Northside High advances to State Championship game
We all know how difficult it can be for a team to go undefeated through an entire season, especially at the high school basketball level. Last season the Farmville Central squad featuring: Tyler Maye, Ikesta Johnson, Mike Taylor and Shaft Parker accomplished this feat and won the NCHSAA 2A State championship. Well this year there is another team from the eastern North Carolina area that is going for the same goal and that is the Northside HS Monarchs. Northside is a program that has consistently been impressive the past few years, in the last five years I can remember them being in the regional semi-finals four times, which is very impressive for a program from such a small town like Jacksonville, NC. Although Senior Zach Hobbs and Junior Kenny Dye are the names that you already know, there are more players on the team that contribute greatly to their success such as: Forward Demetrius Jones, Guard Gabe Kirkendoll, Mike Satterfield and big man Jason Mixon. The Monarchs have reached 29-0 and will be looking to make it 30-0 when they step on the floor at NC State next Saturday against North Surry who holds a record of 27-4.
How did they get here?
82-46 Win vs Goldsboro, 80-53 Win over Franklinton, 89-63 Win over Fairmont, 70-51 Win over Clinton and a 72-47 win over Greene Central in the regional championship. Yes, you are reading correctly Northside hasn’t won a game in the state playoffs by less than 19 Points, and the level of teams they are playing are a very talented group of teams. They key for Northside this Saturday will be to play the same style of game that got them to this point, they thrive on playing fast and letting the three point shots fly from deep. If Zach Hobbs, Dye, and Kirkendoll catch fire like they did in the beginning of the Regional Championship it could be a long night for the opposition and Northside will a great chance at being state champs.