Explorers capture inaugural Throne championship
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
Atlanta, Ga – After a week of dominance, the Explorers needed a late comeback to secure the inaugural Throne National Championship. This Florida squad beat the NC Vikings 65-57 on Saturday at Morehouse College.
This is the second title for the Columbus Explorers this season. The Florida school captured its second consecutive 7A Florida state championship. Getting this title was not easy for the No. 3-seeded Explorers.
NC Vikings was seeded ninth in the 16-team tournament. They were the Cinderella of the tournament that featured several of the top ranked teams in the country and was televised nationally on Fox Sports on NBA TV. The Vikings, from Central Cabarrus in Concord, won the North Carolina 3A state championship and was undefeated (32-0) entering the tournament.
They were also extremely undersized against every opponent, but heart is unmeasurable. The Vikings challenged the Explorers but struggled late.
The Explorers depth and athleticism was too much to handle, especially the 2025 Boozer brothers. Cameron Boozer, the Gatorade National Player of the Year, scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half. This was the lowest point total of the tournament. Twin brother, Cayden, finished with 21 points. Benny Fragela chipped in with 12 points, while Garyn Bess had 11 points.
About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform.