LEXINGTON, Ky. – There is still a game to go, but Dikembe Shaw already sounded nostalgic about Indiana All-Star week on Friday night.
“Being around so many individuals who are so skilled and doing the thing I love, and I’m sure they love, and how they approach the game and their lives, I’ve just learned so much,” said Shaw, the Crown Point star. “For me personally, I just love it.”
Shaw is playing like he is loving it, too. The IndyStar Mr. Basketball runner-up poured in a game-high 24 points in the Indiana All-Stars 106-83 victory over the Kentucky All-Stars in the first game of the annual series, which will conclude on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Shaw accomplished that despite playing just a shade under 20 minutes due to foul trouble. He shot 6-for-7 from the field, connecting on all four of his 3-point attempts and going 8-for-11 from the free-throw line.
But even when Shaw had to sit with foul trouble, there was no letdown. Baron Walker and Brennan Miller made certain of it. Noblesville’s Walker, a Butler commit, was at his best early in the second half to help the Indiana All-Stars turn a three-point halftime lead into a double-digit margin with back-to-back three-point plays.
Lawrence North’s Miller finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Walker added 17.
“They gave us a lot of energy and the effort was contagious,” Indiana All-Star coach Todd Woelfle said. “They had some big plays, not only on the offensive end but the defensive end, just being scrappy. Coming on the road here at Kentucky we felt like we had to be 10 points better in order to win. We talked about it on the way here that there is a lot of pride on the line and it’s a long bus trip here. They took a lot of pride in representing their class, community, school and state of Indiana.”
There have been plenty of Indiana All-Star teams through the years that have struggled on visits to Kentucky, including losses in four of its previous eight trips. At halftime, it looked like the Indiana All-Stars might be in for a similar battle to the finish. With Shaw, Walker and Miller leading the way, Indiana pushed the lead to 15 before the Kentucky All-Stars cut it back down to eight points with 4:26 left.
It got no closer. Mr. Basketball Luke Ertel, Shaw and Miller scored on three consecutive possessions, then Shaw drilled a 3-pointer to provide the dagger.
“I think it’s just the connection that we’ve built,” Walker said. “For how fast in the short amount of time we’ve been together, our connection and being able to read one another and just off the court, our bond is impeccable.”
Kentucky Mr. Basketball Jake Feldhaus was a tough cover all night. The 6-8 standout from Madison Central, a Belmont commit, finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Southern Illinois commit Jeremiah Jackson (Louisville St. Xavier) led Kentucky with 24 points.
The Indiana All-Stars shot 27-for-37 from the free-throw line. Plainfield’s Noah Smith (DePaul) finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds and Charlestown’s Anthony Fresh added 11 points off the bench. Purdue commit Ertel had eight points, 10 assists, five rebounds and three steals.
“The bond we all have is just phenomenal,” Shaw said. “The boys and the girls. It’s bigger than yourself, it’s the whole group representing Indiana.”
There is one more game to go. The Indiana boys will attempt to sweep Kentucky for the second consecutive year and 13th time in 17 years overall.
“It’s going to be a great time,” Walker said. “Fun, enjoyable and hopefully we get a win.”
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana All-Stars pull away behind Dikembe Shaw for win over Kentucky
