WINNIE — Three months have passed since Port Arthur Memorial won the 5A state championship in boys basketball.

“I missed this jersey,” guard Jamyus Jones said after playing in the home white Port Arthur jersey one last time with teammate Darion Chatman.

Jones scored all 12 of his points in the second half (including three 3-point baskets), helping the East take a 69-56 win over the West in the Christus All-Star Classic boys basketball game Friday at East Chambers High School.

Little Cypress-Mauriceville center Katon Brown finished with 14 points and earned the East’s MVP award.

“I’m pretty shocked about it,” the Illinois Central College signee said. “They’ve got a lot of big guys bigger than me, but it ain’t always about my size (6-feet-3). It’s about my skill set and how I can use my body to the best of my ability.”

Maybe the only blemish in the East’s victory was Chatman’s ejection in the fourth quarter after picking up his second technical foul. The 5A state tournament MVP, who had four points all in the second period, was whistled for his first technical in the third, apparently frustrated with not getting foul calls to his benefit.

Chatman, who will play with fellow Titan Thailan Wesley and Jones at Lamar State College Port Arthur, wrote in a retweet: “… right [shrugging person icon] but hey, you ain’t gon try and cheat and get away.” He did not elaborate further.

“I just told him we’re having fun,” Jones said. “We’re supposed to have fun. You don’t need to argue with the refs. This is a fun game. Everybody’s here to have fun.”

Wesley was selected for the game but was nowhere to be found in the East Chambers gymnasium Friday.

For the East, Tajh Mason and Darius Ruben of Ozen combined for 13 points, Hunter Wiegreffe of Bridge City knocked down nine, Javondric Simmons of West Orange-Stark scored six, and Cade Smith of Nederland knocked down a three-point basket. West Brook coach Andre Boutte coached the East.

Printon Cooper of Goose Creek Memorial scored 15 of his game-high 17 points to win the West MVP honor.

 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Also at East Chambers, Tayelin Grays scored the first 12 West points of the second quarter and went on to earn West MVP honors following a 69-56 win over the East.

Grays, a New Mexico State signee, led the way with 30 points. She knocked down four of the West’s eight three-point baskets.

Tytiana Haamid of Cleveland scored 20 points and Amaya Armstrong of Crosby had 11. Armstrong had three treys.

Michaela Terry of Evadale earned the East MVP honor after making 24 points. She had four treys.

Simran Mayfield of Legacy Christian finished with 11 points for the East. Kassidy Wilbur, who earned the pitching win in Thursday’s Christus All-Star softball game, and fellow Bridge City graduate Maysen Tyler each had five points.

Kerianna Portalis of Memorial added three points and teammate Daicha Kimble scored two. Serenity Bill-Williams of West Brook and Cameron Choate of Orangefield each scored two.

 

VOLLEYBALL

Mercedes Danrich of Ozen earned team MVP honors after helping the East beat the West 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 17-15.

Kinsy Haschke of Barbers Hill was the West MVP.

Nayla Bazine of Memorial, Libbie LeJeune and Rachel Hammersmith of Port Neches-Groves, Reyna Owens of Bridge City, Kaitlin Avery and McCartney Miller of LCM and Amari Franklin, Keia Lopez and Sydni Fontenot of West Brook were among the local East All-Stars.

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The Christus All-Star Classic football game will kick off at 7 tonight at East Chambers.

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews