4A Championship: Wakefield vs. Lake Norman

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship Friday would see the odd-numbered classifications determine its four state champions for the 2024-25 season. Even-numbered classifications had the bright lights of Winston-Salem on them the following day.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wakefield would be one of the teams to take the court at the Wake Forest gym. A defeat in last season's tournament to Hoggard ended the championship hopes of the Wolverines, but Wakefield managed to put together a deep playoff run that included victories over Cleveland, Jordan, Overhills, Richmond and that same Hoggard team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How did Lake Norman respond after being eliminated in last season's tournament by eventual 4A runners-up Charlotte Catholic? With a 2024-25 season that saw the Wildcats not drop a game to an in-state foe. That included a postseason run that saw wins over Cox Mill, Northwest Guilford, North Meck, Watauga and McDowell.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Marion would experience 4A championship euphoria following what was the most entertaining girls contest up to that point. The Wildcats converted a game-winning layup to earn the 43-41 victory over Wakefield.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That championship euphoria experienced by Lake Norman was the culmination of a 2024-25 season that saw the Wildcats finish with a 30-1 record. Lake Norman also went a perfect 13-0 in its conference.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even though Wakefield may not have come away with the big prize, the Wolverines can still take pride in its 26-4 overall record, its 10-0 mark in conference and a region championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wakefield had an early advantage before the game began turning heavily in Lake Marion's favor as the opening stanza ensued. At the conclusion of one frame, the Wildcats would lead the Wolverines by a margin of 14-9.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Midway through the second quarter, Wakefield managed to pull ahead of Lake Norman by a score of 17-16. The Wildcats answered with a 10-2 run which made it a 26-19 contest and prompted a timeout from the Wolverines in the process. At the half, Lake Norman's lead over Wakefield was 26-21.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That Wildcats lead would be trimmed at and would completely vanish midway through the third quarter as Wakefield tied up the matchup at 30, which would prompt a Lake Norman timeout. Eight minutes remained to determine which team would take Rolesville's place as state champions with Lake Norman clinging to a two-point, 35-33 lead over Wakefield.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Norman led by a margin of 41-38 late before a late 3-pointer by Watauga evened the tally again at 41 apiece. Overtime appeared to be in sight but the Wildcats converted on a game-winning layup to seal the deal on the 2024-25 4A state championship.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1217045,"width":"570px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_5599-crop-2512x1650-1742121502.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1217045" style="width:570px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='331368' first='Alexis' last='Shehan']</strong> ensured that her final game sporting the Wildcats' signature black and navy blue colors would be a memorable. She played nearly 30 minutes and scored 13 points. Shehan's eight rebounds (four on the offensive glass) also had her two shy of a double-double. She also dished out three assists and collected two steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1216866,"width":"438px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/Rayana-Minard-MVP-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1216866" style="width:438px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='621983' first='Rayana' last='Minard']</strong> was the big hero for Lake Norman. Minard finished her afternoon in Winston-Salem by tallying 10 points to boost the Wildcats' efforts. She had the most important bucket of the contest – the game-winning layup in the fourth quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1217049,"width":"564px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_5554-crop-2108x1384-1742121905.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1217049" style="width:564px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats also greatly benefitted from the nine points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288422' first='Samantha' last='Shehan']</strong>. The standout 2025 combo guard logged 19 minutes of court time in her final go-round sporting Lake Norman's uniform. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1217051,"width":"559px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_5539-crop-2116x1389-1742122070.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1217051" style="width:559px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pacing the Wolverines' efforts would be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509876' first='Lyla' last='Bagwell']</strong>. The 5-foot-8 junior would add 11 points and grab six rebounds. Bagwell made clutch buckets in the fourth quarter that nearly got Wakefield the win. She also came away with two steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1217053,"width":"561px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_5491-crop-2656x1744-1742122241.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1217053" style="width:561px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much of Wakefield's early efforts were courtesy of senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='878739' first='Jaya' last='Hamilton']</strong>. She concluded Saturday's game with 10 points. Out of the 10 she did score, eight were in the first half. Hamilton also led the team in rebounding with seven and added two steals to her performance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1217059,"width":"566px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_5480-crop-2108x1384-1742122424.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1217059" style="width:566px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another 2025, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='918872' first='Maddison' last='McIntyre']</strong>, played the most minutes of any of the Wolverines – nearly the entire 32. McIntyre did a bit of everything for Wakefield – scoring eight points, dishing out seven assists and corralling six rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='302228' first='Aliya' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='515575' first='Adason' last='Buoniconti'], [player_tooltip player_id='288423' first='Addison' last='Sirianni'], [player_tooltip player_id='331368' first='Alexis' last='Shehan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='288422' first='Samantha' last='Shehan'] are the five seniors that will soon call it a time at Lake Norman. Wakefield is graduating [player_tooltip player_id='762014' first='Sydney' last='Conti'], [player_tooltip player_id='879847' first='Heaven' last='Briggs'], [player_tooltip player_id='878739' first='Jaya' last='Hamilton'], Zoe Ritter, Grace Jones, Elle Harris, [player_tooltip player_id='918872' first='Maddison' last='McIntyre'], Kacey Ford and Aly Schaffer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Reclassification</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the 2025-26 season commences, Lake Norman will be in the 7A field and Wakefield will find itself among 8A schools.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->