Morningstar out in crunch time

FSHS product watches as his North squad falls

Topeka ? Brady Morningstar promised it didn’t bother him.

With the game on the line in the final seconds of the Kansas Basketball Coaches Assn. All-Star game, the Free State High graduate watched from the bench as his North squad began to squander a 14-point lead at Washburn’s Lee Arena.

It might have been the first time his basketball team had not turned to him.

“I made the all-star game, so that’s all I can ask for,” Morningstar said. “I can’t complain about playing time.”

Morningstar still might wonder if his presence could have changed the end result: a 103-102 come-from-behind victory for the South team.

“We got a little bit complacent,” Morningstar said. “I wanted to get the win, but you can’t get everything you want.”

Former Free State high standout Brady Morningstar shoots over Oswego product Clint Brightman during the first half of the 2005 KBCA All-Star game. Morningstar scored nine points in the game Wednesday at Lee Arena in Topeka.

Morningstar did more than hold his own when on the court, scoring nine points on 3-of-7 shooting and also starting for the North team.

The 6-foot-3 guard was most impressive in the second quarter, scoring four points in 70 seconds with a fast-break layup and an 18-foot jump shot off the glass.

“I was just trying to have fun,” Morningstar said. “It was pretty competitive towards the end, but in the beginning we were just having a good time and trying to play hard.”

Wade Knapp contributed 12 second-half points, including a dunk with 30 seconds left in the third quarter, to give the North its biggest lead at 80-66.

But the South squad showed fire in the final period.

Joel Stucky’s free throw completed a 7-0 South run, giving the squad a 101-100 advantage with 36 seconds remaining.

After a Drew Armagost basket for the North, Austin Boots responded with the game-winning jumper in the lane to give the South the victory.

Knapp, who scored a team-high 16 points, was reunited in the game with Morningstar. The two were members of the Kansas City Pump ‘N’ Run AAU team last summer, along with North teammates Clint McFall and Jay Tunnell.

“It’ll probably be the last time I ever get to play with those guys,” Knapp said. “It was a great chance to play with them one more time before we go to college.”

The South was led by Carlin Whitten’s 18 points.

There won’t be much rest for Morningstar, as the former Firebird will leave Saturday for basketball team camp at his prep school in New Hampton, N.H.

He will participate in a week’s worth of camp and pickup games before returning to Lawrence until school starts Sept. 9.