South Central HS Takes 4-A 

The Falcons claimed the schools’ first state championship in dominating fashion as they took down West Charlotte 72-46 at NC State’s Reynolds Coliseum. With North Carolina head coach Roy Williams sitting front and center, 2020 forward Day’Ron Sharpe scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in front of his future coach. The Falcons also got 18 points from Jahzeer Baker and 12 points from unsigned senior guard Shykeim Phillips. Sharpe was named Game MVP and Baker was named South Central’s Most Outstanding Player. The Falcons capped the state championship season by finishing 30-1 overall. Their only loss coming at the hands of The Ranney School in the John Wall Invitational. 

West Charlotte wasn’t able to catch up from the first tip as South Central took a big lead after the first quarter, 17-6. Florida State signee Patrick Williams scored 18 points in his final game of his storied career. Senior guard Quinten Thomas was the only other West Charlotte player to score in double-figures with 13. The Lions finished the season at 27-6 overall. 

In Their Own Words 

Head Coach Chris Cherry had this to say about his team winning the title, “Great day to be a Falcon! Really proud of our team, what an amazing playoff run. One of the most dominant in 4-A history.”

Senior guard Shykeim Phillips on the win, “It was a hard-fought battle from both sides but I am glad we were the team to finish on top, this is a dream come true for me personally and I don’t think it there was a better way I can send my senior season.” 

UNC commit Day’Ron Sharpe on the win, “It is a big accomplishment, a dream come true. I will never forget this moment and feeling winning a state championship with my boys.” 

Southwest Guilford Runs the Table 

Winning their second title in the last three years, Southwest Guilford ran the table on an undefeated season as they capped it off by taking down Williams Burlington, 67-60 at The Dean E. Smith Center on the University of North Carolina campus. The Cowboys finished the season at 32-0. 

It was a homecoming of sorts this season as guards Kobe and Keyshaun Langley returned home for their senior season after spending last season at Wesleyan Christian. Keyshaun scored 18 points and was named the Most Valuable Player of the game. Senior forward Joel Pettiford also scored 18 points for The Cowboys. 

This was one of the first times all season that Southwest Guilford only had a single-digit lead at halftime, leading Williams at the half by three 31-28. This was the only game all season that Southwest didn’t win by more than double-digits. The Southwest Guilford senior class finished 107-14 for their careers. 

Williams hung tough all game with their man-to-man defense and the play of senior guard Nasir Johnson who had 17 points on the night. Williams finished at 27-4 on the season. 

In Their Own Words 

Head Coach Guy Shavers of Southwest Guilford, “ You plan, you prepare, you practice. You hope, you wish and you dream. Then one day it happens and in my case, I am just happy that I am aware enough to realize how blessed I am. I am just the other skinny 6'6 kid from Wilmington, NC. The second time is special because you know the destination, but you have to figure out the pathway. It is one thing to win it, it is another thing to win it multiple times. It is beyond amazing to do it in perfection and dominance for the most part. 32-0 really puts you in rare air.”

Senior Forward Jay’den Turner on the win, “it means a lot to me, we had to get the job done for Christian and Dez, and for ourselves also.”

We also caught up with senior Joel Pettiford who had this to say, “We played like we was dogs we did all this for Christian.”