Five Mentor Basketball Players to Star in N-H Classic

After winning a state championship, some Mentor Cardinals are primed for more recognition.

Three players from the team that beat Toledo Rogers will join other regional stars in the News-Herald Classic Saturday at Lakeland Community College. The girls game begins at 11 a.m., with the boys game following at 1 p.m.

The selected players attend schools throughout Lake, Geauga and eastern Cuyahoga County. The boys from Mentor will be joined by players from the likes of Richmond Heights, Euclid, Chardon and Kirtland. The team will be coached by Joe Montanaro of North High School in Eastlake. They'll take on a squad stacked with players from Villa Angela-St. Joseph's Division IV state championship winner and coached by John Cardiero of West Geauga.

Here are the Mentor High School players who were named to the all-star teams:

Boys

• Jeff Forman, guard, 6'3"

• Michael Gallagher, guard 6'3"

Girls

• Courtney Schutz, guard/forward, 5'10"
• Lauren Stefancin, guard, 5'10"

The girls will be coached by Cheryl Rye of West Geauga and joined by girls from Berkshire, Kenston, Geneva and more. They face girls from schools like Hawken, VASJ and Euclid. Three-point contests will be held at halftime.