NCHSAA regional championship update: Get live scores, game recaps, schedules and more
Day 1 of the NCHSAA’s big week of basketball regional finals and state championships is in the books.
Corvian Community and Wilson Prep were the 1A boys’ regional championship winners Monday, while Cherokee and East Columbus won in the girls’ regional finals.
The playoffs continue Tuesday with play in the 3A division, followed by 2A Wednesday and 4A Thursday. All games will be played at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem.
Check back for game updates and state championship previews.
Game results
1A East girls: East Columbus wins
East Columbus went on a 10-2 run late in the third quarter, then held off an East Bladen comeback for a 76-66 victory Monday afternoon in the 1A East girls’ regional final.
In the opener of a 24-game schedule of final four week in Winston-Salem, East Columbus sophomore Malia Graham was the difference-maker.
She scored 12 of her team-high 29 points in the third-quarter run, as the Gators (26-1) expanded their lead to 49-29 over the Eagles (25-5).
East Bladen made it interesting in the fourth quarter, converting several Gator turnovers into layups and narrowing the gap to under 10 points (71-62) with 1:22 to play. But East Columbus steadied itself and advanced to Friday’s 1A girls’ state championship game.
It was the third victory in four tries this season for East Columbus against East Bladen. The two schools are fellow members of the Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference, northwest of Wilmington.
The game’s leading scorer was East Bladen junior Laila Smith, who poured in 36 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. NeNe Ward added 19. Graham was supported by Malayah Hines and Chynna Patrick (each with 17).
1A East boys: Wilson Prep surges on
Wilson Prep will have a chance to win a second straight 1A state championship Friday. The Tigers bolted to a big early lead and dominated Bertie 62-46 in the 1A East boys’ regional finale Monday.
The Tigers (27-5) jumped to a 10-0 lead and were up 23-7 after the first quarter — in big part, due to the distance shooting of Leslie Minter. A senior guard, Minter hit three 3-pointers in the opening eight minutes.
Wilson Prep built its lead to 19 points in the second quarter and maintained their comfortable lead into the fourth quarter.
But Bertie (26-5), which made just 1-of-15 3-point shots in the opening three quarters, suddenly got hot. Falcons’ senior wing Trevon Halleran hit three distance shots in a span of 2 1/2 minutes, and Bertie cut the deficit to 47-39 with 4:15 remaining.
Halleran and his teammate then lost the shooting touch, making just 1-of-7 from 3-point range the rest of the way, and Wilson Prep reopened the big gap.
Minter led the Tigers with 16 points, and David Ellis added 17 rebounds.
Halleran topped Bertie with 16 points. The Falcons were outrebounded 37-22.
1A West girls: Cherokee cruises to win
Cherokee jumped to an early lead Monday evening and rolled past top-seeded Mountain Heritage 64-51 for the 1A West girls’ regional championship.
The victory send the Braves (28-1) to the state championship game for the first time in 26 years. Mountain Heritage, which won the 2019 2A state crown, finished the season at 28-3.
Cherokee led 9-4 with 3:10 left in the first quarter, when the Braves hit three straight 3-point field goals for an 18-4 lead two minutes later. They led 20-8 after one quarter.
It was more of the same in the second period. The Braves built their lead to 31-16 and led 37-22 at halftime.
“They came out with a defensive pressure that set the tone for the game,” Cherokee coach Ann Gardner said.
Mountain Heritage’s leading scorer during the season, 6-1 Keira Wilson, did not score a point until the final 90 seconds of the first half.
The Cougars tried to close the gap in the third quarter, but Cherokee junior guard Whitney Rogers hit a pair of 3-pointers, and the Braves pulled away.
Rogers led the victors with 17 points, Joscelyn Stamper had 10 rebounds, and Daisee Fourkiller-Raby hit a pair of key 3-pointers in the second quarter.
Ava Webb (15 points) and Wilson (14) led Mountain Heritage.
