WINSTON-SALEM
Queen’s Grant’s boys’ basketball season has been defined by a seemingly simple task: finish what it couldn’t a year ago.
After losing in the NCHSAA West Regional championship in 2025, Queen’s Grant announced itself in the same arena on Thursday afternoon in dominating fashion, exactly 366 days later. Before the game, sophomore forward Chase Smith told head coach Joe Badgett the arena “felt different.”
Now, it definitely does.
The Stallions defeated Warren County, 77-43, in the Class 2A final Thursday, winning their first state championship in their first title game appearance. In the playoffs, Queen’s Grant (35-3) has averaged more than 70 points, winning by at least 30 points per game. It won 31 straight games to end the season.
“Last year, we lost by 40,” Smith said. “That was really bad. It hurt. Weeks and weeks after the game, I just wasn’t in a good mood. Waking up, I just kept thinking about the game. So, definitely coming back (this) year, only losing three games, dominating the state championship and all that we overcame this year, that’s a great feeling.”
Queen’s Grant head boys basketball coach Joe Badgett, center, is pursued by his team to celebrate following their 77-43 win over Warren County in the NCHSAA 2A boys’ championship game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC on Thursday, March 12, 2026. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Smith led Queen’s Grant with 27 points on 13 of 16 shooting, adding 13 rebounds. A 6-foot-8, four-star recruit, Smith was named Catawba River Conference Player of the Year, averaging 16 points and seven rebounds this season. Sophomore Mekhi Allen finished with 21 points, and junior guard Preston Scott contributed six points and six assists. The Stallions outrebounded Warren County, 48-24.
Badgett — who first started coaching at the middle school level at Queen’s Grant in the 2000s — has now won both NCHSAA public and NCISAA private school state titles. The head coach won two private school championships at Carmel Christian School in Matthews.
“Once they got a little bit of separation, they really just flowed into the game to finish it off,” Badgett said. “I’m super proud of them. People take for granted this is hard to do. It doesn’t matter what level; it’s hard to win state championships. And to win one is very special, very unique.”
Queen’s Grant’s Mehki Allen, center, splits the Warren County defense for two-points during the NCHSAA 2A boys’ championship game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Queen’s Grant defeated Warren County 77-43. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com In front from the jump
Allen and Smith controlled the first quarter, combining for 21 points and going 10-for-13.
Within the opening three minutes, Queen’s Grant took a 12-4 advantage behind Allen, who scored eight points — with two scores coming from dunks — in fewer than two minutes, forcing an early Warren County (14-10) timeout.
“After the loss, we knew what we needed to do as the returning group,” Allen said. “We have to take leadership and let everybody know how hard it is to get here. And when the lights are on, we got to perform.”
Smith took over from there, rattling off six straight points, pushing Queen Grant’s lead to 13. Queen’s Grant headed into the second quarter up 27-14 after Allen hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds left.
Queen’s Grant’s Chase Smith throws down a two-handed dunk during action against Warren County in the NCHSAA 2A boys’ championship game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC on Thursday, March 12, 2026. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Smith opened the second quarter with a dunk, scoring four more points over the next two minutes to keep Warren County out of reach. Although Warren County called two timeouts within 40 seconds, working to find a way to stop Queen’s Grant, the Eagles didn’t come up with any answers. Queen’s Grant held Warren County to six points in the second quarter, entering halftime up 48-20 with Smith in the double figures.
“Our main hope is defense,” Scott said. “We weren’t just focused on one player. We were focused on their team as whole. In film, we saw all the shots came from driving up the middle, and our defense stopped that.”
Allen took over in the third quarter, scoring six quick points. But Warren County found some life, matching the Stallions’ 13 points in the third.
In the final eight minutes, sophomore guard Joel Jackson scored four points and junior forward Cannon Deberry contributed two to push Queen’s Grant’s lead to an untouchable 33 points.
Queen’s Grant head boys’ basketball coach Joe Badgett smiles as his team receives their medals following their 77-43 win over Warren County in the NCHSAA 2A boys’ championship game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC on Thursday, March 12, 2026. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Following the game, Badgett said that the championship banner will be the first thing that goes into Queen’s Grant’s new gym. After arriving when the school first opened, the head coach recognizes how important this moment is.
“For them to have this moment, it’s exciting,” Badgett said. “It’s the first state championship that the school has ever had in its 17-18 year history. These guys are younger, but when they get my age, they’ll understand what that actually means…when they come back and see the banger hanging and that was us. That’s a big deal.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 1:34 PM.