Published: 12:38 AM, Sat Feb 27, 2010
Terry Sanford boys survive first test, rally to advance
By Earl Vaughan Jr.
Scholastic sports editor
Terry Sanford doesn't have to wait any longer for its first test of the state 4-A basketball playoffs. They got it from Knightdale on Friday in the 4-A East Sectional 2 championship game, and thanks to Brandon Brown, the Bulldogs passed.
Brown came off the bench to score 21 points and grab 12 rebounds as Terry Sanford rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to win 61-54 at the Terry Sanford gym.
It was the third straight sectional title for the Bulldogs and sends them to next week's 4-A Eastern Regional tournament in Greenville at East Carolina University. Terry Sanford won't play again until next Friday at either 7 or 8:30 p.m. at ECU's Minges Coliseum.
Pairings for the regional will be announced this weekend by the N.C. High School Athletic Association. Joining Terry Sanford in the regional are Wilmington New Hanover (20-7), Durham Riverside (25-3) and Raleigh Millbrook (24-4).
The Bulldogs (29-0) are the defending regional champions.
Terry Sanford coach Bill Boyette said he doesn't get a bonus for engineering second half comebacks, but he added he might discuss that with Bulldog principal Mindy Vickers after the rally his team put together Friday. Boyette couldn't remember being behind that many points in any game this season.
And it wasn't because Terry Sanford was playing poorly. "Man for man they were as athletic as any team we've seen," Boyette said of Knightdale. "They are athletic at every position. They are hard to guard, and when they make shots like they did in the first half, I'd say they are unbeatable."
The only major problem the Bulldogs had in the first half, Boyette said, was losing their composure in the final minutes, taking bad shots.
"We can't expect to get back in this game in a minute or two,'' Boyette told his team at halftime. "We've got to play Terry Sanford basketball, take our time and be patient and get back in the game.''
Brown scored 13 of his 21 points in the second half, using his 6-5 height to provide the Bulldogs with a needed inside presence against the shorter Knightdale team.
"I didn't feel any kind of pressure,'' he said. "I felt if I posted up hard my teammates would feed me. I can't be as good as I am without them feeding me the ball.''
The Bulldogs used one of their typical third-quarter bursts to get back into the game. They went on a 13-0 run at the start of the third period to tie the score at 37.
From there the lead see-sawed until 1:51 left in the game. Chris Wilson's three-point play put Terry Sanford ahead for good, 55-54.
Brown added a single free throw to make it 56-54 with 50.4 seconds left. A Kelvin Okons free throw stretched the lead to 57-54.
Tyler Nicholson tried to tie the score with a 3-point shot with 10.2 seconds left. Brown claimed the rebound, and Knightdale's Ronnie Frederick was called for an intentional foul.
Brown made both his free throws, then was fouled on the ensuing possession to add two more to account for the final of 61-54.
"We all thought about last year and how it felt to lose the state championship game,'' Brown said. "We didn't want to feel that anymore.''
"Brandon was absolutely incredible,'' Boyette said. "We've been waiting for Brandon to break out. What a time for him to step up.
"It was a great team effort. We haven't been in a game like that this year. I'm proud of our kids for battling back and doing what they did in the second half.''
Boyette said Terry Sanford will practice Monday and take Tuesday off. He's not concerned about the week layoff before Terry Sanford's next game since so many players on the team have experienced this situation before.
"This is the third year in a row and it has to help,'' Boyette said. "We've been in that atmosphere, we've been in that gym. I think our kids will respond well.''
Scholastic sports editor Earl Vaughan Jr. can be reached at vaughane@fayobserver.com or 486-3519.