Concord to play for the state championship

Concord is used to winning and winning often.

This weekend, the Spiders' boys basketball added another notch on their belt, beating West Rowan (67-61) and Hibriten (72-52) to advance to their third 3A state title game in the last five years.

Concord (25-6) will play Rocky Mount (23-3) Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Dean E. Smith Center on the campus of North Carolina (Chapel Hill).

The Spiders were led by junior guard Jacquise Moore, who had 20 points, 11 rebounds, seven steals and two assists to lead five players who scored in double figures, including Xavier Stywall (13), Darren Black (11), Jalen Cannady (10) and Will Vanderburg (10).

Moore, who was named the regional MVP, also had 23 points to lead Concord past West Rowan in the regional semifinal win over West Rowan.

Concord, who lost in the 2006 state title game to Dudley, came back in 2007 beating Kinston to win it all. Since then, Concord has boasted an 81-12 record (last 3 years) under head coach Scott Brewer, but have not advanced to the state finals.

The Spiders lost in the regional final (state semifinals) last season to Forestview 70-68.