North Carolina Champs Crowned

Brittany Strachan of Carver was an MVP and sophomore Erinn Thompson was one of the surprise stars for Bishop McGuiness as North Carolina crowned champions in its 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A classifications.

A new star emerged for Bishop McGuiness as the rolled to 79-42 victory in the 1A state championship game over East Bladen.

The Villains (32-1) have been led all year by Maryland recruit Katheryn Lyons. A new face for the future emerged in the finals. Erinn Thompson, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, was MVP of the Championship with 30 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks. JaToya Kemp, the Eagles’ 5-10 senior, scored 30 points, but was held to 12-of-26 shooting by the taller Villains.

Bishop McGuiness led 42-23 at halftime and stretched that out to 60-37 after three quarters. It appeared the Villains’ size and physical play was too much for East Bladen to handle. East Bladen was out rebounded 52-37 in the game.

In the 4A Championship, Hope Mills South View rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat Greensboro Grimsley 69-64.

The Whirlies (30-2) extended their 14 point halftime lead to 17 with 6:41 left in the third quarter, but the Tigers from South View (32-0) rallied, cutting the lead to 49-38 entering the fourth quarter, them outscoring Grimsley 31-15 in the fourth. Championship game MVP, sophomore point guard Amber Calvin led South View with 17 points and 7 assists, while Appalachian State recruit Samantha Ramirez added 16 points. Trumae Lucas, a 5-8 junior guard, led the Whirlies with 33 points.

Winston-Salem Carver withstood a rally from South West Edgecombe to pull away for a 58-49 victory in the 3A final.

MVP Brittany Strachan, a 6-2 North Carolina State signee, led the Yellow Jackets with 29 points, while Boston College recruit LaShaunda Pratt added 12. Carver built a 25-18 halftime lead by controlling the pace. The Cougars rallied behind their press, and tied the game at 41. Using Strachan to break the press helped Carver pull away for the victory. South West Edgecombe was lead by twins (and Gardner-Webb recruits) Monique Hudson (14 points) and Dominique Hudson (10 points).

The Graham High School Red Devils (30-2) looked as if they were going to go to the wire with Sylva Smoky Mountain in the 2A championship. But shortly after halftime, Cetera Degraffenreid decided to end the suspense. She scored 36 second-half points to lead the Mustangs to an 85-62 victory.

Graham used a 13-2 run to tie the game 33-33 at halftime. They held their last lead 39-37 early in the fourth quarter. But the 5-5 DeGraffendreid (North Carolina) scored 14 straight points to end the third quarter and propel Smoky Mountain (31-2) to a runaway win. Kelli Haggard added 18 points and Kelli Woodard 10 for Smoky Mountain. Simone Robinson led Graham with 18 points and 15 rebounds.

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

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