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Washington Post
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
High Point's impassioned student broadcasters exemplify March's madness
High Point University's men's basketball team faced a steep deficit in the second half of its conference championship game last week. Anxiety that its season would end without an NCAA tournament invitation extended courtside to Jimmy Rosselli and Griffin Wright, High Point students broadcasting the game. Rosselli and Wright had paid out of pocket to travel to Tennessee and provide play-by-play and color analysis to a few dozen listeners on the school's student radio station. Neither expected High Point to come back against Winthrop University in the Big South Conference championship game, but they stayed positive on their broadcast. 'They could go on a 10-0 run very quickly,' Wright said. 'With 15 minutes left in this game, and you're down by 15, you need it to come fast.' When that run came and High Point rallied to win, Rosselli and Wright couldn't contain their enthusiasm. They yelled, flicked their wrists, raised their arms and pulled on each other's suit jackets. Wright jumped from his seat multiple times; Rosselli exclaimed 'Oh my goodness!' over and over. A video of Rosselli and Wright's broadcast went viral in the following days, exemplifying the excitement of March Madness for mid-major programs — and student media covering them. The sports media majors at the North Carolina university will be on the microphone again when the No. 13 seeded Panthers, making their first NCAA tournament appearance, play No. 4 seed Purdue in a first-round game Thursday at 12:40 Eastern time in Providence, Rhode Island. 'We're just best friends doing it together,' Rosselli, a sophomore, told The Washington Post from a hotel room in Providence. 'There's no one I'd rather go viral with than this guy.' Rosselli and Wright, a junior, have broadcast many of High Point's men's basketball games this season for the student-run High Point Panther Radio Network. They play off each other's jokes, and sometimes even discuss their intramural basketball team on-air. When High Point secured the top seed in the Big South Conference's tournament in Johnson City, Tennessee, this month, Rosselli and Wright wanted to experience postseason games. They paid for the trip themselves and tried to be as cheap as possible. They rented a one-bedroom Airbnb for about $100 per night. Wright got the bed because he booked the small house; Rosselli slept on the couch. After Rosselli and Wright broadcast two wins, the Panthers advanced to the championship game March 9. Winthrop led at halftime and extended its advantage to 15 points with under 16 minutes remaining. Rosselli recorded a video on his phone of himself and Wright courtside to show friends and family, but neither expected a crazy finish to the game. They said their radio station encourages broadcasters to root for the Panthers — although cheering in press sections at sports games is typically frowned upon. 'We want to keep the listeners,' Wright told The Post, ' … even though I did not believe in a comeback and neither did Jimmy.' 'I mean, I like to think I believed,' Rosselli responded. 'You did not,' Wright added. The game's momentum shifted with a little more than 13 minutes remaining, when Panthers forward Simon Hildebrandt drained a three-pointer to cut High Point's deficit to five. Rosselli and Wright flicked their wrists when the shot went in before Wright clapped. Then with just more than 10 minutes left, High Point guard Trae Benham made a deep three-pointer to knot the score at 50. 'Benham!' Rosselli yelled. 'Trae Benham! Oh my goodness.' With less than nine minutes remaining, Benham made a layup while drawing a foul. High Point had pulled ahead, 54-52. 'Oh my goodness!' Rosselli said again while leaning back in his seat. Wright stood and grabbed Rosselli's jacket as Rosselli continued, 'Oh my goodness! Trae Benham! You animal! And one!' Wright stuck his tongue out at the camera. At the end of High Point's 81-69 victory, its players stormed the court while Wright stood and raised his arms and Rosselli declared the Panthers 'were dancing with glory.' Rosselli and Wright soon returned to their normal lives. They stopped on their drive back to High Point at McDonald's and Krispy Kreme for chicken nuggets, french fries, hamburgers and chocolate-sprinkled doughnuts — food that fit their tight budget. Wright edited the videos of their broadcast and posted them the next day on social media, hoping someone in sports broadcasting would notice them. Soon — to Rosselli and Wright's surprise — hundreds of thousands of people were watching the video. Barstool Sports called it 'perfection.' SB Nation said on X that the call was 'electric.' High Point paid for Rosselli and Wright's travels Tuesday to Providence. Rosselli said he hopes High Point beats Purdue — so he and Wright can broadcast more games. 'This one will probably be a little bit more professional,' Rosselli said of Thursday's broadcast. He paused for a second before adding: 'Depending on how this game goes. If it's a buzzer-beater, ah, we're losing it. There's no shot we don't lose it.' 'I'm actually storming the court,' Wright added.
