FAYETTEVILLE — Size and speed took over in the end for the East all-stars.
While the West team put up a good fight in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association Boys Basketball All-Star Game, the East squad pushed the tempo and pulled away in the end, taking an 84-69 win in Bud Walton Arena on Wednesday.
“The athleticism came in and that’s what we wanted to do,” said East coach Billy Murray, of Earle. “We knew we could wear them down and we went up and down the floor just like we wanted. Up and down and up and down.”
Warren Boyd of Marion was the Most Valuable Player with game highs in points (23) and rebounds (13) for the East. After the West All-Stars managed to stay within 17-11 after one quarter, the East team broke the game open in the second with a 7-0 run to start the period.
The West, led by DuShaun Rice of Fort Smith Southside with 10 points, managed to stay within striking distance going into the fourth quarter, before the East pulled away again down the stretch.
“We talked to them all week long about come out and compete,” West coach Tony Davis, of Clarksville, said. “We told the, you’re an all-star for a reason, and we knew that. Everyone stepped on the floor and competed and I’m extremely proud of their effort.”