Posted: Mar 06, 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.
Sophomore Michael Chambers paced the way for the Sea Devils as the guard poured in 33 points and 11 rebounds.
Courtesy of Joe Catenacci