When Marvin Davenport took over for Darius Lagroon in 2010 as head coach of the Plymouth basketball team, he implemented a new winning mentality that transformed the Vikings into championship contenders.

In four seasons as head coach, Davenport’s team has won 85 games and lost just 17. However, last season’s storybook undefeated season was cut short by a three-point Rocky Mount victory in the third round of the state tournament, and this year, the Vikings were looking for revenge, matching up against head coach Billy Anderson’s unbeaten East Carteret Mariners in Fayetteville on Thursday.

East Carteret, which has put up some astronomical scoring totals in Class 1-A, had little trouble outscoring Plymouth, knocking off the Vikings in an offensive showcase, 82-63, to move on to the Final Four of the state tournament.

Despite a competitive first quarter on both ends of the floor, the Mariners’ perimeter shooting would later prove too much for the Vikings to defend. East Carteret shot 58 percent from behind the arc, and outscored its opponent 24-9 in a huge momentum-shifting second quarter.

The Vikings had an uphill battle in the second half, but managed to put some points on the board, though it wouldn’t be enough in the end.

Senior captain Adrian Moore led all scorers with 22 points in his final high school game, while senior forward Davonta Spruill finished with nine.

For the Mariners, Anderson had three players finish in double figures. Junior guard Sam Johnson led his team with 20 points. Junior Jacque Brown and sophomore Trevor Willis finished with 18 points apiece.

East Carteret sits just two wins away from a state championship and the best season in school history. Anderson’s Mariners will face Wallace-Rose Hill in the semi-final game.

Entering the tournament with a 10-13 record and a No. 13 seed, Wallace-Rose Hill has proved to be this year’s Cinderella story in the Class 1-A bracket. The Bulldogs have the opportunity to pull off what would likely be the most historic and improbable win in school history against East Carteret this afternoon in Fayetteville’s Crown Arena.