The NC boys’ varsity basketball team (4-0) played Pope’s Greyhounds (3-2) for their first home game of the season Saturday, November 26. With courageous spirits from their previous blowout against the Alpharetta Raiders (2-3) with a score of 72-35, the Warriors trickled with willpower to maintain their three-game winning streak. After NC’s JV teams and Lady Warriors varsity team faced a defeat against the Greyhounds, the varsity boys broke the curse by coming out victorious. 

The first quarter started off with senior point guard Jalan Johnson (1) scoring a three-pointer. Senior center Evan Daniels (4) put the Warriors up by two with an impressive dunk. As the warriors started off strong, they lost grip of the lead (10-5) toward the end of the first quarter. This did not last for long after an intense back and forth; Daniels, senior point guard Mehki Sherman (2) and senior center Terrell Reeves (23) tied the Warriors with the Greyhounds and ended the first quarter 16-16.

With encouragement from their teammates and coaches, the Warriors put themselves in the lead. Junior point guard Malique Card (24) put the Warriors up with a three-pointer (19-16). With two minutes left in the second quarter, Johnson scored one last three-pointer, finalizing the first half with the Warriors in the lead (26-25). During halftime, the Warriors believed their performance could improve and they deserved the win. 

“I feel great about being undefeated so far and I feel like we got a really good team and a really good roster. I think we can make a little bit of noise in the playoffs and I’m just blessed to be a part of the team. We made a pretty good win against a good opponent so we just need to keep it going,” Sherman said.

For the beginning of the third quarter, the Warriors and the Greyhounds maintained consistent scores. During the third quarter, Johnson and Damonte Pellot (0) worked together in making multiple three-pointers to secure the Warriors’ lead of 44-33. With effective teamwork between the two, the Greyhounds lost their chance of catching up.

The team effort continued in the fourth quarter between Johnson and Pellot as Daniels put the Warriors up by two in the last five seconds of the match. Sherman ended the game with his free throws, making each shot. With NC nine points ahead, the game ended 62-53. The NC boys varsity team will play the Allatoona Buccaneers Tuesday, November 29 at NC.

“I hope this season we make it to state and shock people since people don’t really believe we’re good and we just need to prove them wrong. Last year I was ineligible to play basketball but I went to all the varsity games and so far I can see a huge improvement in our team. I would say our team needs better decision-making since a lot of us only have a year under our belt but I’m excited to see what’s in store for this season,” Sherman said.