Rosewood boys dethrone Goldsboro as Carolina 1-A tournament champions
By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on February 20, 2011 1:51 AM
PRINCETON -- There was nothing for Rosewood head coach Daniel Mitchell to say on Friday night.
The Eagles sent their message loud and clear on the court.
Jacquez Raynor buried a turn-around jumper with eight seconds to play in overtime and Rosewood bested Goldsboro 59-57 to win the Carolina 1-A Conference boys' basketball tournament championship. The fourth-seeded Eagles beat two higher-seeded teams to claim the trophy and, more importantly, a home playoff game in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A state playoffs on Monday night.
"I don't know what I can add to that game," said Mitchell. "Both teams played incredibly hard and our guys battled for 36 minutes. They deserve to enjoy this feeling tonight."
After Rosewood led for almost the entire game, Goldsboro battled back in the final two minutes of regulation. Corteiz Sprangle drove the lane and flipped in a shot and drew a foul. The ensuing foul shot tied the game at 50-50 with two minutes to play.
Neither team could find the mark before the horn sounded and sent the game to overtime.
Goldsboro took an early lead in the extra session on a putback by Demarian Henderson and a drive by Devonte White. Normally potent in the slow-down offense, it appeared as though the Cougars were poised to put the game away.
The Eagles had other ideas.
A jumper by Jykhia Applewhite pulled the Eagles within two points. Antonio Henriquez found the mark on a jumper that tied the game. A failed Cougar possession set the table for the pinnacle play.
With 14 seconds to play, Jyonte Raynor bounced a pass to Jacquez Raynor that Goldsboro forward James Williams almost stole in the lane. The pass made it through and Jacquez Raynor collected the ball, took one dribble and nailed a 14-foot jumper from the right elbow.
"Coach tells me all the time to put the ball on the floor when I can," said Jacquez Raynor. "I was able to get the ball and that's a shot that I love. I was just excited to knock it down."
Devonte White got a chance for the Cougars, but his jumper grazed the front of the rim and fell short as time expired. White led the Cougars' offense with 15 points. James Williams and Jarran Reed each added nine points. Goldsboro shot 23 of 36 at the free throw line as a team.
"You hate to say that free throw shooting was the story because it was just one part," said Goldsboro head coach Patrick Reynell. "Rosewood executed down the stretch and they did enough to win it."
Henriquez led the way for the Eagles with 14 points. Jacquez Raynor and Zach Thornton each added 12 points.