University of North Carolina Athletics
JV Falls To Hargrave In Season Finale, 102-87
February 20, 2012 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2012
by Will Rimer
CHAPEL HILL --
In their final game of the season, the Tar Heels fell to Hargrave Military Academy 102-87. Poor shooting and turnovers, which have plagued the Tar Heels all year, hurt them against the Tigers, particularly in the first half.The Heels made less than 30 percent of their field goal attempts in the first half, and the Tigers scored 19 points off Carolina turnovers. Hargrave also shot better than 50 percent from the field and was ahead 46-28 at the break.
"Our shooting percentage hurt us," Coach Jerod Haase says, "probably like it has all season, but the turnovers are what killed us."
Carolina committed 26 turnovers in the game.
Although they seemed hesitant to shoot, Haase says that was part of the game plan. "I told them that if we didn't get something in transition, we were gonna slow it up a little bit."
The second half didn't begin well for the Tar Heels. They were down 29 points with seven minutes remaining. Over the final seven minutes, though, the Tar Heels came roaring back. They cut the lead to as little as 12 points, but Carolina couldn't make the game single digits.
"Our guys never stopped fighting," Haase says, "and that was nice to see."
Denzel Robinson and James Manor led the Tar Heels with 15 points each. Christian Pulliam added 14 and dished out nine assists to lead the team. Matt Vanhoy grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
Rohan Smith left the game with a separated shoulder and had to be taken to the emergency room. "He's been great for the whole year," says Haase. "He's been a leader, and for that to happen at that point in the season makes you sick to your stomach."
Carolina finished the season 7-8.
