FAYETTEVILLE — The West all-stars never recovered from a second-half scoring drought.
The West hit just 1 of 14 shots over a span of 7 minutes, 39 seconds as the East all-stars turned a three-point lead into a 75-59 victory in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association Girls Basketball All-Star Game in Bud Walton Arena.
Future Arkansas Razorback Melissa Wolff was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after scoring nine points and grabbing six rebounds for the East. Chelsey Rhodes of Monticello led the East with 10 points.
The West was within 43-40 four minutes into the second half, but it made just 1 of 9 shots the rest of the quarter to trail 54-46 going to the final quarter. The East then used a 9-0 run to pull away.
The West was just 15-of-62 from the field and it made just five field goals in the second half. Jessica Flanery of Mountain View led the West with 11 points. Flanery will play at Arkansas State next year.
“The East had so much size, so much length and so much athleticism,” said Rogers Heritage coach Kevin Ramey, who was an assistant on the West. “That created a lot of tough shots. But I am really proud of our kids. This was a great group to work with.”
Former Springdale Har-Ber player Caroline Eubanks grabbed a team-best seven rebounds for the West while scoring six points in 11 minutes. Eubanks, who will play at Arkansas Tech, had five rebounds and four points in the first half as the West trailed 35-31.
“It was real, real physical, and I think we did good in the first half,” Eubanks said. “This will really help me because I am not used to playing against girls that are all very good. It was the best of the best, and that will help me in college.”
Ramey coached against Eubanks in the 7A-West Conference and said the former Lady Wildcat has a bright future.
“Eubanks came out with great energy,” Ramey said. “I was proud of the way she played. She is a wonderful kid and she is going to do great things at Arkansas Tech.”
Former Farmington player Breanna Jones had five points and five rebounds for the West.