By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.comClick here to view over 800 photos from the game
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HAMPTON, Va., -- It wasn’t long after tipoff that Devon Brown noticed
that it was a little strange just how well her team, the West
All-Stars, was playing with each other.
Many times in All-Star games, it takes a while for individual stars to
mesh with each other. There’s passes to nobody, teammates fighting for
rebounds and overall sloppy play.
But Tuesday at the Virginia High School Coaches Association girl’s
basketball game, it seemed that the West All-Stars had been playing
together for years despite just one practice, leading to a 97-53 win
over the East All-Stars at the Hampton Coliseum.
“That was really weird,” Brown said. “We only practiced for like a day-and-a-half.”
Waynesboro’s Brown was named the West’s Most Valuable Player after
scoring a game-high 17 points. Heritage’s Sonia Johnson was crowned the
East MVP after notching seven points. The West never
trailed in the game and held a 28-12 lead at the end of the first
quarter and 47-17 halftime advantage.
While a simple eye-test said the West had some congruency, there is
certainly a reason. The West had three pairs of teammates on the squad
in Kylee Beecher and Abby Oliver of Hidden Valley, Amber Epps and
Deidre Richardson of Forest Park and Brittany Campbell and Joyous
Tharrington of Brookville.
“It’s more comforting,” Richardson said of having her teammate on the court with her.
On top of that, three of the West players, Beecher, Brown and Campbell
are playing together next year at Liberty College in Lychburg, Va.,
next year. Two girls, Epps and Richardson, will remain teammates when
they play for George Mason next year.
Beecher and Campbell didn’t play on the same high school team but they
have played together in Amateur Athletic Union teams since they were
11. Campbell talked Beecher into going to Liberty. They both knew of
Brown, although the MVP joking said she was on her own.
“That just happened,” Brown said of her MVP award. “But I couldn’t do it without my teammates. They all helped.”
Brown of course pointed to her upcoming Liberty teammates and handed
them the plaque as if they were going to share it. It was the beginning
of a friendship that will surely grow over the next four years.
“This season is going to be amazing, especially with the freshman we
have coming up and the seniors that we have now,” Campbell said,
referring to Liberty.
The West said they bonded over a dinner on Monday night and during a
team boat ride on Tuesday. Coach Alan Cantrell of Floyd County said he
specifically looked for players that would complement one another on
the court.
“No matter what combination we did put out on the floor, they did a
very good job of playing together and finding each other,” Cantrell
said. “This is probably the most talented group overall I’ve ever
worked with. It was very enjoyable working with this group and they
really got along well. Everywhere we moved around together it was like
a family or group of sisters. They really bonded.”
As the West players left the floor following the game, Campbell yelled
to Abby Oliver, “Yo, text me!”. Asked how she knew Oliver, she said she
had only known her for the two days the team was together.
“She’s that little country girl,” Campbell said.
West 97, East 53
East - 12 5 17 19 - 53
West - 28 19 27 23 - 97WestBeecher, Kylee (Hidden Valley HS/ Liberty) - 8 pts.
Brown, Devon (Waynesboro HS/ Liberty) - 17 pts.
Campbell, Brittany (Brookville HS/ Liberty) - 7 pts.
Collins, Kalen (J.J. Kelly HS/ King College) - 4 pts.
Doame, Emily (Chilhowie HS/ UVA-Wise) - 3 pts.
Epps, Amber (Forest Park HS/ George Mason) - 7 pts.
Keith, Kristen (Bassett HS) - 8 pts.
Moorer, Ariana (C.D. Hylton HS/ Virginia) - 7 pts.
O'Neil, Amanda (Westfield HS/ Campbell) - 10 pts.
Richardson, Deidre (Forest Park HS/ George Mason) - 0 pts.
Tharrington, Joyous (Brookville HS) - 6 pts.
Webb, Teonika (Pulaski County/ Gardner-Webb) - 8 pts.
Coaches: Alan Cantrell, Floyd County; Rebecca Tillett, Forest Park
EastArrington, Lecetra (Nansemond River HS) - 3 pts.
Boyce, Beth Ann (Colonial Heights HS/ Va. Wesleyan) - 2 pts.
Falin, Jennifer (Bruton HS/ Christopher-Newport) - 1 pt.
Hampton, Carlie (York HS) - 5 pts.
Harris, Raven (Princess Anne HS/ American) - 5 pts.
Hawkins, Rachel (Millbrook/ Roanoke) - 4 pts.
Holeman, Janice (Franklin HS) - 2 pts.
Holston, Bonae (Heritage HS/ N.C. State) - 10 pts.
Hopkins, Kimberly (Brentsville HS) - 1 pt.
Johnson, Sonia (Heritage HS/ Delaware St.) - 7 pts.
Logan, Jenny (Luray HS/ Bridgewater) - 5 pts.
Moore, Denyse (Woodside HS/ Delaware St.) - 7 pts.
Coaches: Ruby Allen Greensville County; Michael Gardner, Heritage; Chad Coffey, Buffalo Gap; Mona Sumblin, Franklin