NCHSAA 4-A Title Game Preview
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A championship will be held on Saturday at the campus of NC State at 7:30PM. Independence High School out of Charlotte and Heritage High School out of Wake Forest will tangle for the right to be called the best in the state for North Carolina’s largest classification.
Independence has only one loss this season, coming at the hands of NCISAA 2-A state champion Carmel Christian back on December 23rd. The Patriots are led by 6-foot-4 guard Jamarius Burton, a strong and physical guard that averages 16.5 points, 4.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game. Junior forward Matt Smith, a 6-foot-6 post player averages 12.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per outing. Junior guard Audra McKee is the other scoring option for Independence scoring 14 points per game this season. 5’11 guard Raja Milton averages right under 10 points per game at 9.6 points per outing. Independence reached the finals with wins over West Charlotte, Ardrey Kell, Olympic and Rocky River High School.
Heritage High School reached the 3rd round of the playoffs last season and are in the finals this season after knocking off Millbrook, Green Hope, Broughton, and South Central High School. Heritage is led by 6-foot-7 rebounding machine Jayden Gardner, who has signed with East Carolina University. Gardner averages 24.1 points and 13.9 rebounds per game this season. He is one of the most talented rebounders I have covered in a good while. Virginia Tech commit Jarren McAllister is the other piece to the puzzle for Heritage. McAllister is a 6-foot-3 wing that averages 17.5 points per game. Freshman Redford Dunton is one of the best freshman in the state and is helping out at 8 points per game. Heritage has a 25-4 record on the season.
This game could end up going either way and I feel like it will be a great game. Both teams can score it and both teams runs strong defenses and both of these teams can rebound the ball very well.