By Andy Walter

SMYRNA — Almost to the end, Caesar Rodney High’s players thought they’d make it.
After all, most teams that finish with a 12-8 record earn a spot in the DIAA boys’ basketball state tournament.

“We thought we were in the tournament,” said the Riders’ Adam Bailey. “But a couple teams we had beaten lost a game and that put them under .500.

“It was just disappointing knowing that we could have won games that could have made the difference in putting us in the tournament. Everyone took it pretty hard.”

For a pair of CR seniors, though, there was at least the consolation that they’d still get to play one more time in the Blue-Gold All-Star Game.

Bailey and teammate Isaiah Alston are both on the Gold roster for the senior all-star game, which is being played at Smyrna High on Saturday. The girls’ contest starts at noon with the boys’ game to follow at about 2 p.m.

The contests benefit both the Delaware Safety Council and the Delaware Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association scholarship fund.

The Riders’ 12-8 record this winter gave them as many wins or more than seven of the 24 teams that made the state tournament. They also beat three squads that were in the field.

But the state tourney point system didn’t put CR among the top 24. The Riders were one of four squads with at least 12 victories that didn’t make the bracket.

Whatever the numbers said, CR’s players thought they were good enough to make the playoffs.

The Riders’ Isaiah Alston may be continuing his playing career at Cheyney University. Special to the Daily State News/Gary Emeigh

“Definitely,” said Alston. “We lost some games that we should have never lost. It’s my senior year so it’s pretty hard.”

“Even our younger guys still felt for our seniors,” said Bailey. “Everybody wants to get a chance to play in the playoffs their senior year.

“I understand how the system works with the points and all that. But I still felt we deserved to be in. We felt like we were a top-24 team.”

The 6-foot-5 Alston was named honorable mention All-Henlopen North this season.

Still, just being chosen for the Blue-Gold game was an accomplishment for the two Riders. CR didn’t have any players in the event last March.
Bailey, a six-foot guard, wanted to change that this season.

“It was big for my school to have two representatives this year,” he said. “At the beginning of the season, one of my goals was to be in it.”

“When the list (of players) came out, I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s pretty cool,’ ” said Alston.

Alston knows Saturday’s all-star game won’t be the last of his career. He’s probably going to continue his career at NCAA Division II Cheyney University next year.

“I can’t wait,” said Alston. “I feel very blessed and grateful for everything. This is what I love to do. It always makes me happy. Basketball can never make me mad.”

While players in the Blue-Gold game represent a number of different schools, many of them have played together on AAU squads or in other leagues.

Alston first started playing basketball with some of them when he was in third grade.

“I get to play with guys I’ve been playing with most of my life,” said Alston. “We’ve known each other for so long. We get to play with each other one more time.”

Bailey, on the other hand, knows he might not get to play in college. While he wants to keep playing the game, Saturday’s contest might be his last official one.

Bailey first started playing when he was in kindergarten in Holy Cross’ CYM league. Being in the Blue-Gold game is special for him.

“It’s an honor to be in that group,” he said.

Free throws

With his son, Jackson, playing in the game, Lake Forest assistant coach Mike Starkey is helping Gold head coach Ridge Betts in the game. .... There are six players from last Saturday’s state finals in the all-star contest. Dover is represented by Noah Allen, Dorell Little and Denim Perkins while Salesianum has Justin Hinds, Isaiah Hynson and Kareem Thomas in the game. The all-star games are trying to bring attention to teen driving safety. There will be a traffic safety experience set up in the parking lot on Saturday. People don't have to attend the game to go to the safety experience ... Tickets for the games are available at https://my.hometownticketing.com/agency/ec766f13-073a-4d71-bad3-098631c6402f/events/a15ed61a-6e1f-40be-bfab-dc08aa2b5a39 Use key words Delaware Interscholastic Basketball Association - DIBCA.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at awalter@iniusa.org. Follow on Twitter @DSNSports.

BASKETBALL
Blue-Gold All-Star Games
Girls
Gold roster

Ashtyn Torbert Dover
Anaya Price Caravel
Jasiyah Crawford Caravel
Journey Handy Delmarva Christian
Kirja Hickman Lake Forest
Lulu Rishko Cape Henlopen
Maleyah Bell Sussex Tech
Malya Milstead Dover
Mia Peacock Early College
Mila Milstead Dover
Mya Maull Cape Henlopen
Reghan Robinson Woodbridge
Sky Naranjo Polytech
Skylar Curley Smyrna
Tianna Neal Woodbridge
Talaney Pierce Smyrna
Coach: Isaiah Robinson, Woodbridge

Blue roster

Chamira Marshall-Brothers Ursuline
Claire Watson Tatnall
Danielle Kanse Wilm. Charter
Deja Martin Appoquinimink
Delaney Burroughs Odessa
Ericka Huggins St. Elizabeth
Grace Trerotola Padua
Jourdyn Henderson A.I. DuPont
Kyla Reed Appoquinimink
Lauren McDonald Saint Mark’s
Lucy Oliver Archmere
Ny’Aijah Jackson A.I. DuPont
Sydney Hilliard A.I. DuPont
Thailys Torres Hodgson
Tyler Edwards Sanford
Coach: Robert Lucky Price, A.I. DuPont

Boys
Gold roster

Adam Bailey Caesar Rodney
Aviyon Matthews Middletown
Cam’Ron Purnell Sussex Central
Clarence McBride-Allen Sussex Central
Clyde Fraiser Middletown
Denim Perkins Dover
Dorell Little, Jr, Dover
Isaiah Alston Caesar Rodney
Isaiah Ayers Sussex Tech
Jack Schell Cape Henlopen
Jackson Starkey Lake Forest
Kameron Trammell Cape Henlopen
Kashmier Wise Seaford
Noah Allen Dover
Obinna Coleman Smyrna
Coach: Ridge Betts, Lake Forest

Blue roster

Aiden Tobiason St. Elizabeth
Blair Thomas St. Georges
Carlton Smith MOT Charter
Emmanuel Vonhm William Penn
Gabe Swift DMA
Isaiah Hynson Salesianum
Jayden Lawrence Mount Pleasant
Jaylin Horsey William Penn
Jordan Earl Odessa
Jordan Spencer Sanford
JT Wright St. Elizabeth
Justin Hinds Salesianum
Kareem Thomas Salesianum
Miles Kempski Archmere
Rahsaan Matthews, Jr. Howard
Coach: Mike Cassidy, St. Elizabeth