Tomorrow, the third round of high school basketball playoffs take place. Teams have battled for the last four months in an attempt to make the playoffs and ultimately chase a state championship. While the final contest is typically the only game people will remember, there are seemingly always surprises and unforeseen results on the journey down glory road. Let’s take a closer look at some matchups that’ll undeniably have implications on the final outcome…
(#3) Weddington vs. (#11) Chambers
Upon looking at the matchups for tomorrow, Weddington versus Chambers definitely stuck out as a potential bloodbath. Strictly on paper, there is somewhat of a gap in talent. This shouldn’t be looked at as a shocking statement, as Markus Kerr and Tarris Bouie are already trending as two of the top sophomores in the country, Maurio Hanson has collected over a dozen offers, Jordan Patton is a highly valuable college-level leader, and their slew of impactful pieces (Jaydon Terrell, Malik McCotter, Cameron Thompson) all know how to produce within their respective roles. The Cougars’ number of losses looks worse than their actual list of opponents (Christ School, Myers Park, Central Cabarrus, Northside Christian, Cannon, and North Meck (x3)), but they’ve also had several notable wins (Covenant Day, Caldwell Academy, Salisbury, Victory Christian, and United Faith).
On the other side, Weddington has a clearly defined grouping of their own (in addition to one of the best coaching staffs in the state). After all, they are the higher seed and have only suffered one loss this season (The Burlington School). Guys like Mason Zepp, Jack Ellyson, and Jaden Nnaji play critical roles in the Warriors’ success, but it ultimately comes down to their three most productive players. Grant Hamilton is a smooth, highly skilled piece who doubles as one of the best shooters in the state, KJ Younger is a versatile, physically imposing wing who naturally causes mismatches on both ends of the floor, and Aidan Cook stands out among the most improved key players throughout the playoffs.
Both teams have shown some shaky signs in the early rounds. Weddington has beaten both of their opponents (Butler, West Meck) by five points while Chambers thwarted Marvin Ridge by 40 after narrowly escaping Hopewell (74-72) in the first round. It’s worth noting that aside from his hiatus last season, Coach Ellington has won championships in his last two seasons at the helm. Will that trend continue or will it be the perfect storm for Chambers? These teams face off at Weddington tomorrow (3/5) at 7:00.
