FARMVILLE CENTRAL WINS FIRST TITLE SINCE 1993, DOWNS EAST LINCOLN 81-71

In a game full of wild momentum swings, it was the final swing that pushed Farmville Central (29-0) to their first state championship in Men’s basketball since 1993. The Jaguars slid past East Lincoln 81-71 to win the 2A Men’s State Championship in front of a raucous crowd at the Dean E. Smith Center.

Farmville Central jumped out to a quick 9-2 advantage before a 13-4 run for East Lincoln reversed that score line. Sage Surratt powered the Mustang attack in the opening minutes, scoring 10 of his game high 32 in the first frame.  He was named East Lincoln’s Most Outstanding Player of the Game.

East Lincoln seemed in control in the third quarter, leading 53-44 headed to the fourth. The Mustangs had kept Farmville Central’s leading scorer Tyler Maye in check as he had only 7 points in the first three quarters of the contest.

Maye would not be denied in the fourth, as he exploded for 18 points in the final quarter, on the way to 25 points and game M.V.P. honors.  When Chazz Surratt fouled out with 4:17 to play, East Lincoln saw their offense sputter. The Mustangs only managed 9 points in the final 4:17 as Farmville Central went to work scoring 26 points in the same time span.

The Jaguars dominated the final eight minutes as they scored 18 points off of turnovers in the final quarter and got big rebounding help from Ikesta Johnson who hauled down 11 rebounds on his way to Most Outstanding Player honors for Farmville Central. He also added 12 points as one of four Jaguars in double figures scoring. Michael Taylor scored 16 points with Shaft Parker dumping in 21.

For East Lincoln (27-1) there were three players in double figures. Sage Surratt led the way with 32, hauling in 11 rebounds. Hayden Duggans had 16 points and three assists while Chazz Surratt scored 10 points with six rebounds and five assists.