Over the past two seasons I have witnessed a handful of contests between the Northside and Richlands men’s basketball teams.
And each one has gone down to the wire.
Friday’s championship game of the National Dodge Onslow County Classic at White Oak High was no different as the Monarchs came away with a 57-55 victory.
Junior guard Tavarres Blount scored the game-winning basket on a short turnaround jump shot as time expired.
This affair is evidence that Northside-Richlands has become a rivalry.
In addition to not having the outcomes decided until the final minute, both Richlands and Northside have proven to be the two best teams in the area.
The Monarchs are 10-1 while the Wildcats are 11-2. Richlands beat Northside, 48-44, earlier this season in East Central 2-A Conference play. That game was also back-and-forth.
There is a chance these two teams can play five more times. They have one more regular-season conference encounter before they can battle each other in the ECC tournament championship contest. If they play well enough in the postseason, Richlands and Northside can also play each other in the 2-A playoffs.
So why are the game between Northside and Richlands so competitive?
Simple.
Like I said before, both teams are the two best in the area and both have superb players and coaches.
Northside head coach Tony Marshburn is loaded with athletes such as juniors Tyler McDaniels and Joe Womack and seniors Tre Parker and Emilio Mason. These guys, as well as the rest of the team, play hard for Marshburn and can make things happen because of desire.
Meanwhile, Richlands head coach Steve King has a list of players, who might not be as athletic as Northside, but are just as hungry and have accepted early of the importance of team play.
Players like seniors John and Edward King and Jesse Kellum and juniors Horatio Bynes and Kyle Speelman understand their roles and know that individual efforts alone will not carry the Wildcats to wins.
I’m eager to see what happens in the rest of the season for these teams.
