Coeur d'Alene's Symons Scores 27, Earns MVP in Idaho All-Star Game

Caden Symons grew up shooting on the rims at North Idaho College's Christianson Gymnasium. On Saturday, he made sure everyone in the building remembered it.

The Coeur d'Alene High product erupted for 24 second-half points, capped the game's final six, and was named MVP of the 23rd annual Idaho All-Star boys basketball game as the Region All-Stars rallied past the Metro All-Stars, 132-125. The Region squad, made up of players from Districts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, overcame the Boise-area Metro team in a high-scoring finish that wasn't decided until Symons took over down the stretch.

"I didn't want to lose this one," Symons said. "I had to go out and put on a show in the second half."

He did exactly that. Symons finished with 27 points on the night, but it was his second-half takeover that swung the game. Scoring 24 points after halftime and sealing it with the game's final six, Symons turned what could have been a Metro upset into a Region statement.

The family backdrop added another layer to the moment. Symons is the son of North Idaho College men's basketball coach Corey Symons and former Coeur d'Alene High girls basketball coach Nicole Symons, making Christianson Gymnasium something closer to a second home than a neutral court.

North Idaho College teammates and local products were well represented on the floor. Region guard Jaxon Lysne of Post Falls worked past Metro defender Madix Miller of Garden Valley in the second half, while Region forward Tyson Charley of Lakeside High matched up against Metro's Noah Mitchell of Vallivue in the first half. Caden Symons himself drove past Metro's Tye Cornwall of Middleton in the second half as the Region closed out the win.

The girls game earlier in the day saw the Region handle the Metro by a similar margin, winning 102-88. Oakley's Taylin Beck led all Region scorers with 14 points and reflected on the rare chance to share a court with players she had only competed against.

"It was a little awkward at first," Beck said of playing alongside teammates from across the state. "I knew some of the girls that we've played and a few others at the state tournament. It was really fun to play with these girls one last time."

Region guard Kyleigh Wolfe of Lakeside High was also active in the second half of the girls game, drawing a defensive assignment from Metro's Raelynn Nickel of Vision Charter.

The 23rd annual Idaho All-Star basketball games at NIC's Christianson Gymnasium brought together the state's top senior talent for one final showcase before the class moves on. For Symons, playing on a court he has known his entire life, the night ended the only way it could have.