Harnett Central is a perfect 10-0 against Western Harnett since February of 2022 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The two teams will compete for holiday cheer at 7:30 p.m. One thing working in Harnett Central's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last three matchups.
On Friday, Harnett Central was fully in charge, breezing past South Johnston 71-34. That looming 71-34 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for Harnett Central yet this season.
King Murdock
| 12/12/25 vs South Johnston | 63% |
| 12/10/25 @ Gray's Creek | 70% |
| 12/03/25 vs Gray's Creek | 63% |
| 12/01/25 @ Clayton | 50% |
| 11/24/25 @ Fuquay-Varina | 58% |
Harnett Central's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was King Murdock, who almost dropped a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Murdock is also on a roll when it comes to shooting accuracy, as he's posted one of at least 50% in the last five games he's played. Kyrese Williams was another key player, shooting 41% from the field on his way to 20 points.
Harnett Central was working as a unit and finished the game with 18 assists. They are a perfect 4-0 when they've passed the ball that well.
Meanwhile, after a string of four wins, Western Harnett's good fortune finally ran out on Friday. They had to suffer through a 52-17 loss at the hands of Southern Lee. While losing is never fun, the Eagles can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 338th, while the Cavaliers are ranked 129th).
Harnett Central will need to focus on slowing down Londen Saunders, one of several Western Harnett players who made an impact when they last played. He posted four points.
Western Harnett's loss dropped their record down to 4-3. As for Harnett Central, the win got them back to even at 4-4.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Harnett Central has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 31.9 boards per game. However, it's not like Western Harnett struggles in that department as they've been averaging 27.9 rebounds. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Harnett Central beat Western Harnett 55-46 in their previous matchup back in January. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Trojans since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
