NCHSAA 3A: Opening Round Bracket Busters

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The first round of the 3A NCHSAA State Playoffs tipped off on Tuesday night across the state. Take a look at some early upsets in the opening round and take a look at some second round matchups to keep on your radar.</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: <strong>JAYANDERSON30</strong>, sign up <a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>TODAY</strong></a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 20 seed JM Robinson went into hostile territory against No. 13 West Henderson and took home a convincing 68-52 victory. It was a solid matchup of top teams in the state as both teams came into the game with identical 18-8 records. 2024 Londen Roseman, 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2362609' first='Brian' last='Rowe'] and 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1454518' first='Tre' last='Harlee'] are a few names to get to know with their group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 22 Northwest Cabarrus ended No. 11 Kings Mountain's season a few rounds earlier than expected with a 75-71 victory. Northwest Cabarrus has been led this season by 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2279860' first='Jordan' last='Gonder'] and juniors Landon Rowe and [player_tooltip player_id='2173816' first='Anderson' last='Lee'] as they look to pull off another upset in Round 2. They'll face No. 6 East Henderson on Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 17 JH Rose defeated No. 16 Triton in convincing fashion 74-50 as juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2362603' first='Justin' last='Grimes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2362604' first='Malachi' last='Green'] continue to lead their backcourt. They look poised to turn heads with their abilities to impact both ends of the ball with a matchup looming against No. 1 Swansboro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While there weren't as many upsets in the NCHSAA 3A ranks, there were some close finishes. The First Flight Nighthawks escaped at home against EE Smith 77-67. They'll travel to No. 8 North Brunswick on Friday night. Hunt High got 65-63 victory over Eastern Alamance as their young group got their first taste of the NCHSAA Playoffs in the opening round. [player_tooltip player_id='1204485' first='Drew' last='Pittman'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2411568' first='Austin' last='Joyner'] will get all they can handle in the second round against No. 2 Westover.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 10 seed Asheboro got a 72-70 victory over No. 23 Carson as App State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1976852' first='Jerquarius' last='Stanback'] looks to go out with a bang before heading to the next level. They'll have another tough squad on their hands this Friday when they face No. 7 A.C. Reynolds. They defeated North Davidson 62-40 in the opening round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 8 Piedmont escaped in the first round with a 66-65 victory over No. 25 East Lincoln. Things are sure to heat up as they face No. 9 Freedom in the second round. They were a surprise out of the 2A/3A Rocky River Conference as they ran the tables at 11-1. They could emerge as a dark horse in this year's field led by 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1462966' first='Miles' last='Leaks'], 2024 Fred Little and 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2362596' first='Brian' last='Little'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Take a look at 7 games in the second round of the 3A NCHSAA Playoffs on the PH radar on Friday:</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 12 White Oak @ No. 5 South Central</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 14 Croatan @ No. 3 Southern Durham</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 10 Asheboro @ No. 7 AC Reynolds</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 12 Ashbrook @ No. 5 Crest</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 9 Freedom @ No. 8 Piedmont</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 16 North Lincoln @ No. 1 Hickory</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">No. 14 Ben L. Smith @ No. 3 Central Davidson</h4> <!-- /wp:heading -->