East All-Stars press on to victory

Monday July 19, 2010

Trailing by 11 points headed into the 4^th quarter, the East All-Stars used an effective press to comeback, after trailing by as many as 17 in the second half. 

Despite missing several free throws the East gained the lead off a Jake Lliteras three-pointer, 86-84, with 5:26 left to play. 

The Lliteras trey was answered by a Darius Carrier bomb, as the West All-Stars tried to hang on.  Led by the game’s MVP, Reggie Bullock, the East maintained a three point advantage until Aaron Toomey knotted the game on a long ball at 98-98, with just 22 seconds remaining.

With clock melting away, the East got the ball to TaShawn Mabry who was fouled.  Mabry went 1 for 2 from the line, with only 6 seconds remaining.  The West could not get off a shot for the win and the East celebrated a 99-98 victory.  The win ties up the overall series 31-31.

The West held a 56-44 lead at halftime behind 9 points and 6 rebounds from De’Mon Brooks and 16 points from Corey Hensley.  Preston Ross paced the East in the first half with 10 points.  The twelve point advantage was built by outperforming the East in several categories, which included rebounding(26-23), points in the paint(28-22), field goal percentage(53%-41%), three-point shooting(46%-33%), and free throw shooting(80%-38%).

The fortunes of the East changed behind defense and an all-around team effort.  Coach Michael Gainey’s press seemed to work with a number of different player combinations.  The West broke the press in the 3^rd quarter, but wore down against the long arms and quickness of the East in the 4^th.

Enloe’s Emanuel Chapman was the consummate floor general tallying 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.  One of Chapman’s steals came in the final minutes, as he and converted the ensuing free throws. 

Bullock finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds.  Equally impressive for the East were Preston Ross and Rocky Mount’s Mabry.  Ross finished with totals of 19 points, 7 rebounds and Mabry had 17 points to go with 5 rebounds.

Hensley was the West’s leading scorer with 22 points.  Jordan Downing and Brooks each contributed 13 points, while Brooks added 13 rebounds.  Carrier finished with 12 points.  The win marked an excellent end to the high school career of the East athletes.

Kerry Smith

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