Nov 8, 2009
When the final brackets were released by the N.C. High School Athletic Association on Saturday, it became clear that Middle Creek (10-1) would host New Bern (5-5) in the opening round of the 4-A state playoffs.
"There's a lot of tradition there," Middle Creek head coach Sean Crocker said after the brackets were made final.
"All I know is that they've been good over the last several years, they've won a state championship, and I know that they usually have a lot of good athletes."
Although they did win the 2007 4-AA state championship, becoming the team to end Charlotte Independence's streak of seven straight titles, the Bears have fallen a bit.
The New Bern offense only scores 18 points per game, and their defense gives up nearly 19 points. The Bears were also defeated by Sanderson (2-9) earlier in the season, 22-20.
New Bern will enter the game on a two-game winning streak, with victories over Laney (0-11) and J.H. Rose (5-5).
Crocker said despite New Bern's record, his team cannot overlook the Bears in the first round.
"We learned from Chapel Hill a few years ago when I think our team may have overlooked them," Crocker said. "We learned then, though, if we don't win this week, there is no next week."
Crocker had not seen any tape of New Bern yet. The two coaching staffs planned to meet in Goldsboro Sunday morning to exchange tape.
"There's a lot of footwork involved in long distance games, but you're just thankful you can do this at this point in the season," Crocker said.
Middle Creek was in a three-way tie with Harnett Central and Southern Durham for the overall No. 1 seed in the 4-A East region, but like Harnett Central coach Marc Morris, Crocker wasn't disappointed his squad didn't get the top seed.
"I wasn't all that disappointed," he said. "To take a quote from Coach Riggs from Fuquay a few years ago, 'You gotta be careful what you wish for.'"
If Middle Creek defeats New Bern, the Mustangs will move on to play the winner of Hillside (8-3) and Purnell Swett (9-2). Crocker believes that his team has a chance to make a run as long as they execute each time out.
"Looking at [the match-ups], I think we can make run... Just looking at the course we would have to take, I think we match-up well with some of the teams, but I think the whole 4-A bracket looks pretty tough," Crocker said.
Sean Crocker will join HighSchoolOT.com's Nick Stevens on Sunday evening to take your questions during the three hour live playoff preview.
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