Cox Mill hangs on to repeat as N.C. 3A state champion

Cox Mill repeated as N.C. 3A state champion Saturday in Raleigh, but the Chargers had to make key foul shots down the stretch to escape with the victory.

After mostly dominating playoff competition, Cox Mill lost a 13-point second half lead in the N.C. 3A state championship game with previously unbeaten Jacksonville Northside, the reigning . 2A state champion.

Junior Wendell Moore sparked the 65-63 win after his team trailed 60-59 with two minutes left. Moore made six free throws in the final minute, including two with seven seconds left that proved to be the game-winners.

Northside made a 3-point shot just before the buzzer, but game officials ruled that the player was out of bounds before he took the shot.

Moore, who made 19-of-21 free throws in last week’s state semifinal, made 17-of-19 in the state finals. He finished with 24 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Teammate Caleb Stone-Carrawell had 18 points and two rebounds playing in front of his father, former Duke star Chris Carrawell. UNC recruit Rechon Black had nine points, two rebounds and two assists for the Chargers.

Northside got 18 points from Kenny Dye and 16 from Gabe Kirkendoll. It had a 59-game win streak broken.

This story was originally published March 10, 2018 at 9:51 PM with the headline "Cox Mill hangs on to repeat as N.C. 3A state champion."