JACKSON &045; This is it &045; after today, a handful of local players will hang up their sneakers for good.

The MPSA All-Star Games in Clinton today will mark the final chance for a number of local athletes to shine, extending their storied high school careers by one game.

Just as importantly, the All-Star games are designed to be a fun reward for the players.

Tensas Academy’s Sarah Beth Melville, Huntington’s Emily Anders, Wilkinson County Christian Academy’s Lavalle Johnson and Huntington’s Mike Ferguson will play in the Class A All-Star games at 1 and 2:30 p.m. today at Millsaps College in Jackson.

&uot;It’s awesome. It’s the most fun thing I’ve ever done in basketball,&uot; Melville said. &uot;It’s going to be sad, but I’m excited that I get this last thing to do.&uot;

Johnson expressed similar feelings about the experience.

&uot;It’s real fun, a real exciting experience,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;You get to meet a whole bunch of people, mingle and have fun. I was just watching the dunks and the 3-point contest.&uot;

For the three local coaches participating, Trinity’s David King, Tensas’ Chuck Bauerle and Huntington’s Cliff McCain, it’s an honor to get a chance to coach in the game and see some of the best athletes in the MPSA in their final games.

&uot;It’s an honor for the young people, they do a little work in practice, but mostly it’s just a fun time for them,&uot; McCain said.

For the athletes, all seniors, it marks the last time they will play in high school and for most, the last time they will play basketball in a competitive setting.

&uot;I will definitely miss it,&uot; Anders said. &uot;I just took off my uniform and started thinking that will be the last time I’ll ever put it on. Basketball was my favorite sport.&uot;

Anders, who made the semifinals of the 3-point shooting competition Thursday night, will be heading off to LSU this fall, but not to play basketball.

Melville said she’s started crying the last few times she put on her uniform thinking about the impending end of her high school career.

Ferguson is looking forward to

&uot;This is it, after here,&uot; Ferguson said. &uot;We have one last game.&uot;

&uot;I do kind of miss it,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;I wish I had a couple more games to go to.&uot;