Huss gets the Wright stuff from junior forward

GASTONIA – The gold standard for postseason basketball perfection is probably Christian Laettner’s performance for Duke in the 104-103 overtime victory over Kentucky in the 1992 NCAA tournament East Regional championship game.

Laettner hit all 10 free throws and all 10 field goals, including a buzzer-beating 18-footer at the buzzer.

Well, Hunter Huss High School’s Jihad Wright challenged Laettner’s effort in Wednesday’s 75-64 overtime victory in the N.C. 3A playoffs. And Wright is hoping for a repeat performance tonight at 7 p.m. when the Huskies host Freedom in a sectional title game.

"We have so much confidence in his shot," Huss coach Ron Bray said of Wright, who made nine of nine field goals and eight of 11 free throws for 26 points in Wednesday’s victory. "He works on his shot all the time and he’s getting better and better all the time."

In truth, Bray probably wishes Wright was more selfish, since the junior forward is shooting 71.1 percent from the field (148 for 208) on the season.

Wright usually scores on drives to the basket or offensive rebound putbacks.

"That’s my comfort zone: In the paint," Wright said of his high shooting percentage.

Wright also is a 72.2 percent free throw shooter and Bray said Wright converted 67 of 100 perimeter shots during Tuesday’s practice session.

"So he’s got a good shot from the perimeter," Bray said of Wright. "He just doesn’t shoot that many."

Wright’s postseason excellence this season comes a year after he missed Huss’ 70-55 opening-round home playoff to St. Stephens due to the flu.

"When St. Stephens rolled in here, he had a 104 degree fever, so he couldn’t play," Bray said.

Wright says not playing then has motivated him that much more this time around.

"It’s why I’ve been a little nervous at the start of the (playoff) games," said Wright, who scored 15 points in Monday’s 84-54 first-round win over R-S Central. "I missed last year’s game, so I wanted to redeem myself and make sure we went deeper in the playoffs."

With two wins, Huss is seeking its first regional appearance since 2006 – and seventh in the school’s rich basketball history.

"We’re taking everything one game at a time," Wright said. "But we’re focused, concentrating and playing good right now. We’ve just got to keep it up."