Hiland girls' basketball coach Dave Schlabach last Thursday was named co-coach of the East team for the 2010 McDonald's All American High School Basketball Games, set to tipoff March 31 at Ohio State's Value City Arena.

Schlabach will be joined on the sideline by Scott Rogers of Indian Hill High in Cincinnati.  Hiland assistant coach Rob Moser will serve in that same capacity for the McDonald's East team.

Dru Joyce II of St. Vincent-St. Mary and Oak Hill's Norm Persin will represent the boys' East squad.

The ninth-annual girls game will begin at 5:30 pm and will be broadcast live on ESPNU.  The 33rd-annual boys game will follow at 8 pm and will air on ESPN.

"I had no idea this was coming," Schlabach said, humbled by the nod.  "I assume with the game being in Ohio, my name got to someone, somehow.  I look at this as a program scenario that I get to ride along for."

Proceeds from the 2010 McDonald's All American Games will aid families and children in need through Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Central Ohio.

"I'm looking forward to being involved with such a quality organization that does a lot for people other than just basketball," said Schlabach, who owns a 413-59 (.875) record and four state titles (2000, 05, 06, 08) in 19-years at Hiland.

In a matter of days following the 2010 season, Schlabach will transition from coaching 5-foot-7 players with high basketball IQ and average athletic ability to 6-4 ballers with the top skill-sets in the nation.  This is a challenge he revels in.

"We will approach this a little different than a quote ' One-day all-star game,'" said Schlabach, the 2009 NFHS National Coach of the Year.

"We will have five or six practices.  We'll try to develop a legitimate rotation.  But for the most part, you just throw the ball out there and let those kids do their thing."

Schlabach is familiar with two of his players:  Chaminade Julienne's Samarie Walker (6-1, F, Connecticut) and University's Laurin Mincy (6-foot, SG, Maryland), who competed in this year's Classic in the Country.

So far, Schlabach, a disciple of famed Hiland coach Perry Reese Jr., said the All-American Game has served as a great cross-promotional tool for the Classic in the Country.

"I'm already getting a lot of questions about the Classic," said Schlabach, whose Lady Hawks clinched their 15th consecutive Inter-Valley Conference championship with a 38-28 win over rival Garaway on Feb. 11.

"People have heard about it and they want to know more about it," he added.  "This should be a great venue for us to reach people, sponsors,"

While the All American Game involves a great amount of work, Schlabach said he's going to take time to be a fan for once.

"For me, it's 75 percent fan, 25 percent coaching," Schlabach said.  "We have three kids going to UConn on our team.  And we'll also be hanging around with the boys' staff and the boys' players, and if you go on averages, five to 10 NBA players are in this group.

"So from a fan standpoint, to just sit back and watch all the talent, that's what I'm looking forward to.  I have the best seat in the house for the McDonald's All American Game."

Completing Schlabach's roster is:  Alicia DeVaughn (Blanche Ely High, Fla., 6-4, C, Maryland); Stefanie Dolson (Minisink Valley High, NY, 6-5, C, Connecticut); Bria Hartley (North Babylon High, NY, 5-10, G, Connecticut); Keneisha Horn (Ramsay High, Ala., 6-1, F, Alabama); Natasha Howard (Toledo Waite High, Ohio, 6-4, F, Florida State); Maggie Lucas (Germantown Academy, Penn., 5-9, G, Penn State); Kayla McBride (Villa Maria Academy, Penn., 5-11, G, Notre Dame);  Jennifer O'Neill (Saint Michael Academy, NY., 5-6, G, Kentucky), Haley Peters (Peddie School, NJ, 6-3, F, Duke); Ronika Ransford (H.D. Woodson Senior High, DC, 5-8, G, Georgia).

Over the past 15 seasons, Schlabach's Lady Hawks have compiled a 227-5 record in IVC play, with all five losses coming against rival Garaway.  Overall, Hiland is 25-5 against the Lady Pirates during that span and 202-0 versus the rest of the league.

Hiland's IVC dominance may be in serious jeopardy next season when it loses 63 percent of its scoring in graduating senior Noelle Yoder (Bowling Green), Hilary Weaver (LeHigh University), Katelyn Stuckey (Ohio Dominican University) and Jessica Stutzman.  Hiland will also be without Ohio Dominican recruit Mykeila Mast, who is out for the season with an ACL injury.

Schlabach said teams see this as a huge opportunity.

"Most of the teams in our league feel that they have a chance to beat us next year," the Hiland coach said.  " A lot of those statistics could change by next year... We lose four college players and some really good kids next year.  It will be a really interesting year for us."