Athens Drive, Cardinal Gibbons secure high school basketball titles in season finales

RALEIGH — Athens Drive precluded a historical repeat from the outset of Friday’s Cap Six 4A Conference boys’ basketball regular season finale versus visiting Cardinal Gibbons. The Jaguars, who squandered a nine-point halftime lead before succumbing in double overtime in the teams’ February 3 meeting, outscored their guests in each quarter of a 49-32 win that made history.

Athens Drive (15-7, 7-3) secured its first conference championship in the sport as members of an all-Raleigh league since the 20th century coaching tenure of Lawrence Dunn. The Jaguars, under current coach Robbie St. John, won the 2018-19 Triangle Six 4A Conference championship while competing with schools from southwestern Wake and Durham counties.

“I told our kids if we bought in that I really felt like we could achieve something,” St. John said. “Their thing was, ‘Coach, we’re going to win conference.’

“We just grinded and grinded.”

Athens Drive was paced by Shaun Kenedy’s 14 points, and 12 from Elijah Harris.

Athens Drive set a defensive tone from the outset, and limited the Crusaders to just one first quarter field goal. Cardinal Gibbons’ Xavier DeBerry, who made that opening period 3-pointer, scored his teams lone third quarter field goal, too.

Cardinal Gibbons (13-10, 6-4) got 10 points from 6-6 pivot man Matthew Field.

Athens Drive converted 16 of 21 free throws. The Crusaders attempted just 11 foul shots.

The schools’ girls’ teams played the evening’s prime time finale. Cardinal Gibbons prevailed 62-52 to secure the school’s first 4A conference championship in the sport.

The Crusaders last won a conference championship in the 2011-12 season as a 3A school. That season, Cardinal Gibbons included point guard Morgan Reid, daughter of current Crusaders coach Cheryl Reid.

Cardinal Gibbons (20-2, 10-0) was paced by junior guard Rhian Lawrence with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Ava Palmgren added 19 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

Athens Drive (19-5) sustained its two regular season conference losses (among 10 league games) to the Crusaders.

This story was originally published February 12, 2022 at 5:30 AM.