HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS HOOPS: Ridgeview's Caylee Sykes sinks game-winner, J.I. Burton's Sarah Williams earns MVP honors in VHSCA All-Star Game

WISE, Va. – Caylee Sykes had several notable moments during her high school hoops career, but the Ridgeview senior experienced something new on Sunday afternoon.

She made a buzzer beater.

“First time,” Sykes said. “Last game.”

Sykes sank a 3-pointer as time expired to give the Blue team a 59-56 victory over the Red squad in the Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star Game at the David J. Prior Convocation Center on the campus of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

Sykes scored just five points on Sunday, but they were all crucial.

Her layup with 1:05 remaining tied the game at 56 and after a pair of missed free throws by Andrea Lassiter (Heritage-Newport News) of the Red squad, the Blue All-Stars held the ball for the game’s final 28 seconds to get one last shot. 

Sykes took a pass from Hadaya Abshire – her teammate at Ridgeview – and drained a wide-open look on the wing in front of the Blue squad's bench. 

“I didn’t plan to shoot,” Sykes said. “I was hoping Hadaya would shoot it. I knew time was about out, so I just went with it.”

Making her mark as one of the best defensive players in Southwest Virginia during her time with the Wolfpack, the tenacious Sykes helped Ridgeview reach the VHSL Class 2 state semifinals in both 2024 and 2025.

“It’s definitely been a ride and I am grateful for it all,” Sykes said.

J.I. Burton’s Sarah Williams scored 16 points in earning MVP honors for the Blue squad.

“It was fun to play without any pressure,” Williams said. “One more time to put on this jersey.”

Having scored more than 1,500 points during her prep career, Williams has signed with Montreat College in North Carolina. She shared the court with Burton teammates Kaylee Lamb and Rehgan Sensabaugh on Sunday.

Azzy Hammons of the Raiders was supposed to compete in the event but was on crutches after suffering a knee injury in Burton’s state quarterfinal loss at George Wythe.

“I will miss them a lot,” Williams said.

Williams was the catalyst as her team erased a 14-point halftime deficit.

Abshire also scored 16 points for the winners.

William & Mary signee Dynasti Pierce from Lafayette High School in Williamsburg scored a game-high 21 points in earning MVP honors for the five-player Red squad.

“It was a good experience,” Pierce said. “I just wanted to go out there and have fun.”

She also paid a visit to far Southwest Virginia for the first time, about a 6 1/2-hour haul from historic Williamsburg. 

“Coming down here I was like, this is a lot of trees and hills,” Pierce said. “It’s cool down here though.”

Pierce averaged 17.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 season as Lafayette reached the semifinals of the VHSL Region 3A tournament.

“I just tried to play with pace and poise this season,” Pierce said. "I also just wanted to go out there and have fun every time I stepped on the court. “

Williams was among those impressed.

“The Lafayette girl was pretty good,” Williams said.

Fort Chiswell’s Blair Jackson had 10 points, while Gracie Tompkins of VHSL Class 2 state champ Wise County Central collected eight points for the Red team.

BLUE (59) – Lamb (J.I. Burton) 2 0-0 4, Williams (J.I. Burton) 5 4-4 16, Sensabaugh (J.I. Burton) 3 0-0 6, Goins (Rye Cove) 4 0-2 8, Harless (Rye Cove) 1 0-0 2, Sykes (Ridgeview) 2 0-0 5, Abshire (Ridgeview) 6 0-0 16, Jackson (Hurley) 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 4-6 59.

RED (56) – Tompkins (Wise County Central) 3 2-2 8, Jackson (Fort Chiswell) 4 0-2 10, Jones (Warwick) 1 0-0 3, Pierce (Lafayette) 8 2-2 21, Lassiter (Heritage-Newport News) 3 6-8 14. Totals 19 10-14 56.

Blue 11 8 25 15—59

Red 14 19 7 16—56

3-point goals – Blue 7 (Abshire 4, Williams 2, Sykes), Red 8 (Pierce 3, Jackson 2, Lassiter 2, Jones). Total fouls – Blue 10, Red 6. Fouled out – none. Technicals – none.

