Randleman's Petty had one of her patented scoring spurts

GREENSBORO — Throughout her prep basketball career at Randleman High School, Audra Petty experienced stretches during games where she looked totally dominant.

Last week during the annual NCCA East-West All-Star Basketball Game at the Novant Health Fieldhouse at the Greensboro Coliseum complex, Petty had one of those stretches. It lasted a little less than a minute, but Petty fired up and connected on two straight 3-point field goals and then added a driving layup for a score. 

Her eight points in less than a minute was reminiscent of her days at RHS, but it wasn’t enough for the West team, which dropped an 84-68 decision to the East.in the annual all-star event.

“It was really a fun week getting to play with girls I used to play travel ball with and I met a lot of new girls,” Petty said. “This was really fun.”

The East had a lot of fun as they led 30-15 halfway through the first half — play was divided into two 20-minute halves — before the West chopped into its deficit to make it 35-32 with 2:30 left. Petty had a 3-pointer early in the game.

“It was an adjustment playing on a college-size court and in an arena, but it was really fun,” Petty said. “At the beginning of the game, I guess it was jitters. Everyone was a little bit off, but then we started playing a lot better together and our shots fell.”

Rules prohibit zone defenses, so Petty found herself defending a number of different players, including Wake Forest’s Audra Hillman, a participant for North Carolina in the North Carolina-South Carolina All-Star Game. She’s listed as 6-foot-0, but she looked taller. 

“She was tough to guard, but it was a fun competition,” Petty said. “I just wanted to come out and have fun. It’s an honor to be recognized. Just wanted to play the best that I can and show what I can do.”

She certainly did in the second half. Although the West fell behind 75-53, Petty fueled an 11-2 run that saw the West close to within 77-64 with 3:11 to play. A 3-pointer from Petty at 5:17 was followed by Petty picking up a loose ball near midcourt, driving to the 3-point line and nailing another. Then after an East turnover, Petty drove from the left side for a layup before Sadie Badgett made a 3-pointer to close within 13.

But the East, led by Northeastern’s Jasmine Felton, who scored 30 points, wouldn’t let the West get closer.

“They have a lot of big girls,” Petty said of the East, who had a 6-footer, a 6-3 center and two more just under 6-foot. “Most of them are going D1.”

Petty is preparing to head to the University of Lynchburg, where she will attempt to walk-on while earning a degree in physical therapy.

“I loved playing basketball at Randleman,” she said. “I made some really good friendships at Randleman. It wasn't just basketball, it was the people there.”

No doubt she left her mark at RHS.