CARY DOWNS GARNER IN OVERTIME 71-69 TO WIN 4A EAST REGIONAL

It took overtime and a buzzer-beating shot by senior Cory Gensler, but the Cary Imps are headed to their school’s 9th State Championship game next weekend in Chapel Hill. The Imps downed Garner 71-69 to improve to 31-1 on the season.

On the final possession of the overtime session Cary trailed by 1, Cory Gensler stepped up to take the final shot of the game, drilling a right-wing three with one second remaining to vault the Imps into the lead.

In a game that went back and forth all afternoon, it is only fitting that the two teams needed extra time to decide the 4A Eastern Regional Championship. Thomas Allen from Garner dominated long stretches of the game, scoring 32 points on the afternoon, but he was matched by the effort of Cary senior Donte Tatum who dropped in 29.

Tatum shot 11 of 14 from the floor and a perfect 6 of 6 at the line. Gensler had 19 points on the afternoon, including the game-winning three. He added 12 rebounds and six assists. The Imps as a team went 44% from three, hitting eight, while the Trojans only hit a single triple on the afternoon.