Hollifield and Porter lead West in fourth quarter comeback

By Jacob Hancock-Hernández, HighSchoolOT Reporter

Just after a grinding a few quarters, the West received sizzling in the fourth quarter to rally past the East to gain 62-55 in the NCCA East-West Women’s Basketball All-Star video game at Greensboro Coliseum on Monday.

Kate Hollifield (Shelby) experienced a recreation-superior 18 details on 4-of-6 shooting from 3 and a fantastic 4-of-4 from the cost-free toss line to consider property MVP honors for the West. Olivia Porter (Northwood) scored 9 of her 12 factors in the fourth quarter to assistance spark the comeback, whilst Julianna Walter (Alexander Central) additional 10 factors off the bench on 5-of-6 from the free of charge throw line.

“I performed with a good team of women,” Hollifield said. “We all related truly fast and I consider that’s because we all wanted to earn. We all just had it in us.”

Jerni Kiaku (Garner) and Laney Beale (Chapel Hill) experienced 9 points apiece, and Journee McDaniel (Farmville Central) and Important Ogboko (Durham University of the Arts) had 8 factors apiece to direct the East.

The East acquired off to a speedy start, leaping out to a 17-8 direct in the to start with quarter on 6-of-13 from the discipline although keeping the West to just 2-of-20.

The West started to settle in during the 2nd quarter, many thanks to a couple of 3-ideas from Hollifield, and managed to slice the deficit to a single at 26-25 at halftime.

Following a again-and-forth start out to open the 2nd half, the East began to obtain separation in direction of the finish of the 3rd quarter with a 13-2 operate to conclusion the period with a 43-35 guide. But then the West came roaring again to start off the fourth quarter with a 12- operate fueled by seven points from Porter and a 3-pointer by Hollifield. That gave the West a 47-43 guide.

“I at last started off generating pictures,” Porter stated. “When I designed that 3 (to open up the fourth quarter) it gave me much more assurance and I was in a position to go from there. That electrical power that I furnished for my group aided my team and we received (the gain) in the end.”

On a pair of situations, the East was in a position to minimize the deficit down to 2. But the West was ready to sustain its lead down the stretch with clutch free throw shooting (18 of 25 for the recreation, 10 of 10 in the fourth quarter).