Greensboro Day Finishes State Title Business With Late Heroics
Greensboro Day Finishes State Title Business With Late Heroics
Greensboro Day captures the NCISAA Class 3A state championship with a 63-60 win over rival Wesleyan Christian Academy.
Playing an in-state rival is one thing. Battling in a third game against each other in the same season is another. Having that added to the emotions of a state title game? Well, it can be very intense.
Much was the case when No. 24 Greensboro Day faced off against Wesleyan Christian Academy for the NCISAA Class 3A championship at Charlotte Latin on Saturday. Needless to say, after two contests decided by a combined seven points, things got heated.
For starters, two of the best players on the floor -- Greensboro Day's JP Moorman and Wesleyan Christian's David Caraher -- were ejected late in the third quarter. Then, following a back-and-forth war, it took some late-game heroics to decide which squad was taking home the trophy.
Solomon Smith drilled a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to help the nationally ranked Bengals earn a 63-60 victory and cap off a season sweep of the Trojans.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/ZainMotani/status/835557688838868992" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Smith and John Newman led Greensboro Day with 14 points each, while Jordan Perkins added 12 and Moorman finished with 11. Jaylen Hoard had a game-high 23 points, and Caraher tallied 13 for Wesleyan Christian.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/CoachJ1977/status/835596648038428672" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/CoachJ1977/status/835598973972926469" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The game was as close as expected, and in the end, the true champions shined. The win, however, opens up a rather interesting debate.
Will Greensboro Day, at 33-3, get invited to the eight-team Dick's Nationals in late March?
Each of the past two seasons, the winner of this state title has been selected, including the Bengals in 2015. But with several undefeated teams remaining this season, will the committee take them again this year?
Additionally, with Moorman's ejection, will the senior leader be able to play in the first game, if selected?
There is plenty to sort out in the coming weeks, but one thing is certain: Greensboro Day finished its business to win state and put itself in a position to possibly play for a national title.
Much was the case when No. 24 Greensboro Day faced off against Wesleyan Christian Academy for the NCISAA Class 3A championship at Charlotte Latin on Saturday. Needless to say, after two contests decided by a combined seven points, things got heated.
For starters, two of the best players on the floor -- Greensboro Day's JP Moorman and Wesleyan Christian's David Caraher -- were ejected late in the third quarter. Then, following a back-and-forth war, it took some late-game heroics to decide which squad was taking home the trophy.
Solomon Smith drilled a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to help the nationally ranked Bengals earn a 63-60 victory and cap off a season sweep of the Trojans.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/ZainMotani/status/835557688838868992" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Smith and John Newman led Greensboro Day with 14 points each, while Jordan Perkins added 12 and Moorman finished with 11. Jaylen Hoard had a game-high 23 points, and Caraher tallied 13 for Wesleyan Christian.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/CoachJ1977/status/835596648038428672" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/CoachJ1977/status/835598973972926469" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The game was as close as expected, and in the end, the true champions shined. The win, however, opens up a rather interesting debate.
Will Greensboro Day, at 33-3, get invited to the eight-team Dick's Nationals in late March?
Each of the past two seasons, the winner of this state title has been selected, including the Bengals in 2015. But with several undefeated teams remaining this season, will the committee take them again this year?
Additionally, with Moorman's ejection, will the senior leader be able to play in the first game, if selected?
There is plenty to sort out in the coming weeks, but one thing is certain: Greensboro Day finished its business to win state and put itself in a position to possibly play for a national title.