There were too many key moments, too many sidebars to North Forsyth's 75-71 double-overtime victory against Charlotte Harding for coach Sean Vestal of North to recall them all.
But Vestal did know where to rank the second-round victory in the NCHSAA's Class 3-A playoffs.
"That's the best game for my career at North as far as what the guys did, as far as the adversity we went through," a drained Vestal said.
Junior Michael Chambers scored 30 points, Daniel Woodruff chipped in with 16, and Ed Valentine and Patrick Green — among others — came up with big defensive plays as the Vikings roared back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
North (23-4) is one win away from playing in next week's Western Regional Tournament: The Vikings will play Concord Robinson (25-4) at home on Friday at 7 p.m.
The game was close through three quarters before it appeared that the Rams had cracked North's code.
Harding had relied heavily on 6-4 guard Jarvis Haywood, who scored 20 of his 28 in the first half, but it made a concerted effort to get the ball inside during the third quarter. It took a toll on the smaller North.
Steven Burrough, a 6-7 senior, scored six of his 13 points in the early part of the fourth quarter, during which time the officials assessed a technical foul on North's bench. Haywood made both free throws for a 53-43 lead.
Vestal, furious with the foul disparity at the time, said he thought that was when the tide turned.
"Things were going against us in the second half, and at one time I think the (fouls) were 9-2, 9-3," he said. "I just think our guys looked up and said we are not going to lose."
Valentine stole the ensuing inbound pass and scored to cut the lead to eight, and several possessions later, Valerntine had another steal, leading to a Woodruff basket that closed Harding's lead to 56-51.
The lead grew to seven before a basket by Woodruff, two free throws from Green, and a 3-pointer from Chambers — his fifth of the game — got North to 63-62 with 1:33 left.
Valentine foiled the Rams next possession with another steal, and Woodruff knotted the score at 63 with a free throw.
Harding got the ball with 49 seconds left and ran the clock down to 10 before calling time out.
Then guard Shaun Wilson drove the lane, but Green — a powerful 6-2 junior — stepped in front and drew a charge with 1.7 seconds left, sending the game to overtime.
In the first four-minute overtime, Kedrick Flomo of North sank two free throws with 36 seconds left to tie the score at 69, where it stayed until the second overtime. Harding took a blow early in the second overtime when Burrough fouled out, and when the Rams scored on their next possession, it would be their final points.
North scored all six of its points from the foul line in the second overtime, with Woodruff hitting two and Chambers going 4 for 4.
"Patrick Green's charge at the end of regulation was the biggest defensive play we have made all year long," Vestal said. "We lost a game last Friday at the free-throw line. For us to go 10 for 10 in both overtimes from the line was huge."
Vestal said that Harding might have been the best Class 3-A team in the state.
"They beat Charlotte Olympic on Friday night, a team that was 25-0 and ranked No. 25 in the country," Vestal said. "We've put ourselves in great position and we need one more to get to the regional.
"Friday night is all about getting to the regional. For us to not win Friday night, this season is not a success in my eyes.
"We have to do that and get there to give ourselves a chance to win a state championship."
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