Dub-C. You Know! West Charlotte blocks Olympic upset bid, advances to NCHSAA Elite 8
West Charlotte is going to the Elite 8.
Saturday night, in front of a sold-out crowd at Olympic High, the Lions won 78-75. West Charlotte will host Ardrey Kell in a N.C. High School Athletic Association Western Regional semifinal Tuesday night at 7.
Ardrey Kell got a game-ending buzzer-beater from Royce Jarrett to upset reigning N.C. 4A state champ Independence on the road Saturday.
In its game, across town, West Charlotte was led by its senior trio of Patrick Williams, Cartier Jernigan and Quinten Thomas. Williams, a Florida State recruit, had a team-high 23 points while Jernigan had 21 and Thomas 20.
Olympic star Joshua Banks had a game-high 27 points and nine rebounds, while Trevon Williams was the only other Trojans’ star to finish in double figures with 12.
“It’s a great win,” said West Charlotte coach Jacoby Davis. “Coach Terry (Olympic Coach Baronton Terry) is a fighter, I’m a fighter, and I thought our kids stood in there and fought as well. I felt that if anyone could get us it would be Olympic.”
Olympic got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 12-4 advantage midway through the first quarter. But the Lions finally began to find their game at the end of the period. Trailing by only a point after the first quarter at 14-13, West Charlotte dominated the second quarter and led 41-28 at the half.
With a minute to go in the third quarter, the Lions had a 15-point lead and the ball. They elected to be aggressive, and rather than hold the ball and go for a final shot to end the quarter, West Charlotte shot early and missed. Olympic quickly scored, and after another Lions’ miss the Trojans made a bucket and a foul shot for five quick points. Rather than a 17-point or worse-case scenario 15-point lead, West Charlotte’s lead shrunk to ten entering the fourth quarter.
Olympic continued to rally and cut the Lions’ lead to three points twice late in the final quarter. The Trojans were aided by uncharacteristic poor free-throw shooting by the Lions. West Charlotte was 15-for-29 in the fourth quarter from the line.
“We’ve scrimmaged Olympic before and I know all of their players,” said Williams. “I know what they can do and I knew they weren’t going to back down from anything. Whenever we got up, we couldn’t get too excited because I knew those guys weren’t going to back down and they would probably make a run. I had to tell my team that.”
THREE WHO MATTERED:
Patrick Williams, West Charlotte: Senior star not only led his team in scoring, but sparked the Lions with his leadership. Williams was the first player to pick his teammates up when they hit the deck and high-fived them after every bucket, free throw, block or steal.
Josh Banks, Olympic: Trojans’ leading scorer kept his team in the game with clutch baskets while leading all scorers with 27 points.
Marcus Magness, West Charlotte: Freshman guard played meaningful minutes, especially down the hectic fourth-quarter stretch while also adding three big free throws in the final quarter.
WORTH MENTIONING
▪ Olympic coach Baronton Terry once led the Lions to the state championship as their head Coach. His former assistant, Jacoby Davis, is West Charlotte’s coach now.
▪ The Olympic gym was sold out and unfortunately some fans had to be turned away…….Kudos to the Olympic administration, athletic department and security as the huge crowd was handled well.
THEY SAID IT
“They were a lot of help. They do it every game so it was nothing new.” Freshman Marcus Magness on the guidance and encouragement he received Saturday from senior teammates Patrick Williams, Cartier Jernigan Quinton Thomas, and Devontez Walker.
RECORDS
West Charlotte (23-6); Olympic (20-6)
