Mason Rowland of Durango High School has another chance to play with the state’s best high school best basketball players. After competing in the 2023 Colorado Coaches of Girls’ Sports All-State Class 5A/6A game last week in Aurora, Rowland was also selected to play in the The Show this Saturday at Metropolitan State University of Denver. The Show will feature four different all-star games for both boys and girls. There will be a Top 20 senior game, a Top 40 game for the state’s elite freshman, sophomores and juniors, a Top 20 1A-4A game for the best small-school players and a Top 20 Elite game for the state’s best players in all grades from large schools.
Rowland was selected to play in the Top 20 Elite game, which will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Show started in 2001 in conjunction with the Denver Nuggets to honor Colorado’s top 40 student-athletes in basketball at the end of the season in an all-star game. In 2016, it was taken over by Biokats Sports Network to continue the tradition.
“We've been directly involved in the success of The Show in Colorado. Watching how much the kids and the community enjoy the honor and the opportunity inspired us to host 1A-4A Top 20 game in 2017 alongside of our Top 20 Elite game,” said Jerry Howard, CEO, Biokats Sports Network. “In 2018, we expanded The Show adding a Top 20 Senior game, to honor the outgoing seniors and the Top 40 game for our elite freshman, sophomores and juniors. In 2023, we have added ‘The Junior Show,’ bringing together the top 40 middle school athletes … We're excited about the enthusiasm of the coaches and media to make this happen for the kids.”
The student-athletes are selected by Colorado media one month in advance of the event. Selected players are divided into two teams that will compete in exhibition play. The Show is sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association, allowing Division 1 college coaches to attend. Rowland has signed with Colorado Mesa University to play basketball for the Mavericks.
This season Rowland averaged 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 3.5 steals per game, leading DHS to a 6A/5A Southwestern League title, a 23-3 overall record and a spot in the Class 5A semifinals where Durango fell to the eventual state champion, Roosevelt.
Joining Rowland on the girls’ Top 20 black team will be Natalie Guanella of Monarch, Quinn Vansickle of Valor Christian, A'Neya Chambers of Cherry Creek, Kyrah Daniels of Thunder Ridge, Taylin Serlen of Standley Lake, Isabella Shumpert of Highlands Ranch, Brooke Murrell of Thomas Jefferson, Caitlin Kramer of Air Academy and Aiyana Mitchell of Fountain Fort Carson.
They’ll take on the white team comprised of Nevaeh Millard of Denver South, Brynae Stewart of Pine Creek, Damara Allen of Cherokee Trail, Brihanna Crittendon of Riverdale, Sofia Baldessari of Douglas County, Jayda Maves of Green Mountain, Peyton Marvel of D’Evelyn, Tianna Chambers of Cherry Creek, Hana Belibi of Regis, Macey Huard Valor Christian and Brooklyn Stewart of Pine Creek.
Sienna Betts of Grandview, the Gatorade Colorado girls’ basketball player of the year, was selected but is unable to play.
Olivia Campbell of Fruita Monument was the only other girl from the Western Slope selected for The Show, scoring a spot in the Top 40 game.
