The Game in Review
The East squad captured its fourth consecutive victory in the NC Coaches Association East‑West All‑Star Girls Basketball Game, edging the West 85‑82 in a tightly contested affair that reinforced its 29‑23 series lead.
Coached by Serena Smith of Whiteville High School and Brian Graham of Cape Fear High School, the East side relied on disciplined execution, while the West was directed by Brett Lamb of Highlands High School and John Shearin of T.W. Andrews High School.
Claire Barber of Green Level High School opened the half with a burst of scoring, highlighted by a right‑wing three‑pointer that kissed the rim just before the buzzer, giving the East a 49‑35 lead.
A Turning Point in the Fourth Quarter
The West answered with bursts of energy, as Ma‑Kaela Gidney of Hickory Ridge executed a 4‑point play with six seconds left in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to 76‑63, and later added a jumper that cut the gap to eight points.
Tiara Thompson of West Rowan sparked a rally with a three‑pointer from the left wing at the 7:38 mark, and Shaniya Paylor along with Kaylin Favreau combined for a push that narrowed the East lead to three points.
Laneigh Scales of Glenn drove in transition to make it a three‑point game, but a crucial block by Khiara Culliver forced a turnover that the West could not convert.
With 1:56 remaining, West head coach Brett Lamb called a timeout and out of a sideline inbound, Scales scored and was fouled, though she missed the ensuing free throw that could have tied the contest.
Barber responded instantly with a layup, and Morgan Odom of Southeast Guilford answered with a deep three‑pointer from the right corner, pulling the East ahead 83‑82 with just over a minute left.
A sequence of crisp ball‑handling and passing set up Barber, who drove and dished to Brook Evans, whose layup sealed the 85‑82 final margin as the West missed two subsequent outside shots.
The win not only extends the East’s series lead to 29‑23 but also underscores the depth of talent emerging from North Carolina’s high school ranks, setting a promising tone for the next generation of players.