View Single Post
Old 02-03-2007, 01:56 PM   #216
aztarheel
High School JV
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Steve Victory JOURNAL – NCT Title Game 2027!! (Three-peat??)

State’s Brandon Collins wins the tap and PG Ian Demory brings it up court to start the 2027 NCT title game. But Illinois creates a steal, and SF Billy Thompson gets an easy deuce for the game’s first points.

The two teams battle tooth and nail for the first 20 minutes, but the Wolfpack just can’t seem to solve the physical Illini. And Thompson and teammates Philip Brown and Mike Degala always seem to have an answer when State does score.

Victory’s bunch goes into the halftime locker room trailing 45-38. Down but not out.

“Guys, we’re OK. No need to panic,” Victory says to his crew at the break. “Be patient. Don’t force anything. Get the ball to Jalen or Ian and let them create.”

Unfortunately, that’s just what Illinois is hoping for. They overplay the State stars and start the half on an 8-0 run. State never recovers. This team with a 40-0 record suddenly looks like a group of deer caught in the headlights. What do you expect? They’ve never really been behind all season.

The Illini run and steal and dunk their way to a lopsided 93-66 NCT championship victory. Folks in the Midwest love it. Folks who sell TV ads hate it because viewers start tuning away 5 minutes into the second half. Victory and the rest of the State faithful are shell-shocked to say the least. Hillsborough Street in Raleigh is a morgue…

Thompson finishes with 28 points for Illinois. He makes 10-of-14 shots, including 6-of-8 from behind the arc. Brown adds 19 points, and Degala 12. Hemphill and Demory are held to 10 points each. Carstensen leads State with 20 points. One of the biggest stats: State’s starting front court of PF Deon Brown and C Brandon Collins combine for just 6 points, 8 rebounds and no blocks… uggg…

An ugly finish to what otherwise has been the most magical season in Wolfpack – maybe ACC? – history…
aztarheel is offline   Reply With Quote