With the outright title on the line, it was the Grimsley Seniors, on Senior night, help the Whirlies beat Northern Guilford 72-62 to win their second straight Metro 4A regular season title. Whirlie Senior Richard Goods scored in double figures for his 19 straight game as Grimsley overcame a seven point second quarter deficit to finish the season 18-5 overall and 12-2 in conference.
A Northern win would have given them a share of the conference title and they showed up ready to play. Coming out hot, the Hawks would lead 18-13 at the end of the first quarter. The lead would grow to seven early in the second. Then the Whirlies started to get going. Using a 8-0 scoring run, Grimsley takes their first lead midway thru the second thanks to the big man Richard Goods. The 6’9” Senior hit three quick baskets down low and helped Grimsley built a 31-26 halftime advantage.
After the break, the Whirlies would go on another 8-0 run to push the lead to 13 at 39-26. But the Hawks would respond. Northern Senior Ben Mulry started to heat up, hitting several third quarter 3-pointers to pull the Hawks to back within six as the third quarter ended. Mulry ended with a game high 20 points but Grimsley was able to keep Northern down by multiple possessions the rest of the way as Faizon Brandon converted a three point play one minute into the fourth quarter to make it 53-43. Grimsley would stay solid at the free throw line in the last 2 minutes and eventually win the game 72-62.
For Grimsley, Faizon Brandon and Nick Keith each scored 17, while Goods added 15 and Osman had 7. Northern was led by Mulry with 20, Jordan Williams with 12 and Cam Milton with 10. Northern finishes the regular season 16-8 overall and 11-4 in the Metro. Grimsley will start next week’s tournament as the one seed as this year the Conference Tournament is hosted at Northern Guilford.