Forestview has much in common with its state title opponent

Their leading scorer has committed to North Carolina. They’re quick. They score bunches on fastbreaks. They have a shot blocker in the paint.

Forestview’s state championship opponent sounds a lot like itself.

That’s why the Jaguars (26-2) believe they’ll be in for a challenge when they take on South Central (28-4) 5 p.m. Saturday in Chapel Hill.

Concern No. 1 is Danielle Butts, a 5-foot-10 junior guard/forward who has committed to North Carolina. Butts leads the team in scoring (19.8 ppg), rebounds (10.3 rpg) and steals (3.6), and Forestview coach Ken Beaty observed her in person Sunday.

“They run a lot of plays for her and they put her inside some,” Beaty said. “Her strong point is she can fly down the court and she can jump out of the gym.”

Forestview defensive ace Kelsey Harris would likely guard Butts when the Jaguars are in their man-to-man defense.

Butts has 22 double-doubles for the season, including her 11-point, 13-rebound effort in Sunday’s 67-59 Eastern Regional championship win against Fayetteville Westover. Butts is shooting 56.9 percent for the season, and her season-high point total is 34.

South Central is hardly a one-woman show.

Junior guard Amber Clark was the Falcons’ leading scorer Sunday, going 20-for-22 from the foul line on her way to 27 points. Clark averages 12.7 points for the season. The Falcons have another double-digit scorer in junior forward Janesha Ebron, who averages 14.0 points and shoots 41.9 percent from 3-point range.

Senior guard Shavonte Mills is another deep-shooting threat and averages 8.7 points. Haley McCorkle, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, blocks 1.6 shots per game and is solid on the offensive side, too.

“They’re lightning fast and they’re very athletic,” Beaty said. “They jump well and get up and down the court.”

The Falcons are a young team, with two seniors on the roster and only one (Mills) who plays significant minutes.

Forestview and South Central have one common opponent. Forestview defeated Greensboro Dudley 47-40 in November. Two months later, Dudley handed South Central a 63-60 defeat.

Of course, Dudley is the team that beat Forestview 60-58 in the 3A state title game a year ago, giving the Jaguars all the motivation they needed to get back to the championship round. Facing Dudley might have also helped Forestview prepare for the South Central matchup.

“They run their break so hard, it’s real similar to Greensboro Dudley where they push and push and push,” Beaty said. “A lot of teams we play do that but this team takes it up another notch.”

Beaty said the Falcons are too balanced to pay extra defensive attention to Butts. He said team defense will be the key to bringing home the school’s first state title.

“We just can’t let them run wild,” Beaty said. “We’ve got to put pressure on them.”

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.