Cuthbertson High's Emmitt Afam (1) get the reverse layup for a 1st quarter score. Kinston High School defeated Cuthbertson High School 58-55 to win the 2012 NCHSAA 2A Boys Basketball Championship in Reynolds Coliseum on Saturday. Photo by Dean Strickland OD.
Dec 20, 2012
Cuthbertson High School in Waxhaw, N.C., had newfound success at a high level last season.
The Cavaliers, coached by head coach Mike Helms, compiled an impressive 31-2 record last season, including a perfect 14-0 mark in the Rocky River 1-A/2-A Conference.
Cuthbertson started the 2011-2012 season on a 12-game winning streak before suffering its sole regular season loss to Metrolina Christian Academy in January. The Cavaliers won the conference tournament, with the closest game being the championship game against Monroe, 68-53.
In the state playoffs, the Cavaliers won their first five games by an average of 26 points. Cuthbertson faced Kinston in the state championship game where it built a double-digit lead in the second half, but Kinston came back and escaped with a 58-55 win.
This season the Cavaliers will look to get back to the state championship game, and could see a rematch with Kinston in their first ever trip to the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational.
Cuthbertson returns every player from last season’s state runner-up team, including their leading scorer, junior guard Shelton Mitchell.
Last season as a sophomore, Mitchell averaged 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals per game for the Cavaliers. Mitchell scored in double figures every game last season, scoring 20 or more points 21 times, and 30 or more points five times.
In the state championship game, Mitchell scored 22 points, earning Most Outstanding Player honors for the runner-up squad.
Cuthbertson also returns guard Emmitt Afam who averaged 10 points, four assists, three steals and two rebounds per game last season. Afam scored 10 points in the state championship game.
The only other player to score in double figures in the state title game was forward Isiah Cureton. During the season, Cureton averaged 10 points, five rebounds, two blocks, two assists and two steals per game.
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