Farmville Central overtakes Millbrook in prime time matchup at John Wall Invitational

Jah Short, a 6’-foot-4 senior, is Farmville Central’s tallest starter. Short was neither the Jaguars’ leading scorer nor leading rebounder in the team’s 76-64 win over Millbrook in Thursday’s Devonte Graham bracket semifinals at the John Wall Holiday Invitational. Short, after scoring nine first quarter points, actually, went scoreless in the second and third quarters.

Short’s tangible contributions beyond the scoreboard, though, were in part responsible for the final margin of victory as Farmville Central (10-0) reached its first Holiday Invitational championship game. The Jaguars will meet Don Bosco Prep (NJ) Friday at 8 p.m. in Broughton’s Holliday Gymnasium.

Short’s transition pass from just above mid-court and ahead to J.D. Daniels (14 points) with 18.4 seconds left in the first quarter set up Daniels’ conventional three-point play that put Farmville Central ahead 18-15 after the first period.

Short was integral to two Jaguars 3-pointers in the second quarter’s final minute. Short, blanketed by the Wildcats’ Jaden Whitaker, moved effectively between the strong side’s low post and short corner while positioning himself to receive the basketball. Potential defensive double downs loosened long-range shots converted by Daniels and Jayden Pitt (18), with Short earning one assist. Those six points were among an 8-0 quarter-ending run that gave the Jaguars a 34-28 halftime lead.

Short catalyzed a nearly identical sequence to conclude the third period, after which Farmville Central led 55-47. Short added another of his team high four assists on one of Mykal Williams’ back-to-back trifectas within the stanza’s final 30 seconds. Williams converted three-of-five three pointers (among seven-of-11 field goals) en route to matching Pitt’s 18 points.

Short added a free throw and three thunderous dunks — including an alley-oop and one-handed follow of a missed three-pointer — for seven fourth-quarter points, and finished with 16 to put the Jaguars on the precipice of a tournament rarity.

Among the Holiday Invitational’s previous 49 editions, an eastern North Carolina public school last won a championship in 1977. That year, Rocky Mount won its second title after claiming the event’s inaugural crown in 1972.

Farmville Central must defeat an out-of-state Catholic school (Don Bosco Prep), like the first such out-of-state team ever to win the Holiday Invitational. In 1976, DeMatha (MD) stopped eastern N.C. power Kinston in the final.

The Jaguars fell short in the 2019 David West bracket’s semifinal against another N.J. rival, The Patrick School. Farmville Central, then, defeated Millbrook in that year’s third-place game.

Short earned 2021 Devonte Graham bracket All-Invitational Team honors after the Jaguars placed fourth. Farmville Central has qualified for the N.C. 2A state final to conclude both previous seasons in which the Jaguars participated in the Holiday Invitational.

This story was originally published December 30, 2022 at 10:16 AM.