PORTSMOUTH – Regardless of the weather forecast, the stars will be out this weekend.

Friday, April 06, 2001

PORTSMOUTH – Regardless of the weather forecast, the stars will be out this weekend. And Anthony Delimpo will get a chance to shine.

Delimpo will be part of two all-star games in three days beginning with the Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Classic Friday night at Shawnee State University.

The girls’ game tips-off at 6 p.m. and the boys at 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are $7.

Delimpo, the 6-foot-6 senior center for the Chesapeake Panthers, will not only play Friday night, but he will be a member of the South All-Star squad in the annual Ohio North/South All-Star game Sunday at Otterbein College in Westerville.

The girls games begin at noon and 2 p.m. The boys Division III-IV game starts at 4 p.m. followed by Divisions I-II at 6 p.m.

The Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game has grown in talent and popularity each years.

Chesapeake head coach Norm Persin said the talent on hand this year is another good crop.

"It’s hard to judge, but it looks like a pretty good roster," Persin said. "We got two kids who are going to Ohio State, so that tells you something about their ability."

Terrence Dials of Youngstown Boardman and Matt Sylvester of Cincinnati Moeller are the newest Buckeye recruits who will suit up. Also on the Ohio roster is Keith Jackson of Purcell Marion who has signed with Xavier.

"Jackson may be the best player in the state behind (Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s) LeBraun James," Persin said.

Ironically, Delimpo will be teammates with Jeff Thiel of Morral Ridgedale. Thiel was added to fill the vacancy created due to the injury of Cincinnati St. Xavier’s Jordan Cornette, a Notre Dame signee who sustained a major knee injury.

Delimpo and Thiel played against each other in the Division III regional semifinals.

"Losing Cornette hurts, but there’s nothing you can do when someone gets hurt," said Persin.

Portsmouth’s Greg McKinley and Cambridge’s Adam Davenport will not play as originally expected. Their roster spots will be filled by 6-7 Chad McKnight of Lancaster and 6-5 Chris Farrell of Dover.

Ohio’s team also includes Eli Parks of Minford and Justin Lower of South Webster.

The local girls on the Ohio team are Abby Hughes of South Webster and Amanda Porter of Minford. Zane Trace’s Krystal Tharp, the Associated Press state Player of the Year, will also play.