Farmville Central vs. Reidsville: 2A Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the end of play this past Wednesday, three-quarters of the two-day championship field for Friday and Saturday would have officially been decided.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the 1A and 3A teams determined who would play in their final games of the season in Winston-Salem, it was time for the spotlight of the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum to be put on the teams from the 2A ranks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final two contests that Wednesday would determine which boys teams would compete for this year's 2A crown. The result would see Farmville Central and Reidsville return to the Triad for one more matchup. Here is our preview of both teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Farmville Central (30-1, 13-0)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the Jaguars to be in the state championship game is familiar territory for coach Larry Williford's program.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Farmville Central has been in this position for 11 occasions in school history. This appearance for the Jaguars also represents an opportunity to win its fifth championship in the last six years. Along with being co-champions during the COVID year, they also claimed titles in 2019, 2021 and 2023 – in addition to 2016.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Only once did Farmville Central suffer defeat this past season – and it was at the hands of Reidsville in late December. Reidsville was also the same team the Jaguars defeated at the conclusion of last season to win its latest state championship.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jaguars' Road to Winston-Salem:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 27 – 86-36 win vs. Ayden-Grifton</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 1 – 83-64 win vs. Northeastern</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 5 – 98-68 win vs. Southwest Onslow</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 8 – 77-70 win vs. Northwood</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 13 – 74-54 win vs. Goldsboro</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mykal Williams</strong> scored 10 points in the contest with Goldsboro and is finishing a stellar junior season. The 2025 standout is listed at 5-foot-10 on Farmville Central's roster and primarily operates at the one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday's matchup against Reidsville will be the final occasion that <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1076359' first='Tyler' last='Whitehurst']</strong> will sport Farmville Central black and gold colors. He also played a major role in the victory over Goldsboro as he was the Jaguars' leading point-getter with 13. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another senior who hopes to close his high school career with a state championship is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1076333' first='Hampton' last='Evans']</strong>. He is a stalwart for the Jaguars' frontcourt and is listed at 6-foot-6. Evans had eight points in the regional final over the Cougars. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1774403' first='JD' last='Daniels']</strong> is another reason why Farmville Central has put together another season where they are in position to claim championship hardware. Daniels finished with 10 points in Wednesday's victory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When a team has the veteran talent that the Jaguars possess combined with a winning pedigree, it is a tough team to beat. Ask <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1450447' first='Jordan' last='Jones']</strong> – another of the team's seniors. He tallied 11 points in the 20-point regional victory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Reidsville (28-0, 12-0)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For this year's Rams assembling, the opportunity to get sweet revenge could not be more alluring.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After all, when Farmville Central prevailed over Reidsville in last season's 2A state get-together, it not only denied the Rams championship euphoria, but the opportunity to finish the 2022-23 season with a perfect record. It was also the first loss the Rams had suffered in a state championship game out of the five occasions Reidsville had reached that plateau.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reidsville, a school which has been well-revered over the years in North Carolina high school sports circles for its football success, last claimed a boys basketball state championship in 2003.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Rams' Road to Winston-Salem:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 27 – 92-19 win vs. Madison</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 1 – 90-55 win vs. Lincolnton</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 5 – 87-65 win vs. Shelby</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 8 – 89-50 win vs. West Stokes</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 13 – 76-72 win vs. Salisbury</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After emerging as one of the Hoop State's breakout freshmen in 2022-23, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1628346' first='Kendre' last='Harrison']</strong> has followed it up with another solid season as a sophomore. Harrison is averaging a double-double of 21.6 points and 14.9 rebounds alongside 3.7 blocks per contest. He scored 19 and hauled in 19 in the win vs. Salisbury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of sophomores, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1716474' first='Dionte' last='Neal']</strong> is another who followed up a superb freshman campaign with more heroics this season. Neal is also averaging a double-double with 19.3 points and 10.9 assists to go alongside 4.3 steals and 3.1 rebounds. Neal scored 16 in the West regional victory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That win vs. Salisbury would see junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1382077' first='Johnniyus' last='Sharpe']</strong> come through as Reidsville's leading point-getter with 21. For the season, the junior guard is averaging 17.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aljariq Lee</strong> was another of the four Rams who had double-digit point outputs in the matchup against the Hornets as he contributed 11 to Reidsville's cause. Lee is one of five seniors on Reidsville's roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>When and Where?&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mar. 16, 5 p.m., Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->