State Championship Epilogue: Backcourt Beasts (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) state championship weekend had a different look to it as the Carolina blue of UNC and the red of NC State was substituted for the black and gold of Wake Forest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even with the regional finals and state championships shifting their scene from the Research Triangle to the Piedmont Triad, the basketball was no less scintillating.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eight teams departed from Winston-Salem with championship hardware – including four boys teams. Today's game of basketball is more centered on guard play than the paint presences of the 80s and 90s and that was on display all weekend at the home of the Demon Deacons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without further adieu, here is part 1 of our list of standout guards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2232877"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2378253,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"At the half of Wilson Prep's 1A state championship contest with Corvian Community, the Tigers trailed the Cardinals by a margin of 34-28. Wilson Prep managed to come from behind to defeat the Cardinals by a final of 65-63. Ferguson led all scorers by placing 34 points on the board. He also helped his team out on the glass by hauling in seven rebounds – including five on the offensive glass. Ferguson also gave his team a lift by drawing contact, getting to the free throw line and making six of his eight attempts from the stripe. The college game awaits where Ferguson will play at Belmont Abbey.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f8bbddb7cb1"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1382077"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2378790,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eSharpe's game was very sharp(e) this past Saturday in the 2A state championship game between his Reidsville team and their adversaries from Farmville Central – last year's kings of the 2A realm. Sharpe played a major role in dethroning the Jaguars as he scored 29 points in an overtime classic which resulted in a 78-77 Rams victory. Sharpe displayed what he can do from behind the 3-point line as he made three of his six tries from distance. Close contests almost always come down to free throw shooting and Sharpe was clutch at the stripe as he was a perfect 10 for 10.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f8bbddb7d1f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1409583"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2378815,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eTraylor has a championship pedigree. He won a 3A state ring in 2021-22 as a freshman with West Charlotte and added a 4A state ring to his trophy case as part of this year's North Meck rendition. Traylor scored 15 points as part of the Vikings' 57-47 victory to dispatch of New Hanover. He demonstrated his abilities as an efficient ball distributor as well with three assists. Traylor is a problem for teams to contend with on the defensive end of the floor as well – he had two of the team's five steals in Saturday evening's North Meck win. The 6-foot-3 guard has played his AAU ball with Team Thad EYBL.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f8bbddb7d82"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1154633"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2378228,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eDaniel was another integral element in the well-oiled machine that is 3A Central Cabarrus. The Vikings went back-to-back after its win over Seventy-First. Thanks in large part to Daniel's 14 points, the Vikings finished the 2023-24 season exactly as they concluded the 2022-23 campaign – as state champions. Daniel is one of three team captains on this year's Vikings rendition. He knows how to get his teammates in position to make plays as evidenced by the nine assists he sent out and comes through on the defensive end as well as evidenced by the three steals he collected. When Daniel steps on the court next, it will be in the college ranks at Catawba.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f8bbddb7de2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1158774"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2378233,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eChase's twin brother Carson also had himself a fitting end to his Central Cabarrus career. Daniel was also a major element in the winning formula for the Vikings as he placed 13 points on the board en route to Central going back-to-back. He will also head to Catawba for the college game as will Chase. Carson helped his team out greatly from behind the 3-point line as a pair of triples were part of his overall offensive performance. The 6-foot-1 guard has also made major strides over the years as a ball distributor. The Daniel Duo has poised themselves for success at the next level.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f8bbddb7e41"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1707110"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2378798,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eWilliams did everything he possibly could to ensure 2A state hardware would once again be heading to Farmville Central. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, his team had to settle for runner-up medals following a 78-77 overtime loss to Reidsville. Williams had a stellar individual performance as he scored 23 points to ensure Farmville Central was in the contest from start to finish. With his team trailing 70-67 late in the fourth quarter, he drained a 3-pointer late in the frame to ensure four minutes of extra basketball would be needed to decide this contest. Williams overall made four of his eight 3-point attempts and also sent out five assists.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f8bbddb7e9f"} /-->