05/25/2026
Raleigh, NC - The Raleigh Firebirds captured their second straight Southeastern Division championship with a heart stopping 119-118 win over the Fayetteville Liberty Saturday night at Crown Arena. Julian Gamble sealed the title with a buzzer beating put back and one, completing a dramatic comeback that erased a 22 point third quarter deficit.
Fayetteville controlled much of the night, building a large lead in the third quarter and carrying momentum into the final period. The Firebirds flipped the script with intense defensive pressure and a sudden offensive surge. Daquon Antoine, Julian Gamble and Dominique Sutton led Raleigh's charge.
Key moments:
- Midway through the third, the Liberty led by as many as 22 points.
- Raleigh tightened defensively, forced turnovers and began converting on close-range opportunities.
- DJ Thomas and Daquon Antoine hit timely three-pointers; Dominique Sutton buried a corner triple that swung momentum.
- Antoine's back-to-back threes cut the deficit to one late in the game.
- Shakeef Daniels ripped a steal on the Liberty's next possession, giving Raleigh one final chance.
- Coach Kenny Collins called a timeout, drew up a last-minute play, and the Firebirds executed perfectly. Gamble followed a missed shot with a put-back, giving the Firebirds a one point lead. The buzzer sounded and the Firebirds won a 119-118 victory.
The win earns the Firebirds the Southeastern Division crown and a first-round bye in the
2026 TBL playoffs.
The Liberty will head to Kissimmee, Florida for a play-in matchup against the Kissimmee Lamb.
Firebirds 2nd Round Southeastern Division Finals:
Firebirds vs winner of Kissimmee Lamb/Fayetteville Liberty play in game.
Thursday 7pm @ Chavis Community Center 505 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Raleigh NC.
Friday 7:30pm @ Word of God Christian Academy 3000 Rock Quarry Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610.
Sunday (if necessary) 4pm Word of God Christian Academy
For tickets and game-day information, follow the Raleigh Firebirds on Instagram . For media inquiries or more details, email [email protected] or text 919-830-0305.