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Act one of the VOLiSports/Verizon FiOS All-Star Games defied expectations. The girls basketball exhibition featured a public school side loaded with stars, which squared off against less-heralded private schoolers who were largely used as role players on their high school teams.

But Sequoia Austin was not one of them.

The Holton-Arms senior stole the show in the Privates' 60-43 victory Tuesday at Georgetown Prep's Hanley Center, pumping in a game-high 21 points and six assists.

"It was definitely a little bit of a surprise," said Austin, who hopes to walk on at the University of Maryland next year. "We didn't really know each other all that well, but we definitely came in wanting to show something."

No one from either game, including the boys nightcap, proved as much as the Panthers' point guard. Her electric ball-handling got the crowd on its feet early and often, most notably on a second quarter jumper preceded by a slick behind-the-back dribble in transition. Seconds later, she found Holy Cross guard Kelly Mitchell for a 3-pointer from the wing, giving her side a 12-point halftime lead.

Austin was even better in the second half, scoring 15 of her 21 points.

But as one of only two private schoolers averaging double-digit points during the season, along with St. Andrew's guard Nikki Azzara, she proved capable of getting others involved. Georgetown Visitation's Kristen Haley, a Silver Spring resident, finished several of Austin's passes en route to a 14-point, 12-rebound night.

"We've played her the last few years in the [Independent School League]," said Haley. "So I pretty much knew what she could do. It was nice playing with her."

The public schoolers struggled mightily from the field, missing their first 12 shots. Sherwood's Courtney Knight finished with a team-high 13 points, while Blake's Gabi Hall added seven and Damascus' Jessie Kaufman added six. Their squad featured eight All-Gazette first and second teamers, including Knight, Hall, Kaufman, Blake's Christine Weithman, Clarksburg's Tia Johnson, Seneca Valley's Audrey Cunningham, and Whitman guards Caroline Kahlenberg and Susan Russell.

IAC's best turn friends from foes

Three weeks ago, there was no love lost between the Landon and Bullis boys basketball teams. The former had won both of their regular season matchups, while the latter took the third in the Interstate Athletic Conference final.

They made up, if for one night only.

Three players from each team buoyed the Privates' 87-80 triumph over the Publics in the nightcap. Bulldogs Andre Hodo, Kyle Middleton and Ryan Wright combined for 22 points, while Bears Danny Rubin, Kai Kight and Delonte Wellington combined for 17.

"It was a little awkward at first," said Hodo.

"The first few times they'd get the ball, I'd be running the other way," added Rubin. "We had shooting competitions in practice, three of us versus three of them, so there was still a little rivalry. But after a few times up and down the floor, it was normal."

They got plenty of help from three Good Counsel teammates, who accounted for 43 points among them. Guards Julian Harrell (16) and Jemel Sessoms (eighgt) were impressive, but the headliner was center Devon Wright-Nelson, who scored a game-high 19.

A 6-foot-5, 225-pound big man, Wright-Nelson showed off skills unusual for a man his size, hitting step-back jumpers, threes, and handling the ball in traffic. Preceding one of his third-quarter buckets, he rotated the ball behind his back and through his legs in one motion.

"It's stuff I do in practice, not really in games," said Wright-Nelson. "I might come out of the game if I try some of that stuff."

All-Gazette first teamers DeShaunt Walker (14) and Rycourt MacAuley (11) led the way for the public side, while Poolesville's Kevin Baker and Brendan McFall totaled 17.