Never underestimate a winner.

Leslie Minter from Wilson Prep scored two free throws in the final 0.6 seconds, securing the team’s second consecutive 1A championship with a 65-63 victory against Corvian Community. This marks the third state title in four years for the Tigers.

Minter made a crucial three-point shot from beyond the half-court line in a desperate situation, and then successfully made all three free throws, giving the Tigers a two-point lead.

According to Minter, he had the choice to take the shot or attempt to get the foul. He was aware that the referee had witnessed the foul, so he positioned himself to take the free throws and close out the game.

In the final quarter, Minter scored three consecutive shots, including two long-range 3-pointers, while their opponent Corvian was unable to make a play before the buzzer sounded. Minter ended up with 14 points, nine of which were scored in the fourth quarter.

Corvian Community was on track to win the school’s first state title. In the final seconds of the game, Cardinals’ forward Adrian Scott made a free throw, giving his team a one-point lead.

Wilson Prep used two timeouts to strategize their inbound play. The team passed the ball to midcourt and then quickly advanced it to Minter, who shot a three-pointer and was fouled in the process.

“I feel completely reassured when he has the ball, as he is the most reliable player I have ever coached,” expressed Anthony Atkinson, coach at Wilson Prep.

Minter made 6 out of 7 free throws in the game. Wilson Prep’s return to the game was due to their success at the foul line, with a 78 percent shooting percentage and 3 for 3 in the fourth quarter.

Ben Ferguson of Wilson Prep was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the game, recording a game-high of 34 points. Jack Hudson from Corvian Community was awarded the Most Outstanding Player for the west team, with a total of 10 points. The east team’s Most Outstanding Player was Brandon Anderson with 9 points. Ferguson credited his success to his preparation in the gym during the week, specifically focusing on his mid-range shots to overcome the tough defenders. He confidently stated that when he’s in his element, he feels unstoppable.

The final period of the initial championship match was an iconic one.

With only 1 minute and 22 seconds remaining on the clock and Wilson Prep leading by two points, the Tigers attempted to maintain possession of the ball. However, with 1 minute and 12 seconds left, they turned the ball over again. RJ Moore, Jr. then drove towards the basket and was fouled. After making both free throws, he tied the game at 62. Wilson Prep then held onto the ball for a final shot, but Ferguson missed a layup with 30 seconds remaining, giving the Cardinals an opportunity. Jack Hudson attempted a shot from the elbow, but the Cardinals were able to keep possession with just 4.1 seconds left.

After being evenly matched with a score of 50, the two teams both missed their first four shots in the final quarter. The first point was made by AJ Jackson, Jr. with a successful free throw. On the opposite side, Ferguson scored a layup, giving Wilson Prep a one-point lead.

“Atkinson praised the game, saying it was exactly how it should be. He commended both teams for giving their all on the court, stating that his players fought until the very end.”

During the game, Minter successfully made a three-pointer from the top of the key, giving Wilson Prep a 2-point advantage and boosting their momentum. However, this lead was short-lived as Corvian Community quickly reduced it to just 1 point with a free throw by Jack Hudson. A steal by Moore during an inbounds play led to a layup, giving the Cardinals a 56-55 lead. Wilson Prep’s Elijah Newsome scored a bucket, but Jackson of the Cardinals responded with a three-pointer from the wing, putting the team ahead by 2 points. Unfortunately, Jackson would later be disqualified due to fouling out of the game.

Ferguson scored a layup after the timeout, bringing the game to a tied score of 59.

After beginning the game with a record of 0-for-5 from three-point range, Minter managed to sink another long-range shot, putting the Tigers ahead 62-60 with only 2:02 left in the game.

The score was even four times during the third quarter, and the two teams were still tied at 50 going into the last quarter.

In the third quarter, Wilson Prep’s strategy shifted towards a more aggressive approach of attacking the paint. As a result, they were able to earn several trips to the foul line. In the second half, the Tigers successfully made 5 out of 6 shots from the free throw line.

The Corvian Community was able to take the lead with a score of 33-28, due to multiple players contributing points. Out of the seven players that played, five of them were able to score, creating challenges for the opposing team’s defense.

Meanwhile, Corvian Community was kept busy by Ferguson, who contributed 19 out of the Tigers’ 28 points in the first half.

Ferguson scored 14 points during the second quarter and brought Wilson Prep within three points (29-26) after making two free throws. Jack Hudson, who also had a strong second quarter with six points, extended the lead back to five with a layup. Corvian made a three-pointer right before halftime, giving them a 34-28 lead going into the break.

Coach Ron Murphy of Corvian expressed his admiration for the intense basketball game, but was disappointed with the outcome. He commended his team for their determination and effort throughout the match.

At the start, Wilson Prep faced difficulties, only making 25 percent (4-17) of their shots in the first quarter. The team missed their first nine attempts from the field, while the Cardinals also struggled, scoring only two of their initial six shots.

The Corvian Community took a slight lead of five points in the first quarter of the game. However, the Cardinals regrouped in the second quarter. R.J. Moore Jr. kicked off the second quarter with a three-pointer, followed by Jackson Jr. who made two free throws, bringing the score to 20-14. After missing their next four shots, Corvian finally scored with a jumper from Hudson, giving them a 22-16 advantage. But then, Ferguson of Wilson Prep stepped up and scored six consecutive points.

According to Hudson, our team has continuously improved since my first year when we didn’t even win seven games. I believe we are one of the top teams in North Carolina, if not the entire country, and I will always support that belief.

Rewording not possible.

The Corvian Community team had a strong performance from R.J. Moore Jr. with 20 points, followed by A.J. Jackson Jr. with 14 points. Jack Hudson contributed 10 points and an impressive 17 rebounds. Adrian Scott scored 7 points, while DeMarkus Milton and Malachi McCutcheon each had 5 points.

Source: highschoolot.com