Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

With their final high school basketball seasons behind them, area seniors are looking to the future. 

For some, such as Riverview guard D.J. Bryant and Booker guard Yamaris Guevarez, that includes continuing their basketball careers at the collegiate level. For others, this Saturday’s Sarasota-Manatee Boys and Girls All-Star Game is their last hurrah. 

It’s an opportunity for them to suit up and take the court one final time against their counterparts from Manatee County. And it’s a chance for the community to show their support for the hard work and dedication these players have put in over the past four years. 

I was fortunate enough to see most of this year’s all-stars in action throughout the season. Some had seasons to remember while others had seasons they would rather soon forget. 

But on March 26, area seniors will have one final opportunity to shine — a chance to light up the court with a new set of teammates and show the community just how far they’ve come. 

Forty-two players from 12 schools will participate in the two games, which benefits the Kyle Jutras Scholarship Foundation, founded in 2015 in honor of Sarasota High teacher and assistant boys basketball coach Kyle Jutras, who died of a rare form of cancer Sept. 29, 2014. 

Grateful for the support he received, Jutras wanted to pay it forward. Looking to fulfill his vision, Rob Jutras, Kyle Jutras’ father, founded the KJSF, which awards scholarships and assists graduating high school seniors in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Counties. 

“We hope by making this an annual event, it’s something the players look forward to as a fun way to end their high school playing careers,” Rob Jutras said. “It’s also a great way to unite the basketball community by getting the fans out to support their all-stars, their teams and to introduce them to the Kyle Jutras Scholarship Foundation as well.” 

The girls game will tip off at 3:30 p.m. with the boys game to follow. Both games will be held in the new gymnasium on the campus of Sarasota High. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students. Children 6 and under are free. 

Riverview boys basketball coach B.J. Ivey will serve as the head coach for the Sarasota boys All-Stars. Players were nominated by their coaches and then invited to play. 

Following each game, the Most Outstanding Player will be presented with a trophy and $500 college scholarship from the KJSF. In addition, the KJSF will be awarding a total of $25,000 in scholarships to area high school seniors for 2016. 

This year’s local Sarasota All-Stars include: 

BOYS 

Ryan Beckmann, forward, Sarasota Military Academy

D.J. Bryant, point guard, Riverview

Dominic Caldwell. guard, Riverview 

Jackson Carter, guard, Sarasota

Darian Daniels, forward, Sarasota

Micah Fenn, guard, Riverview

Riley Foreman, guard, Booker

Nick Peacock, guard, Cardinal Mooney

Zach Rowden, forward, Sarasota 

Mike Varone, guard, Cardinal Mooney

D’Myron Wright, forward, Riverview 

GIRLS 

Brayden Einhaus, guard, Sarasota Military Academy

Yamaris Guevarez, guard, Booker

DeQuandra Hill, forward, Sarasota 

McKenzie Lantz, point guard, Sarasota Christian 

Emily Walser, point guard, Cardinal Mooney 

***

A quick look inside the new weight room at Cardinal Mooney makes me want to hit the gym. 

Through the financing of the Cougars Sports Club, Cardinal Mooney recently completed a $40,000 renovation of its weight room, which it celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 21. 

The weight room features five new lifting platforms, new weights and eight new lifting stations. A new air-conditioning unit and new flooring and ceiling tiles also were installed along with motivational and spirited banners to help generate school spirit. The new functional workout space also serves as a reminder of where football coach Drew Lascari wants his program to go. 

"A total commitment to excellence is our goal; and the new weight room is a great step in the process," Lascari said. "We want our athletes to be inspired to work hard, and our beautiful new space certainly brings a new level of energy and excitement." 

The project will benefit Cardinal Mooney student-athletes, as well as the school’s physical education classes. 

I think it’s safe to say the Cougars won’t be skipping out on their workouts anytime soon.