VanLandingham powers Blue squad to All-Star win

By Jeremy Trantham
Hendersonville Times-News

ASHEVILLE -- Local basketball fans already knew that Chris VanLandingham can score in bunches.

And that Dominique Whiteside can control the boards.

And that Josh Twitty creates matchup problems.

And that Patrick Crouch is a flashy floor general.

During Thursday's annual Blue-White All-Star game at T.C. Roberson, the rest of WNC got a glimpse of those facts, too. The Blue boys held for a 116-111 win with significant contributions from VanLandingham (team-high 24 points), Crouch (23) and Twitty (13 of his 17 points came in the second half.)

"It's a lot different when the scoring's spread out," VanLandingham, who led the state in scoring this season, said. "It was a fun experience, playing on a team with so many stars."

Whiteside was a monster on the boards for the White team. He also stepped out to hit a 3-pointer and added 13 points.

The Blue girls ran away for a 95-64 win behind 33 points from MVP Kurie Washington, of McDowell High, in the opener. Three Roberson seniors -- Stephanie Chapman, Areyshea Dunbar and Gentry Manley -- were members of the Blue squad.

The Blues didn't even miss the services of North Henderson's Morgan McMinn, who had successful knee surgery on Wednesday.

Following the blowout, the boys game was tight and entertaining throughout. The score was tied five times and the lead changed hands 17 times.

The Blue team pulled ahead in the 56th edition of the annual WNC All-Star game with just more than six minutes remaining and held off the White team, led by MVP Jarrod Conard, who scored a game-high 30 points.

VanLandingham and Crouch provided the bulk of the scoring down the stretch.
"We had good chemistry for an All-Star team," said VanLandingham. "It was up and down the whole game."

The Rhododendron Civitan Club puts on the annual contest featuring WNC seniors. Proceeds from the game benefit special education programs.

BOYS

WHITE (111) -- John Brown (Smoky Mountain) 8, Jarrod Conard (Pisgah) 30, Koty Drake (Franklin) 5, C.J. Fortner (Smoky Mountain) 11, Travis Garrison (Robbinsville) 14, Caleb Hedden (Erwin) 11, Zack Hollifield (Pisgah) 10, Austin Moore (Pisgah) 5, Dominique Whiteside (Hendersonville) 13, Ben Williams (Enka) 4.

BLUE (116) -- D.J. Clement (A.C. Reynolds) 22, Patrick Crouch (Roberson) 23, Josh Harris (Chase) 6, Petey Hausley (McDowell) 7, Cole Huskins (Mountain Heritage) 4, Ian McVay (Owen) 8, Josh Twitty (Polk County) 17, Chris VanLandingham (North Henderson) 24, Brandon Young (R-S Central) 5.

Halftime: White, 60-59.

GIRLS

WHITE (64) -- Jena Cabe (Franklin) 9, Brittany Clark (Pisgah) 2, Kristen Cook (Swain County) 6, Cayla Cucumber (Smoky Mountain), Brady Deddo (Robbinsville) 4, Shermia Forney (Asheville) 14, Evan Moffitt (Franklin) 3, Stephanie Nichols (Blue Ridge) 9, Rachel Olivo (Enka) 15, Whitney Harrell (Franklin) 2.

BLUE (95) -- Samantha Blevins (Mitchell) 14, Stephanie Chapman (Roberson) 4, Areyshea Dunbar (Roberson) 7, Kim Gragg (Avery County) 6, Kelsea Greene (McDowell) 2, Ebonique Hamilton (McDowell) 12, Gentry Manley (Roberson) 7, Latwyella Maxwell (East Rutherford) 4, Charity Honeycutt (Mountain Heritage) 6, Kurie Washington (McDowell) 33.

Halftime: Blue, 50-35.

Posted by: North Carolina

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