Heart Break.

One of the pleasures of being a play by play announcer are the people you meet along the way.  Way back during my days doing the play by play of Gryphon football while in the pressbox one night a former Gryphon from the 80's came in the box to meet me.  Greg Pierce who now calls Fuquay home still comes to see the Gryphons play.  Since that time ten or more years ago Greg and I are frequent texters and during the state championship football game sat together.

Received a text about 6:30 Monday from Greg that he was heading with his boys to the Dean Dome to watch the national championship game with other Tar Heel fans, maybe 15,000 or so.  I don't know if ever Tar Heel fans have ever gone bonkers on championship night like tonight.

The first ten minutes were back and forth as Nova had as big as a five point lead.  Just over eight minutes to go in the half Paige hit a three giving Carolina their first lead.  On the offensive trip up the court the Wildcats big men walked up the court.  Was this to be the first sign  that Carolina had a boat load of big men that can play and maybe not Nova.

The under eight  timeout helped Nova's big men and Carolina is hitting threes like no other night.  Can this last all night?  One thing is apparent that these refs don't know what a travel is.  So far this has been a very interesting game against what has proven out to be the two best teams during the tournament.  Nova's big men did a good job denying the ball inside for most of the first half.  Carolina by five at the half 39-34.

They say the first five minutes after the half will tell a lot about about the outcome.  Let's see what the score is if Carolina is ahead by more than five or if Nova spurts before the under 16 timeout. Nova starts 2 for 7 and cuts the lead to three.  Carolina struggling with movement on offense.  Looks like this one may be sitting in to be a barn burner.

Nova takes lead with a three and Carolina misses their first three of second half.  No doubt that these two teams are facing the best teams that they have played in this tournament.  Nova can't miss and Carolina can't make anything.  Heading to under eight minutes and the Heels in trouble.  Nova by seven at 60-53.  Carolina needs some stops.

Nova has taken Brice Johnson out of the game.  By far Nova has taken Carolina's offensive flow out of the game.  Two straight turnovers Heels got it to six and a Roy time out.  Still need stops.  Block shot and a Carolina three and it's down to three.  Two missed free throws Heels in trouble.  Missed one and one still alive.  Panic shot and Nova Rebound.  Paige three and there's hope.  Bad pass and Johnson Bucket and we got a barn burner after all.  Terrible foul called Nova by three.  Paige bucket some how.  Two shots and Nova by three with last shot coming.

Paige with miracle three and Greg Pierce tells me Dean Dome roof is coming off.  Nova wins at buzzer.  Hell of a game.  Dead silence in Dean Dome.

Nova cancelled the Carolina inside game and played even in the back court.  Great game. The difference in the game the missed shot by Carolina just before the half and the Nova bucket.  Four point exchange.