July 22, 2011

Originally published in the Fayetteville Observer July 19, 2011

GREENSBORO, N.C. - East Bladen's Courtney Melvin scored a game-high 18 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the East All-Stars to a 66-58 win Monday in the annual East-West girls' game at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Melvin, who will attend East Carolina in the fall, was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

She hit six of 10 field goals and six of 11 free throws en route to her 18 points.

The only other Cape Fear region player in the game was NiCorie Sinclair of South Robeson. Sinclair made 1 of 2 free throws and was 0-for--3 from the field for a total of one point.

Melvin said it was a motivating factor for her that she was one again playing against Salisbury's Olivia Rankin. Rankin's team beat Melvin's East Bladen team the last two years in the state finals.

"This time I was going to get them," she said. "It feels great. I got to play with the best players in the state, and ending with a win and the East winning was a great opportunity."

Rankin scored only one point, missing all five of her field goals and making one free throw.

East Bladen coach Patty Evers, who attended the game, praised Melvin's performance.

"She had good hands and the guards fed her the ball," Evers said. "It appeared that was the game plan. She was very strong on the boards."