HOBGOOD — Terra Ceia wrapped up its season on a high note by topping Lawrence Academy, 73-52, in the Tarheel Independent Conference championship. Tyler Hendrix (27 points, 13 rebounds), Chase Furlough (12 points, 11 rebounds) and Quentin Van Essendelft (11 points, 11 assists) all had double-doubles in the win.

It was a poetic way to end the season. Just two weeks before the campaign began back in November, Hendrix’s father and assistant coach Mark Hendrix passed away suddenly due to a heart attack.

Not a day goes by that the team doesn’t ache. It was fitting that Hendrix exploded for a game-best 27 points, which included a tomahawk dunk in the third quarter.

“In the locker room before the game, he was ready to I guess finish this race,” Knights coach Roger Klaassen said. “He was a leader out there.”

When Klaassen left the game, he found “#DI4M” inscribed on the back windshield of his pickup truck. The hashtag stands for “Do it for Mark.”

“We started out at the very possible lowest point when we lost a teammate,” Klaassen said. “Last night we finished by realizing the highest of highs. … It was a special ending last night.

“We did it for him. It was a fitting end.”

Terra Ceia, like so many games this season, stormed out of the gate. The Knights didn’t score off the opening tip, but got to work shortly thereafter. Their high-octane offense found success early and often. Their pressure on defense helped fuel it and limited Lawrence to few good looks.

“We just said that we’re going to be the team we know we are,” Klaassen said. “We put the press on and got the game going at a faster pace. We knew that was our advantage. Our inside presence with Tyler, Chase and Austin (Roscoe) was an advantage and we used that.”

The Knights owned a 39-16 lead by halftime. Klaassen then handed over the second half to the team’s seniors — Furlough, Ben Hubers, Kendall Bowen and Noah Williams.

“We played really well in the first half. In the second half, we allowed our seniors to enjoy some time on the court, being their last time,” Klaassen said.

Terra Ceia was without Furlough’s services in the first round of the NCISAA state championship. His impact on the team has been evident all season and this game was no different.

Furlough also got a poetic ending to his high school career in the way he knocked down the final shot of his team’s championship campaign.

“That’s a huge piece of what we’ve done all year,” Klaassen said. “In all the seasons that he’s played here, he’s never hit a 3-point shot. He hit the final shot of our season, a made 3-pointer by him.”

The Knights finished the season 25-6. The year featured timeless clashes with Pungo, an instant classic against Northside, a high-scoring affair against Neuse Christian in the state championship and so many more incredible bouts.

They accomplished something special that has taken years of work. Mark Hendrix is surely looking down on his Knights, proud as can be.