Escanaba senior Shane Wallin (4) follows through on a 3-point shot attempt during a non-conference game on Feb. 16, 2024 at Escanaba High School. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg Daily Press)

ST. IGNACE – Jon Ingalls and two of his St. Ignace LaSalle teammates get to say farewell to their home gym Saturday at the 38th annual U.P. All-Star Classic.

There will be two U.P. All-Star basketball games, with the girls playing at 11:30 a.m. and the boys at about 1 p.m. Activity begins at 9:45 with three skills contests, girls free throw shooting, boys slam dunk and boys and girls 3-point shooting.

Ingalls, an all-state selection, was Mr. Basketball in the U.P. He scored 2,029 points in his career, which is ninth all-time in the Upper Peninsula.

The games, which have been held here the past three years, are sponsored by the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame.

Also saying farewell will be long-time St. Ignace coach Doug Ingalls, who will retire after directing the East boys game. He has also helped his wife, Dorene, coach the girls team which has won five state championships. Doug was selected Associated Press coach of the year in Class C.

Also saying farewell is another son, Jackson, who has organized the All-Star Classic the last three years. Jackson Ingalls will officiate in the girls games, with father-daughter Wayne and Lauren Marshall also officiating. Former LaSalle superintendent Don Gustafson will also donate their time for the boys game with Bobby Lee and Eric Danielson.

Joining the youngest Ingalls in this farewell game will be fellow LaSalle seniors Ethan McLean and Nick Halberg.

Friday night the players will receive a tour of the Mackinac Bridge and Mackinaw Island courtesy of Shepler’s Boat Lines.

Participants in the two all-star games were chosen based on selections to the All-U.P. basketball teams by the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. The teams are decided basically using highway M-95 to separate the East-West teams. The East teams will wear their home school uniforms while the West teams wear their road uniforms.

The East team will be led by coach Ryan Reichel, who guided Ishpeming to the Class C girls state championship earlier this year. Mike O’Donnell will direct the West girls.

East girls: Autumn Trombley and Ceara LeBlanc, Brimley; Chloe May, Maplewood Baptist; Allison CeCe, St. Ignace; Lucia Rabachova, Newberry; Danielle Lund, Manistique; Keira Maki, Escanaba; Emersyn Crisp, Munising; Kyley Elmblad, Marquette; Ella Mason and Callie Rajala, Negaunee. Coach Mike O’Donnell, Negaunee.

West girls: Brooke Stanislawski, Bessemer; Adelyn Swain, Dollar Bay; Danica Shamion, West Iron County; MaKenna Hendrickson and Jaycee Larson, Baraga; Megan Marta, Westwood; Jenna Maki and Kadie Kaukola, Ishpeming; Gracie Kleikamp, North Central, Anna Axtell, Menominee; McKenzie Hoffmeyer, Bark River-Harris. Coach Ryan Reichel, Ishpeming.

East boys: Nate Koepp, Sault Ste. Marie; Perry LeBlanc, Brimley; Cam Petterson, Rudyard; Jon Ingalls, Ethan McLean and Nick Halberg, St. Ignace; Wyatt Demers, Manistique; Drake Johnson, Gladstone; Brad VanDamme, Mid Peninsula; Trent Rutter, Superior Central; Coach: Doug Ingalls.

West boys: Gabe Popko and Dan Marcotte, Lake Linden-Hubbell; Gaven Rintala and Felix Quevedo, Forest Park; Jeffers: Levi Frahm and Matt Schultz; Menominee: Connor Coduti, Alex Ortman, Norway, Andrew Niemi, Westwood; Gavin Sanders, Negaunee; Shane Wallin, Escanaba; coach Dan Olkannen, Kingsford.