The games, which are held the same week as the NCCA coaching clinics, where more than 7,500 high school and middle school coaches descend upon Greensboro, mark the unofficial end of one athletic season and beginning of the next. This Friday, the 2011-12 athletic school year begins for some fall sports.

Nine western Wake athletes participated in four of the five all-star games this year.

All suited up for the East teams, which went 1-2-2 against the West in last week's games.

Girls basketball

Middle Creek's Amber Battle had a sizable cheering section on hand at the NCCA girls basketball all-state game on Monday night.

Former Lady Mustangs teammates and coaches took up an entire row of seats at the Greensboro Coliseum and cheered on their friend one last time.

Battle ended her high school career as a winner, with the East prevailing over the West 66-58.

It was a quiet night for most players on the offensive end, and Battle finished with three points and four rebounds. But her friends and family got to see the school's all-time leader in blocked shots hand out two more of her trademark blocks, giving them plenty to cheer about.

"It was great having all that support behind me," said Battle, a Richmond recruit.

Courtney Melvin, an East Carolina recruit from East Bladen, was the MVP after scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Girls soccer

Ashley Clark, Panther Creek's all-time leader in assists and goals, wasted no time in getting a hand in one final goal on Tuesday night at UNC-Greensboro's soccer stadium.

Clark found Margo Flewelling of Chapel Hill open in the penalty box to give the East team a goal in the third minute.

The West eventually pulled even in the second half, ending the contest in a 1-1 tie.

"It was really cool for us to only practice for two days and play the way we did," said Clark, who will play at Campbell this fall. "Margo was just there, and I hit it to her for the goal. It was an amazing feeling to be picked for this match."

Clark, a midfielder, was able to dribble past her defender before her right foot curled a cross to the far post for Flewelling. The East team controlled the pace of the match in the first half.

To start the second half, West coach Mike Sloan changed his team's formation to spread out the East to allow for more passing lanes.

West midfielder Sabrina Summers stole the ball and made a perfect pass to forward Julia Singley between two East defenders in the 51st minute. Singley's breakaway goal went past Apex goalkeeper Heather Muller, who also recorded two saves.

Muller, who will play at UNC-Asheville next year, was one of two Tri-Nine goalkeepers in the match.

UNC-Charlotte recruit and Cary standout Annie McHenry did not allow a goal and had three saves in the first half.

It was the second all-star game in as many weeks for Clark. She scored a goal in the "Battle of the Carolinas" game a week earlier, helping North Carolina to a 4-2 win against South Carolina.

Boys soccer

Members of the East team in the NCCA boys all-star soccer match said they didn't play well at times. Some, such as Panther Creek graduate Scooter Oliver, thought the match was over.

So with 15 minutes remaining, the East changed its formation and was motivated by one thing: pride.

With two goals in two minutes in the second half, the East tied the West in a game that finished in a 2-2 tie.

"I was surprised with how hard everybody worked to come back after being down two goals," said Oliver, who will play at Campbell next year. "We really wanted to put on a show, so I felt we had to show some resolve."

Oliver, who did not score or have an assist in the game, did benefit with the attacking style the East showed during the game's final half. He pressured the West players, giving the East a decided advantage in possession late in the game.

"This whole thing was a lot of fun," said Oliver, the only western Wake player in the game. "I think the area that we're from is really excelling fast and we have a lot of great competition, so I'm glad we represented the area well."

Football

The East football squad found itself on the defensive early and often in Wednesday night's NCCA East-West all-star games finale.

And while three first-half turnovers and a lost onside kick is not a recipe for winning - the West team prevailed 19-7 before a crowd of 7,991 at Jamieson Stadium on the campus of Grimsley High School - it was an opportunity for western Wake defensive players to shine.

Donte Johnson, who played at Cary this past season, had a busy night, with a game-high eight tackles (one half-tackle for loss).

"Stats don't matter, but other than one big play I did real good," said Donte, who is heading to Fayetteville State to play in the fall. "I had a great experience at Cary after transferring from Clayton. And coming here, it's an honor and a privilege."

Panther Creek's Isaiah Johnson contributed on both sides of the ball with four tackles, including 2.5 for loss (one half-sack) and also pulled in the longest pass of the game for the East, a 29-yarder.

"It was a great experience playing with all these all-star players," said Isaiah, who will play for Western Carolina in the fall. "Through the week, we had a good bond. Everybody was laughing with each other, making jokes and having fun."

Fuquay-Varina defensive tackle Ethan Ricci, who will play at Lenoir-Rhyne next year, had three tackles. Linebacker Zach Bender of Athens Drive, also a Fayetteville State recruit, had one tackle.

Ricci and Donte Johnson each got the start on a defensive unit that spent 16 of the 24 minutes playing in the first half on the field.

"It was pretty tough," said Isaiah about being on the field that long. "But these were a bunch of great guys and I was having fun."

Salisbury quarterback John Knox II, who caught a 50-yard TD pass and ran for 49 yards for the West, was the offensive MVP. North Rowan's Javon Hargrave (five tackles, 2.5 for loss), was the defensive MVP.

Knox's touchdown catch came the following play after West kicker Shawn Williams (North Davidson) surprised the East squad's special teams by kicking and recovering his own onside kick. It was a 13-point surge that only took 10 seconds to complete.

Staff Writers D. Clay Best and Nate Taylor contributed to this report