Previewing N.C.'s Regionals

Cetera DeGraffenreid, the No. 14 overall prospect in 2007, and Smoky Mountain of Sylva are among the survivors set to battle in the North Carolina public-school regionals.

North Carolina’s four Public School classifications move closer to crowning champions. And there are some special players leading leading their teams in the postseason.

The most recognizable name left in the postseason is Cetera DeGraffenreid, the North Carolina signee who is the No. 14 overall prospect in 2007 by HoopGurlz.com. She is averaging 28 points and nine assists and leads Smoky Mountain (27-2) in one 2A West regional against Salisbury (26-3), which is making its fifth straight regional appearance.

East Davidson (28-1) with sophomore forward Anna Freeman, who is averaging 17 points and nine rebounds, battles upstart Newton-Conover (14-12) in the other West regional semifinal. Graham (27-0) faces Monique Floyd and Fairmont (21-5), while Whiteville (24-3), featuring junior forward Paige McCallum, tips off against Sherrita Motley and Hillsborough Orange (20-7) in the East.

Katheryn Lyons

In 4A, the Eastern Regional features Hope Mills South View (29-0), led by sophomore point guard Amber Calvin, who averages 18 points and eight assists, and Samantha Ramirez, who averages 18 points, against Durham Hillside (28-1), which features sophomore guards Asia Williams and her 16 points per game; Tamoria Holmes and junior post Ted’Chandra McCoy. Raleigh Athens Drive (25-2), featuring junior wing Chereya Smith and her 19-point average, tips off against Wilmington Laney (27-1).

The 1A East playoffs have North Carolina’s leading scorer, Whitney Stokes, who averages 28.8 points, leading Plymouth (19-2) against Pender (25-5), and Weldon (22-3) taking on East Bladen (23-6), which is led by JaToya Kemp’s 20 points per game. In the 1A West, Emily Parish and her 18-point average leads Ronsman (26-3) against East Surry (27-3), which has Temple recruit Marli Bennett. Hiwassee Dam (25-4) with Jenna Harris (17 points) faces Kernersville Bishop McGuiness (29-1) and Maryland recruit Katheryn Lyons.

The 4A West Region has West Charlotte (24-3) playing McDowell County (26-3) with junior forward Kure Washington, who is averaging 24 points and nine rebounds, and Charlotte Harding (26-3) plays Greensboro Grimsley (28-1), which is led by guard Trumae Lucas and center Nicole Hargraves.

The 3A Regionals features Wilson Beddingfield (27-1) and its 6-foot-4 junior center Jead Best (18 points, 7 rebounds) against Greensboro Dudley (23-6), which is led by 6-4 senior center Sierra Little .Winterville South Central (28-0) plays SouthWest Edgecombe (21-2) , which has senior twins Monique and Dominique Hudson, in the East.

The 3A West has Asheville T.C. Robertson (25-3) vs. Winston-Salem Carver (26-3), which has N.C. State recruit Brittany Strachan (17 points) and Boston College recruit LaShonda Pratt. Hickory (29-0) then squares off against Eastern Randolph (27-2), led by Casey Moore and Brittni Young, each of whom average 22 points.

The Eastern Regional is being played in Greeneville while the Western Regional is played in Winston-Salem. Regional finals will be held on Saturday, March 3. State Championships are played Saturday March 10, with games being played at Reynolds Coliseum, on the campus of North Carolina State and the Dean E. Smith Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina.

Harry Ball is a former AAU coach and director for the Wake County Sting, in Raleigh, N.C.

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