Feb. 24, 2008

Game Statistics in PDF Format
Final Season Statistics in PDF Format

By Ben Baden

CHAPEL HILL - The Tar Heels came out ready to play against King College in their last game of the year, and they didn't any trouble defeating their opponent, 111-85.

The junior varsity team gained the lead with about 9 minutes left in the first half, and the lead was never in question for the rest of the game. The Tar Heels led 52-42 at halftime, and dominated the second half defeating King by 26 points ending their season with a win.

Players and coaches were emotional after the game. There are only five returning players for the junior varsity team with six players already having played two years and three who will be graduating in May.

"We've all grown a lot individually and as a team with Coach Haase's guidance," said starting point guard Robert Johnson, who played his last junior varsity game Sunday.

The junior varsity head coaching job usually rotates every year so head coach Jerod Haase will most likely not have the head coaching job again next year.

"It wasn't what we did right or wrong in this game," Haase said. "It was about a season as a whole."

Ford Tanner finished with 19 points, shooting 9-13 from the field. Thomas Thornton finished with 18 and Marcus Wilson scored 14. Terrence Petree and Brad Jones were the only other players to score in double-figures finishing with 11 each.

"Everyone was working real well together today, especially in the second half," said leading scorer Tanner. "It was good to see everyone getting involved and having a good time."

Ford Tanner also finished the season as the team's leading scorer, scoring 16.3 points per game, while shooting a team-high 72 percent from the field. He is followed by James Gallagher, who averaged 14 points per game, and Terrance Petree who averaged 11.6 points per game.

Britt Milner led the team in three-point percentage, shooting 61.1 percent from behind the arc. Robert Johnson led the team in free-throw percentage, shooting 73.1 percent.

The Tar Heels as a team averaged just less than 100 points per game at 96.7 points per game.

Note: Stats posted are only from 12 games, because stats were not recorded for 2 games.

Daniel Bolick, Claude Shields, Ford Tanner, Thomas Thornton and Van Hatchell will be the only returning players for the junior varsity team next year. Britt Milner, Frank Milner and Marcus Wilson will all graduate in May. The other six players have all expressed interest in either staying involved with the junior varsity team or trying out for the varsity team next year, because a player is only allowed to play two years on the junior varsity team.

"We came a long way," Haase said. "It was a great group of guys to be around."