North Adams senior Bransyn Copas and his father Nathan were both part of the April 26 Ohio- North-South All Star Game, Bransyn as a player and Nathan as one of the coaches of the South squad. (Photo provided)

North Adams senior Bransyn Copas and his father Nathan were both part of the April 26 Ohio- North-South All Star Game, Bransyn as a player and Nathan as one of the coaches of the South squad. (Photo provided)

<p>Peebles senior and Rio Grande bound Payton Johnson lines up a free throw during the annual Ohio North-South All Star Game, held on April 26 at Olentangy Liberty High School. (Photo provided)</p>

Peebles senior and Rio Grande bound Payton Johnson lines up a free throw during the annual Ohio North-South All Star Game, held on April 26 at Olentangy Liberty High School. (Photo provided)

By Mark Carpenter

People’s Defender

One of the biggest honors that a senior basketball player in Ohio can receive is an invitation to participate in the annual North-South All Star Games. This year’s games were played on Friday, April 26 at Olentangy Liberty High School near Columbus and both had a little bit of Adams County flavor.

One of the participants in the Girls All Star Game was Peebles senior guard Payton Johnson, a member of the South squad, who will take her game to Rio Grande University next season. Johnson put up some pretty good numbers at Friday’s game, garnering 10 points, four rebounds, two steals and one assist in about 17 minutes of action.

On the boys South squad was North Adams senior Bransyn Copas, also taking his talents to Rio Grande University for the 2024-25 campaign. Copas scored three points in the all Star Game, playing one last time for his father Nathan Copas, who was one of the coaches for the South team.