Fun comes first in the 12th Region’s newest all-star basketball event. Kenny Goodin wouldn’t have it any other way.

The 12th Region Sports All Star Games will give seniors from around the region one final high school experience, and Goodin, who is organizing the event, wants to make sure they have a good time.

“Our slogan is ‘Kids First,’ so everything we do is with the mindset of what kids like,” Goodin said Goodin, who heads 12th Region Sports.

The games and related competitions will bring seniors from schools across the 12th Region together Saturday at Danville Christian.

“That last game those seniors play is always hard for everybody,” he said. “We’re looking to give them one last sendoff, to have a special event for them where they can have some fun.”

Twenty-one players from area schools will be part of the event, which will begin at 6 p.m. and will include girls and boys all-star games, 3-point shooting contests for boys and girls and a slam dunk contest for boys.

Goodin began putting the event together near the end of the season with the help of Lee Eldridge and Jimmy Clarkston, who are also part of 12th Region Sports.

“Instead of having two months to plan it, I’m planning it in two weeks,” he said.

One of those weeks was spent contacting potential participants, and while he said some players did decline — many of those who passed have moved on to spring sports — most jumped at the chance to play.

“It’s something cool and different. Kids are looking forward to it,” Goodin said. “Last week I had kids reaching out to me wanting to know who’s on the roster, wanting to get together and practice.”

Almost every school in the 12th Region is represented in the games. The all-stars have been divided into North and South teams intended to pit players from the 45th and 46th Districts against those from the 47th and 48th Districts. (Because of uneven roster sizes, some 45th and 46th District boys will be on the South team.)

The girls and boys games will be 40-minute games played with a running clock, except for the final two minutes. The 3-point shooting and slam dunk contests will be held between the two games.

Regional all-star games have come and gone over the years. Most recently, a boys game pitting 12th Region all-stars against 11th Region all-stars was held last season in Berea.

This event is backed by the sponsorship of PBK Bank, which has sponsored other endeavors by 12th Region Sports, including championship T-shirts presented to the boys and girls regional winners.

“Their sponsorship is one of those things that kind of makes us official,” Goodin said.

The 12th Region Sports All Star Games will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday at Danville Christian. Admission is $5.

12th Region Sports All Star Games Rosters

GIRLS

North — Samantha Bottom, Danville; Emily Estes, Lincoln County; Tristen Himes, Danville Christian; Victoria Inmon, Danville Christian; Love Mays, Danville; Chloe Ralston, Lincoln County; Desiree Tandy, Danville; Baleigh Turner, Burgin. Coach: Hayley Spivey, Mercer County.

South — Sydney Alley, Wayne County; Grace Bruner, Somerset; Aubrey Daulton, Pulaski County; Chloe Dunn, Casey County; Keelee King, Rockcastle County; Taya Mills, Somerset; Ayden Smiddy, Southwestern. Coach: Junior Molden, Southwestern.

BOYS

North — Tramane Alcorn, Lincoln County; Jarius Bryant, Danville; Ethan Cooper, Garrard County; Jalen Dunn, Danville; Jacob Lockett, East Jessamine; Drew Marshall, West Jessamine; Jacob Qualls, Burgin; Colton Ralston, Lincoln County; Gavin Salva, West Jessamine; Jackson Sims, Lincoln County; Jakei Tarter, Boyle County; Daniel Waters, West Jessamine. Coach: Brandon Cooper, Garrard County.

South — Noah Brummett, Somerset Christian; Mason Burchett, Wayne County; Brady Corder, McCreary Central; Grayson Domidion, Danville Christian; Kaden Kidwell, Rockcastle County; Cayden Lancaster, Pulaski County; Wade Lane, Mercer County; Maddux McKinney, McCreary Central; Ryan Ridge, Danville Christian; Kyle Stephens, McCreary Central; Barek Williams, Pulaski County; Ethan Willoughby, Casey County. Coach: TBD.

3-Point Shooting Contest

GIRLS

Samantha Bottom, Danville; Love Mays, Danville; Chloe Ralston, Lincoln County; Ayden Smiddy, Southwestern; Desiree Tandy, Danville; Baleigh Turner, Burgin.

BOYS

Jarius Bryant, Danville; Mason Burchett, Wayne County; Ethan Cooper, Garrard County; Baylor Farris, McCreary Central; Colton Ralston, Lincoln County.

Slam Dunk Contest

BOYS

Jaidan Burton, Rockcastle County; Jalen Dunn, Danville; Reid Farris, McCreary Central; Cayden Lancaster, Pulaski County; Ryan Ridge, Danville Christian; Jakei Tarter, Boyle County.