By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
GREENVILLE – Come Friday, both Williamston coach Hughes Barber and Cape Hatteras skipper Earl Fountain will look to speed up the tempo during their NCHSAA 1-A East Region matchup at J.H. Rose High School, but on Monday the pace was a little more relaxed as the two coaches joined the other eastern sectional winners at East Carolina University for a morning media session.
Optimism and a well-earned sense of accomplishment exuded from the coaches that filled the Murphy Center Monday morning, but that vibe figured to transition into intensity sometime Monday afternoon when practice resumed.
The Tigers enter the first round of the regional tournament largely viewed as the favorites over the in their matchup with the Hurricanes. Williamston, who won the Four Rivers Conference regular season and tournament championships, heads into battle with a 27-0 record and a No. 1 ranking in the state by NCPreps.com.
While not perfect, Cape Hatteras has had a very successful season as it has won the Tideland Conference for the fourth straight year and has tallied an 18-5 record up to this point.
The two teams have many similarities which include a preference for up-tempo offense as well as a pressure defense, but on Monday both programs took a moment to appreciate how far they have come.
“I think everybody is definitely excited,” Williamston coach Hughes Barber said. “It’s a big deal to make it to Greenville and play in the regionals. A couple of my seniors where here two years ago, but my young girls have never been in this environment. It’s a big deal and I think they are all excited to come out and play.”
In 2007, Katie Paschal led the Tigers on another lengthy run at a state title as a sophomore, winning the first game at J.H Rose before falling to Pender in the state semifinals.
That same season the Hurricanes won the sectional championship powered by their own sophomore star in guard/forward Paxton Gwin, but fell in the first round of regional competition to East Bladden.
The 5-10 Gwin is now a senior, and has brought her team back to J.H. Rose averaging 24 points per game and over 10 boards a night.
Fountain, whose team topped Northampton-West, Manteo and Jones Senior to secure a spot in Greenville, said that his team is has gotten hot a the right time.
“We were here the year before last, and last year we made it to the sectional finals, but I lost three starters from that team so we are a little surprised to be here,” Fountain said. “The team has been playing really well since the last five or six games of the year. We have been picking it up defensively and the transition offense has been working for us.”
After playing a hectic schedule the last week or so, both teams will have five days to prepare for their next game.
The extra time could either be a blessing, allowing tired or injured players to heal and rest up, or a momentum-draining curse. That will be determined Friday.
For now, both coaches will have the challenging task of keeping their team loose but focused.
“I wanted a little bit of time off, but maybe not five days. But your have to do what you have to do,” Barber said. “We are going to change up the schedule this week practice-wise and try to be as prepared as can be. I think the players are pretty loose, but I will find out more this afternoon at practice … I think we are taking it pretty well.”