APEX -- Apex High rolled past Fayetteville Jack Britt 86-43 in the opening round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A boys' basketball playoffs Monday night.
The Cougars (24-3) shot 58 percent from the field and a blistering 10-for-15 from behind the 3-point line.
"We had it really going offensively," Apex coach David Neal said.
The Cougars took an early 6-2 lead and never trailed. Apex entered the half ahead 37-24.
Then the Cougars got even hotter.
Apex poured in 32 third-quarter points with 13-for-17 shooting, including six 3-pointers, to blow the game open. The Cougars held the Buccaneers (9-18) to only 19 second-half points
"Tonight our defense was great and I thought we rebounded well," Neal said.
Apex's T. J. Evans led all scorers with 18 points. Senior Corey Burnette added 12 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
"He's one of the most unselfish big men," Neal said of Burnette. "He's playing like a senior that doesn't want it to end."
By the midway point in the fourth quarter both squads were playing their reserves. Neal was able to use his entire bench in the game. Eight players scored for the Cougars.
Daniel Camps led No. 14 seed Britt with 14 points. Tevious Federick had 13 before fouling out early in the fourth quarter.
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The Holly Springs High girls softball team and the Middle Creek baseball team will begin best-of-three series on Friday in the N.C. High School Athletic Association championships. 
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. 
