Last Thursday evening, the Carolina Barnstorming Tour traveled up the mountain for a trip to Boone, being hosted by the Holmes Convocation Center on the campus of Appalachian State University. The Barnstorming Tour is a fundraiser that travels around the state of North Carolina with proceeds from their events going to the Ronald McDonald house being erected in Charlotte, and also proceeds helping hosting areas high school’s athletic programs.

On Thursday evening, the Holmes Center welcomed most of a star studded Barnstorming Tour roster, with seven players from the recently crowned NCAA Tournament Champions, University of North Carolina Tarheels with Danny Green, Bobby Frasor, and Tyler Hansrough leading the cast of ‘Heels.

The Western North Carolina All-Stars featured players from nine different schools, and two players from Appalachian State University. The two ASU representatives was Eddie Bermudez, a senior from this year’s squad, and Ryan Goodson.

Bermudez led the WNC All-Stars with 16 points in the second half, as the Barnstorming squad was dealt a 114-107 loss.

Unofficial records have Green scoring 21 points, Frasor 20 points, and Hansbrough 18 during the entire game, while Bermudez scored 16 points in the second half alone.

The High Country All-Stars were able to lead a majority of the first half, and built a 55-51 lead at the end of the 20-minute, running clock, first half.

The Holmes Center was filled with fans from various areas of Western North Carolina, with some fans enduring a drive of multiple hours for the event.

The event was more than an All-Star Game as autograph sessions were held prior to the game, and a Dunk Contest, and Three Point Shootout was held at halftime.

Winning the Dunk Contest was David McClure from Duke with a combination of two high flying dunks, and Jason Ridenhour from UNC-Asheville won the Three Point Shootout making five of ten shots.

During the game, Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson served as the Honorary Head Coach for the Carolina Barnstorming team.

The Barnstorming Tour has been held for the past 31 years, and has featured numerous star players, with Michael Jordan being just one of the numerous featured athletes that have participated in the tour.

Carolina Barnstorming Tour Squad consisted of Tyler Hansbrough (UNC), Danny Green (UNC), Bobby Frasor (UNC), Jack Wooten (UNC), Mike Copeland (UNC), J.B. Tanner (UNC), Patrick Moody (UNC), David McClure (Duke), Hugh "Baby Shaq" Jones (And 1), and Antwan Scott (Wake Forest).

Players making up the High Country All-Stars consisted of Eddie Bermudez (ASU), Jeremy Clayton (ASU), Ochigbo Ameh (Lees-McRae), Joe Chilton (Brevard College), Jermon Walsh (Warren Wilson College), Shawn Creal (Limestone College), MJ Njoku (Montreat College), PJ Gore (Mars Hill College), Akeene Coakley (Mars Hill College), Reid Augst (UNC Asheville), Jason Ridenhour (UNC Asheville), and Tim Magowan (Western Carolina University).

The records had McClure, Jones and Scott each scoring 10 points for the Barnstormer Team, Moody scoring eight, Copeland scoring seven, and Tanner scoring three points.

Second half totals for the High Country All-Stars had Bermudez leading the way with 16 points, Njoku scoring eight points, Walsh and Ryan Goodson scoring seven points each, Gore and Ridenhour scoring six points each, Coakley scoring five points, and Augst scoring four points.

Special thanks to Jamie Shell for scoring figures from the game.