3 East NC Friday Conference Championships to Watch!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>It's that time of year again! Conference Championships are on the line! Not only are teams battling for hardware, but also for potential seeding in the state tournament that will beginning next week. Let's take a quick look at a few of the matchups that will be taking place on Friday Night in the Eastern NC area. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong><em>Hoggard vs New Hanover</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Hanover swept the regular season matchups, but it was not by a wide margin, which should make for a very interesting championship game that will be played at a neutral site. New Hanover currently holds a record of 22-2 and the scary part is their starting backcourt consist of sophomores, which only means the future is bright. Hoggard has played in big games this season already which includes the CC Holiday Classic, so we fully expect the Vikings to embrace the challenge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong><em>Princeton vs Goldsboro</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams have been impressive throughout the season, with only two losses on their records and their last matchup was decided by less than five points. Goldsboro comes into this matchup as the favorite of course but don' overlook Princeton, they are a team that has some talent and one of the better scoring senior guards in East NC. However, this will be a tall task for the Bulldogs as they are on the road against a very strong Goldsboro squad that is looking to prove themselves as not only the best in the conference but one of the better 2A teams in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong><em>St Pauls vs East Bladen </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams split during the regular season, so it only seems right that they get the opportunity to meet one more time for a winner takes all matchup to decide the conference champion. Both teams have had some struggles at one part of the season which makes it even more impressive that they were able to play some of their better basketball during tournament time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Players To Watch:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1220122"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A name that you should be very familiar with at this point, he leads his team in scoring at 14 PPG and Assist at 4.0 APG, in only his second year of varsity basketball action. He plays the game with a high amount of energy which is infectious to his teammates, and he never backs down from any challenge he's faced with. Look for him to have a big-time game and impressive playoff run for the Wildcats in the 4A state tournament next week.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1080180"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"One of the top unsigned seniors on the eastern side of the state, he did not waste much time getting adjusted to the area after transferring in from Kansas. He has size, skillset and understands how to make a huge impact on games within the flow of the team offense. If the Vikings hope to take home the win, they will need him to have a big-time game with his perimeter shooting and rebounding.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["949375"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The future ECU Pirate has put together another outstanding season, averaging over 24 Points and 12 rebounds per contest. His team has won seven of their last eight games by more than twenty points and he is one of the main reasons why they will have a chance to make some noise in the NCHSAA 2A State tournament. His athletic ability has been a strength for him for many years but what really has impressed us is his development on the perimeter on both sides of the ball.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["854880"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"His recent 46 Point performance against North Johnston had social media buzzing, not only was the point total impressive but the percentage that he scored the ball at was just as impressive if not more. He plays the game at his own pace, has a nice IQ for the game and has proven time and time again that he is a player that is worthy of being recruited.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1384476"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Throughout the season he's shown flashes of how good he can be, and we fully expect him to have one of his better showings in their championship matchup. Although he has shown his ability to score the ball, he also makes a high impact on games without scoring due to his ability to block shots and rebound the ball.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63efbb34a27e7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->