The Inland Valley All-Star basketball games returned after a six-year hiatus. The games were well received by players, coaches and spectators.

In the boys game, the Blue team defeated the White 106-103 , led by the efforts of Damien’s Malik Fitts.

In the girls game, Ayala’s Jackie Ricketson, named the Daily Bulletin Player of the Year last week, helped the Blue team to a 66-63 win.

Event organizer John Romagnoli, athletic director at Miller, said about 1,000 spectators took in the contests, which was considerably better than he expected.

Two special awards were handed out. The Aujali Lauder Award went to Olivia Watkins of Upland while the Marcel Burke Award went to Omar Nasri of San Dimas.

The award were named in honor of two young basketball players that left us way too early.  There were designed to go to players based on athletics, academics their positive energy and passion for the game.

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After serving as an integral part of the Ontario High School soccer program for the last seven years, Vince Mangione has decided to take some time away.

But he’s thinks he’s leaving the program in good hands.

“I just needed to take some time for me,” he said. “They’ll still be successful. Nothing has to change.”

Mangione had served as head of the program with most of that time spent as the direct head of he varsity team. This season he had more direct dealings with a young junior varsity squad and left Michael McCarson and Moses Venegas deal directly with the varsity.

Mangione also enlisted the help of Harry Cruz this season.
The position has to officially be flown but Mangione expects those coaches to remain in their capacity.

He plans to still pitch in but it will be on an informal basis as time permits. He also teaches history at the school and will stay in that capacity.

The boys soccer program has become that school’s flagship program. Mangione helped lead the Jaguars to a CIF title in the 2012-2013 season.

His record as head varsity coach was 77-21-23 with an overall mark of 104-25-26. The Jaguars were 23-8 the year they won a championship.

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VIDEO: Miller athletic director John Romagnoli talks about bringing back the All-Star game.

Miller High School Athletic Director John Romagnolli has been working on bringing back the former Daily Bulletin All-Star basketball games for the last two years.

He wanted to to have it again for the first time since 2009 last year but the plans weren’t quite in place and he didn’t want to have it just to have it if it couldn’t be a top-notch event.

Well it will make a long-await return a week from Sunday, April 19th at Miller High School.

The teams were honored with a breakfast/lunch today at the Jesse Turner Community Center in Fontana. They’ll practice next week.

There is representation from schools as far East as Banning and as far West as Covina Charter Oak and some from the High Desert. So those chosen are in select company. There will be 13 players on each of the two boys teams and girls teams so everyone will get to play.

The cross section of players also means student-athletes will get to play with and get to know others they might not have crossed paths with.

The Ajalee Lauder and Marcel Burke awards are being brought back. Those awards/scholarships are in memory of two young players who left this world way too early.

Lauder’s mother Bethel Trice, the girls coach at Jurupa Hills, will coach one of the girls teams – nice touch.

There are a lot of all-star games out there. But Romagnoli, previously the boys’ basketball coach at Miller, is setting this one up as something special. He has done a great job of that and the best is yet to come.

Boost Mobile has stepped up as a sponsor, as has IE Sports Net.

We’ll be posting updated rosters for the teams next week.

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