Washington Post
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Zavala has double-double, High Point rallies past Longwood 59-53 for Big South title, 2nd NCAA berth
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Navaeh Zavala scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Highwood rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Longwood 59-53 in the Big South Conference championship game on Sunday and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second time. Without point guard Nakyah Terrell, who was injured in the semifinal game, the top-seeded Panthers struggled offensively for most of the game before finding a way to pull it out. Earlier in the day the High Point men earned their first NCAA berth with a big second half rally. Jaleesa Lawrence added 12 points for High Point (21-11), which ran its winning streak to nine games heading to its first Big Dance since 2021. Lauren Scott had 11 points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and three free throws in the closing seconds. Malea Brown had 14 points and 10 rebounds for second-seeded Longwood (22-11), whose only NCAA appearance came in 2022. For the most part the game lacked any offensive continuity but Zavala had a three-point play to start a little surge that Scott finished with a rare High Point 3-pointer for its big lead of 54-48 and first lead since the first quarter. Longwood shot 56% in the first half, making 6 of 7 3-pointers, for a 35-32 lead but the Lancers shot 23% from after intermission and missed all three 3s. They also finished with a season-high 25 turnovers. Highwood shot just 39%, including a 3 of 18 performance behind the arc but made 12 of 14 free throws and had just 17 turnovers against a team that forces 25 a game. Longwood led 35-32 at the half and 47-42 entering the fourth quarter. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women's college basketball: and
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Zavala has double-double, High Point rallies past Longwood 59-53 for Big South title, 2nd NCAA berth
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — Navaeh Zavala scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Highwood rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Longwood 59-53 in the Big South Conference championship game on Sunday and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second time. Without point guard Nakyah Terrell, who was injured in the semifinal game, the top-seeded Panthers struggled offensively for most of the game before finding a way to pull it out. Earlier in the day the High Point men earned their first NCAA berth with a big second half rally. Jaleesa Lawrence added 12 points for High Point (21-11), which ran its winning streak to nine games heading to its first Big Dance since 2021. Lauren Scott had 11 points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and three free throws in the closing seconds. Malea Brown had 14 points and 10 rebounds for second-seeded Longwood (22-11), whose only NCAA appearance came in 2022. For the most part the game lacked any offensive continuity but Zavala had a three-point play to start a little surge that Scott finished with a rare High Point 3-pointer for its big lead of 54-48 and first lead since the first quarter. Longwood shot 56% in the first half, making 6 of 7 3-pointers, for a 35-32 lead but the Lancers shot 23% from after intermission and missed all three 3s. They also finished with a season-high 25 turnovers. Highwood shot just 39%, including a 3 of 18 performance behind the arc but made 12 of 14 free throws and had just 17 turnovers against a team that forces 25 a game. Longwood led 35-32 at the half and 47-42 entering the fourth quarter. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women's college basketball: and The Associated Press
Associated Press
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Zavala has double-double, High Point rallies past Longwood 59-53 for Big South title, 2nd NCAA berth
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — Navaeh Zavala scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Highwood rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Longwood 59-53 in the Big South Conference championship game on Sunday and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second time. Without point guard Nakyah Terrell, who was injured in the semifinal game, the top-seeded Panthers struggled offensively for most of the game before finding a way to pull it out. Earlier in the day the High Point men earned their first NCAA berth with a big second half rally. Jaleesa Lawrence added 12 points for High Point (21-11), which ran its winning streak to nine games heading to its first Big Dance since 2021. Lauren Scott had 11 points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and three free throws in the closing seconds. Malea Brown had 14 points and 10 rebounds for second-seeded Longwood (22-11), whose only NCAA appearance came in 2022. For the most part the game lacked any offensive continuity but Zavala had a three-point play to start a little surge that Scott finished with a rare High Point 3-pointer for its big lead of 54-48 and first lead since the first quarter. Longwood shot 56% in the first half, making 6 of 7 3-pointers, for a 35-32 lead but the Lancers shot 23% from after intermission and missed all three 3s. They also finished with a season-high 25 turnovers. Highwood shot just 39%, including a 3 of 18 performance behind the arc but made 12 of 14 free throws and had just 17 turnovers against a team that forces 25 a game. Longwood led 35-32 at the half and 47-42 entering the fourth quarter.
