HIGH POINT — High Point Christian’s defense keyed a big run and the Cougars raced into the final four.
Top-seeded HPCA scored 14 straight points during the second quarter to lead by double digits, weathered fourth-seeded Cary Christian’s run to get back in the game and won 67-54 on Friday at HPCA in the quarterfinals of the NCISAA 3A East boys basketball playoffs.
In the girls game, the top-seeded Cougars broke free during the second half to beat fourth-seeded Cary Christian 69-46 and advanced to their first state semifinals in program history.
“We played a great first half — a really great second quarter,” HPCA boys coach Joseph Cooper said. “It was our defense. They got whatever they wanted in the first quarter and we were kind of just exchanging baskets. Then, in the second quarter, I think we had six steals.
“That allowed us to kind of get out and score easy baskets and gave us some breathing room. It was the same defense we ran in the first quarter — we were just about a half a step slow. And then I thought we really locked in during the second quarter and were where we needed to be when we needed to be there.”
K.J. Garrett scored 29 points to lead the Cougars (16-9), who — following upsets in all of the other three other games — will host unseeded Asheville Christian (9-16) in the semifinals Tuesday. Ethan Smith added 13 points, followed by Thomas McIntosh with nine points and P.J. Underill with six points.
HPCA held a slim three-point lead early in the second quarter after a back-and-forth first. But its defense forced a flurry of turnovers that allowed it to get to the basket for easy scores. Suddenly the Cougars led by 17 with two minutes left in the half and held a 40-25 lead into halftime.
HPCA extended its lead to 18 with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the third.
“We definitely created havoc out there,” Garrett said with a smile. “And that’s what we do — just lock in on defense. It was really good. We just wanted to get to the final four — we haven’t been there in forever. That’s just a major goal of ours and we’re not done yet.”
The Knights (17-5), who were led by Seth Cullen with 23 points, quickly answered with a 13-2 run to get within seven with 2 1/2 minutes left in the quarter and trailed by nine heading to the fourth. They got it back to nine three times in the final four minutes, but the Cougars, working the clock well, held on.
“We just had to stay composed, display leadership,” Garrett said. “That’s what we did, and we came out with the W.”
Top-seeded HPCA scored 14 straight points during the second quarter to lead by double digits, weathered fourth-seeded Cary Christian’s run to get back in the game and won 67-54 on Friday at HPCA in the quarterfinals of the NCISAA 3A East boys basketball playoffs.
In the girls game, the top-seeded Cougars broke free during the second half to beat fourth-seeded Cary Christian 69-46 and advanced to their first state semifinals in program history.
“We played a great first half — a really great second quarter,” HPCA boys coach Joseph Cooper said. “It was our defense. They got whatever they wanted in the first quarter and we were kind of just exchanging baskets. Then, in the second quarter, I think we had six steals.
“That allowed us to kind of get out and score easy baskets and gave us some breathing room. It was the same defense we ran in the first quarter — we were just about a half a step slow. And then I thought we really locked in during the second quarter and were where we needed to be when we needed to be there.”
K.J. Garrett scored 29 points to lead the Cougars (16-9), who — following upsets in all of the other three other games — will host unseeded Asheville Christian (9-16) in the semifinals Tuesday. Ethan Smith added 13 points, followed by Thomas McIntosh with nine points and P.J. Underill with six points.
HPCA held a slim three-point lead early in the second quarter after a back-and-forth first. But its defense forced a flurry of turnovers that allowed it to get to the basket for easy scores. Suddenly the Cougars led by 17 with two minutes left in the half and held a 40-25 lead into halftime.
HPCA extended its lead to 18 with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the third.
“We definitely created havoc out there,” Garrett said with a smile. “And that’s what we do — just lock in on defense. It was really good. We just wanted to get to the final four — we haven’t been there in forever. That’s just a major goal of ours and we’re not done yet.”
The Knights (17-5), who were led by Seth Cullen with 23 points, quickly answered with a 13-2 run to get within seven with 2 1/2 minutes left in the quarter and trailed by nine heading to the fourth. They got it back to nine three times in the final four minutes, but the Cougars, working the clock well, held on.
“We just had to stay composed, display leadership,” Garrett said. “That’s what we did, and we came out with the W.”
