Meighan Simmons scores 21, Karla Gilbert 15 to lead West over East in McDonald’s girls game

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Simmons leads West over East in McDonald’s game

COLUMBUS, Ohio — No one was more surprised than Meighan Simmons that she ended up as the player of the game.

The Tennessee signee scored 21 points in 14 minutes and Texas A&M-bound Karla Gilbert added 15 points to lead the West past the East 84-75 Wednesday night in the McDonald’s All-American game at Ohio State’s Value City Arena.

“To be honest with you, I wanted to come here and have fun,” said Simmons, from Steele High School in Cibolo, Texas. “I wasn’t expecting anything at all. It’s just a blessing to be in a game like this.”

Chiney Ogwumike, headed for Stanford, had 14 points and Duke’s Richa Jackson added 12 points for the West, which built a big early lead and then hung on as the East mounted a furious comeback.

Natasha Howard, who will play at Florida State this fall, was the East MVP with 20 points, while future Connecticut teammates Bria Hartley and Stefanie Dolson had 17 and 12, respectively.

Howard, Ohio’s Ms. Basketball out of Waite High School in Toledo, was supported by several dozen relatives and fans who drove down for the game.

“That was my high school team, my mom and some friends,” she said. “They were the loudest people in the crowd.”

With the game tied at 16, the West scored 21 of the next 27 points to take control. Jackson, a Duke signee, had six points and Ogwumike and Simmons each had four in the surge.

The East, down by as many as 22 points, drew as close as six points with less than a minute left on a 3-pointer by Penn State’s Maggie Lucas. But Simmons hit two foul shots and Madison Williams, headed for Michigan State, hit a follow for some breathing room for the West.