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Pamlico County High School guard Maurice King drives against Winston-Salem Prep Academy’s Eric Grant Saturday during the Class 1A state basketball championship. Winston-Salem Prep defeated the Hurricanes, 73-42.
Liz Bowles/Sun Journal
Pamlico's dream season ends
By Adam Thompson
Sun Journal Staff
CHAPEL HILL - The Pamlico County basketball team had trouble escaping from some early jitters on a large stage Saturday.
The result was a 73-42 loss to Winston-Salem Prep in the Class 1A state championship at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill.
"It has been a long season and we are thankful for that," said Pamlico coach Earl Sadler, Jr. "We just ran into a big old brick wall today."
Winston-Salem Prep's Reginald Johnson, who will play basketball at the University of Miami next year, scored 25 points and ripped down a state-championship record 23 points, as the bigger Phoenix dominated the Hurricanes.
"The ACC us going to have its hands full with him," said Winston-Salem Prep coach Andre Gould. "That is how much he means to the team. He changes the game and opens up a lot of things for us."
"He is a highly-skilled big man and he is always moving," said Sadler of Johnson. "He is a well-coached young man. He was just a little too physical."
Pamlico shot just 22 percent from the floor, including a dismal 4-of-29 shooting in the first half. The Hurricanes were also outrebounded 55-35.
"We were never really intimidated but I think we were kind of tense in the beginning because of the people in the crowd," said Pamlico senior Rashad Sawer. "I just really don't think we brought our A-game."
Kendall Hamm, who was named Pamlico's Most Outstanding Player, scored eight points, grabbed six rebounds and had two blocked shots.
Maurice King added a team-high 15 points for the Hurricanes (20-7). Braelyn Blount contributed seven.
Pamlico senior point guard, Antwan Tutt, scored six, all on free throws.
"It has been a long ride," Tutt saud. "We fought hard, but I wouldn't trade this team for anyone else in the world."
Dominique Holliday, who scored 31 points against Jones Senior in the Eastern Regional Championship, was held to four points on 1-of-9 shooting.
The Phoenix jumped out of the gate with four-straight points before Pamlico evened the score off back-to-back baskets from Hamm and Blount.
The Phoenix (27-6) outscored Pamlico, 9-1, the rest of the quarter to take a 13-5 lead at the end of the first eight minutes.
Pamlico started the second quarter with a 7-0 run of its own to cut its deficit to 13-12, but Winston-Salem followed with a 14-2 run to end the half.
The Pheonix mounted a 27-14 advantage at halftime. They pulled away in the third quarter with a 17-4 run, building a 44-18 cushion.
Pamlico connected on just three field goals in the third quarter.
The closest the Hurricanes got the rest of the way was 21 points.
"We didn't attack it the way we should have," Sadler said. "We didn't play as smart as we normally do."
Senior Marcus Wright posted 21 points for Winston-Salem, while Eric Grant chipped in eight first-half points.
"I've been waiting for this for four years, Wright said. "It finally came true and it feels like a dream. I am glad I got to experience this with this group of guys. We bond like nobody can believe."
Adam Thompson can be reached at (252) 635-5670 or at athompson@freedomenc.com.
