January 15, 1935
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PRISSLEY, TOFORD — The biggest stars of the Uplantic basketball world gathered at Prissley Arena on Monday for the first-ever UMB All-Star Game. The Western Division All-Stars took on the Eastern Division All-Stars in what turned out to be a thrilling contest.
The UMB league office released the All-Star Rosters in the week leading up to the game. Unsurprisingly, UMB’s top team, the Riverside Ramblers, led the league with four All-Star selections in the West, including starting guard Luther James. The hosting Prissley Riverwolves sent three players to the game, including UMB’s leading scorer Jesse Mills who started for the East. The Plains City Scouts were the only team with two All-Star starters, as F Raymuno Moraltes and C Shaun Burgess both made the starting five for the West.
Both the Deerborn Giants and the Roland Aces were snubbed by the league’s All-Star selections. Aces head coach Darren Cox commented: “It’s a bit of a slap in the face, sure. But I suppose it speaks to our philosophy, which is always ‘team first.’ Our guys will enjoy a little time off and come back ready to make a run at the title.”
All-Star festivities began with the 3-Point Contest, in which the league’s top eight 3-point shooters battled to make as many 3-point shots within the time limit as possible. Lightning G Theodore Duncan came out on top. Duncan was all smiles after the contest. “It was fun. I didn’t expect to win the whole thing, but I feel real, real good about it.”
The Inaugural All-Star Game lived up to the hype as basketball’s best battled for bragging rights. The Eastern Division led at halftime, 31-26, but the Western Division evened things up heading into the final frame, 43-43. The East overcame the West in the fourth quarter to win the game, 65-57.
Wight Spirits PG Arnold Hall is considered by most to be the front-runner for UMB MVP this season, and he did not disappoint in the All-Star Game, becoming the first UMB All-Star MVP. Hall was 6-for-7 with 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists. Hall spoke after receiving his award: “I wouldn’t say it was ‘just another game’. In some ways, there’s more pressure, even though it’s an exhibition. These are the best players in the world. But I just went out there and did my thing, same as any other day. We had a whole lot of fun.”
Basketball fans tuned in en masse, rivaling Crystalline Casting broadcast numbers across Uplantica for the Uplantic Bowl two weeks earlier. An anonymous fan spoke to a local Prissley news reporter outside the arena: “This was great. I can’t believe I got to see it in person. The East/West thing is so much cooler than the way baseball has changed things. I wish they’d go back to this kind of format for [the UA All-Star Game].”
With the All-Star Game in the books, we now turn our attention to the playoff race. UMB’s season has just a few weeks left before the playoffs begin. No teams have been mathematically eliminated yet; the Ramblers, Jewels, and Scouts are atop the West and the Riverwolves, Aces, and Lightning lead the East. The Spirits, Brothers, Comets, and Giants are on the playoff bubble as we enter the final stretch of the Regular Season.
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