New Hanover basketball overcomes Richmond, advances to state championship
WINSTON-SALEM — Right from the start, the New Hanover boys basketball team emanated a feeling that can only properly be characterized as special this season.
That sense of achievement only grew stronger as the Wildcats came from behind Thursday in the NCHSAA 4A East regional final to overcome Richmond 55-53 in thrilling fashion.
"We tough," New Hanover junior Rodmik Allen said. "We prepared for this from day one, we knew every game was going to be a battle but we know we have to stay level headed and stay pounding and just be us and we'll be fine."
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Like they have the last two weeks, New Hanover fell into an early hole, trailing the Raiders 31-24 at halftime.
"Going into halftime, (New Hanover coach Kirk Angel) was just telling us to stay positive, do what we do. That helped out a lot. Just coming back out there playing with my guys and seeing (Zeus Batts) get after it just makes my motor go a little more," Allen said.
Allen led all New Hanover scorers with 23 points on the night, finding the basket on an elusive layup to tie the game at 51 with 2:16 left in regulation.
New Hanover would take the 55-53 lead as Allen drained two free throws with just over a minute to play. The Wildcats would then spend nearly the rest of the game defending a Richmond inbound under their own basket.
"We just wanted to make it tough," Angel said of the game's final moments. "(Paul McNeil) is going to get him, and we just wanted to make it tough and I think we did a pretty good job of that."
McNeil, as he has all season long, led the Raiders on the night, scoring 36 points. The No. 2-seeded Radiers finished the season 25-6.
"Hats off to New Hanover, they did a great job and came ready to play," Richmond coach Donald Pettigrew said after the game. "I wasn't surprised (with New Hanover's defense); Coach does a heck of a job with his guys."
New Hanover (32-0) will face either Lake Norman or North Mecklenburg in the 4A state championship on Saturday. The matchup marks the first time since 2012 that the team has made a state title appearance.
"The beach is all behind us," Angel said. "We're just that little team from the end of I-40. I put together an incredible schedule, and I told the guys after we lost against Holly Spring (In the playoffs last year) that I was gonna put them in a blender. These guys responded to every bit of the challenge."
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New Hanover basketball overcomes Richmond in NCHSAA Regional final
