NCHSAA 4A State Championship Preview

NCHSAA 4-A State Championships

Women's

Southeast Raleigh High School vs. Myers Park High School

Reynolds Coliseum - 5:00pm

Southeast Raleigh

Overall Record: 26-2

Conference: Greater Neuse River

Head Coach: Nicole Sampson Meyers

Southeast Raleigh returns to the championship game for the first time since 1999. The Bulldogs edged Durham Hillside 58-57 after being down by nine points in the third quarter in the Eastern Regional championship game. Southeast Raleigh lost in last year's regional final against Millbrook and seek redemption this year, as they finished third in the final NCPreps Poll, behind Myers Park. The Bulldogs will be led by Jade Phillips, who was named MVP in the regional final as she poured in 24 points and 12 rebounds. Southeast Raleigh also has Tiffany McCarter and Amber Richardson, who is an N.C. State recruit

Starters: Jade Phillips (Jr.), Alexus Hicks (Sr.), Amber Richardson (Jr.), Taiyana Hill (Sr.), Tiffany McCarter (Sr.)

Myers Park

Overall Record: 29-1

Conference: Southwestern 4-A

Head Coach: Barbara Nelson

Myers Park has had a tremendous, going 29-1 and making their first appearance in the NCHSAA championship game. The Mustangs were able to rally back against their rival Ardrey Kell in the western regional final, as they went on a 22-0 run to take a 54-46 win. Myers Park have a great one-two scoring punch with Rydeiah Rogers (16.0 ppg) and Aliyah Mazyck (17.0 ppg), while also having players like Saadia Timpton (10.9 ppg) and Morgan Uptegraaf, who is shooting 58 percent from the floor. Myers Park only loss came to Blackman, Tennessee.

Starters: Stuart Ayer (Soph.), Aliyah Mazyck (Jr.), Saadia Timpton (Sr.), Rydeiah Rogers (Jr.), Morgan Uptegraff (Jr.)

Men's

Apex High School vs. Lake Norman High School

Reynolds Coliseum - 7:30pm

Apex

Overall Record: 22-7

Conference: Southwest Wake

Head Coach: David Neal

Apex has been on a roll after starting the season 2-4 early on and now have reached the state finals for the third time overall and the first time since 2008. The Cougars have had some close games so far in the playoffs, as won in overtime against Clayton and had a six point win against Millbrook in the eastern regional final. Apex will be led by T.J. Evans, who was the MVP in the finals, as he has averaged 19.3 ppg and scored 22 points against Millbrook. The Cougars also have Ian Boyd (13.6 ppg) and T.J. Wells, who has been averaging 5.9 assists per game for the Cougars. Apex was not ranked in the state in the final polls by NCPreps and entered the playoffs as a seventh seed.

Starters: T.J. Evans (Sr.), T.J. Wells (Sr.), Majid Raji (Sr.), Malik Williams (Sr.), Ian Boyd (Soph.)

Lake Norman

Overall Record: 28-1

Conference: North Piedmont

Head Coach: Brandon Jolly

Lake Norman finished the season ranked as the #1 team in the 4-A polls by NCPreps and are making their second trip to the state championship game, with their last being in 2010. To say it hasn't been a wild ride for the Wildcats would be an understatement. The Cougars got a buzzer beater three from Trey Ford to take home a 61-58 win over top seeded Page. They also had a close buzzer beating win over Ardrey Kell, when Kishawn Pritchett hit the go ahead three and earned MVP honors in a 45-43 win. Pritchett leads the team in points per game with 17.8 a game and 8.4 rebounds. The Wildcats also have Hunter Seacat (17.0 ppg), David Scott (12.3 ppg), and Nick White (10.3) who help contribute to the team.

Starters: David Scott (Jr.), Ryan Farley (Sr.), Nick White (Sr.), Kishawn Pritchett (Jr.), Hunter Seacat (Jr.)