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MILWAUKEE -- Julius Erving gave Brooklyn Pope a pep talk after the Rutgers recruit had a miserable performance in a 3-point shooting contest earlier in the week.
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It seemed to help the McDonald's All-American come game time.
Pope scored 13 points and future Rutgers teammate Nikki Speed added nine points, four assists and two steals as the West beat the East 80-64 in the McDonald's All-American High School Basketball girls game Wednesday night.
"Dr. J gave me a great motivational speech about just keep going no matter what happens," said the 6-2 Pope, who couldn't find her shot in Monday's contest.
Pope looked comfortable and confident Wednesday, playing with Speed, the aptly named point guard.
The two found an instant chemistry, with the highlight play being Speed's over-the-head, no-look pass to a cutting Pope for a layup just before the half.
"I saw Brooklyn on my right and I didn't think at first (the defense) would actually come near me," Speed said. "I just remembered she was over there and just passed it."
But will Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer let her make the flashy play again?
"I don't know. I'll take it in practice, but not in the games," Speed said.
Said Pope: "If we make it work, if (we) make the bucket, what can she say?"
The West built a 24-point lead and the East never came within double digits down the stretch despite boasting two players considered the best in the nation, Elena Delle Donne, who will play at Connecticut next year, and April Sykes, who will also play for Rutgers.
The 6-4 Delle Donne said the rivalry with the Scarlet Knights is headed for another level even as the two teams remain on course to meet in the final of the Greensboro Region on Tuesday. Rutgers had five players in this game, matching Tennessee. Connecticut had two.
"That's a huge rivalry, especially now that the Tennessee one is kind of gone, so the Rutgers' one is huge and they're great players," Delle Donne said. "It's going to be a great game, and a lot of fun to watch and play. But they're awesome, so we have a challenge."
