The team looked ready and so were the kids. My daughter had taken her usual position.
This was not your usual game though. This was the kind of game where players have to rely on everything they learned outside of shooting the ball to grind out a win. Here we had two teams, both averaging over 70 points per game. UNC averages close to 80. For a while I wondered if the teams would get to half those totals. I didn't get a photo; but with 11:27 left in the first half, the score was 7 to 5 in favor of NC State. This was one of those games where locking down defensively and crashing the boards was going to win. North Carolina dominated the boards 51 to 35, limiting NCSU to three, yes, three offensive rebounds. UNC had 20 offensive rebounds and when you shoot 30% from the floor, dominating the boards and playing good defense is key to having any chance at victory. North Carolina 67, North Carolina State 63.
This was very different from the first matchup with NC State; but it was more like what I'm used to. My daughter being only 11; has not seen us lose to NC State much at all. It hasn't happened since my 5 year-old son was an infant. We arrived early and I had a feeling this was going to be a battle. It took a while to move from the starting point. State managed a double digit lead (20 to 7) before North Carolina went on a run. From there to half-time, the Tar Heels outscored the Pack 14 to 6 to pull within five points at the break. My throat was already getting scratchy. My daughter had shed her UNC hoodie.
Where's My Run?
When they came out for the second half; I was glad for the basket switch. I told myself something must be wrong with the one we had in the first period. I was really looking for one of those typical North Carolina runs at the beginning of the half. Didn't happen. After a few minutes we were down 10, 35 to 25. Reynolds was rocking. I had a guy behind me heckling me every time State scored. I'll never act up. I'm a mother. And this is far from my first road game at NC State.
But then...
Bring on the Press
UNC went to a pressure defense. NC State inbounded the ball and Latifah (Coleman) and Danielle (Butts) trapped Len 'Nique (Brown-Hoskins) in the backcourt. Steal and a layup Latifah Coleman. Then on the next play, a full court press. NC State inbounded the ball and it went straight to Stephanie (Mavunga) who jumped the passing lane. Steal and a layup. Time out NC State. The Tar Heels actually stole the ball again; but weren't able to score on the third one. But the entire bench was on fire by this point. Everyone's body language was totally different. I could tell during the timeout.
The game went back and forth for a while. I continued to torture my throat. My daughter sweated through her t-shirt. She said that never even happens in PE. We took the lead 39 to 38 when Jessica (Washington) and Latifah (Coleman) both had long balls find the net. Eventually State went back in front by six points. Coach wisely called a timeout to stop the momentum and UNC caught up again. This was beginning to remind me of the game at State two seasons ago, a four point UNC victory. In the end, it was familiar. In that game and in this one, Brittany Rountree stepped forward, stood boldly in the moment and brought the victory home at the free throw line. She made 8 free-throws in the final minute, after her only points in the game had come on a trip to the free throw line earlier in the game where she made one of two. The term the players use is "clutch". It fits.
Brittany Rountree at the line (photo from www.goheels.com)
So how did we get to 67 points?
N'Dea Bryant: 4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block (photo from www.goheels.com)
She was out there for just 13 minutes; but those two shots she hit came at a time when it seemed UNC couldn't hit the ocean with a boulder. She was a real bright spot in those minutes.
Jamie Cherry: 3 points 1 rebound, 1 assist (photo from www.goheels.com)
Same with Jamie. That shot she hit was a big one. When it appeared there was a lid on the basket, she came off a screen and swished a shot.
Latifah Coleman: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)
A tough night shooting (like everyone else that touched the floor) but it was defense that carried this team tonight. She was the top of the defense and that steal when we were down 10 in the second half changed the course of the game.
Allisha Gray: 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)
That lid on the basket was mean, even to our most efficient scorers. Allisha clawed her way to these numbers. One thing about her, she isn't going to let a struggle to score stop her from contributing.
Stephanie Mavunga: 11 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)
Never enough room to put it all on one line. It wasn't nearly as easy this time around. Once it became clear we had some trouble shooting the ball, they packed in on Stephanie. I guess they didn't want her having a similar outing as the first time (23 points, 12 rebounds). I think too it was hard to get a feel for how the folks in stripes were calling this one. It seemed they weren't going to allow much to go on at all. There were 44 fouls called in this one. I never like the number of fouls to exceed the number of minutes in the game. Early one there were more fouls than points. It had to be frustrating. It seemed her counterpart was having just as hard of a time. Shuhmacher fouled out near the end.
Jessica Washington: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist (photo from www.goheels.com)
Jessical hit a couple of shots; but again it was the timing of her scoring. Everyone stuggled; so every basket was crucial.
Danielle Butts: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist (photo from www.goheels.com)
The one player to shoot over 50%, Danielle scored on a variety of moves. She was aggressive; and powerful. That fade away jumper was a thing of beauty.
Brittany Rountree: 9 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)
Finally the woman of the hour. All nine points were earned at the charity stripe. She was the main part of an 81% success rate at the stripe for the team. Eight of them were in the final 30 seconds of the game to seal the victory for UNC. God bless her. She's the designated person for this. I know she got beat up with the Pack players trying to foul or take the ball away.
Moving Forward
It's always good to get a win at Reynolds. Road wins in the ACC are to be treasured no matter which team it is. I wasn't bothered by the margin. The shooting percentages, yes; but not the margin. But I was glad to see the Tar Heels battle past it and bother NC State enough that they struggled as well.
It answered a question for me I never really wanted answered: "What will they do if they struggle to shoot 35% again? Still I hope it never happens again. Duke comes to Carmichael on Sunday with a lot of height and that's putting it mildly. They'll pack the paint; so good shooting will be important. Ask Boston College, who sunk 13 three pointers tonight in a victory over the #15 Blue Devils. So hopefully we're ready because Duke will not be happy. Until then and always...
Go Heels!
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