Chapel Hill capped a perfect season with a 69-56 win over Hickory in Saturday’s state 3-A girls’ basketball championship game at the Dean Smith Center.

DSC_3395Chapel Hill avenged a loss in last season’s title game vs. Charlotte-Harding and finished 32-0, while Hickory (29-1) suffered its first and only setback.

“I’m so excited,” said legendary Chapel Hill coach Sherry Norris. “This is so surreal….every coach dreams of being undefeated and winning a championship. It’s hard to describe how that feels.”

Game MVP Raziyah Farrington poured in 22 points with three rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes. She hit all three of her trey attempts and was 9 of 10 from the line in a terrific performance.

“She did a tremendous job,” Norris said of Farrington. “She played extremely well, including defensively as well.”

Catherine Romaine shoots a hook shot over the Hickory defender.

Catherine Romaine shoots a hook shot over the Hickory defender.

Catherine Romaine was a force in the middle, dropping in 14 points while hauling down 10 rebounds. Tamia Eatmon, meanwhile, was terrific at the point in netting 11 points while also drawing her coach’s praise for a stellar effort in running the offense.

The Tigers dominated most of the contest, building a 23-6 first quarter lead as Farrington netted seven of her points. She continued her blistering play early in the second with a layup and trey as Chapel Hill went ahead 28-6.

Chapel Hill went on to control the remainder of the first half, going into intermission with a 38-16 bulge. Early third quarter baskets by Romaine and Jamella Smith made it appear the Tigers were going to romp to the title as they built a 46-20 lead.

Raziyah Farrington receives the well-deserved Kay Yow Most Valuable Player award.

Raziyah Farrington receives the well-deserved Kay Yow Most Valuable Player award.

The Red Tornadoes, however, went on an impressive 20-2 run that propelled a hungry Hickory squad within 10 points of the Tigers early in the fourth. A Yazman Hannah hoop even brought Hickory within five points with just under five minutes left.

Chapel Hill showed the toughness and grit of a champion from there, bagging their second state title as Eatmon drilled key free throws and Farrington hit a layup.

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