The last time Brett Chappell, Davontay Euell and Tyree White were on a basketball court together, things didn’t turn out so well for them.

That’s why the trio of recent Rock Falls graduates is so looking forward to tonight’s SVM All-Star Classic.

“I’d like to finish my career on a ‘W’ – I think we all would – and I’m glad I get that chance,” Euell said. “It’s a little bittersweet being on the court with these guys again, but hopefully things will end differently than they did the last time.”

Euell is referring to the gut-wrenching, heart-breaking 49-48 loss to arch rival Sterling in the Class 3A Dixon Regional semifinals back on Feb. 29. In that game, White scored 14 of his team-high 19 points in the second half, including a layup with 1:27 to play to give the Rockets a 48-47 lead.

But after several empty possessions by both teams, Sterling senior Patrick Petrosky hit a pair of free throws with 8.5 seconds to play to send Sterling on to the regional final; Petrosky would hit two more free throws in the final minute to beat Alleman for the regional title two nights later.

On Tuesday, Euell and White could be found practicing alongside Petrosky and fellow Warrior Chris Fritsch during preparations for the all-star game. The three Rock Falls guys will be teammates with Sterling’s Fritsch, Petrosky, Alejandro Rivera and Marcus Robinson come this evening.

“It’s definitely different to be able to say your so-called enemies are now your teammates,” said Chappell, who scored nine points against the Warriors, “but it’s nice, too. Those guys have had some great years at Sterling, and hopefully with us all playing together, our team can get the win.”

“To be able to play with these guys instead of against them will be fun,” added White, who added 10 rebounds and two blocks in that season-ending loss. “We’ve got a little chemistry built already – I’ve known some of them as friends off the court – and to be on the court with them and Davontay and Brett one more time will be great.”

Like most of the players, it’s been awhile since basketball’s been on their minds. Many of the all-stars played a spring sport, so shifting gears from baseball or track back to basketball will be a bit of a challenge.

But with the atmosphere being less intense than the last time they hit the hardwood, things should be a bit smoother.

“It’s going to be fun to be able to shoot the basketball – for me, probably for the last time,” said Chappell, who will play baseball at Northern Illinois next year. “Regardless of who I’m playing with and against, it’s going to be fun going out there and competing with a bunch of friends. Basketball’s going to be something I miss, and I’m going to cherish this chance to play one more time.”

While White and Euell are both looking forward to a fun time as well, both have big goals for the game – some more specific than others.

“To be honest,” White said, a grin spreading across his face, “I’d like to win the game, score 150 points, shut down the other team and get a couple of dunks.

“We all want to do well – and I think once the game gets going, the ‘all-star’ part goes away and you just start playing basketball the way you know how.”

This won’t be the final time they will be on the court; White will play basketball for the Skyhawks next season, while Euell will run track and possibly play ball at Illinois College.

But after the rust wears off and the game gets going, fun may take a backseat to winning – if only for a little while.

“I think it will start off not as serious, but I think by halftime that will change,” Euell said. “We’re all competitors and we all want to win, so it’s going to get more intense as it gets closer to the end.

“It’s all fun and games now, and it’s going to be great to see what all these guys from different schools can do out there together – but it will be a lot more fun if we’re celebrating a win at the end.”

2012 SVM All-Star Classic

When: Tonight

Where: Sauk Valley Community College

Times: Girls game 5 p.m., boys game 7 p.m.

Tickets: $5, available at the door