Following tonight’s slate of games, the Final Four in all the NCHSAA classifications will be set. Although this new, seemingly unnecessary realignment for public school programs appeared to be a direct money ploy at first, it’s actually made for some highly entertaining playoff games. In turn, we will take a closer look at each of the upcoming semifinal matchups as they are determined, skipping over to 3A…
East Surry (4) v. Walkertown (7)
Quite possibly the most overlooked and underappreciated matchup for the masses, this has the chance to be an extremely memorable contest. For starters, East Surry is consistently one of the top teams west of the greater Greensboro area. Despite not having an overabundance of talent year after year, they always seem to have more than enough to find success and make real postseason runs. Seniors Carter Motsinger and Braxton Davis bring valuable production and leadership to this group. Motsinger dictates the action as a main creator and three-level scorer with the necessary shooting ability to play with or without the ball in his hands. Davis is a tough, physical forward who plays much bigger than his listed height. That being said, the Cardinals have an array of quality contributors and multisport athletes throughout this roster.
The biggest takeaway when looking at Walkertown’s season is that they might be one of the more underrated teams across North Carolina. They might have more losses than other teams at this stage, but it’s important to look more closely. Those losses? West Charlotte (title finalist), Bethany Community (forfeit), South Stokes (title semifinalist), Mount Tabor x2, and Reidsville x3 (title semifinalist; all losses within six points). Those are all legitimate opponents (many of which have made deep playoff runs) that only further solidify the strength of this group. In terms of their production, Kenan Grady has enjoyed a strong senior season, Jordan Autry has made visible strides, and Ricco Daniels continues to stand out as a balanced floor general. Add in guys like Jaden McCandies and Eric Wiley, and it’s easy to see how they’ve been so competitive. The winner of this contest could certainly win it all.