Wakefield vs. Lake Norman: 4A Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship weekend is a two-day event. The first day will see champions crowned from the 3A and 1A realms.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then there is Championship Saturday when the last two teams standing from the 4A and 2A ranks will take center stage at Wake Forest's Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When last season's champion – Rolesville – was eliminated earlier in this year's 4A playoffs by Hoggard, one thing became a guarantee. It told us a new team that would assume the 4A throne one final time before North Carolina high school sports expands to eight classifications starting next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without further ado, here is a look at the two teams that will do battle on Saturday at Winston-Salem for the 2024-25 4A crown.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Wakefield (26-3, 10-0)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":911136,"width":"380px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/05/Lyla-Bagwell-copy-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-911136" style="width:380px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From 2017-20, the Wolverines would compile a combined record of 70-13. Then came a couple of seasons where Wakefield went a combined 7-25.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last three seasons have seen the Wolverines return to their winning ways. Last season, Wakefield was eliminated from tournament contention at the hands of Hoggard. This season, head coach Jason Lee's Wolverines have only dropped two games against in-state opponents.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of those was against Cresset Christian and the other was to Seaforth. The other loss was against Elizabeth Seton out of Maryland. A major reason for the Wolverines' success has been in status as road warriors – they finished a perfect 10-0 away from Wakefield.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Wolverines' Road to Winston-Salem:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 25 – 81-39 win vs. Cleveland</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 28 – 62-37 win vs. Jordan</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 4 – 73-58 win vs. Overhills</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 7 – 46-40 win vs. Richmond</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 12 – 31-23 win vs. Hoggard</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players:&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams that are veteran-laden are usually the teams that win at all levels of basketball. The 2024-25 Wakefield rendition is no exception. Its leading scorer is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='878739' first='Jaya' last='Hamilton']</strong> who primarily plays at the three or four. She is averaging 10.9 points per game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams that are looking to notch victories over Wakefield also have to game plan for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509876' first='Lyla' last='Bagwell']</strong>. She is a 5-foot-8 junior who also partakes in volleyball. Bagwell is averaging 9.6 points, four rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another of the senior standouts that has been an important element to this year's winning puzzle with the Wolverines is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='918872' first='Maddison' last='McIntyre']</strong>. The 5-foot-6 guard is averaging 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals. McIntyre leads Wakefield in the steals and rebounds categories.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The play of another 2025 in <strong>Aly Schaffer</strong> has also improved Wakefield's fortunes. Schaffer is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 8.3 points per contest. She is also second on the team in field goal percentage. Schaffer is shooting 44 percent from the field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='762014' first='Sydney' last='Conti']</strong> is another of the nine seniors that comprise this year's version of the Wolverines. Conti is averaging 7.5 points and 1.3 steals per game. As someone who can play at either the two or three, Conti can give a team plenty of minutes at the wing.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221166' first='Nicole' last='Amend']</strong> stands at 5-foot-11 but can give a team worthwhile minutes as wither a guard or a forward. Amend is averaging six points and 3.7 rebounds per game. She is one of three sophomores on this year's team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2025-29 Reclassification: </em></strong><em>8A</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Lake Norman (29-1, 13-0)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":844907,"width":"365px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/01/DSC_0020.jpg?w=748" alt="" class="wp-image-844907" style="width:365px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Entering Saturday's contest at Winston-Salem, Lake Norman can boast that it went a combined 120-11 over the past five seasons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McKenzie Graham's Wildcats can particularly boast about what it has accomplished up to this point in 2024-25. Lake Norman has not dropped a matchup against a North Carolina opponent all season. Its lone loss occurred against Hebron Christian out of Georgia.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, Lake Norman's championship dreams were dashed at the hands of eventual runners-up Charlotte Catholic. Since that lone defeat, the Wildcats have been in the throes of a 21-game winning streak. Lake Norman is hoping for a different result than its only other appearance in state – two years ago when the Wildcats fell to Panther Creek.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Wildcats' Road to Winston-Salem:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 25 – 85-40 win vs. Cox Mill</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 28 – 87-41 win vs. Northwest Guilford</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 4 – 66-45 win vs. North Mecklenburg</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 7 – 86-66 win vs. Watauga</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 12 – 58-52 win vs. McDowell</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A major reason for Lake Norman's success this season has been having four players that have double-digit averages for points. One of those is six-foot senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288422' first='Samantha' last='Shehan']</strong>. She has averaged 16.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and two steals a game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another of those four is junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='457411' first='Kelsey' last='Rhyne']</strong> who can give a team productive minutes at either the two or the three. Rhyne is averaging 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, four assists and 2.5 steals per contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of juniors, another 2026 that has put together a stellar season for Lake Norman has been <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='621983' first='Rayana' last='Minard']</strong>. She has averaged 13.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 steals to lead the team in that lattermost category.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a senior,<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='331368' first='Alexis' last='Shehan']</strong> will also be playing her final game sporting the signature Lake Norman midnight blue and black colors. Shehan has averaged 13.6 points, six rebounds and two steals. Shehan is the team leader in rebounds.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='922585' first='Kaiya' last='Bond']</strong> is another that Lake Norman opponents have to game plan for. In addition to Bond averaging 7.1 points, she also has averaged 4.7 rebounds putting her second on the team in that category. Bond is also second on the team in steals averaging three per contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288423' first='Addison' last='Sirianni']</strong> – another senior – is one who may not be lighting up the scoreboard to the extent of her teammates, but said Wildcats teammates are in position to score because of her superb ball distribution. Sirianni is averaging 4.6 assists and 2.4 steals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2025-29 Reclassification: </em></strong><em>7A</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>When and Where?</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>12:05 p.m., Mar. 15, Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->