No.3 seed Green Level defeated No.30 seed Pine Forest yesterday on Tuesday February 29th in the first round of the 2024 NCHSAA playoffs. This was the first men’s basketball playoff win in Green Level history. The Gators will take on the No.14 seed, Wakefield, this Friday on March 1st.
Green Level started off hot with a 22-4 lead in the 1st quarter. Jr. Izzy Eatman was the catalyst for the Gators offense early on. Pine Forest then went on a 12-0 run and cut the lead down to 22-16. Green Level would respond back going into the break 32-21. The Gators’ offense exploded everywhere in the 3rd quarter eventually stretching their lead to 30+ points. I asked Jr. Isaac Ericksen how they were able to respond so well coming off their first loss of the season. He said, “The loss motivated our entire team. After that game we knew we had to tighten up and get ready for the state playoffs. We know the feeling of a tough loss and don’t want to feel that again.” This was very evident by the way the Gators came out of their locker room swinging. I asked Jr. Owen Taylor what the Gators game plan was to beat Pine Forest. “We knew they were an athletic team, good offensive rebounders so we needed to keep them off the glass. If we made them a halfcourt team, we would find success and win.” The Gators fulfilled this especially Taylor who had 7 offensive rebounds against the Trojans. Eatman had a game-high 24 points and So. Alonso Montoya hit a late 3 to score his first varsity points.
The Gators will be taking on Wakefield in the 2nd round on Friday. The key to this game will be controlling Wakefield G Syncere Burnette who is averaging 17.8 points per game and is the Wolverines’ best player. Green Level will have the clear size advantage on the interior which will allow Sr. Trey Manhertz and Ericksen to get buckets as they will. The winner of this game will move onto the Sweet 16 in the state playoffs.
