DCCC set for Tar Heel invasion

The High Point Enterprise
by Steve Hanf

January 26, 2010

LEXINGTON – Campus officials have been getting ready for Wednesday night for weeks.

Matt Ridge told his Davidson County Community College players in no uncertain terms they’d have to wait to think about playing the North Carolina Tar Heels’ junior varsity team until today. With Monday’s blowout win over Piedmont Baptist College in the books, the time has arrived.

“I told the guys after our game (Saturday) that I don’t want to hear anything about Carolina until Monday night after our game,” Ridge said. “We can’t overlook anybody. On Tuesday we’ll get ready for it.”

The campus is more than ready for the ultra-rare visit by the Tar Heels. UNC plays just one road game per season, and after three Storm appearances in Chapel Hill, DCCC got picked to be this year’s site.

Tip-off at Brinkley Gymnasium is set for 7 p.m. Tickets sold out rapidly for students and in less than an hour for fans in the community. To meet the excess demand, officials at DCCC also are selling tickets to a “StormWatch” party in the college’s conference center.

Tickets to view the live telecast in the conference center are $7 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under, and $5 for alumni association members. Free tickets are available for currently enrolled DCCC students. Refreshments are included in the ticket price. Doors will open for the party at 6:30.

“The college is really working hard to accommodate everybody who wants to be a part of it. That’s cool, too,” Ridge said. “Our marketing department has done a phenomenal job of getting the buzz around campus.”

A roar rather than a buzz figures to fill Brinkley. The Storm nearly beat the Tar Heels in their first meeting three years ago, while DCCC led by three points with five minutes to play this season at the Smith Center before falling late. UNC enters the game undefeated, while the Storm sits 16-4.

“We know we can play with them,” said Ridge, a UNC graduate who played two seasons on the Tar Heels’ JV squad. “They play in front of 200, 300 people in a 20,000-seat arena. For them to play in a 280-seat arena with 280 people there, they’re excited about it.”