Greetings HS hoops junkies from across the bracket-filling-out Piedmont! The Great One is here to recap the state finals and bid farewell for the season. The Sadster posted a dismal 1-3 record in the Ring Round bringing his final playoff record to 205-46, or right at 83%, losing 2 OT games and one on a buzzer beater. His high point was the 2A bracket where he posted a 55-8 mark. His lowest bracket was the wild 3A in which he went 46-17. His upset special picks shined tallying a 17-9 record. This was another banner year of near prognosticating perfection but The Sadster wasn’t satisfied and will give the Ol’ Cubic Zirconia Ball (can’t afford crystal) a good polishing and tune up for next year’s predictions. We will now review the action that saw a clean sweep for the West. In the 4A, the Vikings of North Meck pulled off a daily double in breaking New Hanover’s hearts for the 2nd year in a row. The Wildcats wanted the matchup with the Norsemen as the regionals approached. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for because you might just get it. New Hanover raced out to a 14-0 lead before everyone was seated and visions of a revenge title danced in their heads. The Vikings had other ideas and slowly battled back to take the lead in the 4th quarter behind the stellar guard play of seniors Carson Evans and Chadlyn Traylor. They later survived a potential game-tying 3 pointer that fell harmlessly short and the celebration began. In the 3A bracket, Ben Smith used OT to dispatch Southern Durham and give Coach Partee and company a ring. In the 2A frame, Reidsville pulled a daily double of their own in stopping Northwood 71-54. Finally, the 1A saw Corvian force OT and went on to win on a buzzer beater over Southern Wake. The playoffs, once again, gave us many memorable moments both glorious and melancholy as every great moment for one team produces a low moment for another. The thrill of competition lives on and will manifest itself next season again. The Sadster will now bid farewell for this season. But you can best believe that when the turkey is being served on Thanksgiving, The Great One will be burning the midnight oil to produce his annual preview. He now bids everyone adieu for now and gives out his traditional farewell blessing…. May all of your long putts, fall in the leather.
SAD SAM – HS HOOPS GENIUS