3A Championship: Ben L. Smith vs. Southern Durham

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With three of the four championships having been decided on Championship Friday, one more would put a lid on the day's play in Winston-Salem.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ben L. Smith was one of the teams that was eliminated last season by eventual 3A champion Central Cabarrus en route to its state championship. This year's Golden Eagles rendition would earn victories over Carson, A.C. Reynolds, Dudley, Crest and Hunter Huss to earn a state berth.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other state berth would be claimed by Southern Durham. Last season's Spartans rendition was eliminated by Westover. The five opponents the Spartans defeated to claim its spot in Friday's championship contest were Williams, Triton, First Flight, J.H. Rose and Swansboro.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship Friday would come to a close with Ben L. Smith looking forward to a joyous bus ride back home. The Golden Eagles would claim the 64-62 overtime victory over the Spartans to win the 2024-25 3A boys championship.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During that bus ride, Ben L. Smith will also celebrate a 2024-25 season that concluded with a 29-3 record in addition to its conference showing of 12-2. It may not have been the result that Southern Durham was in search of on Friday evening, but its 30-3 overall mark plus its 15-0 conference showing is not exactly shabby.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Remember What Happened Last Time? </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was in the early portions of the 2023-24 season when Ben L. Smith and Southern Durham last shared the court. That get-together would result in a 57-53 victory for the Golden Eagles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was an auspicious start to the game for Southern Durham as the Spartans, at one point in the opening stanza opened up at 12-4 advantage. With one frame complete, Southern Durham would establish a 20-10 advantage over Ben L. Smith.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Golden Eagles managed to cut into its deficit slightly in the second quarter. As both teams went into their respective locker rooms to mull over how to attack the final 16 minutes, Southern Durham's lead over Ben L. Smith would be 30-23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much of the third quarter would be to the Golden Eagles' liking. At one point late in the period, Ben L. Smith pulled ahead of Southern Durham by a 34-32 margin, but the Spartans would still go into the final frame ahead by a score of 35-34.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As was the case with the earlier boys game between Southern Wake and Corvian Community, high drama was developing with Ben L. Smith vs. Southern Durham. And as was the case with the earlier Lions vs. Cardinals tilt, four quarters settled nothing. Golden Eagles and Spartans would be all knotted up at 49 which would force four minutes of free basketball.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even with one of its premier players on the bench, Ben L. Smith still managed to make clutch plays when it mattered most. Those moments would prove crucial as the Golden Eagles would depart from Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum as champions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2811461,"width":"508px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5376-crop-2263x1486-1742028529.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5376-crop-2263x1486-1742028529.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2811461" style="width:508px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ben L. Smith needed every single one of the 29 points that were delivered by junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2043250' first='Jyi' last='Dawkins']</strong>. Included in those 29 was making eight of his nine free throw attempts. Dawkins also grabbed eight rebounds, putting him two shy of a double-double. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2811464,"width":"509px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5331-crop-2124x1395-1742028719.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5331-crop-2124x1395-1742028719.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2811464" style="width:509px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Golden Eagles also benefitted from the 13 points that <strong>Kenny Miller, Jr</strong> finished Friday's matchup with. He would play nearly 29 minutes. Unfortunately for Ben L. Smith, Miller fouled out prior to the end of regulation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2811466,"width":"513px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5354-crop-2108x1384-1742028885.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5354-crop-2108x1384-1742028885.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2811466" style="width:513px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of six-point scorers also came up big for the Golden Eagles. One of those was senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2053614' first='TayShawn' last='Mann']</strong>. His six was especially important because he converted a game-tying layup which sent the contest into overtime. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2811473,"width":"516px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5251-crop-2108x1384-1742029172.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5251-crop-2108x1384-1742029172.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2811473" style="width:516px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ben L. Smith also was lifted from another six points that came courtesy of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2175500' first='Gavin' last='Palmore']</strong>. He added scoring depth off of the Golden Eagles' bench. Palmore is one of nine juniors on this year's team. He also collected four rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2811478,"width":"513px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5374-crop-3142x2063-1742029352.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5374-crop-3142x2063-1742029352.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2811478" style="width:513px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern Durham's efforts were spearheaded by a pair of 23-point scorers. One of those was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225444' first='Jackson' last='Keith']</strong>. He played all 36 minutes and also grabbed eight rebounds. Thirteen of his 23 occurred in the first half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2811482,"width":"511px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5389-crop-2108x1384-1742029639.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5389-crop-2108x1384-1742029639.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2811482" style="width:511px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other 23-point scorer would be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2623267' first='AJ' last='Morman']</strong> who also took home Most Outstanding Player honors from the East Region. He may be only one of three freshmen on the team, but he will continue to put the state on notice with performances such as what he did on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2811484,"width":"506px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5422-crop-3052x2004-1742029855.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5422-crop-3052x2004-1742029855.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2811484" style="width:506px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zaquan Bowling</strong> would earn nearly 35 minutes of court time and concluded his evening with eight points. Four rebounds were also part of Bowling's showing in Saturday's 3A state get-together. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2811486,"width":"514px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5407-crop-2082x1367-1742030035.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_5407-crop-2082x1367-1742030035.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2811486" style="width:514px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Contributing seven points in nearly 33 minutes of court time for the Spartans was <strong>Jakari Glaspie</strong>, a junior guard. Glaspie is one of four 2026s on this season's rendition of Southern Durham. The 5-foot-11 standout primarily plays as a one in the backcourt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Graduating from Ben L. Smith are Micah Cowan, [player_tooltip player_id='2633043' first='Kenny' last='Miller Jr']., [player_tooltip player_id='1454556' first='Kendrick' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2053614' first='TayShawn' last='Mann'] and Ty'sere Payne. Kejon Hughes, Devin Perkins, Dwight Vincent, [player_tooltip player_id='1225444' first='Jackson' last='Keith'], Zaquan Bowling and Jai'den Davis are preparing to turn the page from Southern School of Energy and Sustainability.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Reclassification</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both Ben L. Smith and Southern Durham will make big time leaps with reclassification. The Golden Eagles will be in the 6A realm next season while the Spartans will find themselves competing in 7A.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->