There is nothing like high school basketball getting underway here in North Carolina, as we had this date on our minds for quite some time now. Combine Academy, one of the top teams in the country, kicked off the season at home as they welcomed in Lincoln Charter, a team coming in with nothing to lose and looking to prove themselves in a big way.
They did just that, as this game came down to the final SECONDS in what was an absolute thriller.
Lincoln Charter came out firing and with a ton of energy, finding ways to knock down shots from multiple levels, hitting threes, creating multiple second-chance opportunities, and playing loose and free. That energy level was at an all-time high early on, as they punched Combine in the mouth to lead 20-6 early. Combine Academy started to chip away behind their senior leader in Silas Demary Jr. but every time Combine thought it was about to turn the tables, Lincoln Charter had an answer.
2023 Elijah Burnett was one of the guys that stepped up, while Joseph Bruce, Kelan Flowers, and Cairo Morales all made plays well. It is what helped Lincoln Charter to a 34-28 lead.
Combine though continued to chip away, as 2024 Trentyn Flowers started to come more alive, while 2024 Rakease Passmore started to get in on the action; Demary was continuing his stellar play. They were able to get it down to as many as two in the third but yet again, Lincoln Charter behind the stellar play of Burnett had an answer to hold a seven-point lead heading into the third.
We started to come down to the final minutes and with Combine only holding the lead once at 2-0, they were able to take the lead with 2:47 left to go. But Lincoln Charter, once again, wouldn
