GREENSBORO — For most, last week’s N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star Games afforded athletes one last opportunity to represent their high schools.

The games offered some teammates one last chance to play together and a first chance for longtime opponents to become teammates for others.

For most it was an opportunity to play before embarking on their collegiate careers, while for at least one, it was the final game she would play.

For the nine local all-stars — Green Hope’s J.D. Pelham (basketball), Green Hope’s Nicole Danford (soccer), Apex’s Stephanie Partenheimer (soccer), Apex’s Katy Dodd (soccer), Apex’s Ryan Duffy (soccer), Apex’s Will Stewart (soccer), Apex’s Richie Kazazian (football), Cardinal Gibbons’ Lauren McAnallen (soccer) and Cardinal Gibbons’ Matt Schaefer (football) — it was a worthwhile and memorable experience.

The East won the 60th annual boys’ all-star game 99-93. It was the first East victory since 2004, and it evened the all-time series 30-30.

Pelham was pleased with his play, particularly on the defensive end. But more importantly, he relished the opportunity just to be there.

“It exceeded my expectations,” said Pelham, who will continue playing at Lafayette College next year. “The ceremony on Sunday was awesome at the Grandover Hotel. And the game itself, playing in the Greensboro Coliseum is something I’ve always wanted to do. … To bring the series back to 30-30 is awesome and to be a part of team that’s won the game goes down in the books, too.”

The 17th annual soccer games at the UNCG Soccer Stadium offered the one thing that is rarely equated with an all-star contest — defense. The East lost the girls’ game 1-0, and the boys’ game ended a 0-0 tie. It was the first scoreless tie in the history of the boys’ game and the combined scoring total was the lowest in the event’s history.

For Dodd, the game was the first she can ever remember playing without either of her sisters, Kelly and Amy, also on the field.

“I’m always used to looking up the field and seeing my sisters because they’re both really tall and you can always see them,” Dodd said. “It was weird not seeing them there. I sort of struggled with that a little.”

Though her sisters weren’t there, another familiar face was. Partenheimer played as a midfielder at Apex, but she played next to Dodd in central defense at the all-star game, giving the two one last chance to play together after a hugely successful four-year run at Apex.

“Katy’s an awesome player, and through high school I always loved playing with her,” Partenheimer said.

Now the two Cougars who helped Apex win the 2007 state championship will go their separate ways. Dodd will play at Appalachian State, while Partenheimer will be at N.C. State.

For Danford, she closed the book on high school while opening the one for college all in the same night. Her last high school game occurred on the same field at UNCG where she will play for the next four years.

“I’m very excited. I’ll be back here,” Danford said. “It was really fun. This is going to be my field, soon.”

McAnallen said she was shocked when she was chosen to participate, and she was a bundle of nerves before the game. “I didn’t know any of the girls,” she said. “I’ve only been playing in high school in 2-A, so I haven’t really been up with this competition. But it was a lot of fun. It was a good experience and I’m glad I got chosen.”

With about 10 minutes to play, McAnallen nearly tied the game. She cracked a volley from about 12 yards out — the thud of her foot meeting the ball echoed throughout the stadium — but the shot crashed off a defender before it reached the goal.

Had it gone in, it would’ve been a memorable conclusion to her playing days. McAnallen will enroll at Virginia Tech this fall, where she will study engineering. She has no plans to play competitive soccer anymore.

“This is it,” McAnallen said. “It was an awesome final experience. I’m going to miss it, but I’m looking forward to moving on.”

In the men’s soccer game that followed, Duffy and Stewart had one last chance to play together before they will become collegiate opponents. Stewart will play at High Point next year, while Duffy is off to Appalachian State. Their teams will meet on Sept. 17 in High Point.

“I’ll probably never play with him again but probably against him,” Stewart said. “It was cool. I didn’t even think about that.”

Despite the lack of scoring, both players took pride in their slice of East-West history.

“That’s a tribute to our defense,” Duffy said. “Both keepers did well, too.”

The 60th annual football game was delayed about 90 minutes because of a thunderstorm that roared through the Triad at sundown. Kazazian, a linebacker, and Schaefer, a placekicker and punter, waited out the delay in the locker room, knowing that the game would be played regardless of how long the delay lasted.

Once the weather system finally passed and the game got underway, Kazazian found himself back in the locker room. Late in the first quarter, he suffered a gash on his right ear that sent blood streaming down his neck and all over his white jersey.

“My earlobe almost came off,” Kazazian said. “I didn’t feel it. It didn’t hurt at all. It wasn’t a big deal.”

He emerged from the locker room in the second quarter, only to turn around and head back shortly thereafter because there was less than two minutes to play in the second half.

By the end of the 27-3 East win — the first time since 1995-96 the East has won in consecutive years — the Apex linebacker had helped his team hold the West to the fewest points scored since 2001.

Kazazian also used the opportunity as a college preseason warm-up. He’ll report to Wingate next week. “The two-a-days got us ready,” Kazazian said. “You’re not cramping up. Everyone’s hitting. It’s good to warm up the body.”

Schaefer also hopes to use his East-West experience as a college warm-up. But unlike everyone else, his spot isn’t awaiting him when he arrives at school. Schaefer hopes to walk on to the N.C. State football team. In the all-star game, he had three touchbacks and was 3-for-3 on extra point tries for the East.

“I need to get a little bit more strength,” Schaefer said. “If you can put it in the end zone every time [in college], they’ll be happy.”

And if he doesn’t make the team at State, then he’ll cherish his final football game.

“It was great,” Schaefer said, “a week I’ll never forget.”