Defending 3A champ Central Cabarrus beats 1-seed Hickory to return to title game
Central Cabarrus will have a chance to defend last season's N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A state championship later this week.
Leading most of the game, (2) Central Cabarrus handed (1) Hickory its first loss of the season with an 87-78 win in the western regional championship game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem.
- Box Score: Central Cabarrus 87, Hickory 78
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Central Cabarrus found itself trailing 54-52 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter, but that was a turning point for the Vikings.
A dunk by Desmond Kent Jr. tied the game at 54-54, and that sparked a run for the Vikings. Kent scored eight straight points and Carson Daniel got a lay-up with 1:00 left in the third quarter to give Central Cabarrus a 62-54 lead. The 10-0 run by the Vikings forced a timeout from Hickory.
The Red Tornadoes got a three-point basket from Zane Krenzel out of the timeout, but Central Cabarrus led 64-57 going into the fourth quarter.
Both teams traded baskets for most of the fourth quarter. Hickory never go closer than six points, but Central Cabarrus' lead never grew larger than 10 points until the final seconds when it briefly grew to 11 points.
Central Cabarrus had four players in double-figures, including two with more than 20 points. Kent led all scorers in the game with 25 points, shooting 11-of-15 from the field. Carson Daniel added 22 points for the Vikings.
Chase Daniel scored 15 points and Josh Dalton scored 11 points for Central Cabarrus.
Hickory also had four players in double-figures, led by Jay Powell's 23 points. John Holbrook scored 14 points, Jamien Little scored 13 points, and Zane Krenzel scored 10 points for the Red Tornadoes.
Central Cabarrus (32-0) will face (4) Seventy-First in the state championship game at 8:30 p.m. on Friday in Winston-Salem. Seventy-First defeated Westover 63-44 in the eastern regional championship earlier in the day on Tuesday.
Tuesday's loss was the first of the season for Hickory. The Red Tornaodes finish the season with a 31-1 record.
Box Score: Central Cabarrus 87, Hickory 78
Central Cabarrus: Desmond Kent Jr. 25, Carson Daniel 22, Chase Daniel 15, Josh Dalton 11, Emari Russell 8, Noah Edmisten 3, Cayden Smith 3.
Hickory: Jay Powell 23, John Holbrook 14, Jamien Little 13, Zane Krenzel 10, Jordan Lineberger 8, Izaiah Littlejohn 6, Jordan Powell 4.