New York Times
09-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Men's NCAA Tournament automatic bids: Meet High Point and SIUE. Who can clinch next?
In the nine frantic days before the selection committee releases the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament bracket, 31 teams will punch their tickets into the field by winning their conference tournament. For many March Madness fans, championship week offers the first long look at the teams most likely to become this year's beloved Cinderella teams once the tournament gets underway. Advertisement Below, we'll track the automatic bids as they are claimed, complete with an early guide to each conference champ. Listed are the conferences and their championship times, along with the broadcast lineup (all times are EST). Check back through the conference tournaments to see who earns the bids to the NCAA Tournament: Big South: High Point High Point rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Winthrop for the Big South Conference tournament title on Sunday, pulling out an 81-69 victory. The Panthers, coached by Alan Huss in his second season, are led by Kezza Giffa, D'Maurian Williams and Kimani Hamilton, who all average in double figures in points. The Panthers will be making their first March Madness appearance. Sunday: ASUN, Missouri Valley, Summit League Monday: Sun Belt, Southern Tuesday: CAA, Northeast, Horizon League, West Coast Wednesday: Patriot League, Southland, Big Sky Saturday: America East, MEAC, Mountain West, Big 12, Big East, MAC, MAAC, Conference USA, ACC, SWAC, Big West, WAC March 16: Ivy League, SEC, Atlantic 10, American Athletic, Big Ten America East: 11 a.m., Saturday (ESPN2) American Athletic: 3:15 p.m., March 16 (ESPN) Atlantic 10: 1 p.m., March 16 (CBS) ACC: 8:30 p.m., Saturday (TBA) ASUN: 2 p.m., Sunday (ESPN2) Big 12: 6 p.m., Saturday (TBA) Big East: 6:30 p.m., Saturday (Fox) Big Sky: 11:30 p.m., Wednesday (ESPN2) Big South: High Point Big Ten: 3:30 p.m., March 16 (CBS) Big West: 9:40 p.m., Saturday (ESPN2) CAA: 7 p.m., Tuesday (CBSSN) Conference USA: 8:30 p.m., Saturday (CBSSN) Horizon League: 7 p.m., Tuesday (ESPN/ESPN2) Ivy League: Noon, March 16 (ESPN2) MAAC: 7:30 p.m., Saturday (ESPNU) MAC: 7:40 p.m., Saturday (ESPN2) MEAC: 1 p.m., Saturday (ESPN2) Missouri Valley: 2:10 p.m., Sunday (CBS) Advertisement Mountain West: 6 p.m., Saturday (CBS) Ohio Valley: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Cougars, coached by Brian Barone, will make the program's first trip to March Madness after beating Southeast Missouri 69-48 on Saturday night in the Ohio Valley (OVC) tournament championship game. Southeast Missouri was the top seed in the conference tournament, while SIUE (22-11) was the second seed and lost to Southeast Missouri twice during the regular season. Ray'Sean Taylor, the conference player of the year, is SIUE's leading scorer this season, averaging more than 19 points per game, and he is the program's all-time leading scorer. Brian Taylor II and Ring Malith also average in double figures. Northeast: 7 p.m., Tuesday (ESPN2) Patriot League: TBA, Wednesday (TBA) SEC: 1 p.m., March 16 (ESPN) Southern: 7 p.m., Monday (ESPN) Southland: 5 p.m., Wednesday (ESPN2) SWAC: 9:30 p.m., Saturday (ESPN-plus) Summit League: 9 p.m., Sunday (CBSSN) Sun Belt: 7 p.m., Monday (ESPN2) West Coast: 9 p.m., Tuesday (ESPN) WAC: 11:40 p.m., Saturday (ESPN2) (Photo of Ray'Sean Taylor (3): Michael Hickey / Getty Images)
