Undefeated Demons roll over Rose, into 2nd round

After being denied a chance to win its first tournament championship in the four years of the 3-A Quad County Conference, the undefeated Fike High varsity girls basketball team, the conference regular-season champion each of the last three seasons and seeded fourth in the NCHSAA 3-A East Region bracket, registered school-record win No. 25 by thrashing No. 29 J.H. Rose of the 3-A/4-A Big Carolina Conference, 80-45, Tuesday evening in the Fike gym.

And Charles B.Aycock, the Golden Demons' 2023-24 nemesis and the team Fike was supposed to go against in this year's weather-canceled Quad County final last week, will not be waiting for Fike in the second round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs. CBA, would have been Fike's opponent Friday night if it had not dropped a 40-35 opening-round decision to Fayetteville Westover (17-11) on Tuesday.

Making its third appearance in the second round in the five seasons of head coach Marcus Johnson, Fike welcomes Westover (17-11) at 6 p.m. Friday in the Fike gym. The Demons have yet to escape the second round during Johnson's tenure.

Fike players were anticipating a showdown with CBA, but senior Jamaria Freeman assured the Demons were not viewing such a clash as unofficially playing for the tourney title.

"It's just going to be another game and it's against Westover," Freeman commented. "Everything happens for a reason."

Against the Rampants (6-17), the 2024-25 Demons once again demonstrated why they are the program's first undefeated team to date.

Fike encountered quick foul trouble, missed 10 layups or putback shots from point-blank range, connected on just 17 of 30 free throws for 57% accuracy and shot for a poor percentage from the floor. But the players shrug off less-than-adequate play in some areas and leave the worrying to Johnson and assistant coach Vielka Givens.

What Fike did against Rose was take the team out of the game with relentless pressure defense that produced 34 turnovers. The majority of the miscues resulted from Rampants traveling violations and some two dozen Fike steals. Working the basketball into the front-court was often a futile endeavor for the Rose guards.

"The mental part of the game," sixth-year head coach Danian Carr placed the blame. "Experience — we've got to get it. It's a growing thing. We lost 10 games because of missed layups and missing 10-of-12 free throws.

"We didn't think the press was tough at all, It was more us with the travel calls and turning (the ball over).

"I don't coach to lose, and I think we should have won if we stick to the game plan. You've got to execute; we can't miss layups and have to hit free throws (7 of 14)."

The Demons, No. 4-seeded among the 32 East Region entrees, could fret over the same maladies. Yet the final margin was 35 points and reached 39 with seven minutes left.

Nonetheless, Johnson emerged with concerns.

"We got to be better," he declared. "We were kind of sluggish. With the small crowd, it was not the energy we expected. I don't know how I really feel about it yet; we were not ourselves."

The No. 29 Rampants played Fike tough until midway the first quarter behind the efforts of talented 6-foot freshman Kuhrin Highsmith. But the travel violations and the Fike steals mounted.

With the score knotted 6-6, Fike broke loose with a 11-0 spree by sinking 5-of-6 free throws and getting a field goal each from seniors Jewel Brewington and Freeman and junior Kylar Horvath. Fike emerged with a 17-8 edge after one quarter.

The Demons turned extremely aggressive but not smart in the press. Point guard Brewington and junior guard Emory Skinner each picked up three fouls. But Fike widened the lead behind Freeman and Horvath and the Rampants trailed 40-16 at halftime.

Brewington and Skinner, the 3-point marksman who struggled with her shooting, started the second half. The dismayed Skinner collected her fourth foul. At one point, all of the guard duties belonged to Freeman.

"Even though we were in foul trouble, it was the next one up," Freeman contended. "Nobody got down, and, the next game, we won't foul like that.

"Kylar was getting most of the rebounds and working hard. We were trying to box out against taller players.."

And Freeman was racking up the steals and converting them into layups and baskets most of the time.

"Everybody knows I can score," Freeman reasoned. "And I can handle and pass the basketball as well as rebound. But a lot of people don't think I can play defense. That's what I am really working on, and Coach Johnson is helping me. I think I can play defense."

Her 11 steals spoke for themselves.

"I really enjoy getting a steal," Freeman remarked with a proud smile. "They give me confidence that I can play defense. With the press, we were switching it up, and nobody knows what we are going to do."

The third quarter was big (25 points) for Fike. Brewington put on a show, successfully challenging the 6-foot Highsmith, and the layups piled up for Freeman.

More of the same in the final quarter as senior Paige Lewis provided scoring and Skinner finally nailed a 3-point try. The highlight for Freeman was seeing reserve Luna Jaimes score after snaring a Freeman pass.

"I told her at lunch that I was going to pass her the ball." Freeman, reported, "and she had better be ready. She was ready for the pass — and scored!"

The Demons were a point away from starting the running block on Brewington's bucket with seven minutes left. She had a chance at a three-point play and an accurate free throw would have resulted in a 70-30 (40-point) lead and started the running clock. But the free throw failed to drop.

The Rampants then got spark from freshman Alaya Clemons and senior Amarrian Brown, resulting in Fike's lead never reaching 40 points.

Highsmith triggered Rose with a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds. Clemmons netted 10 points and Brown nine. Rose claimed a 37-28 rebounding margin.

Fike's double-double belonged to Freeman with game highs of 34 points and 11 steals. Brewington tossed in 23 points. Horvath managed 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Freeman grabbed eight. She wound up the conference leader in scoring, rebounding and steals.

"The further we go, we've got to be better," Johnson challenged. "We've got to be solid."

And Fike's head coach does not necessarily agree with the players' philosophy that "It doesn't matter until it matters."

And Freeman has reason to believe Fike can expect more help.

"That's God," she said. "We are working as a team and God is showing we deserve it."

ROSE (45)

Jenkins 4, Winston, Alaya Clemons 10, Brown 9, Kuhrin Highsmith 14, Congleton 3, Carmichael 2, Taylor 3, Okwosha, Strong, Mills, Winfield.

FIKE (80)

Brewington 23, Horvath 11, Freeman 34, Skinner 5, Lewis 5, Kieby, Jaimes 2, Pittman, Lyndon, Hamilton.

Score by quarters:

Rose 8 8 14 15—45

Fike 17 23 25 15—80