BY IAN PIERNO
RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER
After dropping its two regular-season decisions to Cary Christian, the St. David’s girls’ basketball team pulled off a 62-59 upset of the Knights on Friday night to take its second consecutive EPIC 2A tournament championship.
On the boys’ side, Grace Christian played at home but fell to St. David’s 73- 56 despite the Mercer brothers combining for 47 of Grace’s points.
St. David’s boys’ coach Will Coley made his fourth trip to the title game in five years, with Friday night’s victory being his first championship.
“I’ve lost them before, so this one was really sweet,” Coley said. “We’ve been working for this for a long time, I’m so happy for my seniors.”
GIRLS
Cary Christian (20-3, 8-1), looking for its 11th straight win, raced to a 12-4 lead in the first quarter. The Warriors (16-4,8-2), however, went into halftime ahead 31-28 largely on the play of Tiffany Bartholomew, who had 15 points and nine rebounds at intermission. Bartholomew stayed hot into the second half, as did Cary Christian’s Grace Smith, who finished 21 points.
Trailing by as many as eight during the fourth quarter, the Knights cut the lead to three with less than 10 seconds to go after a Marie Thompson (15 points) 3-pointer. The Knights, however, were unable to find an equalizer.
“We were coming off a big win last night from a buzzer-beater (over Grace Christian) and we carried that momentum into tonight,” St. David’s coach Alan Hinnant said. Bartholomew, who won tournament most valuable player, finished with 27 points, 16 rebounds and four assists.
BOYS
St. David’s (20-3, 10-0) took the lead quickly – scoring 26 points in the first quarter – and made it an advantage it wouldn’t relinquish, trouncing Grace (10-8, 3-4) in front of a standing-room-only crowd.
Leonte and Oslbey Mercer and the Eagles got as close as 65-56 late. Oslbey led the way with 31 points. Leonte notched 16 points. Robbie O’Han (23), Kris Monroe (25) and Ben Brown (13) all scored in double figures for the Knights.
“That’s the way we always want to play. Having multiple weapons and not having to rely on one guy,” Coley said.
Monroe was the tournament’s MVP.
RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER
After dropping its two regular-season decisions to Cary Christian, the St. David’s girls’ basketball team pulled off a 62-59 upset of the Knights on Friday night to take its second consecutive EPIC 2A tournament championship.
On the boys’ side, Grace Christian played at home but fell to St. David’s 73- 56 despite the Mercer brothers combining for 47 of Grace’s points.
St. David’s boys’ coach Will Coley made his fourth trip to the title game in five years, with Friday night’s victory being his first championship.
“I’ve lost them before, so this one was really sweet,” Coley said. “We’ve been working for this for a long time, I’m so happy for my seniors.”
GIRLS
Cary Christian (20-3, 8-1), looking for its 11th straight win, raced to a 12-4 lead in the first quarter. The Warriors (16-4,8-2), however, went into halftime ahead 31-28 largely on the play of Tiffany Bartholomew, who had 15 points and nine rebounds at intermission. Bartholomew stayed hot into the second half, as did Cary Christian’s Grace Smith, who finished 21 points.
Trailing by as many as eight during the fourth quarter, the Knights cut the lead to three with less than 10 seconds to go after a Marie Thompson (15 points) 3-pointer. The Knights, however, were unable to find an equalizer.
“We were coming off a big win last night from a buzzer-beater (over Grace Christian) and we carried that momentum into tonight,” St. David’s coach Alan Hinnant said. Bartholomew, who won tournament most valuable player, finished with 27 points, 16 rebounds and four assists.
BOYS
St. David’s (20-3, 10-0) took the lead quickly – scoring 26 points in the first quarter – and made it an advantage it wouldn’t relinquish, trouncing Grace (10-8, 3-4) in front of a standing-room-only crowd.
Leonte and Oslbey Mercer and the Eagles got as close as 65-56 late. Oslbey led the way with 31 points. Leonte notched 16 points. Robbie O’Han (23), Kris Monroe (25) and Ben Brown (13) all scored in double figures for the Knights.
“That’s the way we always want to play. Having multiple weapons and not having to rely on one guy,” Coley said.
Monroe was the tournament’s MVP.
