins County; Angela Kuca, Lincoln Lutheran; Amber Peterson, Elkhorn; Heather Pohl, Millard West; Megan Salcedo, Omaha Marian; Kali Schnacker, Humbodt-Table Rock-Steinauer; Alicia Statler, Grand Island Central Catholic; Jackie Westover, Sioux County.

Head coach -- Rick Chramosta, Minden.

Assistant coach -- Linda Walker, Wahoo.

E-mail Bob Hamar