1A West boys: Corvian wins with defense
Corvian Community shot only 28 percent from the floor, but the Cardinals forced 18 turnovers and turned many of those into baskets as they downed South Stokes 53-41 for the 1A West boys’ regional title.
In only its fourth year as an NCHSAA member, Corvian Community became the first Mecklenburg County school to reach the state finals in the state’s smallest size classification since Matthews School lost to Camp Lejeune 37-25 in the 1950 Class B finals.
The Cardinals (27-3) outscored South Stokes (29-2) 13-3 off turnovers and 10-2 on fast-break points. They had nine steals.
Corvian Community pulled ahead with a 13-0 run late in the second third and early in the third. That gave the Cardinals a 33-25 lead, and after South Stokes closed to within a point in the fourth quarter, Corvian surged again. The Cardinals scored 14 of the game’s final 17 points.
R.J. Moore Jr. (15 points) and Jack Hudson (14 points, 13 rebounds) led the Cardinals. Korrin N’Diaye had 12 points and 12 rebounds for North Stokes.
Upcoming game previews
TUESDAY
3A BOYS
(East Regional final) Seventy-First (27-2) vs. Westover (29-1), 4 p.m. — These teams met twice during the regular season, with Seventy-First winning 59-57 on Dec. 21, and the Wolverines evening the score with a 70-59 triumph on Jan. 24. The Falcons are led by senior Mylon Campbell (15.4 ppg). Westover’s leader is senior Ari Fulton, averaging 19.1 points and 10.9 rebounds.
(West Regional final) Hickory (31-0) vs. Central Cabarrus (31-0), 8 p.m. — This might be the most anticipated regional final of the week. Hickory, 240-24 over the last 10 seasons, is getting 13.8 points a game from 6-8 senior John Holbrook. The Red Tornadoes boast a tough defense, but will get a test against Central Cabarrus, which has won 63 in a row, is defending 3A champion, and has surpassed 90 points on a regular basis this season. The Vikings forced 39 turnovers against A.C. Reynolds in a third-round game, then blocked 14 shots against Ben Smith in the fourth round. These teams have not met in at least the last 25 years.
3A GIRLS
(West Regional final) West Rowan (30-1) vs. A.C. Reynolds (27-1), 2 p.m. — These teams have something in common. Their only losses were to 4A quarterfinalist Lake Norman. West Rowan is the defending 3A state champion and is led by 5-11 senior Lauren Arnold and 5-6 senior Demya Phifer, each averaging about 15 points a game. Junior Peyton Harvey (13.2 ppg) and freshman sister, Tait (11.8), lead the Rockets’ attack.
(East Regional final) South Central (28-2) vs. Terry Sanford (25-5), 6 p.m. — South Central’s Falcons have a balanced offense, led by 5-11 sophomore Brooklynne Evans (14.5 ppg, 11.9 rpg). Terry Sanford is led by freshman Jaidah Blake (11.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg) and junior Breonna Roaf, who averaged 7.3 assists per game. Roaf scored 20 last year, when the Bulldogs eliminated South Central from the playoffs in round 3, 66-58.
WEDNESDAY
2A BOYS
(East Regional final) Farmville Central (29-1) vs. Goldsboro (27-3), 6 p.m. — Farmville has been state champion, co-champ or runner-up five straight seasons. The Tornadoes are averaging 85.6 points a game, led by Mykal Williams (16.0 ppg) and Tyler Whitehurst (15.4). Goldsboro has a dynamic inside force in 6-6 senior Amari Latham (20.0 pph, 8.5 rpg).
(West Regional final) Salisbury (27-3) vs. Reidsville (27-0), 8 p.m. — Salisbury has won 20 in a row, with Juke Harris leading the way. Harris is among the state’s leading scorers, averaging 30.6 points a game. Reidsville owns a victory this season over 2A East finalist Farmville. Kendre Harrison (19.6 ppg, 14.9 rpg) leads the way, with Dionte Neal adding 19.4 points and 10.8 assists per contest.
