- The Burlington School boys use rally to stay perfect, defeat Cape Fear Christian
- By Tommy Hamzik
Burlington Times-News correspondent
Trailing for much of the game and seeing The Burlington School’s unbeaten season hanging by a thread, TJ Jeffers heard coach Ron Johnson present a test for the Spartans in the huddle.
“He was questioning what kind of team we were,” Jeffers said. “If we were going to hang our heads and give up, or come back and win.
“I think we answered that in the second half.”
Behind two key 3s by Jeffers, a putback dunk by John Meeks to tie the game in the final minute of regulation and a critical charge taken by Carrington Young, the Spartans came back for a 75-69 overtime victory against visiting CapeFearChristianAcademy on Saturday in non-league boys’ basketball.
The BurlingtonSchool (19-0) was led by Meeks, who tallied 24 points and 16 rebounds, helping minimize the effect of CapeFear Christian guard Quentin Jackson Jr.’s 32 points.
Jeffers had 16 points, Young had 11 and nine rebounds and Terry Woods dished out seven assists for the Spartans.
Jackson hit a 3 to give CapeFear Christian (12-7) a 20-17 lead after the first quarter, and The Burlington School wouldn’t hold or share the lead until Jordan Jeffries buried a 3 with 6:09 left in regulation. In that span, the Eagles led by as much as 10.
Meeks’ bucket underneath with 4:36 left gave the Spartans a 55-52 lead, which quickly disappeared after Michael Melvin hit a jumper and Henry Odunze scored off a turnover.
CapeFear Christian went up three on Odunze’s putback, and Jeffers made one of two free throws to come within two. Jackson was called for an illegal dribble, which gave The Burlington School possession with a little more than a minute left.
A missed 3-pointer and then another miss put Meeks in perfect position for a putback dunk, tying the game at 58-58.
“It rejuvenated the team,” Meeks said. “It showed that we could do this and finish this.”
Each team had a chance to win in the last minute, but both committed turnovers.
Jeffers hit two 3s to give the Spartans the lead in overtime, but Jackson’s three-point play put the Eagles up one. Jeffries then hit a 3 to take back the lead, and Jackson fouled out on the next possession, called for a charge as he drove the lane.
“That was a major play for our team,” Johnson said. “(Jackson) was having a great game. To get him out of the game was big.”
Melvin stole an inbounds pass and completed a three-point play, but Meeks’ drive after breaking the press gave the Spartans the lead for good. They then hit 6 of 8 free throws in the last minute.
“I’m proud of the guys and their effort,” Johnson said. “I’m proud of them for fighting back. As far as our execution, we didn’t shoot the ball well and I don’t think we attacked the zone real well. … When you’re not playing your best but able to get a win, we’ll take it.”
■ In the girls’ game, Molina Williams scored 24 points as The Burlington School routed visiting Cape Fear ChristianAcademy 80-16.
The Spartans (11-3) led 21-5 after the first quarter and 38-9 at halftime. Deja Cousin had 16 points, and Michala Mebane finished with 15. Cape Fear Christian (4-10) was led by Phydell Nwanze’s nine points.
