Ex-rivals unite to lead Sunset boys all-stars to win

Ira Haywood, Kevin Olekaibe and Moses Morgan were rivals during the high school basketball season.

On Saturday, the three Northwest League stars made it look like they had played together for years.

Legacy’s Haywood scored 25 points, Cimarron-Memorial’s Olekaibe had 23, and Palo Verde’s Morgan added 21 to power the Sunset Region to a 121-113 victory over the Sunrise in the Las Vegas Area High School Senior All-Star Game at Chaparral.

“It feels pretty good because we’re used to playing against each other, and now we got to play with each other and showcase our talents,” said Morgan, a swingman who has signed with DePaul. “For all three of us, it was pretty fun.”

The Sunset took a 95-71 lead with less than nine minutes left on a dunk by Olekaibe, a guard headed to Fresno State, and withstood the Sunrise’s late rally.

Haywood, a guard who will play at junior college power Highline College (Wash.), hit 11 of 16 shots from the floor.

“I just wanted to have fun and go home smiling, but I wanted to win, and we did that, too,” Haywood said. “I was just playing within myself. Everybody can score out here; I was just taking advantage of my opportunities.”

Cheyenne center Jaylen Henry, an Eastern Washington signee, supplied 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks for the Sunset.

Bishop Gorman point guard Johnathan Loyd, an Oregon signee, arrived from Gorman’s graduation ceremony just before tip-off, but made his presence felt off the bench with seven points, four assists and two blocks for the Sunset.

Desert Pines guard Tyler Larson had 26 points and five rebounds to lead the Sunrise.

Also for the Sunrise, Rancho forward Amir Royal scored 21 points, Liberty guard Tim Rambo added 19 and Del Sol guard Jeff Coon 13. Rambo hit five 3-pointers, including four in the second half.

In an earlier exhibition game featuring more seniors, Trinity guard Budweiser Hawkins scored 20 points to help the Sunset hold on for a 67-66 win over the Sunrise. Western guard Joe Gerideau scored 11 points, Bonanza forward Julian Romero had 10 points and five rebounds and Palo Verde forward Nick Hipwell added eight points and nine rebounds for the Sunset.

Chaparral forward Darren Foster led the Sunrise with 18 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Coronado guard Gaven Holcomb and Liberty guard Thomas Languico added 11 points apiece.