Two-sport athlete represents Goshen in 2000 All-Star game

By Kevin Pearcey

Sports Editor

Jamar Tucker took his game from Goshen to Montgomery this past week to compete in the Alabama All-Stars Basketball game held on the campus of AUM on Thursday night.

Things didn’t quite work out the way Tucker and his South teammates would have liked as they were handed a 117-88 loss by the North Squad.

The game was close for some time in the first period before the North team went on an amazing tear to take a commanding double-digit lead into the locker room.

But despite the outcome of the game, Tucker said overall, the All-Star experience

had been a great one.

"I just wanted to come in a represent Goshen High School well," Tucker said after the game. "This week has been fun and that’s all I really looked at this week as; some place where I could go and have fun and play basketball."

Besides practicing for some five hours time during the days leading up to Thursday’s game, Tucker and players on both sides were treated to

a trip to the Eastdale Mall and a movie on Monday, dinner on the River Boat on Tuesday night and a cookout at the Pete Peterson Lodge on Wednesday.

Also in attendance for Thursday night’s game was Eagles head basketball coach Major Lane. Lane said he had the opportunity to speak with one of the South team’s coaches, Tony Stallworth of Brantley, and said Stallworth had nothing but positive things to say about Tucker.

"Coach Stallworth said Jamar’s been hustling hard in practice and obviously he must have done real well and proven himself, because he started the ballgame tonight," Lane said.

Tucker played 21 minutes of the game, scored five points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Lane said it was "quite an honor" to have a player

selected to the all-star team, not just for Tucker but also for the entire Goshen community.

"To have someone we know in this game, in the midst of all these superb athletes, is an honor for our school," Lane said. "I think this is something that every 11th grader dreams of – playing in an all-star game with other great players from throughout the state. It has to be a great feeling for him, as well as the people in the Goshen area."

Goshen head football coach Joe Thornton was also at the game. Thornton has been instrumental in getting Tucker in the weight room and adding 18 pounds to the power forward’s 6-foot-4 frame. Tucker also plays wide receiver on the Eagles football team.

"I’m really looking forward to football season," Tucker said. "I just wanted to get in the weight room, work out some and get in better shape."

Tucker said he plans to keep his weight up when basketball season begins as well.

"He’s picked up quite a few pounds," said Lane. "And he’s filled out pretty well now. That’s really going to help him on the offensive side of the ball as far as being able to get the ball down low and power up for the basket."