There are some terrific games happening across the Tar Heel in the second round of the NCHSAA playoffs. We take a peek look at four games (two from the East and two from the West) you’ve got to see on Thursday.  

East 4-A #17 Leesville Road (Raleigh) at #1 Millbrook (Raleigh)

Millbrook High School is 24-1 on the season. That only loss? Coming from the hands of their second-round opponent Leesville Road High School. The Pride knocked off Millbrook 80-61 in the CAP 6 Conference Tournament finals. 

Millbrook is led by 6-foot-2 senior guard Phillip Burwell who has been steadily averaging 14.8 points per game this season. He has good size at the guard spot and knows how to score the basketball. He is the guy that is always talking to teammates, calling out defensive moves and is the leader for this team. Sophomore Will Felton stands 6-foot-6 and is a presence in the post with his footwork and ability to get rebounds and easy buckets around the rim. In the paint with Felton is junior forward Sam Hood. The 6-foot-8 Hood is a good area rebounder and is scoring at 8 points per game clip. 

Leesville Road comes into this match-up with a record of 16-12 overall. Head Coach Russ Frazier has one of the top 2021 prospects in the state with guard Carter Whitt. He has offers from NC State and Virginia and is considered a national top-100 recruit for the 2021 class. He plays the game at his own pace and is one of the best passers in the state regardless of class. The other piece to the puzzle for Leesville Road is 6-foot-9 big man RJ Wilson. The Presbyterian signee is a monster on the glass and can deter shot selection when the opponent gets into the lane. 

East 3-A #16 Terry Sanford (Fayetteville at #1 Hillside (Durham) 

Hillside has been near the top of the 3-A media rankings for most of the season. Their only loss coming from Northwood High School 55-52. 

Hillside is led by 6-foot guard Derrick Wiley. The senior is a blur with the ball in his hands, does a good job of getting by defenders and setting up teammates. He has the ability to get hot from outside and can consistently make the long ball. This is not a team with a highly recruited player, just a team that plays well together and has the pride of the Hillside community behind them. They play hard and get it done night in and night out. 

Terry Sanford has an overall record of 20-7 overall and finished 2^nd in the Patriot 3-A/4-A conference. Juniors Yates Johnson and Jay Hendricks are the go-to-guy for Terry Sanford, averaging 13 points and 12 points respectively. Yates is a high basketball IQ wing that is also a very good passer and Jay Hendricks provides a lot of the scoring for Terry Sanford. 

West 2-A #13 East Rutherfordton (Forest City) at #4 Hendersonville 

The top-seeded team in WNC, Hendersonville finished the regular season with a 21-2 record overall and winning the Mountain 6 2-A Conference regular season and tournament. The Bearcats are led by 6-foot-9 unsigned senior Ben Beeker. Beeker is a walking double-double machine and is a skilled post player that can also stretch the floor. Hendersonville also boasts 6-foot-5 wing Kalin Enlsey, who is also the quarterback for the football team. Ensley is an athletic physical wing that can finish plays above the rim and can knock down some jump-shots. Freshman Dwight Canady has been a bright spot for the future of Hendersonville with his shooting from deep. 

East Rutherford is coached by one of the greats in the state, Brad Levine. Levine led The Cavaliers to the 2011 state 2-A title. This year the Cavs are 20-5 overall and are led by 1,000 career point scoring small forward Christian Walker. The 6-foot-5 Walker is averaging 18.5 points and 10 rebounds per game.  East Rutherford finished second at 7-3 in the always tough Southwestern 2-A Conference. 

West 4-A #11 Vance (Charlotte) at #6 West Charlotte 

Vance High School got by Hough High School 68-56 in the first round. Leading the way for Vance is 6-foot-2 senior guard Ralph Black who is averaging around 25 points per game and Brandon Beidelman, a 5-foot-10 senior guard who is chipping in 16 points per game.

West Charlotte is led by top-30 national recruit and Florida State signee Patrick Williams. The 6-foot-8 “point-forward”, is a do-it-all type player for Jacoby Davis and The Lions. Williams can shoot the ball, get ot the rim, rebounds, and block shots. Also leading the way for West Charlotte is 6-foot-1 point-guard Cartier Jernigan, a USC-Upstate commitment who really affects the game by his ability to get up and down the floor and make shots. Down low for West Charlotte is 6’6 sophomore big Josiah Dow. Senior guard Quentin Thomas can score the ball well from the perimeter for the Lions averaging nearly 14 per game. 

In the two games prior to this meeting, Vance lost to West Charlotte 67-61 and 52-49. This should be a really good game between two of Charlotte’s best.