Deuce Powell scored 27 points here on Friday night in Pittsboro to lead Northwood to a 74-64 victory over GRACE Christian School of Raleigh in second round action of the inaugural First Bank Charger Classic Tournament.
The victory advances Northwood (5-3) into the finals on Saturday against a talented squad in Westside High out of Anderson, S.C.
Northwood coach Matt Brown was pleased with his club which opened the event 2-0 entering the finals.
“A great team effort and great team win,” said Brown after the victory. “One of the best games that we have played. We have been talking about putting together a complete game a lot lately, and this was a close that we have gotten this season.”
Brown says his team is buying into the continued improvement as the season wears on.
“This team is really embracing the grind and the process of a long season,” Brown added. “I love the make up of this team, from players 1 thru 13, they all contribute.”
Powell was the main contributor for the Chargers as the slashing junior forward took over in the pain in a pivotal 3rd quarter despite the presence of 6’11 Jaylon Gibson inside for the Orange and Navy clad Eagles.
Powell torched GRACE (6-6) for eight points alone in a 21-13 run in the opening period before notching six more in the 2nd to help extend the Chargers advantage to 35-22 at the intermission.
The Eagles rallied in the third period behind six points from Gibson, and four more apiece from Luccas Pereira and Tony Brown to close to within 49-40 entering the fourth.
Eight more points from Powell, a pair of treys from Alex Snively, and four points each from Aaron Ross and Jalen McAfeee sparked a 24-point outburst by Northwood in the fourth to cap the 74-64 victory.
Powell was 12-of-16 from the floor in the win while adding two rebounds and an assist to the cause.
Ross closed with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists for the Chargers while McAfee chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Snively 10 points and two boards.
Gibson was a man in the middle for GRACE, throwing down five dunks, including a monstrous one-handed jam off a rebound, on the way to 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal and six blocks.
Torrey Brown chipped in 15 points in the loss while Pereira added 10.
