The conclusion of the NCHSAA basketball regular season last week brought about thrilling games that determined the No. 1 seeds for the upcoming U8 tournament. Seventy-First emerged victorious once again with a third consecutive boys’ United 8 Conference title, while Cape Fear clinched its second consecutive league crown on the girls’ side. Additionally, the Westover boys claimed the All American Conference title, and Terry Sanford secured its third girls’ AAC regular-season title in four years.
The U8 tournament is scheduled to kick off on Monday, Feb. 19, with the boys’ bracket taking place at Seventy-First and Lumberton. The girls’ bracket will commence the following day at Cape Fear and South View.
In the local basketball scene, notable players Jayda Angel and Zahara Gerald have been making headlines. Cape Fear’s Jayda Angel recently signed a National Letter of Intent with a Division I college, marking a fantastic finale to her season. In a particularly memorable game, she scored an impressive 39 points in a blowout win. Additionally, Jack Britt senior Zahara Gerald has been making waves as Fayetteville’s next 1,000-point scorer, a remarkable achievement for the talented athlete.
On the coaching front, Jeremy Ingram of Seventy-First was commended for his effective strategy, with his team’s emphasis on ‘defense wins’ contributing to their success in the season.
As excitement mounts for the U8 tournament, the schedule for the upcoming games is as follows:
Boys
Monday, Feb. 19, at Seventy-First High School
– No. 4 South View (8-6) vs. No. 5 Cape Fear (6-8) at 6:00 p.m.
– No. 1 Seventy-First (14-0) vs. No. 8 Douglas Byrd (0-14) at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 19, at Lumberton High School
– No. 3 Jack Britt (10-4) vs. No. 6 Gray’s Creek (4-10) at 6:00 p.m.
– No. 2 Lumberton (11-3) vs. No. 7 Purnell Swett (3-11) at 7:30 p.m.
Girls
Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Cape Fear High School
– No. 4 Seventy-First (8-6) vs. No. 5 Lumberton (6-8) at 6:00 p.m.
– No. 8 Douglas Byrd (1-13) vs. No. 1 Cape Fear (14-0) at 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 20, at South View High School
– No. 3 Jack Britt (11-3) vs. No. 6 Purnell Swett (4-10) at 6:00 p.m.
– No. 2 South View (11-3) vs. No. 7 Gray’s Creek (1-13) at 7:30 p.m.
With these exciting match-ups on the horizon, basketball fans are eagerly looking forward to the U8 tournament and the thrilling games that are sure to unfold.