GREENSBORO Ariyana Williams played her final game at the high school level on Monday night, and fittingly, she wore red. <\/p>\n
The Freedom High 2017 graduate undeniably the face of Lady Patriots hoops over the last four spectacular seasons served as one of three team captains and started for the West in the 43rd annual N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star womens basketball game held at the Greensboro Coliseum. <\/p>\n
The East women won, 74-71, and now lead the all-time series 23-20. <\/p>\n
Williams, who was named an academic all-star as well with a GPA over 3.0, was FHS 48th all-time East-West participant and 10th in womens basketball. <\/p>\n
The 2,000-point prep scorer and three-time county player of the year made both of her first-half free-throw attempts and scored five total points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 7:30 remaining in the contest to account for the Wests final lead at 60-57. <\/p>\n
Williams attempted the first shot of the game (a wing 3) and grabbed the first rebound of the game, and her other main first-half highlight came when she scooped a loose ball for a steal and assisted teammate Kristian Eanes layup on the other end for a 19-18 West lead as part of a 7-0 scoring run early in the second period. <\/p>\n
Throughout, Williams showed her versatility as the 5-foot-9 player handled both point guard duties and played off the ball as well as at times guarding the post defensively. The West was plus-two points with Williams on the floor. <\/p>\n
The West built a 34-23 first-half lead and entered the halftime break tied 23-23 in the rebounding battle, but the larger East squad surged in the second half thanks in large part to a plus-six effort on the glass. <\/p>\n
We started off OK but struggled rebounding, Williams said. I think a lot of us were kind of tired from having two practices a day here fresh off summer college workouts. <\/p>\n
But its always good to meet new people or meet players on other teams that youve played against but not had a real discussion with, playing with them, learning their skills and abilities. Its a great experience. <\/p>\n
Williams, who arrived in Greensboro last Friday, was among the players already with their future college squads. She arrived on campus at East Carolina about 10 days after graduating from FHS for summer classes and workouts. <\/p>\n
Williams mentioned that Mondays game was her first chance in game action to play alongside fellow 2017 ECU recruit Lashonda Monk of Southwest Guilford. Williams and Monk are rooming together this summer in Greenville. <\/p>\n
The workouts have been good, she added. Its more intense, its a faster level. Its fun though, going from one level to another and catching onto everything that theyre doing. Im just trying to get a feel for everything. <\/p>\n
Like four years ago when Williams attended the East-West game to see her older sister, Imani, play in the game, Imani was on hand Monday, along with their parents Fred and Latriece and younger brother Amare, to see Ariyana play. <\/p>\n
Another couple familiar faces were on the West sideline: R-S Central forward Kyra Davis and Northern Guilford coach Kim Furlough. Davis and Williams squared off multiple times at the prep level and were teammates and roommates at the Carolinas All-Star Basketball Classic in March, and Williams led her Patriot squad past Furloughs Nighthawks in the 2016 NCHSAA 3A state title game. <\/p>\n
Davis paced three West players in double figures on Monday with 16 points. NC State recruit Kayla Jones of Riverside-Martin was named MVP for the East squad after she scored a game-high 19 points, including 14 in the second half. Jones added 13 rebounds and four assists. <\/p>\n
In the nightcap, Whitevilles Tyrell Kirk scored 18 points to lead five East players in double figures in the mens game, a 117-108 East win, as the UNC Pembroke recruit was named MVP. <\/p>\n
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Ex-Freedom star Williams co-captains, starts for West in All-Star Game - Morganton News Herald<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" GREENSBORO Ariyana Williams played her final game at the high school level on Monday night, and fittingly, she wore red. Continue reading