Cape Fear Drops Heartbreaker In Championship

Cape Fear Drops Heartbreaker In Championship
Box Score
March 6, 2016

Pinehurst, NC - Cape Fear's quest for a third straight Region 10 Championship came up short late Saturday afternoon as No. 2 Spartanburg Methodist handed the top-seeded Sea Devils a 75-72 season ending setback in Pinehurst.

With the win, the Pioneers advanced to the NJCAA Division I Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas on March 14-19. Meanwhile, Cape Fear saw its reign as back-to-back league winners come to a close, finishing the year 24-8 overall.

Trailing by nine with six minutes left in regulation, Cape Fear used a 13-4 run to tie the game 71-all with 1:09 remaining. A key steal and coast-to-coast lay-in by Warren Vinson sealed the Sea Devils fate as Spartanburg Methodist grab a two-point lead it would not relinquish. A pair of free throws in the final seconds made it a three-point game and a final attempt by Cape Fear at the buzzer fell short to give the Pioneers a Region 10 Title.

 

Spartanburg Methodist used five shots from long range early in the second half to gain a 59-54 cushion with 9:27 left.

The Pioneers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead before the Sea Devils tie the game 14-all midway through the opening period. A three-pointer at the buzzer capped a late 7-0 spurt by the Sea Devils as Cape Fear grabbed its first lead of the game, 34-32, at the half.

Sophomore Michael Chambers paced the way for the Sea Devils as the guard poured in 33 points and 11 rebounds. 

Courtesy of Joe Catenacci