LIVE WEBCAST
The Trojans play "survive and advance" with a hard fought 75-74 comeback win over Green Hope in the NCHSAA 4A play-off opener. The top-seeded Trojans trail most of the game and by as much as twelve. Senior DaMetrius Upchurch sinks two critical free throws with 48 seconds to go for the final margin. A frenzied finish has the Falcons coming up short on their final four possessions and Garner moves on to second round action Wednesday night. Upchurch paces the Trojans with 21 and ten rebounds with Cordero Hunter adding 17 and Albert Smith 13. Another icy shooting night for the Trojans who manage just 25-of-64 from the floor but a 28-16 rebound advantage saves Garner. Sophomore Stacy Carroway comes up big for Garner with 6 boards and Hunter, Smith and Karl Agenor add four each. Green Hope gets 24 from All-Tri 8 guard Shawn Shaffer who was a stellar 11-of-16 shooting. The Falcons race to a 23-12 first quarter lead after a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by Savannah Richmond, a fifth-grader at Yates Mill Elementary. The Falcons hit a blistering eleven of their first 14 shots.
Garner starts to chip away opening the second quarter with Agenor feeding Emmanuel McClain on the break. After a Shaffer lay-up, Smith hits consecutive threes from downtown and McClain hits another to cut the marging to just 25-23. Max Povse and Shaffer keep the Falcons on top, with Povse equally efficient missing just one of his six first half shots. The Falcons carry a five point margin into the half as they post a 67% shooting percentage (18-of-27) while Garner is a very poor 38%. Barrett's trey and two by Agenor knots the game at 46 2:32 into the third. But again the Falcons grab breathing room with a 17-10 run to finish the quarter. Upchurch scores and converts the three point play for Garner's first lead at 51-50. Upchurch assist to Hunter on the break with 2:56 to go is the last time he touches the ball for the period.
Carroway finishes the third quarter and then opens the fourth with blocked shots setting up Smith for a three, followed by Hunter from long-range to draw Garner to 63-62. After two Falcon baskets, Garner knots it again on a Hunter free toss, Smith's steal and score and Upchurch's two from the line to make it 67-67 with 4:06 to go. Kameron Bryant scores but misses the free throw. Upchurch slams it and adds a lay-up to put Garner up 71-69. An Archer three and Bryant drives in for a lay-up for a 74-71 Falcon lead with 1:42 left. McClain follows a missed Trojan shot to narrow it 74-73 with 56 seconds to go in the game. Green Hope's 18th turnover allows Upchurch to post up down low and is fouled. He hits both free throws for a 75-74 Garner lead with 48 seconds left. Upchurch blocks a Povse drive on ensuing possession but the Trojans mishandle the break for their 14th turnover with just 10.8 left. Despite three missed Trojan free throws, Green Hope cannot convert and Garner staves off the final 48 seconds without the tying score to advance to round #2 to face So.Durham, a 59-57 winner over Broughton:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| GH | 23 | 19 | 21 | 11 | - 74 |
| GAR | 12 | 25 | 19 | 20 | - 75 |
2009 NCHSAA East bracket (updated in pdf)
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