A look at the history of the Virginia High School Coaches Association girls basketball All-Star Game:

1980 (Richmond): West 91, East 85

University of Tennessee signee Lynne Collins (Blacksburg) scored 31 points, while Deborah Jones (Flatwoods) finished with five points and six rebounds as the West won the inaugural matchup.

1981 (Blacksburg): East 72, West 66

George Wythe’s Meg Turner scored 15 points for the West in her final high school game before playing at Vanderbilt University.

1982 (Blacksburg): West 87, East 85

Grundy’s Tracy Fletcher pumped in 10 points, while Carroll County’s Pam Horton (six points) and Rich Valley’s Patty Boardwine (four points) contributed to the win too. 

1983 (Charlottesville): East 71, West 48

St. Paul’s Ellan Fugate scored seven points in the loss. Harrisonburg’s Joyce Sampson (the younger sister of Ralph Sampson) scored five points for the East.

1984 (Charlottesville): East 50, West 47

Wilson Memorial’s Mary Lindsay scored 14 points and sank the to-ahead free throws for the East with 1:09 left. Sheryl Absher (Richlands) scored four points for the West.

1985 (Lynchburg): East 83, West 76

The West received 14 points from Alice Neal (Bland County) and six points from Rich Valley’s Missy Doane.

1986 (Lynchburg): West 68, East 64

Christy Winters (South Lakes) led the East with 20 points and six rebounds.

1987 (Lynchburg): West 69, East 64

Clintwood’s Tracy Lyle scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field to lead the way for the West.

1988 (Lynchburg): East 58, West 49

Chilhowie’s Rebekah Reasor earned MVP honors for the West, leading all scorers with 12 points and also pulling down seven rebounds.

1989 (Lynchburg): West 51, East 48

Diane Arrington (Clintwood) contributed six points and three rebounds to the victory.

1990 (Lynchburg): West 57, East 55

Anne Fontaine (George Wythe) earned MVP honors for the West after going for 15 points and three steals. She scored the go-ahead bucket in the final seconds on an assist from Clintwood’s Melanie Rasnick. Rasnick finished with five points, while Rose Ellis (George Wythe) contributed four points and six blocks.

1991 (Lynchburg): West 85, East 73

A 17-point, two-steal performance gave Shelli Clendenon (Appalachia) MVP honors for the West.

1992 (Lynchburg): West 98, East 94 (Double OT)

George Wythe’s Kim Kincer (four points) and Patrick Henry’s Billie Hart (two points, five rebounds) were on the winning side. Pulaski County’s Terri Garland took MVP honors for the West with 13 points, seven assists and two steals.

1993 (Hampton): West 83, East 58

Windsor Coggeshall (James Madison) keyed the win with 20 points.

1994 (Hampton): West 82, East 77

W.T. Woodson’s Mary Klima (20 points), Lord Botetourt’s Jenny Gates (16 points) and Powell Valley’s Amber Lester (six points) helped the West win.

1995 (Hampton): West 83, East 80 (OT)

Kim Hairston (Bassett) scored 14 points for the West.

1996 (Hampton): West 74, East 57

Marion’s Stacy Miller (11 points), Tazewell’s Starr Anderson (five points) and Northwood’s Jessica Prater (four points) helped the West win.

1997 (Hampton): West 94, East 63

The trio of Haysi’s Lori O’Quinn (six points, five steals, three assists), Marion’s Leigh Jones (eight points) and Honaker’s Misty Davis (two points, three assists) contributed to the victory for their team.

1998 (Hampton): West 81, East 77

Shannon Segres (Gar-Field) took MVP honors with 21 points for the West.

1999 (Hampton): West 95, East 68

Tennessee recruit Kara Lawson (West Springfield) stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals in earning MVP accolades. Julie Adkins (J.J. Kelly) scored two points.

2000 (Hampton): East 89, West 78

Crystal Clary (Phoebus) had 18 points and 13 rebounds in earning MVP honors for the East. Brandi Owens (Virginia High) had five rebounds for the West, while Starr Keith (Northwood) scored three points.

