Homecoming: Shock the World Tribute to LSHS 1995
By Antionette Kerr
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When Bernard McIntosh tipped in that shot at the buzzer and the horn blared through the Dean Dome, everything stopped. The ball dropped, the crowd erupted, and a bunch of kids from Lexington, North Carolina had just won the 2A state championship on Carolina’s floor. No one imagined it — not the fans, not the press, maybe not even us. But under Dean Smith’s banners, on the biggest stage we’d ever seen, we pulled it off.
For me, that moment carried the weight of every day leading up to it. I wore my cheerleading shoes everywhere — to class, to practice, to games — not because it was stylish, but because they were all I could afford. They squeaked on the hardwood like they knew they didn’t belong there, but I did. Those shoes became a quiet reminder of why I worked so hard and what it meant to represent Lexington.
That night in Chapel Hill was more than a trophy. It was a team of small-town kids who had sold candy bars to travel, practiced in a cold gym, and dared to dream past the county line, taking our shot on the same floor where legends played. And when the horn sounded, it wasn’t just Lexington celebrating — it was every teacher, coach, and parent who had believed in us.
Even now, when I step back into the Dean Smith Center, I can still hear that roar and see us racing across the floor. We weren’t just winning a championship; we were carrying Lexington with us, proving that big dreams can start in a small gym and end up under the brightest lights.
