Sports

Undefeated East Eagles earn No. 2 seed in the west

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 23, 2025

The undefeated East Henderson High School Eagles, the newly crowned three-peat Mountain 7 Conference tournament champions, landed the No. 2 seed in the western bracket of the state high school men's playoffs, the N.C. High School Athletic Association announced Sunday.East opens play Tuesday in a home game against Central Cabarrus, seeded 31. If it wins that game, EHHS advances to play on Friday night the winner of the No. 15 Oak Grove v. No. 18 Kings Mountain contest. No. 1 seed Gastonia Ashbrook opens the state tournament against West Charlotte, the No. 32 seed. (ACC fans will remember Ashbrook for alumni James Worthy, who won a national championship at UNC in 1982, was the No. 1 pick in that year's NBA draft, won NBA championships in 1985, '87, '88 and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.)

Coached by Marquintas Jones and led by 2024 western North Carolina Player of the Year Caiden Brewer, the Eagles over the past three years have soared from mediocre to amazing.

Here are the dates of the state playoff rounds:

• 1st Round: Tuesday, Feb.  25
• 2nd Round: Friday, Feb.  28
• 3rd Round: Tuesday, March 4
• 4th Round: Friday, March 7
• Regional Finals: March 10
• Regional Finals: March 11
• Regional Finals: March 12
• Regional Finals: March 13
• State Championships: March 14
• State Championships: March 15

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