HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL VENTURA COUNTY ALL-STAR GAMES : Amar, Martinez Help North to Early Lead in 120-83 Romp

Stevie Amar of Santa Clara High and Randy Martinez of Ventura led the fast-breaking North to a 20-point advantage in the second quarter en route to a 120-83 victory over the South in the Ventura County All-Star Game on Saturday night before a packed gymnasium at Ventura High.

Amar and Martinez each scored eight points in the second period, allowing the North to turn a 26-23 advantage into a 62-39 lead at the half. Amar finished with 18, matching Buena’s Lance Fay for team-high honors. Martinez added 15.

The North broke the century mark with nine minutes left when Art Barron of Santa Clara buried consecutive three-point shots to make the score 102-66. “From top to bottom, this was as good an all-star team that has ever represented Ventura County,” North Coach Dick Sebek said. “From one to 10, we had no drop-off in talent.”

Danny Alexander of Simi Valley led all scorers with 22 points, 16 coming in the first half, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the South.

In the girls’ all-star game, it was just like old times for four players from Thousand Oaks. Led by 16 points from Michelle Palmisano and 28 more from the combined forces of Sasha Scardino, Lori Sherman and Nicole Orr, the South cruised to an 82-58 victory over the North.

“It was good that we knew each other so well,” Palmisano said. “It sure helps in an all-star game. It’s automatic when you’re playing with someone so long.”

The South used a six-point spurt from Scardino midway through the second quarter to take a 29-23 lead and Palmisano, Sherman and Orr helped put it away in the third period, scoring 11 of 14 points in a run that gave the South a 50-37 advantage.

Scardino finished with 12 points, Sherman had nine and Orr added seven.

A strong fourth-quarter showing from Westlake’s Lauren Goldstine, who matched Palmisano with a team-high 16, made sure the North could not come back.

“We got pretty impatient on offense,” North Coach Jack Smith of Nordhoff said. “We were in the game in the first half. As the second half wore on, we seemed to get tired and they seemed to still be fresh.”

Denise Rea of Ventura scored 19 points for the North and Gina Sosa of Hueneme added 13.