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SPORTS

Georgia Tech recruit key player in East's win

Thursday, April 2, 2009
(Updated 11:00 am)

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Printed across the board in the East locker room was the line "Every little kid in America will be watching you tonight!"

With Derrick Favors providing the two separating dunks at the end to earn him MVP honors, the East beat the West 113-110 in the McDonald's All-American Game at the BankUnited Center on Wednesday night.

It was a banner night for ACC prospects as Favors, who is headed to Georgia Tech, had a team-high 19 points and tied DeMarcus Cousins with eight rebounds.

Duke's Ryan Kelly (six points), Clemson's Milton Jennings (four points) and North Carolina's Dexter Strickland (two points) also contributed to an East total of 31 ACC points.

"It really wasn't basketball," Kelly said. "It was more of a skills display and entertainment for the fans. Most people concede if you are a McDonald's All-American that you can play."

North Carolina's John Henson (14 points), FSU's Michael Snaer (13 points), UNC's Travis Wear (six points) and Duke's Mason Plumlee (six points) contributed to a West total of 39 ACC points.

"You have to keep this kind of game in perspective," Henson said. "The players are displaying their talents and skills. It is fun. There was more intensity than in practice but not by much."

It was an open-court game with little defense, except around the rim on occasion, and it featured only 10 3-pointers and a lot of dunks, some artistic and creative and others simply athletic.

The West led at halftime, 63-55, because it shot 53.8 percent (28-for-52). The biggest lead of the game was nine points, 53-49, on a layup from Tommy Mason-Griffin with 4:19 left in the half.

"You never feel like you are out of a game like this," Kelly said. "It is just a matter of making a few shots and having the other team missing some."

That's what happened in the second half when the East shot a sizzling 61.4 percent (27-for- 44) to finish with 53.3 percent for the game.

The West cooled off to 41.7 percent (20-for-48) in the second half and 48 percent for the game. The East bench also held a 69-50 edge.

The East tied the West with eight straight points to open the second half on Kenny Boynton's layup, and from there, the game's momentum changed. The East led by seven, 90-83, on Kelly's dunk with 12:15 to go.

It held the lead until Xavier Henry's jumper tied it at 98 for the West with 7:23 to play. From that point, it was a rush to the end with Favors' two dunks erasing a 111-110 deficit with 1:40 remaining.

"You can't leave the game in the hands of a player like Derrick Favors," Plumlee said. "If you do, you see what happens."

All the players know that if and when they see each other again the circumstances will be much different.

"The court won't be as open," Henson said. "The defense will be much more intense and the dunks will be contested. There were a lot of freebies tonight. There won't be many freebies the next time."

From Kelly's perspective, next time will be real basketball and not so much an exhibition.

"This game didn't matter that much," Kelly said. "For the players on both teams, the games, starting next season, will matter a lot."

WEST (110) Sidney Jr. 5-14 0-0 11, Gaddy Jr. 3-9 0-2 6, Bradley Jr. 6-10 2-3 15, Henry 5-11 1-3 14, Henson 7-10 0-0 14, Mason-Griffin 2-11 0-0 5, D.Wear 0-2 0-0 0, Snaer 6-9 1-2 13, T.Wear 3-5 0-0 6, Gallon 8-11 3-3 20, Plumlee 3-8 0-0 6. Totals 48-100 7-13 110.

EAST (113) — Stephenson 6-11 0-2 12, Wayns 2-6 1-1 5, Kelly 3-6 0-0 6, Strickland 0-4 2-2 2, Favors 9-13 1-3 19, Taylor 6-11 3-3 15, Boynton Jr. 4-11 2-3 10, Cousins 6-9 1-4 14, Jennings 2-3 0-0 4, Siva 3-5 0-0 6, Cheek 6-8 1-5 15, Oriahki 1-3 3-5 5.

HalftimeWest 63-55. 3-Point goalsWest 7-26 (Henry 3-6, Gallon 1-1, Bradley Jr. 1-2, Sidney Jr. 1-3, Mason-Griffin 1-6, D.Wear 0-1, Snaer 0-2, Plumlee 0-2, Gaddy Jr. 0-3), East 3-15 (Cheek 2-2, Cousins 1-2, Wayns 0-1, Kelly 0-1, Siva 0-1, Stephenson 0-2, Strickland 0-2, Boynton Jr. 0-4). Fouled outStephenson. ReboundsWest 49 (Sidney Jr., Bradley Jr. 6), East 55 (Favors, Cousins 8). AssistsWest 20 (Mason-Griffin 4), East 30 (Wayns 7). Total foulsWest 18, East 15. A5,981.

 

From the Associated Press:

WEST GIRLS 69, EAST GIRLS 68: North Carolina-bound Tierra Ruffin-Pratt scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to earn co-MVP honors as she led the West over the East 69-68 in the eighth annual girls McDonald's All-American game.

EAST (68) Taylor 0-3 0-0 0, Diggins 6-13 4-5 18, Bone 5-15 0-0 10, Walker 1-3 2-2 4, Faris 1-4 2-3 4, Wheeler 1-5 0-0 3, Hassell 3-4 0-0 6, Rodgers 3-9 1-2 10, Williams 0-2 1-2 1, Stroman 1-2 1-4 3, Tinkle 3-7 0-0 7, Reed 1-8 0-0 2. Totals 25-75 11-18 68.

WEST (69) Hill 1-6 0-0 3, Ruffin-Pratt 5-15 0-0 10, Crosby 1-5 0-0 2, Spani 3-12 3-4 11, Oliver 2-13 0-0 4, Marinacci 3-7 2-2 11, Pierre 1-2 1-2 3, Rogers 1-7 2-2 4, Brandon 3-8 4-5 10, Stallworth 5-11 0-0 11. Totals 25-86 12-15 69.

HalftimeWest 31-30. 3-Point goalsEast 7-20 (Diggins 2-5, Wheeler 1-4, Rodgers 3-6, Tinkle 1-2, Taylor 0-3), West 7-21 (Hill 1-3, Spani 2-5, Marinacci 3-5, Stallworth 1-1, Oliver 0-1, Ruffin-Pratt 0-3, Crosby 0-3). Fouled outCrosby. ReboundsEast 54 (Faris 7), West 64 (Ruffin-Pratt 10). AssistsEast 9 (Faris 3), West 14 (Pierre 5). Total foulsEast 15, West 16. ANA.

 


 

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