2001 (Hampton): West 57, East 51

Carroll County’s Erin Gibson earned MVP honors for the winning team after going for 14 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and three steals.

2002 (Hampton): West 69, East 64 (OT)

William Fleming’s Olivia Grant earned MVP honors for the West with 21 points. Jennifer Dewell (Marion) and Melissa Large (Pound) combined for two points and six rebounds in the win.

2003 (Hampton): West 100, East 75

Lee High’s Carrie Myers sank six 3-pointers in scoring 26 points and earning MVP honors for the West.

2004 (Hampton): West 75, East 64

Allyson Fasnacht (Glenvar) scored 13 points to key the win, while Jayme Presley (Council) finished with one point and two rebounds.

2005 (Hampton): East 77, West 66

Tia Braxton (George Wythe), Autumn Arney (J.J. Kelly) and Lindsey Musick (Gate City) combined for eight points for the West.

2006 (Hampton) East 83, West 70

Ashley Williamson (Colonial Heights) dominated for the East to the tune of a 23-point, 23-rebound performance. George Wythe’s Ashlee Samuels had 13 points and seven rebounds for the West.

2007 (Hampton): East 81, West 60

Meghan Rutherford (John Battle) earned MVP honors for the West with eight points, nine rebounds, two steals and one block. Haley Odle (Gate City) had eight points for the West, which couldn’t overcome the 34-point effort of East MVP Andrea Barbour of Charlottesville.

2008 (Hampton): West 97, East 53

J.J. Kelly’s Kalen Collins (four points, nine rebounds, two steals) and Chilhowie’s Emily Doane (two points, two rebounds, one assists) helped the West win. Waynesboro’s Devon Brown scored 17 points to earn MVP honors for the West.

2009 (Hampton): West 78, East 75

The trio of Chelsea Cluesman (Lee High), Paige Tiller (Honaker) and Ashley Buckhannon (George Wythe) combined for seven points in the win.

2010 (Hampton): East 88, West 81

The West received six points apiece from Chilhowie’s Krystal Patton and Carroll County’s Kayla Goins. Andrea White (Lancaster) earned MVP honors for the East with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

2011 (Newport News): West 80, East 65

Rachel Artrip (Honaker) finished with seven points in the victory.

2012 (Newport News): West 98, East 75

Cadence Wilmoth of Patrick Henry had a 10-point, nine-rebound, four-block showing in the win.

2013 (Newport News): West 74, East 70

Wise County Central’s Hayley Wyrick went for 15 points in the win, while Charmaine Hairston (Franklin County) pumped in 20 points.

2014 (Lynchburg): West 77, East 74

Gate City’s Jordan Gose earned MVP honors for the West with a 21-point performance. She had 15 of her 21 points in the second half.

2015 (Lynchburg): East 94, West 81

Taylor Blevins (Abingdon) took home MVP honors for the West with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Kara Goodman (Twin Valley) also played well in the win with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

2016 (Lynchburg): East 93, West 88

Gate City’s Jordan Houseright (17 points, three rebounds, two blocks) and Ridgeview’s Kayla Mullins (six points, nine rebounds, three assists) played well for the West. The game was played in March instead of July for the first time in the event’s history.

2017 (Wise) Team B 89, Team A 58; Team C 88, Team D 86

Two games were held with Brooke Hammonds (Lee High) earning MVP honors for Team D with 17 points.

2018 (Wise) Red 81, Blue 74

Grace Hess (Abingdon) scored 14 points for the Blue team, while John Battle’s Callie Haderer scored nine points.

2019 (Wise) Red 76, Blue 37

Carroll County’s Madisyn Dalton (15 points) earned MVP honors for the Red team, which also received 11 points from Wise County Central’s Dee Cvetnich.

2020 (Wise) Canceled

The event was scheduled for March 21, but was axed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

2021-2024: Not Held

2025 (Wise) Blue 59, Red 56

Ridgeview's Caylee Sykes hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the West team the win. J.I. Burton's Sarah Williams (16 points) was the Blue Team's MVP, while William & Mary signee Dynasti Pierce of Lafayette scored 21 points to earn MVP honors for the Red squad.