GATERS 17&U BLUE 3-PEAT AS STATE AAU CHAMPS
MONDAY, MAY 1 - Greensboro Day School
junior Johnny Thomas claimed his second state championship in a year and earned yet another MVP award scoring 26
points to lead the North Carolina Gaters Blue team to the NCAAU 17&U D-I State Championship Title.
The Gaters defeated the Charlotte Royals 68-61, who were led
by J.T. Thompson's 21 points. The Royals were trying for a seventh state championship in the tournament's 25 year history,
but came up short as star wing Dorenzo Hudson struggled from the field, suffering from back spasms.
Belmont Abbey was the site of the championship game that saw 7 lead changes. "When
we came into the game, we knew it was going to be like a struggle because we hadn't been playing that good the last two games,"
Thomas said. "So we just buckled down."
NORTH CAROLINA GATERS (68) - Thomas 26, Daniels 12, Field 8, McKeithan 8, Uzochuwu 6,
Chavis 5, Bowden 3.
CHARLOTTE ROYALS (61) - Thompson 21, Hudson 12, Valentine 11, Lewis 7, Raye 4, Cooke
3, Watts 3.
