Concord Academy is NCISAA state champion again, after thrilling overtime win
It wasn’t going to be easy.
In a season of illnesses, injuries and setbacks of other kinds, it figured that Concord Academy would have to scratch and claw its way to victory in a state championship game.
And that’s exactly what the Eagles did Saturday afternoon at Wingate University, rallying several times and beating High Point Christian 70-66 in overtime for the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 3A boys’ title.
Concord Academy won its second state title in three seasons.
“It was the kind of year where you have to increase your blood pressure medication,” Eagles’ coach Frank Cantadore, after his team battled back from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter, then threw the ball away with a chance to win in regulation.
“This wasn’t our best game, but we played well enough to win it,” said Catadore, whose team finally got over the .500 mark Saturday, finishing 17-16. “The adversity prepared us for this.”
The adversity? On Nov. 30, Concord Academy had a 2-7 record. The Eagles were 5-12 on Dec. 28.
“It was like I told the guys, ‘Championships are won in February, not in November or December,’ ” Cantadore said.
The majority of the Eagles’ roster was new players, and the team dealt with several injuries and some illness. And Concord Academy played a rugged schedule, including powerhouses from Georgia and Florida over the Christmas holidays.
The Eagles led 26-24 at halftime Saturday, but High Point Christian (22-8) went on a 7-0 run and led for nearly the entire second half.
Concord Academy was down 50-42 with six minutes remaining but battled back behind 3-pointers by D.J. Cuttino and Magnus Swinger. A 3-pointer by Cuttino tied the score at 60-all with about 20 seconds left, and each team squandered a chance to win in regulation.
When overtime started, so did the Eagles. Kany Tchanda, the Eagles’ standout 6-9 sophomore, scored on a hook, then added a dunk after an inbounds steal. Junior forward Noah Van Bibber added a 3-pointer 45 seconds later, and Concord Academy led 67-60.
The Cougars closed to 67-66 on a 3-pointer by senior standout Thomas McIntosh, but the Eagles made foul shots and grabbed two defensive rebounds down the stretch.
“By some accounts, we played the No. 1 schedule in the state this year,” Cantadore said. “We prepared our players for this moment.”
This story was originally published February 26, 2022 at 6:03 PM.
