In a game that featured plenty of star power, Wheeler proved to be too much for Norcross by defeating the Blue Devils 60-44 to advance to the boys Class 5A state semifinals. These two state powerhouses battled back and forth until Wheeler eventually pulled away in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Blue Devils 26-11.
Norcross standout guard Taariq Muhammad never seemed to get comfortable against the suffocating defense displayed by the Wildcats. Muhammad’s sidekick Denzail Jones, who averages 15 points per game, only reached a total of eight.
Wheeler’s dynamic frontcourt of Ari Stewart (Wake Forest commit) and Richard Howell (N.C. State commit) proved to be the difference. Stewart started the game off strong by scoring the bulk of his 12 points in the first half. Howell did just the opposite by scoring eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a thunderous dunk with 1:42 left in the game to put the Wildcats up by 12 points.
Wheeler will face Westlake in the semifinals in Gwinnett Arena on Thursday.
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