Emmaus guard Tyler Prescott was the lone senior on the Hornets' basketball team this season. The Hornets' unquestioned leader on and off the court didn't have the luxury of playing with other upperclassmen.

On Saturday, Prescott got a taste at what it feels like to play with some of the top seniors in the area.

In the second game of Saturday's Via All-Star Basketball Classic, Prescott scored eight points for the South all-stars. Despite coming up short to the North team, 105-82, Prescott left a lasting imprint in the final game of his high school career.

"It means a lot playing in this jersey for the last time and being the only [Emmaus] senior in this game," Prescott said. "It means a lot to represent the city, the school, all my teammates and my coach."

Sure, the senior would've enjoyed a victory to close out his career. But Saturday's meeting had more than just the final score riding on the line.

Prescott may have been the only Hornet to suit up, but he got the opportunity to play with members of both the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and Colonial League in a unique atmosphere.

"It was fun," Prescott said. "We got to play with and against a lot of kids that we don't get to see in the season because of the new conference and all of that."

As for the game itself, the North built an early 20-point lead in the first half at 49-29. The South all-stars never threatened North's lead in the final 20-minute half.

Dieruff's Isaiah Johnson led the South with 17, and Liberty's Jaevan Dobbins added 16. Stroudsburg's North's Dan Cuevas of Stroudsburg led all scorers with 21 points.

"They started to blow it open and talk a little bit, so it just got a little competitive," Prescott said. "I was like, 'If it gets under 10 we're coming back, so you better keep it over 10.' I was talking a little bit to their bench and their players to let them know we're not giving up for anything."

There was more than just a foursome of basketball games to commemorate the Via of the Lehigh Valley events at Northampton Community College's Spartan Center Gymnasium.

A week prior to the games, the college held a clinic for athletes with special needs. The Via all-stars played a key role in helping with that clinic; they also had the opportunity to attend the Via All-Star Banquet last Wednesday at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center.

"We only had two practices, but through the practices we would scrimmage with and against the coaches," Prescott said. "We were all doing real good. Everybody was shooting well and sharing the ball, but I think we were a good all-star team for only practicing twice."

The South all-star girls defeated the North in the first game, 81-79, behind 25 points from Bethlehem Catholic's Kalista Walters. The East girls outlasted the West in the third game, 83-70, before the East boys all-stars secured an 87-84 win over the West to cap the slate of games.