The result was not what Myles Jenkins and the fellow seniors for the South All-Star team hoped for this past Saturday afternoon at Brookland-Cayce High School.

A dominant 1st half by the North proved too much to overcome in the 112-96 loss at the 72nd annual North-South All-Star. Center John Butler Jr. of Class 2A champion Christ Church had a game-high 17 points to earn team Most Valuable Player honors and Gray Collegiate teammates Chase McDuffie and Timothy Barnes added 8 points each.

A strong 2nd half for Jenkins, however, earned him MVP honors for the South.

He scored all 14 of his points in the 2nd half to match Carolina Forest’s Corbin Pack for team-high honors and end his championship high school career with another honor.

“With (covid-19), everything has been uncertain,” Jenkins said. “When I get the chance to play, I make sure I do my best.”

The North built a 63-38 halftime advantage. While Butler had just 4 points, AC Flora’s Robert McCray and Lancaster’s Janyle Pittman each scored 7 points, with McCray wowing the crowd with consecutive fastbreak dunks. The Class 4A Player of the Year finished with 12 points, while Pittman added 11.

The South only got as close as 9 points the rest of the way. Lexington’s Zavier Measmer had a productive 2nd half with 8 of his 10 points. River Bluff’s Malachi Reeves scored 2 points.

The girls’ game came down to the final seconds. After trailing for most of the contest, the South rallied in the final minutes for a 82-81 win over the North.

Marion’s Tonaja Lester had a game-high 18 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer to put the South up for good at 78-77.

The North had a final opportunity with 6.8 seconds left, but Aylesha Wade of Class 5A champion Clover was unable to secure the inbounds pass and time expired.

Despite the loss, Wade’s team-high 17 points earned her team MVP honors.

Airport’s Jayla Jamison was selected to the South team, but the University of South Carolina track and field commit was already scheduled to participate in the Bob Jenkins Coaches Classic in Taylors.