Negaunee's Tristan Slater defends against Bark River-Harris's Brayden Derouin during the U.P. All-Star Classic on June 24, 2026 at Bay College. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — Athletes from all across the U.P. put their talents on display at Bay College Wednesday night as the 40th Annual Upper Peninsula All-Star Basketball Classic returned for the second year in a row.

Lillie Johnson was victorious in the free throw competition as she defeated Emma Besonen in a tiebreaker as well as being named Most Valuable Player for the girls All-Star Game. Besonen captured the 3-point shootout making 16 of 25 shots.

On the boys side Westwood’s Ethan Marta who was named Mr. U.P. Basketball in March won the 3-point contest for the boys sinking 15 out of 25 shots. Marta was also Named All-Star Most Valuable Player(MVP). Nick Miskovich from Ironwood was the winner in the dunk contest.

The south girls earned the win 71-66 as Lillie Johnson led the way with 19 points.

“It was great to put the Braves jersey on one more time,” Lillie Johnson said. “It was awesome to be out there with Addy Blowers. We grew up together and she is one of my closest friends and to take the court with her one more time was a special moment.”

South led off to an early 6-0 lead but the east quickly responded with an 8-0 run of their own to take the lead. Ishpeming’s Janessa Eagle had four of the eight points during the run and finished the game with 24 points.

Johnson had 10 of her 19 points in the first half and the south led 36-28 at halftime. Marquette’s Lexi Curran had nine of her 18 points in the second half.

Eagle scored seven consecutive points in the fourth quarter to pull the North within two at 57-55 but were unable to close the gap further as they fell 71-66.

The north boys dominated throughout the first half and took a 68-41 lead on a layup by Caden Balzarini who had 12 points in the contest.

The south responded with a full court man to man press and went on a 21-3 run. Gunnar Bennin had 21 points for the game.

“We didn’t come out the way we wanted to start the game,” Benin said. “We came out playing more as a team in the second half and were aggressive on defense forcing turnovers and it got us back in the game.

The south eventually cut the deficit to four late in the game but ran out of time falling 88-83.

“The boys all trust in me and I trust in them,Ethan Marta said. “These are the best players in all of the U.P. and you know everyone is going to give it all they got.”

Marta finished the game with 17 points for the north.