Playoff basketball, there is nothing like it in North Carolina. This was a battle to go to the Final Four, as Westminster Catawba and Northside Christian had a ton of storylines coming into this one.' Two very well-coached teams went at it to start in the first quarter, and both offenses seemed to make plays. Northside found success from the perimeter while Westminster attacked and got to the rim consistently.' Both teams were trading blows but Westminster was able to get the leg up in the first quarter, leading 24-19.'
But this looked like it was going to be a game of runs for both teams.' Northside answered right back, led by Glynn Hubbard and company to eventually tie back up early in the second quarter.' Two big threes by Westminster Catawba gave them the lead right back, as the game started to slow down in the half-court, much more than what we saw early in the game.' Westminster was able to control much of the game in the second quarter, outscoring Northside 15-9 to hold a double-digit lead at halftime, 39-28.
Westminster didn't let up on the energy level coming out after halftime and simply, the outside shots didn't quite fall like they were early for Northside.' Westminster though did find success, as they ran through their offense, picked their spots, and kept the clock rolling.' It helped them get near a 20-point lead midway through the third and maintain that throughout the quarter.
Heading into the fourth, Northside Christian picked up the pressure, tried to create turnovers, and score quickly.' They were able to that at times but the hole was too deep, as Westminster Catawba secured the big road playoff win, 71-52
Westminster: 24 ' 15 ' 15 ' 17: 71
Northside: 19 ' 9 ' 6 ' 18: 52
Stats:
Westminster:
MJ Collins 22 points
Richard Black 18 points
AJ Hamrick 8 points
Northside Christian:
Glynn Hubbard 22 points
Jahseem Felton 11 points
Standouts:
2022 MJ Collins (Westminster Catawba): Collins needs and should be a sought-after prospect by many programs. This young man plays with a tremendous feel, makes great decisions on the floor, and simply makes himself longer and bigger than listed. His high release helps get over defenders and simply has a smooth, confident shot. Collins also does a great job in reading and attacking the defense. He scored and created from all over the place, which is why he should be garnering multiple offers from programs.
2022 Richard Black (Westminster Catawba): Black played extremely well and with a ton of energy on the floor. The junior guard did a little bit of everything for his team, as he was able to penetrate and score, using his quickness to his advantage, but also play under control and initiate the offense.
2021 Glynn Hubbard (Northside Christian): The senior did what he could and found success early on. Hubbard continues to give you a nice blend of point guard and scoring guard, knowing when to use his speed and scored from multiple levels, but also attack and use the dribble to get the defense on their heels. He found success early in the game scoring the ball well. Hubbard left it all on the court and did everything he could on both ends. This is an unsigned senior that needs more attention.