It's all-star week in New Mexico, and there will be five Rio Rancho High School members of the Class of 2006 strutting their stuff, hoping to help the North all-stars defeat the South. Among the quintet is Jori Morrison, who gives the family, with parents Edd and Kellie Morrison, a "sweep" in all-star competition" Their other two children, volleyball-playing Lindsay and football-playing Wade, also played in North-South affairs.

Additionally, coaches from around the state will convene for seminars and clinics, as well as their annual golf tournament and awards banquet, all sponsored by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.

Volleyball matches are played Tuesday The 24th annual North-South All-Star volleyball matches will be played Tuesday at Johnson Center on the University of New Mexico campus.

The A/AA match starts at 5:30 p.m. The "big school" match will begin about a half-hour after that.

State pride was split last year: The South won the small-school battle, three games to two, to take a 20-3 lead in the overall series, while the North edged the South 3-2 to gain a 16-7 lead all-time.

Rio Rancho High School will be represented by two college-bound standouts from their 5A championship teams of the past two seasons, middle blocker Colleen Connelly (headed to Colorado State-Pueblo) and outside hitter Jori Morrison (joining her sister Lindsay at Western New Mexico University).

Three Rams played last year in the North's victory: Tamara Fowler, Leah Lovato and Amber Murphy.

Other recent Rams stars have been Ambur Scott and Gayle Tripp (2005); Lindsay Morrison, Caitlin Riordan and Britney Drumm (2004), Meagan Kamplain (2002); Brittany Nelson and Jessica Steele (2001)., 6

Basketball games are played Thursday

The Pit is the site for the two North-South basketball games Thursday evening, with the 29th annual "small school" game tipping off at 6 p.m., followed by the 61st annual "big school" game.

The South improved its all-time lead in the series to 33-27 after its high-scoring 126-105 victory last summer. Former Ram forward Cole Sullivan played in last year's game.

Daniel Steffensen, signed to play at Otero Junior College in 2007-08, represents the Rams in the big-school game. Noah Wolfe also was chosen, but he's headed to Colorado Springs, where he'll be playing for the Air Force Academy's prep team later this year.

Other recent Rams all-stars have been Chris Williams (2005), Kevin Mathis (2003) and Joel Lund (2002).

The football game is played Friday

The popular football contest closes out the week, when the 63rd annual North-South High School All-Star Game takes place at University Stadium.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

Two Rams will be playing for the North: offensive lineman Nick Bylotas and linebacker Adolfo Midence, who will be playing this fall at New Mexico Highlands.

Last year, ex-Rams running back Mike Love, offensive tackle Brandon Torrey, defensive end Alex Herrarte and linebacker Mike Olsen played in the South's 24-7 victory.

The South leads the all-time series with 40 victories and 19 losses. (Four games have ended in ties.)

Through the 2007 contest, 15 Rams will have suited up as North all-stars: DB Nate Pino (2000); QB Brian Philipbar, WR Joey Selander and DL Gabe Urias (2001); LB Brandon McKinney (2004); TE Wade Morrison, LB Adrian Martinez, OG Sal Caputo and DE Bryan Rowland (2005); OT Brandon Torrey, RB Mike Love, DE Alex Herrarte and LB Mike Olsen (2006).

Standout running back Chris Williams was selected to the all-star football team in 2005 but, having also been selected to the all-star basketball team, opted to play in the all-star basketball game that summer.

Near-star: RRHS Class of 2007 graduate Lawrence Chavez, a three-sport (cross country,m basketball and track), was named a recipient of the Francis Abeyta Kickoff Scholarship, a $500 grant awarded to sons/daughters of coaches in the association. Chavez, headed to Eastern New Mexico University, where he will run the 800 for the track team, is the son of long-time cross country and track and field coach Larry Chavez, about to begin his 11th season at RRHS.