The Kings are kings again. Victory Christian rallies past United Faith, wins NCISAA 1A
The Kings are kings again.
Victory Christian beat United Faith Christian, 48-44, to win its first N.C. Independent Schools’ 1A state championship since 2021.
United Faith was the 2022 state champion.
“We really just had to fight hard and get rebounds and box out and play physical,” Victory senior guard Xavier Perry said. “We had stopped doing it.”
Perry had a team-high 12 points and helped his team get a 24-17 lead at halftime.
But during that stretch Perry mentioned, Victory Christian got a little lazy and United Faith went on a run, outscoring Victory Christian 22-10 in the third quarter. Eventually, United Faith worked out to a 42-34 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Led by point guard J.D. Bowden, who had a game-high 17 points, the Falcons had all the momentum.
And then they didn’t.
In the fourth quarter, United Faith only scored five points. Victory Christian tied the game at 44 with 2:01 to play on a pair of Justyn Whitfield free throws. Perry made a layup with 59.2 seconds to play to give his team a 46-44 lead.
United Faith then missed a couple shots and had a few costly turnovers. Finally with 29.8 seconds left, Perry was fouled and made one of two free throws, giving his team a 3-point lead. United Faith had a few more chances late, but none went in.
Just like that, Victory was a champion again.
“This feels amazing,” Perry said. “I knew it would happen for us. It was just a matter of time.”
SUMMARY
VICTORY CHRISTIAN 48, UNITED FAITH 44
Victory Christian 14 10 10 14 — 48
United Faith 13 4 22 5 — 44
UNITED FAITH 44 — JD Bowden 17, Evering 2, Boyce 7, Sutherland 7, DeLuca 9, Johnson 2
VICTORY CHRISTIAN 48 — Xavier Perry 12, Bowser 4, Justyn Whitfield 10, Smith 8, Marshall 6, Cham 8
