Randy Vines didn't mean to just grab his diploma and run. But the Santa Clara High senior had an All-Star game to attend.

Arriving at the Pacifica High gym on Friday night still wearing his blue gown over dress clothes, Vines made a beeline for the bathroom to change into his uniform.

He emerged with five minutes to spare, and squeezed in a few stretches before taking the court.

"It feels good to be graduated, but it was quick for pictures and I had to get out," Vines said. "But I love basketball and this was my last high school game."

Vines' teammates from the West were calling him Vince Carter in lieu of Carter's graduation from North Carolina before suiting up for the Toronto Raptors in an NBA playoff game seven years ago.

And just like Carter, Vines suffered a post-graduation letdown.

Simi Valley's Lorne Jackson and Mike Meza continued the school's athletic bliss by leading the East to a 117-105 victory over the West at the Ventura County Basketball Coaches Association All-Star games.

The West girls evened the ledger with a 75-67 victory over the East behind Ventura's Laura Easterling and Oxnard's Jen Gaines.

Putting on the games required as much logistical maneuvering as was displayed on the court.

They were originally scheduled for tonight at Royal High, but Royal had a non-athletic event on campus and Pacifica athletic director Will Cowen arranged for his school to host.

The date was switched because 10 players from Westlake, Agoura and Thousand Oaks have their proms tonight.

"The district was very supportive of us having it here, and it was a great turnout for both games," Cowen said. "I think having it on Friday was actually better for the students."

As Vines slipped into the gym to change clothes, Amelia Mathis slipped out to do the same.

The Buena High guard had 45 minutes to shower and dress for a school dance.

Mathis might have been spending Friday at a track meet, but had to skip the CIF-Southern Section prelims a few weeks ago because of national camp for soccer.

Everything came full circle at the All-Star game.

"This was fun, especially because I missed my last basketball game for Buena because of national camp for soccer," said Mathis, who will attend UCLA on a soccer scholarship. "But I am glad I could be here and get one last chance to play."

Erika Ward nearly spoiled the West party with her shooting prowess. The Royal senior won the 3-point shooting contest with 16, and added six more during the game to make things interesting in the end.

The future Ventura College guard hit three straight 3-pointers, including two from nearly halfcourt, to cut into an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter and finish with 20 points.

"I was feeling it," Ward said. "I didn't really know how I would play because I had my nails done for prom last weekend. But the shots were falling with the nails, so I kept shooting."

Gaines led the West with 17 points and Easterling had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists to earn Player of the Game honors.

Jackson was given the award for the boys after scoring 29 points and grabbing six rebounds to outduel Ventura High's James Staniland (27 points).

Jackson skipped Simi Valley's CIF-SS Division I baseball game at Dodger Stadium to participate, and capped the night with an alley-oop pass to Meza (14 points) for a dunk.

"We wanted to play together one last time," Jackson said. "It was a whole lot of fun to get to do it with a lot of other talented guys from our league. I wouldn't have missed it."