EAST-WEST ALL-STAR GAMES: Quartet represents Wayne County

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on July 18, 2016 1:48 PM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

GREENSBORO -- Kaitlyn Sullivan and Lexi Mercer will set new precedents for their respective schools when the N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star Games begin Monday.

Sullivan and Mercer are the first-ever females selected to play in the annual mid-summer showcase that features some of North Carolina's top prep talent. Mercer will play on the East All-Star squad in basketball. Sullivan will don her goalie uniform one last time for the East All-Star girls' soccer team.

Eastern Wayne grad KK Best has been chosen for the East All-Star team in football.

Rosewood's Rick Grantham is the co-head coach for the East All-Star girls' basketball team along with Lula Ratley of South Robeson.

"It is an honor to be able to play with some of the best talent in North Carolina," said Mercer, a three-time Associated Press All-State pick who departed as Rosewood's all-time leading scorer -- male or female -- in school history.

"I'm really excited to play with Coach G one last time. This journey has been amazing and I can't think of a better way to end my high school career before I begin my college career."

Mercer signed with Elon University. Her retired jersey hangs in the school gym alongside 1974 alum Chuck Lewis, who also played in the boys' All-Star basketball game.

Sullivan helped guide injury-plagued Spring Creek to its second consecutive Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season championship. She stepped into a leadership role this season and helped the Gators' younger players mature.

In just two seasons between the pipes, Sullivan set four school records -- total minutes played (2,377), goals-against-average (1.30), total saves (198) and shutouts (15).

According to NCCA records, Sullivan is first-ever female from Wayne County to play in the annual All-Star affair. She's just the third overall athlete in SC history to achieve the honor.

"I was really, really surprised because obviously I didn't think I was good enough to go that far," Sullivan said after she received the news. "I knew I wasn't going to play college ball. So when I heard I was nominated for that, it shocked me.

"That's really cool."

Best is the 11th football player -- and 18th overall since 1978 -- picked to play in the All-Star football contest. The Warriors were last represented in 2007 by the trio of Kendrick Best, Adrian Black and former head coach Jeff Price.

A speedy multi-purpose back, Best helped guide EW to 25 wins during his final three seasons in uniform. The Warriors reached the eastern 3-A regional championship game during his sophomore and junior campaigns.

Grantham is the third RHS head coach -- and first in basketball -- to sit on the bench in an All-Star game. He guided the Eagles to three consecutive Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season titles, two eastern regional runner-up appearances and a trip to the final four this past winter.

His three teams compiled 90 wins.

"First of all, it came as a surprise to me," Grantham said. "Surely there were more deserving coaches than myself. But to honor the hard work and success of Rosewood and the support of the community, I accepted the offer.

"There was no way I was going without Lexi going as well because without her we would not have had the successful run we've had the past three years. We are excited to have a few more days together before she starts her college career."

The basketball games are Monday. The soccer contests are Tuesday and the football game is Wednesday.