On Tuesday, Phenom Hoops traveled to The Burlington School to watch the Spartans face off against Harrells Christian in the NCISAA 2A Semifinal matchup. The winner would advance to play Caldwell Academy in the championship this upcoming weekend. Both teams entered this game with something to prove. The Burlington School had to rewrite their script in the middle of the season. Not only did they stay afloat, but they continued to solidify their ability to compete with anyone. On the other side, Harrells Christian is coming off their best season in school history. Although only one of their core pieces is a senior, they have the pieces to make a legitimate title run. Let’s look at how things unfolded…
Things opened up with a lot of nerves on both sides. While both teams defended quite well throughout the opening period, it’s still surprising that the Spartans’ first points didn’t come until nearly halfway through the quarter, and the Crusaders didn’t respond for another two minutes. The score was 5-2 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. However, things settled down and allowed The Burlington School to hold an 8-7 lead after eight minutes of play. In the second quarter, Harrells Christian visibly turned things up. Antonio McKoy got going and started asserting himself as the focal point—scoring 8 of their 20 points in the second quarter. The Crusaders walked into halftime with a 27-22 lead.
Following the break, things started to look bleak for the Spartans—who would trail by as many as 10 points in the third period. After some adjustments, they managed to cut the deficit to just two points and a 39-37 score entering the final quarter of play. The last eight minutes really encompassed The Burlington School’s identity as a team. Cam Flippen, Kaden Hammond, Jamyr Coleman, Asante Phillip, Drew Johnson, and Brayden Miles each made their imprints on this game. Their collective effort parlayed with rugged defense, consistent free-throw shooting, and calm demeanor down the stretch led to a 53-46 victory for the Spartans.