The last time the Salisbury boys and girls basketball teams walked off a court, tears shortly ensued for some players after knowing their seasons had come to an end. The girls fell in the first round of the district tournament. The boys’ last game came in the PIAA playoffs.

Falcon guard Lindsay Bauer was one of those that shed a few tears just a couple of weeks ago. And while that game ended her career at Salisbury, she had one more opportunity to sport the blue and white she had donned for four years.

As part of a quadruple-header set of hoops games, the 41st Annual Via All-Star Basketball Classic was held on Saturday at Northampton Community College where dozens of female and male players earned one more opportunity to take the court in high school. Along with Bauer, three other Salisbury seniors had that opportunity as well.

“Losing the district game, I came off the court crying,” Bauer said. “It was sad and I’ve been playing since I was five years old. Being able to go out with an all-star game is a great way to end my career.”

Bauer, along with Kristen Bucchin, suited up for the South all-stars. The North, however, took a four-point lead into the fourth quarter and held on for the 70-69 victory despite a 10-0 spurt by the South late.

“It was nice to get to know everybody,” Bauer said after posting 11 points. “It was nice to play with people that you would usually consider an enemy during the regular season. It was a faster-paced game, and it was really fun to get to play with kids who are at the same skill level that you are.”

Bauer shined in the second quarter where she posted nine of her points. She was a part of that eight-minute stretch that helped her side explode for 23 points and hold a 35-31 lead at intermission.

“It was kind of weird because when you put all of the all-stars in one game, everyone is so used to scoring,” Bauer said. “It’s nice to have that balanced out for once. It was a really fun game.”

Bethlehem Catholic’s Jordynn Jones led the South with 14. Pleasant Valley’s Renee Milos erupted with 19 for the North, and East Stroudsburg North’s Rona Robinson scored 18.

For the Falcon boys, Dylan Belletiere and Tevon Weber represented the South in the second game of the day. The South ran away with a 116-96 victory after scoring the first 10 points and leading 60-46 at half.

“We scored over 100 points,” said Weber, who had nine points. “That’s what we wanted to do.”

In a game where very little defense was played, winning wasn’t the most important aspect of Via’s “Super Saturday” for these players. Instead of playing against their normal foes like the regular season, it offered an opportunity to call them teammates.

“It was a new experience,” said Weber. “It was great teaming up with new kids. I had fun doing it.”

Dieruff’s Tajon Roberts led South with 20 points, and Allen’s Josh Gray added 19. Kevin Ferguson of Pocono Mountain East led all scorers and paced the North with 23.

Via’s “Super Saturday” of basketball games was just part of a great experience that benefited children and adults with disabilities from the area. Many of the players also had the opportunity to help run a clinic with those children, as well as attend the banquet a week prior to the games.

Game 3 featured the West and East Girls, with the EPC-heavy West squad rolling to a 75-60 win. Palisades’ Karlee Krchnavi led everyone and scored 28 for the East; Parkland’s Nadine Ewald led the West with 19.

The West boys edged out East in the finale, 112-101, behind Central Catholic’s Zay Jennings (26 points), Northampton’s Mario Delker (25 points) and Catasauqua’s Shaquan Mason (22 points). Freedom’s Najee Cash led the East with 26 points.