High Point Academy boys knock off defending champ Hemingway for first state title

Jayden Byrd scored 29 points and High Point Academy won its first state championship with a 70-55 victory over Hemingway to capture the Class A boys basketball title Friday evening at the Colonial Life Arena.

Byrd hit six of the Grizzlies nine three-pointers. High Point, in just its third-year of existence, set a state record with 275 made three-pointers on the season.

“A lot of people were worried we wouldn’t shoot it as well in this type of atmosphere,” High Point coach Marcus Watts said. “I told them the rim is the same size and the court hasn’t changed. Just do what you are doing all season long – shoot the ball well and defend. That is what we did.”

Isayah Owens added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Reginald Bell chipped in with 14 points and nine rebounds.

High Point (23-6) led 37-22 at halftime but the Tigers pulled within 39-30 in the third quarter. The Grizzlies ended the quarter on a 17-6 blitz to lead 56-36 entering the final eight minutes.

Hemingway (17-10) was looking to win its third straight state championship. The Tigers got 12 points from Darius Taylor but came up short in their bid to three-peat.

H – Darius Taylor 12, JuJu Williams 10, Cooper 7, Washington 9, Parker 7, Wright 6, Singletary 4. HPA – Jayden Byrd 29, Isayah Owens 17, Reginald Bell 14, Hoyte 5, Copeland 3, Porter 2.

This story was originally published March 1, 2019 at 7:26 PM.