By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
The honors keep rolling in for Katie Paschal as the Williamston hoops star was recently named to the East team as part of the annual East-West game which pits the state’s elite players against one another and will be played on July 19 at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Paschal, who wrapped up her record-setting career with the Tigers as the state’s second all-time leading scorer with 3,160 points, has also been named AP first-team all-state and landed on a spot on the star-studded North Carolina prep roster that defeated South Carolina’s all-stars in March.
“It’s just a big honor to make the team, just like the (making the) North Carolina-South Carolina team. And I think some of the girls who played in (the North Carolina-South Carolina) game will be there too,” Paschal said. “But it’s just an honor to be selected and get to play in the game.”
One of Paschal’s teammates on both the all-star teams is Perquimans star center Quinyotta Pettaway.
Pettaway and Paschal formed a rivalry this season when their two teams battled for the Four Rivers Conference regular season and tournament titles, both of which were won by Paschal’s Tigers.
Both players seemingly stepped up their play and intensity when their team’s would clash forming the perception of a rivalry. However, Paschal said after getting to know the Pirates’ 6-3 rebounding machine, that the rivalry is a friendly one.
Playing in the North Carolina-South Carolina game was a bitter-sweet experience for Paschal because the star played a limited role in the game due to an injury leading up to the contest in late March.
“I actually twisted my ankle really bad in practice. … I went up to block a girl’s shot and came down on the other girl’s foot and twisted it,” Paschal said.
“(The coaches) got me in the game but it wasn’t until the very end. I scored five points in about seven minutes, but my ankle was bad and it had to be taped up like they would a cast. … So I didn’t really get to play, but at least I got to get in the game.”
Paschal, whose 33.2 points per game average was tops in the state this season, said that the ankle is nearing 100 percent and that she believes she will fine be the time the East-West game comes around.
“Oh, it will definitely be all right,” Paschal said. “I’m working out and everything now and have been for a couple of weeks.”
Paschal, who received a scholarship to play for East Carolina University, said she was given the OK to play by recently hired hoops coach Heather Macy.
Macy will be taking over the program for departed popular Pirates’ coach Shannon Baldwin-Tenor, who moved back to her home state of Georgia to coach Georgia State.
Paschal, who was signed by Baldwin-Tenor, said she was sorry to see her leave ECU, but is excited to work with Macy.
“Of course I was really disappointed (to find out Baldwin-Tenor left) because I had known her ever since I was like 10 from going to her camps and everything. I have been to her house and was really excited to go play for her,” Paschal said. “But I actually know the new coach, I have been to a couple of her camps and I really like her. I’m really excited about it and I could not have asked for a better replacement.”
East Team
1. Name Pos. Ht. Hometown School
Casey Elliott G 6-8 Saratoga Wilson Beddingfield
Markeisha Gatling F/C 6-4 Raleigh Athens Drive
Kayla Harris F 6-0 Raleigh Wakefield
Kristen Lyon G/F 5-10 Durham C.E. Jordan
Alishia Mosley G 5-8 Vass Union Pines
Amber Nichols G 5-9 Raleigh Broughton
Katie Paschal G 5-8 Williamston Williamston
Quinyotta Pettaway F 6-3 Hertford Perquimans
Rena Wakama G 5-7 Wake Forest Wake Forest-Rolesville
Nashika (Breezy) Williams G 5-10 Durham Northern Durham
Head Coach: Danielle Blackburn (Wakefield HS)
1. Assistant Coach: Patty Evers (East Bladen HS)