Prep Notebook: Mission Prep’s Blaney is standout at all-star game

Mission Prep senior Matthew Blaney showed off his hops and creativity on Saturday night at Nipomo High School at the 26th Annual Kiwanis Central Coast All-Star Game.

The 6-foot-5 guard had a few sweet dunks in the contest, but perhaps none was sweeter than an off-the-wall dunk to seal the win and shut down the gym.

Blaney tossed the ball high off the Nipomo gym wall, next to the scoreboard, caught the ball on the bounce and slammed it with two hands.

Blaney, who boasts a 35-inch vertical leap, put home a windmill and off-the-backboard dunk in the halftime competition, his first ever, before going off-the-wall.

Blaney also won the 3-point contest, but the North All-Stars, which featured players from SLO County, lost to the South All-Stars, a team made up of Northern Santa Barbara players, 105-96.

For Mission Prep last season, Blaney averaged 11 points per game. He said on Monday he plans to play college basketball and will decide which one in the coming weeks.

Herlihy and Attala shine at local All-Star game

Arroyo Grande’s Ashlyn Herlihy led the North team with 22 points, but the South team won the Central Coast Basketball Spectacular on Saturday, 70-60, at Nipomo High School.

The North team is made up of players from San Luis Obispo County, while the South has players from northern Santa Barbara County.

Herlihy also had 10 rebounds. Mission Prep’s Noelle Laird had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Paso Robles’ Grace Rosa added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Cabrillo’s Devan McCune was the MVP, with 19 points, eight rebounds, five steals and three assists for the South team.

In the boys game, San Luis Obispo’s Nick Attala led the North team with 19 points, but the South prevailed 105-96.

Attala also had six rebounds and four blocks. Mission Prep’s Matthew Blaney had 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Royals teammate Eddie Fernandez had 15 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.

Lompoc’s Torey Sims was the MVP, scoring 31 points for the South.

SLO’s Bolger sets school record in 3,200 meters

San Luis Obispo High’s Callum Bolger finished fourth in the boys 3,200 meters invitational division Saturday night at the Arcadia Invitational, crossing the line in 8 minutes, 51.58 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in the nation this year and a San Luis Obispo High record, Tigers coach Steve Boaz said.

Bolger broke the school mark by six seconds.

Casey Clinger of American Fork was first in 8:50.70.

SLO High Signing Day

Four senior San Luis Obispo High athletes, including a baseball trio, will sign letters of intent on Thursday.

Blake Griffith (diving) plans to attend La Salle University in Philadelphia.

Baseball players Connor Maydole (Cal State Monterrey Bay), Matt Mundorf (United States Merchant Marine Academy in New York) and Jeremy Jess (Pomona Pitzer) will also sign.

The signing event will take place at 3:30 p.m. in The Quad.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Prep Notebook: Mission Prep’s Blaney is standout at all-star game."