BY TIM HAYES
Bristol Herald Courier
NORTON, Va. – Twin Valley High School point guard Garrett Horne is unselfish. That’s just the type of player who usually flourishes in All-Star games.
“I’d much rather pass any day than take a shot,” Horne said. “It looks so much better when you thread the needle and get the pass there.”
Keeping with that philosophy, Horne scored 10 points and also dished out 10 assists as the Blue team cruised to a 103-78 victory over the Red team in the third annual Team Sports Outfitters Southwest Virginia All-Star Game at J.I. Burton High School.
Six players reached double figures for the Blue team with Horne running the show. Post players Will Sawyers of George Wythe (12 points) and Otto Fletcher of Council (10 points) benefitted from several nice feeds from Horne.
Meanwhile, he also assisted on one spectacular play. In the first half, he came up with a loose ball in transition.
Instead of shooting the ball or laying it in, he threw the ball off the backboard to Chilhowie’s Curtis “Tuff” Williams, who promptly dunked it with authority.
“I just threw it up and let him do the rest,” Horne said.
Devon Matthews of Twin Springs led the Blue team with 14 points, while Patrick Henry’s Johnny Thompson (11 points) and Twin Valley’s Hunter Simpson (12 points) also played well.
Horne gained the admiration of his teammates.
“He’s a great player,” Williams said. “I wouldn’t have minded playing with him my whole high school career. It was an honor to play with him tonight … That dunk was for him.”
The Blue team raced out to a 21-point halftime lead and cruised from there. Simpson had 10 of his 12 points in the second half to secure the lead.
“It felt good to play with him one more time,” Horne said of Simpson. “We’ve played together since fifth grade, so this was good.”
Lee High’s Scotty Woliver led the Red team with 17 points, while Patrick Henry’s Ronnie Groves and Gate City’s Tihlee Anderson finished with 12 points apiece.
“I was pretty pleased,” Woliver said. “I would have liked to won, but I shot good, so that was a plus.”
Meanwhile, Horne left the gym with the MVP plaque, another win and a gang of new admirers.
“I just came in here and with this being my senior year, I just wanted to get one more game in and kick back and relax,” Horne said. “I just played my game like I always do and just looked for people to pass the ball to and get the ball to the open person.”
RED TEAM (78) – Martin (Powell Valley) 11, Keith (Pound) 0, Anderson (Gate City) 12, Overton (Thomas Walker) 2, Groves (Patrick Henry) 12, Woliver (Lee High) 17, Moore (Virginia High) 4, Palmer (Graham) 6, Laningham (Lee High) 6, J. Johnson (Gate City) 6, Fetchner (Appalachia) 2. Totals 30 12-22 78.
BLUE TEAM (103) – Williams (Chilhowie) 8, Coleman (J.I. Burton) 6, Matthews (Twin Springs) 14, Bolling (Pound) 6, Smith (Chilhowie) 4, Kendrick (Clintwood) 7, Horne (Twin Valley) 10, Thompson (Patrick Henry) 11, M. Johnson (John Battle) 3, Sawyers (George Wythe) 12, Simpson (Twin Valley) 12, Fletcher (Council) 10. Totals 41 12-19 103.
Halftime score – Blue 50, Red 29. 3-point goals – Red 6 (Woliver 3, Groves 2, Martin), Blue 9 (Coleman 2, Matthews 2, Horne 2, Simpson 2, Kendrick). Total fouls – Red 16, Blue 12. Fouled out – none. Dunk Contest winner – Williams. MVP – Horne.
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