The N.C. High School Athletic Association girls basketball championships begin Tuesday.
In this 2A playoff preview we hand out bracket superlatives, give four favorites and one dark horse for each bracket half, and even make championship predictions (that we're sure nobody will have any problem with and will be shocked if any of them don't pan out, right?).
We also listed the top 10 players in each bracket half. Many of these players are candidates for our all-state teams that are released a few weeks after the regular season. There's a first, second, and third team of 15 players each, plus an honorable mention team of 30.
Before reading, don't miss out on these links to our girls basketball coverage from this year.
2A East breakdown
Bracket superlatives
Best first-round matchup — (18) SouthWest Edgecombe at (15) St. Pauls features two of the better programs in the East.
Best chance at a first-round upset — (17) Hertford County over (16) Southeast Alamance, though it's hard to call it too much of an upset.
The hardest road — (3) Seaforth. The Hawks were humbled a bit in last week’s conference tournament when they saw Northwood snap their 17-game winning streak. A pesky (14) Beddingfield squad could take the trip to Jordan Lake in round two before the potential of another showdown with the Chargers next Tuesday. Unbeaten (2) Southwest Onslow is lining up to be the team’s fourth round opponent.
The easiest road — (1) North Pitt. A lot of roads are easy when you have the personnel that coach Antwon Pittman has. Zamareya Jones’ hopes that the final chapter of her last dance ends in Winston-Salem. Thanks to the supplementary guard play of Jordan Speller and Kenae Edwards, that dream could easily become a reality.
Four favorites and a dark horse
Favorite #1 — (1) North Pitt
Favorite #2 — (3) Seaforth
Favorite #3 — (2) Southwest Onslow
Favorite #4 — (10) Goldsboro
Dark horse — (11) Northwood
Our top 10 players in the bracket
- Zamareya Jones, North Pitt
- Gabby White, Seaforth
- Jasmine Felton, Northeastern
- Jordan Speller, North Pitt
- Yamorie Hardison, Southwest Onslow
- Tanzania Locklear, East Carteret
- Taniya Simms, Fairmont
- Jashontae Harris, St. Pauls
- Jaliyah Mitchell, Hertford County
- Torvonyah Heggie, West Craven
2A West breakdown
Bracket superlatives
Best first-round matchup — (19) Hendersonville at (14) Southwestern Randolph. It won't be easy for the Cougars to defend on the home court.
Best chance at a first-round upset — (21) Maiden at (12) Lincoln Charter. The Blue Devils are a tough out.
The hardest road — (4) Community School of Davidson has a few traps set with potentially (13) East Surry in the second round or (5) Randleman or even (12) Lincoln Charter or (21) Maiden in the third.
The easiest road —
Four favorites and a dark horse
Favorite #1 — (3) East Burke
Favorite #2 — (6) Salisbury
Favorite #3 — (2) East Rutherford
Favorite #4 — (7) North Stanly
Dark horse — (8) T.W. Andrews
Top 10 players in the bracket
- Braelyn Stilwell, East Burke
- Makayla Noble, Salisbury
- Shalyn Bell, North Surry
- Jada Whitesides, East Rutherford
- Anna Rollins, Wilkes Central
- Jamyrah Cherry, Salisbury
- Azaryia Griffin, Forest Hills
- Carolina Robinson, West Lincoln
- Damireona Burch, Bunker Hill
- Khiara Culliver, Maiden
Championship and regional final picks
2A East: Seaforth over North Pitt
2A West: East Burke over North Wilkes
2A championship: Seaforth over East Burke
When Seaforth is at its best, few teams in the state are more efficient with the basketball. Gabby White is a premier floor general, and a matchup with the Panthers will mean that her Hawks will have escaped several battles over the past two weeks.
At long last, 2024 feels like the year that East Burke will break through and get the chance to play for a title. Braelyn Stilwell is one of the best all around guards in the state, and her game will be fun to watch on the NCHSAA’s biggest stage.
In the end, Seaforth’s depth, experience, and poise will help them flip the script on a state runner-up finish from a year ago.
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