Josh Hicks scored 14 of his 24 points in the first half, and weary Mount Tabor held on in the second half to finish off Greensboro Page for a 64-58 win in the Class 4-A West Sectional 1championship game last night.
With Hicks knocking down four of his five 3-pointers in the first half, the Spartans appeared to be well on their way. But Page -- the only team to beat Mount Tabor this season -- wouldn't go away.
"This was a tough game, probably the most intense game we have been in all year, and that's what we expected," Mike Grace of Mount Tabor said after scoring 19 points. "This is the Sweet 16 and you will get everybody's best."
Mount Tabor (28-1) will move on to the Class 4-A Western Regional for the second straight season. The regional tournament will be played next week in Greensboro, and pairings will be announced by the NCHSAA today.
Unlike Mount Tabor's 18-point win against Charlotte Vance in the second round on Wednesday, the Spartans never could get away from Page. The Pirates' four-guard lineup and a 6-9 center, Julius Brooks, matched up well with the Spartans, who survived a flat third quarter.
Hicks and Grace combined to score 24 points in the first half, when the Spartans built a 32-24 lead. But those shots stopped falling in the third quarter when Mount Tabor made 2 of 15 shots and scored six points, and the Pirates, making a concerted effort to get the ball inside to Brooks, pruned the lead to four by the start of the fourth quarter.
"We would have liked to hit them in the mouth at the start of the third quarter but we did a good job of keeping our heads up and not letting the little run they had take away the flow of our offense," Hicks said.
The fourth quarter was a track meet, and the Pirates got as close as 44-41 when Jordan Weethe made a 3 from the left wing. But Hicks answered with his fifth 3-pointer, and the Spartans started attacking the basket.
"We cut it to four and one of their guards would get to the hole on us and get a layup," Coach Robert Kent of Page said. "They started missing their shots and I think they were tired and a little surprised we were still staying after them. But then they started shooting layups.
"I think probably we match up with them better than anybody. They're good. I hope they go all the way and win the thing."
The Spartans were 11 of 18 from the foul line in the fourth quarter, making just enough of them to maintain breathing room. Guard Mitchell Oates of Page scored 10 of his 20 points in the final minute to keep it close.
"Their guards are very quick and they handled the pressure real well," Coach Andy Muse of Mount Tabor said. "We knew we couldn't do a lot of trapping tonight because of their shooters and they pass the ball so well and work the back side.
"To win championship you have to play half-court defense and we dug in and in the second half and we got some stops and did get some fast breaks that were crucial in the fourth quarter."
C.J. Harris added 13 points for the Spartans and held guard Stacey Green of Page scoreless. Alex Fagg (12 rebounds) and Greg Jackson (eight rebounds) did a solid job inside and helped limit Brooks to nine points.
■ Mason Linker can be reached at 727-7324 or at mlinker@wsjournal.com.
Page 15 9 10 24 -- 58
Mount Tabor 20 12 6 26 -- 64
Page (22-7): Oates 20, Finney 11, Weethe 12, Daly 2, Spain 2, Harrison 3, Brooks 9
Mount Tabor (28-1): Grace 19, Harris 13, Grote 1, Hicks 24, Simpson 2, Fagg 5
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