ABCD: Harris shines in Senior Game loss
Paul Harris put on an impressive show saturday evening at the Reebok ABCD Senior All Star game in Teaneck, NJ, but despite a valiant 4th quarter effort, his Blue squad fell to the White 133-128. Rivals.com has the blow-by-blow from the conclusion of the Camp, including the senior awards.
When Paul Harris won the opening tip, you just knew it was going to be his night. Harris had arguably the best week of any player in the camp, winning his personal showdown with O.J. Mayo in convincing fashion, and generally outworking and out-hustling anyone put in front of him.
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In the senior All Star Game, it was no different. On an injury depleted Blue squad, he was nearly able to carry them from a double digit second half deficit to a win.
However, due to the efforts of guys like Daequan Cook, Will Harris, and Tyler Smith, the White team was able to hang on for the win.
Harris played very well in the second half, helping the White team extend their lead to 87-79 at the 15:00 mark. Then the Blue team's Doug Wiggins and Vernon Teal went to work, as a Wiggins layup, and a Teal layup sandwiched between a pair of clutch threes tied the game at 105 with 8:50 left to play.
A Tyler Smith three gave the Blue squad their first lead since early in the game at 108-105 with 7:36 left. A Tyler Smith dunk at the 6:30 mark gave the Blue team their biggest lead at 114-107, then the White squad started their comeback.
After a pair of dunks from 6-foot-8 Texan Damion James, 6-foot-5 future Ohio State Buckeye Daequan Cook took over. Cook had a layup and a pair of dunks to grab the lead back from the Blue team,117-116, and only a late Tyler Smith dunk gave the Blue squad a one point advantage going into the final five minutes. The momentum had clearly swung to the White squad.
Will Harris' hustle and more firepower from Cook down the stretch were just too much for Paul Harris and the Blue team as the White prevailed 133-128.
Will Harris led the White with 18 points. Daequan Cook had 14 points, Damion James had 14 points, Derrick Caracter had 12 points and 6 rebounds, Mike Conley and Durrell Arthur each had 11, and Earl Clark had 10 points in the win.
Paul Harris led all scorers with 34 points. He also had 7 rebounds. Tyler Smith had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Vernon Teal had 14 points, Mike Davis had 13 points and 8 rebounds, and Doug Wiggins had 8 points and 5 assists for the Blue team.
Awards
The Wallace Prather Award for citizenship was presented to Lance Thomas at the end of the game.
Senior Players of the Week were Greg Oden, who injured his back early in the first half of the all star game, and Damion James.