Reigning NCISAA 3A boys basketball state champion Davidson Day picked up its first win of the season on Friday, defeating NCISAA state power Burlington School in an 80-76 double OT thriller during the Carmel Tip-Off Classic.
Led by North Carolina Tar Heels commit and senior captain Isiah Denis, the Patriots were able to defeat the Trojans and secure their first win of the season.
Denis is a top 50 player in the class of 2025. King Gibson of Burlington School is a top 10 player nationally in the class of 2027.
“I thought we definitely fought through adversity,” Davidson Day head coach Ricky Hickman said after the win. “It was a tough match; You know, I feel like it was a tough decision at the end that made it go into overtime. “We also had some moments in overtime where we didn’t play like we normally would, but overall I thought we showed a lot of toughness.”
Both teams even showed playoff-level toughness in an early November game.
Burlington was able to find a slim lead towards the end of the first quarter and earned a slight lead at halftime.
However, Davidson Day held the lead for much of the second half, although it was rarely more than one possession.
Gibson fueled much of Burlington’s offense, driving up the lane and coming out with a bucket or drawing contact and going to the line for free throws.
Davidson Day made a free throw to push the lead to 3 in the final seconds of regulation, but Burlington School guard Drew Johnson was fouled on a three-point shot as time expired.
He made all three free throws to send the game into the first overtime.
After Gibson made a controversial layup to force a second overtime for Burlington School, Denis took over in the second OT. He scored several clutch baskets and added two free throws to put the game away late.
“It means a lot,” Denis said when asked what it means to be able to come through for his team when it’s needed most. “We just had a Combine game where I feel like I didn’t show up in the fourth quarter like I should have. I didn’t take control of the game like I should have against the Combine, so I knew I had to do that tonight.
THREE THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Isaiah Denis, Davidson Day: The Patriots’ senior captain scored big in the double OT victory, knocking down key buckets in both periods while creating shots for his teammates. He finished with 28 points.
William Stevens, Davidson Day: Stevens, the big man in the middle for the Patriots, was a monster in the paint, collecting several key rebounds and blocking several shots.
King Gibson, Burlington: The second-year guard was virtually unguarded all night in the loss, driving to the paint with authority and kicking the ball out for his teammates.
WHAT’S NEXT
Davidson Day hosts Gaston Christian next Tuesday, while Burlington plays at Carmel Christian on Saturday.
Friday’s highlights
Isaiah Denis, Davidson Day: In an 80-76 win over Burlington School, the UNC commit had 28 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Myana Fore, Westminster Catawba girls: In a 56-45 win over the Greater Cabarrus Stallions, Fore had a game-high 27 points and six rebounds. Teammate Leah Ross had 22 points and five rebounds.
King Gibson, Burlington School: Gibson had 35 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in the overtime loss to Burlington School.
Brett Phillips, Piedmont Charter girls: Phillips had a game-high 19 points in a 57-17 win over Gaston Day.
Friday’s boys box scores
COMBINE ACADEMY 92, BURLINGTON CHRISTIAN 57
COMBINE 92 — Kaden Magwood 24, Caleb Thomas 24, Josiah Parker 17
BURLINGTON CHRISTIAN 57 — Karon Washington 13, Charles Pur 13, Manny Vanhook 12
DAVIDSON DAY 80, BURLINGTON SCHOOL 76 2 OT
DAVIDSON DAY 80 — Levon Jacobs 11, Isaiah Denis 28, Spruill 3, Andrew Washington 26, Vinson 9, Stevens 3
BURLINGTON SCHOOL 76 — King Gibson 35, Flippen 8, Drew Johnson 26, Hammond 6
The results of Friday’s girls’ box
PIEMONTE CHARTER 52, GASTON DAY 17
Piedmont: 12 13 17 9 — 57
Gaston Day: 3 6 3 4 — 17
PIEDMONT 57 – Bree Phillips 19, Allasha Houser 9, Aubree Cammer 7, Evie East 7, Aniyah Jones 4, Aalaysia Friday 2, Aleena Gaff 2, Erielle Smith 2
GASTON DAY 17 — Chaney Thompson 8, MnKenna Brown 4, Freeda Belbase 3, Lanie Conklin 2
WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 56 GREATER CABARRUS 45
Westminster Catawba 17 8 17 14-56
GCAA 7 15 8 15 — 45
WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 56 – Emery Harding 4, Bella Sherer 3, Leah Ross 22, Myana Fore 27
GCAA 45 – M Bargesser 17, S Rodriguez 12, L McDonnell 8, M Locklear 6, A Miller 2
Notables: Bella Sherer 8 rebounds, Emery Harding 6 rebounds, Myana Fore 6 rebounds, Leah Ross 5 rebounds
Records: World Cup 1-0
