FARMVILLE CENTRAL HEADS TO CHAPEL HILL WITH BIG WIN OVER NORTHEASTERN

By: Evan Moesta

For the first time in 23 years, the Farmville Central Jaguars are off to a 2A Boys Basketball State Championship Game as they topped Northeastern High School 72- 57 in the 2A Eastern Regional Finals. 27 was the lucky number on Saturday afternoon as junior Tyler Maye’s 27 point performance propelled the team to a 27-0 record on the season.

What was an evenly matched contest for the opening eight minutes saw Farmville Central pull away from a 14-14 tie after one to take a 30-25 lead into the locker room. Maye and the Jaguars turned things up a notch in that frame and added even more in the third as that five point lead inflated to twelve after three quarters. Maye’s 27 points came from all over the Crown Coliseum floor as he went 7-12 from inside the arc, and 3-6 from downtown. The 6’2 guard also turned in a perfect day at the free throw line, shooting 4-4 while also hauling in five rebounds. Shaft Parker added 16 points in the win, and Ikesta Johnson made up for a rough offensive afternoon by grabbing a game high 14 boards. Big man Deondre Phillips also finished in double figures with 12 rebounds, and he added 9 points to his stat line.

Northeastern would not go down without a fight as they scored 21 of their 57 points in the final stanza. The Eagles would be paced by Shawn Walker Jr.’s 19 point performance, and 6’4 sophomore Damar Sutton’s double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds). Walker was one of four players to knock down a three for Northeastern after turning in a 2-7 showing from beyond the arc.

With the victory, Farmville Central will head to Chapel Hill to participate in the fifth 2A State Championship in school history. The Jaguars last appeared in a state championship game when they defeated Monroe 67-53 in 1993. Farmville Central’s three other appearances came in 1987, 1989, and 1990. The team has won the 2A State Championship in each of their last three appearances.