GARNER -- More than anything else, chemistry is the trait high school basketball teams crave most during the month of February. It's what turns good teams into great ones come playoff time.
If that's the case, what happens when a team already possessing great qualities starts adding more?
Look no further than Garner to find out.
The Trojans wrapped up a share of the Greater Neuse River 4A boys' basketball championship Friday night with a 96-70 victory over Knightdale.
Garner (18-3, 11-1) flashed a savvy, pass-filled, fast-break style that featured assist after assist.
"We're starting to pass more when we see the open guy," said Dominique Reed, who led the Trojans with a game-high 29 points. "We're more and more comfortable with each other, looking for that extra pass when it might be there for an easier shot.
"It's just that our chemistry is getting better and better. It's making us more of a team."
Josh McClain, like Reed a senior, added 19 points and a handful of assists.
The Trojans led 46-33 at the break, using runs of 8-1 and 15-2 during the second quarter to pull away from the Knights (10-11, 8-4), which entered the game tied with Clayton for second in the conference.
Clayton (15-5, 9-3) still can tie Garner for the league's top spot, but the Trojans' season sweep of the Comets means the conference's No. 1 playoff seed already is on their resume.
Garner didn't give the Knights much of a chance to get back into things during the second half. The Trojans recorded assists on 15 of their 19 field goals in the half and limited Knightdale's Curry Lassiter, who had 16 during the opening half, to just five points in the second.
"We played very consistent basketball," said Garner coach Eddie Gray. "We passed the ball well, but at times, I thought we passed it too much and that cost us some turnovers.
"Defensively, we went to a 1-3-1, then back to a man(-to-man) and I think they had trouble adjusting to it at times."
Garner led 64-46 late in the third quarter when a pair of technicals on the Trojans and one on Knightdale - all for chatter on the court - gave the Knights four foul shots and possession of the ball. One of those free throws and a Quez Crowell 3-pointer cut the lead to 64-50, but Reed answered with a three-point play and McClain scored on an assist from Demarcus Sanford during the final seconds of the quarter to run the lead back to 16.
"We didn't come out like the last time we played them," Reed said. "We were strong from the start and didn't have much let up. We were getting hands in guys' faces for shots and being active stealing the ball. We were a lot more consistent with our play."
Sanford added 14 points for the Trojans, and Crowell chipped in 13 for Knightdale.
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Nearby 2A prep softball rivals North Johnston and Wilson Beddingfield played the ultimate grudge match Saturday afternoon, double-time style. 
Holly Springs seniors Jenna Firestein and Kristen Krebs knew Saturday’s contest against Fayetteville Jack Britt would be their final home game as members of the Golden Hawks softball team. 
Green Hope’s perfect season is snatched away by Charlotte Hough in the final 12 minutes of the state final at N.C. State’s Dail Soccer Field in a 2-1 finish. 
The Holly Springs Golden Hawks softball team has had an exciting past week of playing close games. On Friday, however, the Hawks fourth close game in a week ended in a 3-2 loss to Britt, as the Buccaneers rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score and then won in the eighth to even the series at one game apiece. 
The Green Hope High girls soccer team is ranked No. 1 in the country, but won’t reach its goal unless it beats Hough in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A championships on Saturday.
Follow the game on our Twitter account, @prepsnow or get a Twitter feed at our high school blog, Preps Now. 
Photo Gallery
First Look: Garner 96, Knightdale 70 | 02.03.12 (34 images)
See 34 photos from the boys basketball game
