Central Cabarrus continues conquest: Vikings win 50th consecutive boys’ basketball game
Central Cabarrus has won its past 50 boys’ basketball games.
North Carolina’s reigning 3A state champion has become a juggernaut. The Vikings, ranked No. 21 nationally by MaxPreps, entered Tuesday boasting an average victory margin of 43 points this season.
Central Cabarrus (18-0) jumped all over South Rowan early in an 88-19 shellacking Tuesday night. Merely seconds after tip, senior forwards Josh Dalton and Desmond Kent traded dunks as the Vikings scored the game’s first 20 points.
“I threw a lob to Josh (Dalton) today, and I honestly don’t know how he caught it,” said senior guard Chase Daniel. “My jaw drops once or twice a game.”
Central Cabarrus was stout on both sides of the ball Tuesday as its win streak reached the half-century mark. Its defense forced numerous takeaways and limited its opponent, while its fast-paced offense ran up the score early.
Late last June, the Vikings were practicing a lot together, hoping to replicate their success from their unbeaten season. They started realizing that both Dalton and Kent had the abilities to get above the rim, and those two started dunking frequently on the practice court.
“Having someone who, when we’re driving, we can throw a little lob to, it makes it so much easier,” said senior guard Carson Daniel. “Having them in practice is amazing. We have everyone dunking.”
The Vikings, No. 3 in The Charlotte Observer’s latest Sweet 16 poll, went 32-0 during last year’s 3A title run. Their closest decision was a seven-point win against United Faith, which reached the NCISAA 1A state championship.
After a season in which it blew away its opponents by an average of 38 points, Central Cabarrus has managed to be even more as dominant. It’s even reached triple-digit scoring twice this season, including in an 111-37 victory against East Rowan on Friday.
“It looks so easy because we’ve been playing together so much,” head coach Jim Baker said. “We know our system. It’s the way we’re playing. They’re really good, coachable kids, and we’re rolling along pretty well.”
The North Carolina state record for consecutive wins by a boys’ basketball team is 91, set by Beaufort in 1960-62. Stanley won 88 straight from 1938-42, and Durham enjoyed a 73-game win streak from 1937-40. Stanley became part of East Gaston in the 1970s; Durham closed in the early 1990s.
In recent memory, Weddington won its 49th straight game in the 2022 N.C. 4A state championship — before dropping its season opener that next fall.
“Fifty in a row,” Kent said with a smile. “It’s a great accomplishment. We’re really chasing history.”
PHOTOS: Central Cabarrus boys at South Rowan
