Heritage falls to Independence in NCHSAA 4A boys basketball championship

Heritage senior Jarren McAllister walked to the bench in the fourth quarter, having fouled out, and a few minutes later classmate Jayden Gardner walked over as well.

Their high school basketball careers were coming to a close on the state's biggest stage, and as fans from both sides picked up on it when Gardner was subbed out, they rose to their feet to applaud.

The Huskies fell 71-60 to Independence in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A boys basketball title on Saturday at the Dean Smith Center.

The two seniors' impact on the program won't soon be forgotten. They had taken the Huskies (25-5) to the state title game for the first time in any sport.

"You know how the basketball landscape works, they could've picked any place to go to. They could've gone anywhere after their second or third year but they didn't. They stayed here at Heritage," Brill said. "They're everything that I want my program to be about and I could only be so lucky to coach two people as good as they are on the court and off of it."

Heritage trailed 17-9 after one quarter but made it 31-24 at halftime. Independence (31-1), which shot 50 percent or better in the first three quarters, pushed that lead to 15 in the third quarter, as its trapping defense continued to give the Huskies problems.

"Independence played a heck of a game, and you have to tip your hat to them," Brill said. "I thought it got away from us in that third quarter."

Gardner, an East Carolina recruit, exits with the second-most points in Wake County history, behind only former Garner star Donald Williams, and fourth-most rebounds in NCHSAA history.

He was named Heritage's Most Outstanding Player after finishing with 30 points (10 of 19 shooting) and 13 rebounds. McAllister, a Virginia Tech recruit, added 16 points.

For Independence, Andra' McKee (20 points) was its MOP and Jamarius Burton (13 points, seven rebounds) was the game's overall MVP.

This story was originally published March 10, 2018 at 9:14 PM with the headline "Heritage falls to Independence in NCHSAA 4A boys basketball championship."