Central Cabarrus repeats, rolls past Seventy-First in 3A boys basketball championship
You're next Durham. And then Stanley. And then Beaufort. Maybe. There will be time next year to see what now-defunct schools will be surpassed by Central Cabarrus' now-65-game win streak.
For the time being, and for the second straight year, the Vikings left no doubt which N.C. High School Athletic Association boys basketball team is the best in 3A.
- Box Score: Central Cabarrus 90, Seventy-First 62
- Basketball state championship schedule
- Interactive basketball state playoff brackets
Central Cabarrus controlled the championship game from wire-to-wire on Friday night at Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum, defeating Seventy-First 90-62 for back-to-back titles.
It's not clear exactly where the win streak ranks in the all-time records. The NCHSAA record book lists only the top three win streaks in boys basketball history: Durham at 73, Stanley at 88, and Beaufort at 91. All were snapped before Lyndon B. Johnson was president. Central Cabarrus would need to start next year 8-0 to crack the list.
"I'm blessed with the kids I have," Central Cabarrus coach Jim Baker said. "It's been an unbelievable run."
The Vikings' trademark play -- the way the ball zips, darts, and whisks from player to player on offense and the way they pick up full-court defense no matter what, even on missed shots -- was evident from the jump.
Central Cabarrus (33-0) led 50-24 thanks to 60.6 percent shooting from the field and 13 forced turnovers (leading to 16 points). Desmond Kent Jr. had 18 by himself at the break.
For the game, Central Cabarrus shot 56.3 percent, got 52 points in the paint, 24 off fast breaks, and 24 points off turnovers.
There's a reason why they're 95-1 over the last three years.
"The moment that ball went in the air, it was a sharp frenzy. They really brought it," Baker said.
Kent was named MVP after scoring 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting with nine rebounds and five steals. Josh Dalton was his team's Most Outstanding Player with 22 points.
Twins Carson and Chase Daniel were the offensive and defensive catalysts as always: Chase had 14 points, eight assists, and five steals while Carson had 13 points and seven assists.
While the Daniel twins are a literal family, there was a family aspect about everything the Vikings did on and off the court.
"It just doesn't feel real how close we all go," Carson Daniel said.
Chase added: "I love my guys and it reflects how much everybody loves each other. It's a big family up here."
Seventy-First (28-3) has now finished 3A runner-up twice in the last three seasons with different head coaches and almost completely different rosters. Mylon Campbell was the Falcons' Most Outstanding Player, finishing with 14 points and six assists.
"We played a great team, y'all. Great team. Great team. Hats go off to them," said Seventy-First coach Jeremy Ingram, who won an NCHSAA title as a player at East Mecklenburg in 2008. "That's the game: 24 turnovers."
Central Cabarrus, the No. 2 seed from the West, scored at least 84 points in all six of its playoff games. The Vikings now have three titles in three appearances.
Seventy-First, the No. 4 seed from the West, is still looking for their first title in four appearances.
Before the game, one player from each team was given NCHSAA sportsmanship awards. Central Cabarrus' Noah Edmisten and Seventy-First's DeAndre Nance were their teams' respective winners.
Box Score: Central Cabarrus 90, Seventy-First 62
Central Cabarrus: Josh Dalton 22, Desmond Kent Jr. 20, Chase Daniel 14, Carson Daniels 13, Emari Russell 8, Noah Edmisten 3, Jake Baker 3, Cayden Smith 3, Camden Lowry 2, Chinua Ezaigbo 2.
Seventy-First: Jaquez Foster 15, Mylon Campbell 14, DeAndre Nance 12, Tyrek Perez 7, Xavier McBryde 6, Kayden Diggs 5, Daekwon Dunn 2, Micah Dowdy-Isom 1.
