A Night of Drama in Greensboro
The 2026 NC Coaches Association East-West All-Star Boys Basketball Game delivered a finish that will be talked about for weeks. At the Novant Health Fieldhouse in Greensboro, the West All-Stars edged the East All-Stars 102-101 in a game that swung back and forth until the final buzzer.
Dionte Neal, a recent graduate of Reidsville Senior High School, was the catalyst for the West. He finished with 10 points, but his most memorable contribution came when he drained a 3‑point shot at the very last second, sending the crowd into celebration. Neal’s clutch performance underscored a career‑high moment for the young guard.
The Final Seconds
The victory was not built on Neal alone. Early in the contest, Shimere Garris of Washington High School surged ahead with 15 points in the first half, setting a pace that kept the East competitive. Braylon Taylor of Salisbury added a defensive spark in the fourth quarter, stealing the ball and converting it into a basket that briefly put the East ahead. Will Seward of Hoggard contributed with a dunk and a foul‑shot basket that kept the score tight, while ExZavier Young of North Mecklenburg tied the game at 99 with a crucial layup in the closing minutes.
Coaching staffs also played pivotal roles. The West was guided by Joe Spinks of Eastern Guilford High School and Lavar Batts of Jay M. Robinson High School, while the East’s bench was manned by Matt Brown of Northwood High School and Greg Motley of Southern Durham High School. Their strategic adjustments kept the lead shifting and the game alive until the final possession.
With the win, the West improved its all‑time series lead to 40‑37, a testament to the depth of talent in North Carolina’s high school basketball pipeline. The performance at the Novant Health Fieldhouse not only highlighted individual heroes but also reinforced the state’s reputation for producing clutch performers on the biggest stages.