Knights take 2-A title
By Ian Pierno FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Correspondent
RALEIGH — Village Christian avenged a heartbreaking loss to Northside Christian a month ago, and it came on the biggest stage possible — the NCISAA 2-A state championship at Ravenscroft School on Saturday.
The Knights did exactly what they said they needed to do to beat Northside — come out of the gates with the right mindset and hit free throws down the stretch.
The recipe for success gave Village the edge they needed in a 59-52 victory.
“They beat us by one point at our place, we weren’t at full strength and they beat us because they jumped on us early, we were a little intimidated,” coach Kurtis Darden said. “We climbed back with an opportunity to win it late. Coming in, this is who we wanted to play. I told my team it was going to come down to rebounds and free throws … and fortunately for us, we hit them.”
The Knights were rolling early, taking a 16-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. At the end of three, the lead had built its way up to 35-21, but that’s as far as things would go as Northside came roaring back in the fourth quarter.
The two teams jostled back and forth, with Northside closing the deficit on numerous occasions as the two teams combined for 55 points in the fourth quarter, just one point less than the the first three quarters combined.
“I can’t say we’ve gotten better, I can’t say we’ve gotten worse, but I can say that when it comes to big games, I know my team is going to show up,” Darden said.
For a flurry of plays, Northside would take advantage of transition to get points from behind the arc, where it scored 30 of its points in the game, only to have Village come back and knock down its free throws on the ensuing possession.
Chris Martin, Colton Cashaw, Marten Maide and Nate Hinton all hit 3-pointers in the final period for Northside and Brandon Dean hit a 35-footer at the buzzer to end the third quarter.
Village’s trio of Jordan Ratliffe, Josh Haymer and David Strother combined for 47 points and all hit clutch free throws.
“We felt like we shouldn’t have been a six-seed, but we did what we had to do and we took it,” Ratliffe said. “All I had to do was be calm and confident, not worry about the crowd, I don’t even hear the crowd I just shoot my shot.”
By Ian Pierno FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Correspondent
RALEIGH — Village Christian avenged a heartbreaking loss to Northside Christian a month ago, and it came on the biggest stage possible — the NCISAA 2-A state championship at Ravenscroft School on Saturday.
The Knights did exactly what they said they needed to do to beat Northside — come out of the gates with the right mindset and hit free throws down the stretch.
The recipe for success gave Village the edge they needed in a 59-52 victory.
“They beat us by one point at our place, we weren’t at full strength and they beat us because they jumped on us early, we were a little intimidated,” coach Kurtis Darden said. “We climbed back with an opportunity to win it late. Coming in, this is who we wanted to play. I told my team it was going to come down to rebounds and free throws … and fortunately for us, we hit them.”
The Knights were rolling early, taking a 16-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. At the end of three, the lead had built its way up to 35-21, but that’s as far as things would go as Northside came roaring back in the fourth quarter.
The two teams jostled back and forth, with Northside closing the deficit on numerous occasions as the two teams combined for 55 points in the fourth quarter, just one point less than the the first three quarters combined.
“I can’t say we’ve gotten better, I can’t say we’ve gotten worse, but I can say that when it comes to big games, I know my team is going to show up,” Darden said.
For a flurry of plays, Northside would take advantage of transition to get points from behind the arc, where it scored 30 of its points in the game, only to have Village come back and knock down its free throws on the ensuing possession.
Chris Martin, Colton Cashaw, Marten Maide and Nate Hinton all hit 3-pointers in the final period for Northside and Brandon Dean hit a 35-footer at the buzzer to end the third quarter.
Village’s trio of Jordan Ratliffe, Josh Haymer and David Strother combined for 47 points and all hit clutch free throws.
“We felt like we shouldn’t have been a six-seed, but we did what we had to do and we took it,” Ratliffe said. “All I had to do was be calm and confident, not worry about the crowd, I don’t even hear the crowd I just shoot my shot.”
