Stackhouse stands out at NC Pro-Am

DURHAM -- The stars came out, and Jerry Stackhouse's shined the brightest in the SJG Greater NC Pro-Am championship finals Thursday night.

Stackhouse's Team Jamison knocked off undefeated team Sheraton Imperial for the 102-91 championship win at the McLendon-McDougald gymnasium on the N.C. Central campus.

Stackhouse led an early charge, finding his range and draining turn-around jumpers for Jamison. Raymond Felton also assisted with his perimeter play.

Sheraton had its own star power with Rasheed Wallace. But it was the play of Nolan Smith, Rashard Sneed and Marcus Fisher that paced Sheraton to a 51-43 first-half lead.

Nolan finished with 20 points, and Fisher had a game-high 25.

Wallace was named league's co-MVP along with N.C. Central's Dominique Sutton. The shared titled is fitting as Wallace was shouting encouragement and instruction during Wednesday's semifinals, and Sutton said he's always been a fan of Wallace.

The second half remained competitive as Jamison kept pace with Sheraton until finally catching them at 61-61 with just under 13 minutes left.

Then Team Jamison built a 74-65 lead behind the play of N.C. Central's Emanuel Chapman, who finished with 23 points.

"It's all fun. It's competitive and it helps me to play against players that are better and more experienced," Chapman said.

Sheraton quickly rebounded and retook the lead 76-74 with over 8 minutes left on James Crowder's tip-in.

The score continued to see-saw. A majority of starters remained in the game late, with Jamison holding a 92-91 lead with two minutes remaining.

Then Stackhouse hit consecutive 3-pointers and followed with free throws to build a seven-point lead, allowing Jamison to finish out the 102-91 win.

"It's a good chance to get out here and show these young boys the old man can still play a bit," Stackhouse said.

Stackhouse is also one of the event's founders and said he wanted to give high school and young college athletes a chance to improve their talents.

"It's about having a good place to play. A good place to develop and play competitive basketball," Stackhouse said.

Professionals, college players and players fresh out of high school compete.

Stackhouse remembered his high school days, playing against college and pro talent which helped grow the idea for the current Pro-Am tournament.

Stackhouse said he hopes the league can grow through increased sponsorship.