Drake Powell takes Northwood to second Holiday Invitational championship game

After a heartbreaking loss last year, the Pittsboro Northwood Chargers are returning to the championship game again this year with a 56-53 win over the Rockingham Richmond Raiders. Raleigh locals were treated to a tobacco road rivalry between UNC commit Drake Powell and NC State commit Paul McNeil with NC State head coach Kevin Keatts in attendance. 

Richmond jumped out early in the first quarter but Northwood’s big 3 of Powell, Fred Whitaker, & Cameron Fowler wouldn’t let McNeil and company run away with it. Powell led the Chargers with a game high in points with 30 and also grabbed 9 rebounds. Whitaker and Fowler added 14 and 11 points respectively.

The Raiders were led by McNeil with 24 points and 11 rebounds with Jamarion Wall tacking on another 16 points of his own.

Northwood will meet defending NCHSAA 2A state champion Reidsville in the Devonte Graham Championship game on Saturday. Richmond has a third place matchup with Cannon also on Saturday.