Trinity’s Payne appreciates role in N.C. East-West All-Star Game

Dominic Payne of Trinity eyes the basket on a drive against East’s Zack Noel of White Oak on Monday night in the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)

In girls’ game, Randleman’s Audra Petty pours in 11 points

GREENSBORO – Trinity’s Dominic Payne was a late addition to the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game for boys’ basketball and he ended up on the winning team.

The West defeated the East 108-92 on Monday night at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex’s fieldhouse.

Payne got a spot in the game as a replacement player, filling a vacancy created when Lake Norman’s Santana Lynch withdrew. That announcement came five days before the game.

“Just playing with the best people in the state,” Payne said told reporters. “Knowing I’m one of them, that’s a good thing to take away.”

Payne, a guard, was in the starting lineup for the West. He scored four points.

“It’s not hard,” he said of adjusting to playing with a different group of players. “If you know how to play basketball, within a few practices we can all learn each other.”

Payne, a two-time Player of the Year in the Piedmont Athletic Conference, is heading to Longwood to play in college.

Jamais Ferere of Southern Guilford was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after scoring 30 points on 13-for-17 shooting from the field.

Jonah Ridgill of Chatham Charter also was added to the game to replace injured Jerquarius Stanback of Asheboro. Ridgill scored 14 points in 17 minutes off the bench.

Girls’ game

The East team won 84-68 with Jasmine Felton of Northeastern as the MVP.

Felton, who’s bound for Campbell for the upcoming season, posted 30 points and 10 rebounds.

Randleman’s Audra Petty, a starting guard for the West, provided 11 points. That included a team-high three 3-point baskets, tying for the most long-range connections in the game.

Randleman’s Petty embraces spot in East-West All-Star Game