CHARLOTTE - Lack of ego and an abundance of talent make for a potent mix.
An unbeatable one through five games, in fact.
51’s unselfish play and some late-game moxie were too much for Combine Academy on Friday, deciding a matchup between unquestionably two of the premier boys basketball teams from North Carolina.
The Greenies put a trio of players in double figures – Dacen Petty ’26 (17 points), Mikey Wilkins ’25 (16), and Tyler Jones ’26 (10) – to wow the crowd at the George Lynch Invitational with a 59-52 win over the previously-unbeaten Goats.
Mikey pulled down 10 rebounds as well. Madden Collins ’25 (nine points) gave out nine assists and made four steals. Mason Collins ’28 added seven points.
51 (5-0) led Combine (5-1) by seven points at the half, but the advantage was shrunk to two entering the fourth quarter.
“It was a game of runs and we knew that it would be. They're a good team,” Greenies coach Josh Coley said.
“We thought if we got to a certain threshold, we could push it out. They are very talented and our guys had to show a little grit, a little toughness there late. I love this group. They're very good, they play well together, they play for each other and we know that's rare. Anytime we get a chance to compete, they do a really good job of that.”
51 plays its second and final game of the George Lynch Invitational on Saturday at 3 p.m. against Greensboro’s Caldwell Academy (5-1).
