NCHSAA State Playoffs: 1A & 2A Region Finals Preview

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Take a look at the regional finals preview for the NCHSAA 1A &amp; 2A State Playoffs taking place in the final week of high school hoops!</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1A</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">East</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">2 Southern Wake Academy vs. 1 Washington County</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top-seed Washington County remains in the hunt for a NCHSAA 1A State Title with [player_tooltip player_id='2311776' first='Brandon' last='Carter'] leading the way. He's posted big numbers in the postseason and the Elite Eight was no different, as he put up 41 points, eight rebounds and five steals in a victory over Voyager Academy. Southern Wake Academy will look to slow him down with their talented rotation of prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern Wake Academy trailed just 4-2 before they put their foot on the gas and led 14-8 after one, then 32-17 at the half against Northampton County. The Lions won things rather handily in the Elite Eight, winning 64-36 behind unsigned senior [player_tooltip player_id='1262468' first='Ira' last='Wilson'], who continues to show off his abilities as a scorer and playmaker. [player_tooltip player_id='2123684' first='Se' last='Surmons'] got hot from range and things got out of hand from there. They'll look to punch their ticket to the final with a victory over Washington County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">West</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">5 Corvian Community vs. 3 Queen's Grant</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2149164' first='RJ' last='Moore'] put up 19 points on three made 3-pointers and [player_tooltip player_id='2374725' first='DeMarkus' last='Milton'] stepped up with 12 points on two made 3-pointers to boost the Cardinals to an upset victory over top-seed Bishop McGuinness, 52-50 on the road. The pace slowed down for Corvian Community, but they weathered the storm against a well-coached group. Now, they'll look to really get over the hump against a Queen's Grant team with size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Queen's Grant took down 2-seed South Stokes 88-59 as five different players finished scoring in double-figures for them. [player_tooltip player_id='2146888' first='Preston' last='Scott'] finished with 16 points and 10 assists on 8-of-10 shooting while [player_tooltip player_id='2194641' first='Mekhi' last='Allen'] led the way with 18 points on three made 3-pointers. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2194636' first='Chase' last='Smith'] finish with 12 points and 11 rebounds as well. They're a group with a lot of depth to contend with in the 1A West.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2A</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">East</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">4 West Bladen vs 3 Northwood</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Bladen knocked off top-seed Farmville Central behind a late layup from [player_tooltip player_id='1220139' first='Hezekiah' last='Blanks-Adams'] to advance to what should be a defensive battle against Northwood. [player_tooltip player_id='2418471' first='Chase' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2500145' first='Jackson' last='Pait'] combined for 35 points while Blanks-Adams finished with 10 points himself in the 68-66 victory over a favorite to win it all. Now, they'll look to keep things going in the East Region Finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwood went on the road and knocked off 2-seed Southwest Onslow 59-44 as they look to return to the state finals. [player_tooltip player_id='1411220' first='Cameron' last='Fowler'] finished with 29 points and eight rebounds to lead the Chargers as he continues to build his starpower in the 2026 class. Look for another big performance against West Bladen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">West</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">15 Bandys vs 2 Reidsville</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reidsville played their closest game all playoffs against Salisbury in their 77-69 victory. [player_tooltip player_id='1716474' first='Dionte' last='Neal'] poured in 30 points, eight assists and four steals while [player_tooltip player_id='1628346' first='Kendre' last='Harrison'] finished with 15 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks before fouling out in regulation. Despite him going out, the Rams still managed to hang on until the end thanks to 20 points from [player_tooltip player_id='1382077' first='Johnniyus' last='Sharpe']. Their bid to repeat continues with Bandys up next in the West Region Finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bandys remains the lone double-digit seed out of the 2A West following their 63-57 upset over 6-seed Lincoln Charter. [player_tooltip player_id='2093887' first='Landon' last='Vaughan'] put up 19 points and five rebounds while Dominic Robinson put up 16 points, five rebounds and three assists to lift the Trojans to victory. They'll look to keep their Cinderella run alive with a potential upset of unbeaten Reidsville in the West Region Finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->