West Charlotte High School Lions Advances to the NCHSAA 8A State Championship
West Charlotte captured the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 8A Regional Championship in thrilling fashion, defeating West Forsyth High School Titans 74–70 in overtime. The 1:00 PM tipoff drew a near-capacity crowd and delivered one of the most electrifying matchups of the season.
Coming in as the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the NCHSAA 8A classification, West Charlotte (21–6) and West Forsyth (26–0) lived up to the hype. The game featured momentum swings, clutch shot-making, and poised performances from some of the state’s brightest young stars.
For West Charlotte, the sophomore backcourt duo of Kaharri Coleman and Chacho Womack rose to the occasion. The 6’4” Coleman — fresh off an NC State offer — poured in a game-high 25 points, including two massive three-pointers. He drilled one just before halftime and buried another in overtime to give West Charlotte the lead for good, then added emphatic closing dunks in the final minute.
Womack was equally clutch, knocking down 11-of-14 free throws, including three in the final minute of overtime to seal the victory. Junior AC Pressley added 10 key points to keep the Lions in control down the stretch.
West Forsyth, which entered the contest undefeated, was led by Kamauri Manuel’s 17 points, while Kam Higgins contributed 14. True to form, the Titans showcased their depth with 11 different players scoring in a balanced offensive effort.
With the overtime triumph, West Charlotte now advances to the NCHSAA 8A State Championship, carrying momentum and confidence after dethroning an undefeated powerhouse in one of the season’s most memorable games.
Final Scoring
West Charlotte
- Kaharri Coleman – 25
- Chacho Womack – 17
- AC Pressley – 10
- Major Cross – 9
- J’Kai Wade – 7
- Sean Johnson – 6
West Forsyth
- Kamauri Manuel – 17
- Kam Higgins – 14
- Nicholas Fleming – 6
- Xavier Mills – 6
- Max Spillman – 6
- Jordan Tate – 6
- Cam Jordan – 6
- Josh Caldwell – 4
- Anthony Gray – 2
- Camron Kerns – 2
- Jamir Wilkins – 1
West Charlotte’s blend of composure, shot-making, and clutch free-throw shooting proved to be the difference as they punched their ticket to the state championship stage.