I'm just home from the charity basketball game and have to report a loss by our beloved 'Cats in this years edition of the Shining Star Sports Classic Shootout. It was a valiant effort, but the guys in blue avenged their loss to the Bearcats from last years game with a 86-80 win.

Future Milwaukee Buck Ruben Patterson rolled up in one of his big cars (I think it was the Rolls) and put on a show. He hit for 14 points that included a rim rattling dunk. He also added 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

Also tallying 14 points were both Keith Starks and Armein Kirkland who looks closet o 100% after his injury in the UConn game from this past season.

Two legends chimed in as well - Herb Jones had 11 points and he looked a lot closer to 25 years old instead his actual age of 35. Roger McClendon - an honoree from Friday nights Shining Star banquet tied up his laces to jump in the game for 3 minutes late and although he didnt score, had three important rebounds to keep the Bearcats in the hunt.

Also on the score card were Jamal Lucas (6 pts), Curtis Bostic (6 pts) T-Rat Gibson (7 pts), Keith Gregor (5 pts) and John Meeker with 3 pts. Also playing were Shawn Myrick, BJ Ward, Steve Sanders and Alex Meacham who proudly wore some of his old school Jordan shoes from the mid 1980's. Gary Lumpkin led the former Musketeers with 24 points, including 8-8 from the line.

The event also included giveaways and and contests. It also featured a clinic with Roger McClendon and Byron Larkin for about 30 kids before the game began. Needless to say, these kids got quite an education with some Shining Star coaches and McClendon and Larkin as teachers!

Shining Star is managed by former Bearcat walk-on Alex Meacham, a friend to BearcatNews.com for over five years. His Shining Star AAU squads totaled 12 teams and well over 100 players from all over Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Players come from Eastern Indiana to Lakota and Amelia, down to Dixie Heights and even Lexington KY. This year and they won plenty of games in big tournaments in Las Vegas, Louisville, Indianapolis, Ft Wayne, Columbus and Orlando, FLA.

The charity game is designed to raise money to support these athletes in finding a way to teach them the game of life, through basketball.

In the stands - Frank Jessie, former assistant under Huggins and former AD at Akron St Vincent-St Mary during the LeBron years.