2A GIRLS
(East Regional final) North Pitt (27-3) vs. Seaforth (28-3), 4 p.m. — North Pitt has demolished its 2A opposition this season. N.C. State commit Zamareya Jones is averaging 25.3 points a game and scored 35 in a playoff game last Tuesday. Seaforth, a third-year school, is 74-15 all-time under coach Charles Byrd. The Hawks are led by junior Gabby White (15.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg).
(West Regional final) Lincoln Charter (25-5) vs. East Burke (30-0), 2 p.m. — Lincoln Charter is making its furthest advance in the girls’ basketball playoffs and has set a school record for most victories in a season. But they’ve won 20 or more games four of the last six years. Senior Kallie Lusk leads the offense with 13.2 points a game. Perennial power East Burke has won every game but one by 10 or more points. Junior Braelyn Stillwell is the leader, with 22.8 points and 7.2 assists per game.
THURSDAY
4A BOYS
(East Regional final) New Hanover (31-0) vs. Richmond Senior (25-5), 6 p.m. — New Hanover, which has won the state championship 14 times (dating back to 1919), is holding opponents to 43.1 points a game. Enter Richmond Senior standout Paul McNeil Jr., an N.C. State commit. McNeil is averaging 31.6 points a game by himself. Richmond Senior lost to Myers Park in last year’s 4A title game.
(West Regional final) North Mecklenburg (28-3) vs. Lake Norman (28-2), 8 p.m. — The Vikings have lost their No. 2 scorer, Trey Maxwell, but senior leader and Duke commit Isaiah Evans has stepped up. He scored 48 points in Friday’s quarterfinal victory over Myers Park and scored 60 in a game last season. Lake Norman is a junior-dominated team, led by 6-10 Trent Steinour (15.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg). But senior Santana Lynch (14.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg) played on the Myers Park team that won the 4A state crown last season.
4A GIRLS
(East Regional final) Hoggard (30-1) vs. Rolesville (25-5), 4 p.m. — Hoggard might have the toughest defense of any team in Winston-Salem this week. The Vikings have held 22 opponents under 30 points — and 11 foes failed to reach 20 points. Rolesville junior Caitlyn Jones is averaging 23.3 points a contest, so something has to give.
(West Regional final) Charlotte Catholic (26-4) vs. Watauga (25-4), 2 p.m. — These teams played on Dec. 27, with Charlotte Catholic winning 60-48 on a neutral floor. Watauga has a powerful defense, but the Pioneers couldn’t stop 6-6 center Blanca Thomas in that game. Thomas totaled 26 points and 14 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Cougars’ defense stymied Watauga scoring leader Kate Sears, holding her to 7-of-20 shooting from the floor.
Ticket, TV information
The box office at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem will be open from noon-8 p.m. daily. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, by phone (336-758-2450), or online at www.ljvm.com.
Doors will open at 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Fans who leave the coliseum must buy a new ticket to re-enter.
All games will be televised on the NFHS Network.
Joel Coliseum information
Parking is $10 and can be paid with cash or card.
The concession stands operate on a cash-only basis.
The coliseum has a clear bag policy. Fans can bring in a clear tote (up to 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches), or a clear storage bag (up to 1 gallon capacity). The size limit for clutches, small purses or wallets is 6.5 by 4.5 inches).
There are phone-charging stations in the arena Smoking is prohibited indoors.
Regional, state championship schedule set
The NCHSAA has announced when its four classifications will play regional and state championships this week at Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem.
Monday, March 11: 1A regionals
Tuesday, March 12: 3A regionals
Wednesday, March 13: 2A regionals
Thursday, March 14: 4A regionals
Friday, March 15: 1A, 3A state finals
Saturday, March 16: 2A, 4A state finals
