...and I can't even see how it will be close. The Panthers are so, so talented and have the perfect system to make the most of it. Factor in how close they've been to the title game the last four years, and the experience of someone like Helen Terry down the stretch, and I'd have to call Dudley double-digit favorites. Call me a homer, but I'd also bet the house on Bishop McGuinness' girls, give Northern Guilford a 2-to-1 shot at winning and call the McGuinness boys a slight favorite. Bulletin board material galore, I'm sure.
Here's a look around cyberspace at tomorrow's games. See you there.
3-A GIRLS
Gastonia Forestview will be the first school in state history to play for both the 3-A girls and boys titles in the same season. The Jaguars are deep, including a late-blooming six-foot center. Forestview head coach Ken Beaty said his team will try to keep up with the Panthers' up-tempo style, but "if we can't run with them, it won't take too long to find out."
3-A BOYS
Forestview head coach Dan Ghent echoed what many have said lately: Northern Guilford "does not have any weaknesses." But the Jaguars are no slouch either, having upset both Andrews and Concord to get here. Forestview has been seeing a different hero every night, including a burst of energy off the bench from sophomore Zeek Bigger, who rivals my old Little League teammate Tommy Powers on the list of epic sports names. Forestview guard DeJuan Means, who torched Andrews for a career-high 24 points last week, missed some practice time with an illness earlier this week but is expected to be good to go on Saturday.
1-A BOYS
Weldon went undefeated in conference play and hasn't lost since the second game of the season. The Chargers are led by identical twins, but don't worry, head coach Donnell Handsome won't switch their jerseys to slip anyone up. (D2: The Mighty Ducks, anyone?) Bishop will likely need someone other than Aaron Toomey and Ross Diachenko to step up.
1-A GIRLS
The Villains took out East Bladen by 37 in the 2007 title game, but don't expect it to be that lopsided this time. My friend Rachel George at the Wilmington Star-News has an interesting perspective on people who complain about Bishop's private school advantage.
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