CHAPEL HILL — The NCHSAA East and West Regionals were decided this past weekend in the four classifications and the 2019 State Championships are set for this Saturday.
In 1A action, Pamlico County and East Surry will square off in the girls contest at noon in Chapel Hill at the Dean Dome. Pamlico, which eliminated Chatham Central in the 4th round, advanced to the finals for the third straight season with a convincing 60-37 whipping of East Carteret on Saturday down in Fayetteville.
East Surry, meanwhile, took the West Regional in Hickory with a last-second three-point shot to rally past Murphy 41-38.
The 1A boys will feature Henderson Collegiate against Bishop McGuinness at 2:30 p.m. in Chapel Hill at the Dean Dome. Henderson Collegiate knocked off Washington County 69-59 for the East Regional title down in Greenville at ECU, while Bishop McGuinness edged North Rowan 42-40 in the West in Hickory.
Also at the Dean Dome, the 3A girls will go at 5 p.m. with Southeast Guilford taking on Cuthbertson. SE Guilford won the East Regional with a 62-49 win over E.E. Smith, while Cuthbertson downed Freedom 41-37 to take the West Regional crown.
At 7:30 p.m. in the Dean Dome, Burlington Williams will try to down the buzz saw that is Southwest Guilford for the 3A title. Williams upset Eastern Alamance 58-49 to take the East Regional, while Southwest Guilford blasted two-time defending 3A state champion 88-58 to win the West.
In Raleigh at Reynolds Coliseum, Saturday action will begin with the 4A boys final of South Central and West Charlotte at noon. South Central took the East Regional by trouncing Raleigh Millbrook 70-50 while West Charlotte won the West by destroying Winston Salem Reynolds 85-51.
The 4A girls final will feature Southeast Raleigh against West Forsyth at 2:30 p.m. Southeast Raleigh, champions from the East, advanced by beating Cary 58-51 on Saturday while West Forsyth mashed Charlotte Butler 57-39 that same day to win the West.
In the 5 p.m. contest to decide the 2A girls, Farmville Central will tangle with Mountain Heritage. The East Regional champion Farmville Central girls made the state finals after hammering Kinston 76-56 on Saturday while Mountain Heritage captured the West Regional by blasting Forbush 70-45.
The Farmville Central community will hang around for the 2A boys game as the Jaguars hit the court against Forest Hills with a state crown on the line. Farmville Central won the East Regional by dominating Greene Central 78-59 while Forest Hills pulled away in the fourth to take the West Regional with a 71-62 triumph over East Lincoln.