The Small Schools All-Stars led early and trailed by just 10 points at the break, but could not keep pace in a high-scoring second half.

Keenan Lindsey (Lewis Central) led all scorers with 19 points, and Large Schools Most Valuable Player Marcos Perez (Lewis Central) scored 10, pulled down eight rebounds, and logged five assists.

The contest was scoreless for the first two minutes before the Large Schools grabbed a quick lead.

Jace Hawley (Ar-We-Va) hit three quick baskets to put the Small Schools on top in the first quarter, and Kurt Spomer's (Tri-Center) bucket with under two minutes left in the frame gave the Small Schools a 17-15 lead.

Ryan Peckham (Thomas Jefferson) tied the score at 18-apiece off a Marcos Perez assist, and the Large Schools went up 20-18 on Carlos Perez bucket before the end of the opening frame.

The Small Schools trailed 24-22 just over a minute into the second period when Spomer was fouled on a three-point attempt. Spomer drained three-straight free throws to give his team a one-point edge.

The Large Schools went on a 12-1 run and would never trail again. A Tyler Alitz (Abraham Lincoln) score made it 36-26 with 5:55 to go until halftime, and the Large Schools took a 40-30 lead into halftime.

Matt O'Malley (St. Albert) scored on back-to-back possessions to open the second half, and a Doug Bissen three-point play at the 6:25 mark pushed the Large Schools' advantage to 16 points.

An 8-2 Small Schools run capped of by a Hawley layup made it 49-39 with four minutes to go in the third, but that was as close as it would get.

The Large Schools led by 15 entering the fourth period, and a 10-0 run made the score 74-49 just two minutes into the frame.

With the competitive-phase of the game over, the contest took a more light-hearted tone with several players attempting - and a few missing - slam-dunks and others shooting at-will from long-range.

"I just couldn't believe I missed that dunk," Carlos Perez said of his missed jam. "I was so open. I couldn't believe it."

Marc Baumert nailed three 3-pointers in the frame and finished up with 15 points and eight boards.

"Just having fun," Baumert said. "It's a lot different from the season. You can just come out here and have fun."

Like always, the interesting subplot in the game was seeing former rivals teaming up and playing together. With Council Bluffs city-school players on the same side, former foes became teammates.

"It's cool to just finally meet them. You play against, so you're always their rivals," Lindsey said. "You don't really like them, then you play with them and you realize they're cool people."

Spomer, the Small School MVP scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

"He's just an all-around complete player. Just a fun kid to watch," Maasen said.

Hawley led the Small Schools with 14 points.

In the SWI Classic's 12-game history, the Large Schools hold a 10-2 series lead and have not lost since 1999.

"I just think this game is a really great thing for the area," said Maasen, who played for the Small Schools in the inaugural SWI Classic in 1996.

Large Schools 20 20 24 33 - 97

Small Schools 18 12 19 18 - 67

Large Schools: Tyler Alitz (Abraham Lincon) 5, Keenan Lindsey (Lewis Central) 19 (2a), Ryan Peckham (Thomas Jefferson) 6 (3a, 2st), Kevin Potthoff (Kuemper Catholic) 2 (4r, 2st), Marcos Perez (Lewis Central) 10 (8r, 3a), Kyle Haake (Harlan) 9 (6r, 2a, 4st), Doug Bissen (Harlan) 6 (4r, 2a), Matt O'Malley (St. Albert) 10 (7r), Marc Baumert (St. Albert) 15 (8r), Carlos Perez (Lewis Central) 15 (8r).

Small Schools: Brady Pratt (Boyer Valley) 3, Jace Hawley (Ar-We-Va) 14 (3st), Stefan Petersen (Audubon) 2 (4r), Jared McCready (Riverside) 1, Monte Larson (Tri-Center) 2, Matt Herzberg (Villisca) 8 (6r), Corey Gaskill (Irwin-Kirkman-Manilla) 0 (8r, 3st), Danny Pattee (A-H-S-T) 7 (8r), Kurt Spomer (Tri-Center) 12 (8r), Michael West (Orient-Macksburg) (7r, 2st), Morgan Starner (Sidney) 10.