Baraga’s Reide Osterman dribbles while being defended by Pickford’s Kennedy Guild on Saturday, June 18, 2022, during the U.P. All-Star Classic in St. Ignace, Mich. (Courtesy Photo/Dennis Grall)

ST. IGNACE — Playing in an all-star game is always special, but it was extra special for St. Ignace’s Ally Schultz and Escanaba’s Colin Hudson on Saturday.

They were selected as most valuable players at the 37th annual U.P. All-Star Classic. Making it extra special: it marked the final home game of her career for Schultz, and it was the last time Hudson, would play for his dad, former Escanaba boys coach Tracy Hudson.

Tracy Hudson will switch teams this season, taking over the girls program at Escanaba after Mike Beveridge retired.

Schultz, who moved to St. Ignace as a freshman from Bark River-Harris, scored 10 of her 17 points and had several assists in the decisive fourth quarter as the South girls held off North 78-68.

The 6-foot-9 Hudson, who also won the slam dunk contest, had 23 points and seven rebounds to help the East boys subdue the West 103-84 in the finale.

Both games had early makings of runaways before the winning teams rallied down the stretch.

“We really came together as a team,” said Colin Hudson. “The third quarter we were kind of tired.”

The West closed the gap to 63-60 early in the fourth quarter when coach Brad Besonen of Ewen-Trout Creek sent four of his E-TC players onto the floor together in the third quarter. E-TC finished as runner-up in the state Division 4 basketball tournament.

Tracy Hudson said his son “is an unselfish player. He is not a volume shooter.”

Tracy Hudson added “we dug in when we had to. We got the last push and separation. We had a huge shift in momentum.”

The game also marked the final time EJ Suggitt of Rudyard would play for his father, Jim, who was an assistant on the East team. The younger Suggitt will play baseball at Spring Arbor College.

Colin Hudson will join his brother Carter at Bay College in Escanaba next season. “He made a huge jump (this season). He has a bright future,” Tracy Hudson said of his youngest son.

Two other Eskymos, Connor Smale and Jared Hansen, combined for 18 points to help East claim the victory. Hansen, who is playing baseball for the Green Bay Blue Ribbons this summer, has a baseball scholarship to pitch at Central Michigan University.

The two games also served as goodbyes for two foreign exchange students. Claudio Bistolfi of Newberry is from Italy while Jonas Bicek of Marquette is from the Czech Republic. Bicek, who added 17 points for the East boys, won the pre-game 3-point shooting contest.

Westwood grads Zach Carlson and Zach Beckman led the West boys with 19 and 17 points, respectively, Mr. U.P. Basketball Jaden Borseth of E-TC added 15 points and Eric Abramson of E-TC added 13 points.

Schultz hit three 3-point field goals in the fourth quarter to spark her South team.

“It went down to the wire,” she said. “You’ve got to be the one people can count on. We call it feed the fire. St. Ignace is known for its girls basketball and I am proud to be a part of it. It is a great feeling.”

The North girls led 52-42 before South cut into the deficit and then pulled away with an 18-12 fourth quarter advantage.

Marybeth Halonen of Calumet and Alyssa Hill had 18 points apiece for the North girls. Natalie Prophet of Westwood, who added 10 points for the South girls, won the free throw pre-game contest. Jenna Mattson of Munising, who will play basketball at Bay College, won the pre-game 3-point girls contest.