SOUTH WAYNE - For Juda's Cole Bauman, the four-year rivalry with several Six Rivers East Conference basketball players will subside at least for one night.
Bauman is one of 21 local boys and girls basketball players who will play in the eighth annual Six Rivers All-Star game Friday night in Belmont. The girls game is set for 6 p.m. with the boys game to follow. Proceeds from the games go to benefit the American Family Children's Hospital in Madison.
"Before we were enemies and now we are teammates," Bauman said of the other Six Rivers East top senior players that will play together Friday. "Once you are out of school, your view on basketball changes."
Bauman, who is completing an electrician apprenticeship since graduating from Juda, is looking forward to a competitive game.
"I'm excited to get back out there and play," Bauman said. "It should be a close game. I like our chances. I think both conferences are pretty equally matched."
Benton's David Neis scored an All-Star record and game-high 27 points to lead the West to a 91-73 win over the East last year. Monticello's Bryce Klitzke, who will go to Madison College in the fall, is just eager to get back on the court and knock off any rust.
"It feels good to get back at it," Klitzke said. "I just want to go out and get the win."
Black Hawk's Merik Meythaler, who will go to the University of Wisconsin in the fall, sees the game as a final chapter in his high school basketball career.
"To finally be playing with each other after playing against each other is how our career should end," Meythaler said. "I think it's definitely good for people to come out and watch some of the best players in the conference and the money goes to a good cause. It's a great thing the Six Rivers does."
Black Hawk Athletic Director Jerry Mortimer said over the last six years the games have raised about $10,000. Last year, the All-Star game raised $1,000.
The Six Rivers East girls have dominated the All-Star game, going 6-1 the last seven years. Argyle's Kayla Ostby, who is going to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to major in elementary education, is looking forward to the game.
"All of the competition is on one team," Ostby said during a break in a practice Wednesday at Monticello High School.
With the money raised going to the American Family Children's Hospital, Ostby relishes the opportunity to play in the game.
"It feels good to be part of a good cause," she said. "I hope so many people come out."
Monticello's Amy Silver savors the chance to play one more game before she heads to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to major in agri-business.
"I would like to put some closure to my career," she said. "It's a good way to end it."
The East team includes Argyle's Kim Pink, Barneveld's Madi Laube, Black Hawk's Abby Schiferl, Juda's Jessica Rackow, Albany's Carlie Peters and Cassidy Bump, and Pecatonica's Maddie Fischer, Lizzy Britt and Michelle Francois.
Barneveld stormed through the Six Rivers East last year, winning conference games by an average of 30 points en route to the title. Now, some of Laube's opponents get a chance to play with her in one final high school game.
"We always want to win," Ostby said. "We just have to have fun. There are so many good players on this team. I think we have a good chance."
Bauman is one of 21 local boys and girls basketball players who will play in the eighth annual Six Rivers All-Star game Friday night in Belmont. The girls game is set for 6 p.m. with the boys game to follow. Proceeds from the games go to benefit the American Family Children's Hospital in Madison.
"Before we were enemies and now we are teammates," Bauman said of the other Six Rivers East top senior players that will play together Friday. "Once you are out of school, your view on basketball changes."
Bauman, who is completing an electrician apprenticeship since graduating from Juda, is looking forward to a competitive game.
"I'm excited to get back out there and play," Bauman said. "It should be a close game. I like our chances. I think both conferences are pretty equally matched."
Benton's David Neis scored an All-Star record and game-high 27 points to lead the West to a 91-73 win over the East last year. Monticello's Bryce Klitzke, who will go to Madison College in the fall, is just eager to get back on the court and knock off any rust.
"It feels good to get back at it," Klitzke said. "I just want to go out and get the win."
Black Hawk's Merik Meythaler, who will go to the University of Wisconsin in the fall, sees the game as a final chapter in his high school basketball career.
"To finally be playing with each other after playing against each other is how our career should end," Meythaler said. "I think it's definitely good for people to come out and watch some of the best players in the conference and the money goes to a good cause. It's a great thing the Six Rivers does."
Black Hawk Athletic Director Jerry Mortimer said over the last six years the games have raised about $10,000. Last year, the All-Star game raised $1,000.
The Six Rivers East girls have dominated the All-Star game, going 6-1 the last seven years. Argyle's Kayla Ostby, who is going to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to major in elementary education, is looking forward to the game.
"All of the competition is on one team," Ostby said during a break in a practice Wednesday at Monticello High School.
With the money raised going to the American Family Children's Hospital, Ostby relishes the opportunity to play in the game.
"It feels good to be part of a good cause," she said. "I hope so many people come out."
Monticello's Amy Silver savors the chance to play one more game before she heads to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to major in agri-business.
"I would like to put some closure to my career," she said. "It's a good way to end it."
The East team includes Argyle's Kim Pink, Barneveld's Madi Laube, Black Hawk's Abby Schiferl, Juda's Jessica Rackow, Albany's Carlie Peters and Cassidy Bump, and Pecatonica's Maddie Fischer, Lizzy Britt and Michelle Francois.
Barneveld stormed through the Six Rivers East last year, winning conference games by an average of 30 points en route to the title. Now, some of Laube's opponents get a chance to play with her in one final high school game.
"We always want to win," Ostby said. "We just have to have fun. There are so many good players on this team. I think we have a good chance."
