WCA girls sharp in defeating Cary Academy
By Tom Ham

In a turnaround performance in its home opener Tuesday night, the Wilson Christian Academy varsity girls basketball team, the reigning North Carolina Christian School Association 2-A champion, rolled to a 45-30 victory against Cary Academy, a 4-A member of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association.
Seniors Kate Hoskins and Jacelyn Bailey led the Lady Chargers to their second win is many evenings to open the 2022-23 season. Bailey netted 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Hoskins wound up with 14 points and eight rebounds.

We were way more patient,” assessed veteran WCA head coach Brian Trull. “We made the right decisions and the extra pass led to open shots.”
Added Hoskins: “We moved our feet and got into a rhythm. Communication was a big part of it and we were a lot more under control. We learned our lesson (Monday in a win), and we got it under control.”
Trull and Hoskins each noted WCA’s defense against Cary 6-foot-3 freshman Kaylin Pernell was critical. Praised was the defensive effort of 6-foot-2 senior Sophia Nesbit, who limited Pernell to a mere two points in the second half.
“Our defense on No. 22 (Pernell) was the key to us being in the game,” Trull declared. “We adjusted to a 1-2-2 (zone defense) and Sophia put on her.”
Added Hoskins: “We saw her. We matched that by putting our big (Nesbit) on their big (Pernell). She absolutely locked her down. Her defense stopped (Pernell) for the most part.”

Leading 10-8 after the first quarter, WCA, boosted by the defensive adjustment, boosted the margin to 20-10 on junior point guard Chloe Villaverde-s 3-pointer. Led by Pernell, who finished with 13 points, Cary’s Chargers trimmed the defiict to 25-19 at halftime.

Neither team scored in the third quarter until Pernell laid in her only second-half basket with 4:38 showing in the period. Bailey answered for WCA. A field goal each from Nesbit and junior Gracie Farmer fueled a 7-0 run to end the quarter and send Wilson Christian to a 32-22 advantage.

Hoskins opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer and the lead crested at 45-25 on Bailley’s bucket with 2:49 showing. Both Trull and Cary head coach Brandon Pope emptied their benches with over two minutes left.

Wilson Christian drained seven 3-pointers and shot for 42% accuracy beyond the arc. WCA shot for an overall percentage of 52% from the floor.

“If they gave us 3’s and we saw them, we shot team,” said Hoskins, who bombed in a pair of 3-pointers.
“When they ran man(-to-man defense), we looked for easy lay-ups. We stayed under control and took what they gave us. We knew what to do.”

CARY ACADEMY (30)
Hala, McMahon 3, Surnfeal 6, Smith 4, Esposito 4, DeMatteis,
White, Pernell 13.
WILSON CHRISTIAN (45)
Hurteau, Villaerde 3, Miller, Bailey 14, Martin, K. Hoskins 14, Farmer 6, Price, Nesbit 6, Mercer, Parker, Little 2.
Score by quarters:
Cary 8 11 3 8 — 30
Wilson Christian 10 15 9 11 — 45

APA prepares for title game match with JPII Friday
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The stakes are even higher this time around.

On Oct. 28, Arendell Parrott and John Paul II played in one of the best games of the season in Greenville to decide the Big 8 Conference champion and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Although the Patriots took an early 32-8 lead, the Saints battled back and it came down to literally the last play of the game.

There, Caleb Sanderson found Jaylen Soloman for a 75-yard touchdown as time expired to give APA a thrilling 66-60 win, ensuring the rematch would take place in Kinston.

The rematch also doubles as the NCISAA 2A state title game and marks the second time the two played each other at this stage — the Patriots won 40-13 in 2020.

This is John Paul II’s third straight appearance in the title game, falling to APA before Cary Christian last season. APA coach Matt Beaman, who is looking for his fourth state championship, said it will take a full 48-minute effort in Friday’s game.

“The biggest thing is we can’t take a play off — one play can decide everything at this stage,” Beaman said. “We have to sell out and give everything we’ve got.”

Beaman said it’s a quality the team has possessed all season.

“This team has a special grit about them,” Beaman said. “When people count them out, they perform. It’s hard to put a finger on their ‘it’ factor, but they bring it every week and that’s the reason they are where they are.”

Ashton Brinson will be a key contributor for the Patriots. The running back carried the ball a staggering 42 times for 303 yards in the first game, but has only run 23 times in the two playoff wins against Lawrence Academy/Abermarle School and Cary Christian to preserve energy while also getting Andrew Daniels and Aaron Jones more involved. While the gameplan is to get the ball out more to the other backs, the Big 8 Player of the Year said he’ll be ready if the workload is heavier.

“It’ll be my last game ever as a senior, so I’ll be ready to go with everything I’ve got,” Brinson said.

Overall, Brinson echoed his coach’s sentiment about not taking plays off.

“The biggest thing we have to do is make sure we follow our assignments,” Brinson said. “If we do that, the game will be a lot easier.”

Thomas Grady spearheads an offensive line forcing 363.7 yards per game and said while familiarity doesn’t mean the same result, it’ll assist against the John Paul II defense.

“I think we know a little bit more of what were coming into because we’ve played them before, so that should help us out,” Grady said.

The Patriots also have a passing game — Caleb Sanderson threw for four touchdowns and 177 yards in the last meeting with the Saints and 1,100 yards passing overall. Sanderson also has been efficient, throwing 16 touchdowns with zero interceptions, excited for the opportunity to help out his team—especially the seniors.

“This week, it’s going to be physical,” Sanderson said. “These boys have been playing since junior varsity — we want it.”

Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Hodges Field.

Carmel Christian survives upset bid; scores, stars


The team that Carmel Christian boys’ basketball coach Joe Badgett sends onto the floor in February will look a lot different than the team that rallied for a 58-54 victory Saturday night over Asheville School.

“They will know who to depend on,” says Badgett, who has coached the Cougars to state championships in three of the past five seasons, most recently last February.

“They will know who they can depend on for the big shot, who will be there for the pass, who will make the big stop,” Badgett says.

“As for now,” he adds, “they’re finding their way.”

Carmel Christian’s victory was the finale of a six-game slate on Day 2 of the Phenom Hoops Tipoff Classic. Earlier winners Saturday included Concord Academy, Combine Academy and Northside Christian.

Fans who follow Carmel Christian know that Badgett’s teams typically show a steady line of progress between November and late February. That was the case a year ago, and the Cougars’ head coach said Saturday night that he expects the same this season.

“I expected us to be where we are right now,” he says.

Carmel Christian is not currently in a place to win a state championship. The Cougars (2-0) made only 39 percent of their shots against the Blues (0-1) and allowed Asheville School to shoot 57 percent from the floor.


Carmel Christian trailed by five points at halftime and needed a feisty third-quarter defensive effort to claw its way back into the game. During that period, the Cougars hounded any Asheville School player who had the ball, forcing four turnovers and making three steals.

“We had what I would call a ‘prayer meeting’ at halftime,” Badgett says, smiling.

“Our guys responded in the third quarter.”

Badgett says he wants that defensive intensity all the time, without requiring him to begin preaching at halftime. Carmel Christian’s defense was key in the Cougars’ championship game victory last February over nationally-ranked Greensboro Day.

Can this year’s version of the Cougars get there?

“Believe me, we have some really talented players here,” he says.

Jaeden Mustaf, a 6-6 junior, scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds and had four steals. He made three key free throws and grabbed four of his rebounds in the fourth quarter.

Bryce Cash, a 6-6 senior, scored 14 points with six rebounds. He was especially effective in the first quarter.

Senior guard Khamani Wertz and 6-9 junior center Michael Marcus Jr. had their moments, with Marcus connecting on three 3-pointers. Wertz had two. Reserve guard Boston Smith brought fans out of their seats when he scored on an alley-oop in the fourth quarter.

But, Badgett says, the efforts weren’t consistent, and his team didn’t show the kind of finesse he sees in practice.

“We have guys who make shot after shot after shot in practice,” he says. “And then they come out here into a game and won’t take those shots.” “My frustration isn’t about this game,” he adds. “It’s that the type of play I saw in practice didn’t appear on the court in this game.”

Badgett spent 30 minutes after the game with his team in the locker room.

“I told them that the coaches in this association (N.C. Independent Schools) will scout very well and prepare their teams to play us,” he says.

“Every opponent we face will be ready for us. Our guys will have to respond and play at their best.” The Cougars will get there, their coach says.

“This is a process,” he adds. “We are finding our way.”

Cyclones win in Atkinson’s coaching debut

AYDEN — Derrick Atkinson, who previously has coached middle school and junior varsity boys basketball at Community Christian School, made his varsity debut Thursday and the Cyclones made it a successful one with a 59-24 romp over host Pitt County Pacers, a home school team.

Tavares Williams had 14 points and six rebounds while Camden Harold scored 11 points for the Cyclones in their season opener. Bryce Pittman added eight points and Ayden Smith chipped in six while Jared Kovach contributed five points and five steals and Rylan Gay had five points and three steals. CCS was just 5 of 17 from 3-point range, but Atkinson was delighted with the outcome after less than two weeks of practice.


“I feel good about the team,” he said. “A couple of our players have played with me in the past. We’ve got seven returning players and five are seniors so they’ve been playing together for a while and that made it lots easier.”

The Cyclones will face another home school team in DASH on Monday at the Peace Church gy

Sallie B. Howard drops opener

ROCKY MOUNT -— Sallie B. Howard School tipped off its second varsity girls basketball season Thursday with a 62-11 loss at Rocky Mount Academy.

Zaria Lewis led the Eagles with six points and five rebounds while Makayla Opie had three steals and two points. Queen Howell added three points and Uryah Chance grabbed five rebounds as well.

The Eagles, who have just four returners back from last year, are back in action Monday at Faith Christian in Goldsboro while the SBH varsity boys team will tip off its season that night. The home opener for both Sallie B. Howard varsity teams is set for Wednesday, Nov. 16.

COVENANT DAY 21 TRINITY CHRISTIAN 18
JOHN PAUL 48 ROCKY MOUNT 13
ARENDELL PARROTT 54 CARY CHRISTIAN 22

Knights register first win at 2-A level
r
November 11, 2022
By Tom Ham
Special to the Times

The Greenfield School varsity boys basketball team posted its first win as an NCISAA 2-A member with an 85-59 romp against Central Carolina Prep of Burlington on Friday night.

“We play a tremendous 2-A schedule,” Knights head coach Rob Salter pointed out. “These games have to get us prepared to play in our league. The 2-A is tough – a lot deeper (than 1-A). There are about nine really outstanding teams.”

Greenfield appeared more 2-A ready behind 23 points and eight rebounds from 6-foot-5 junior Hampton Evans. He was all but unstoppable in powering inside and proved effective in a playmaking role.

“I used my big frame and strength to go against defenders,” Hampton Evans reviewed. “They didn’t have an answer for me. We didn’t know much about them. They do a lot of one-on-one and don’t really move the ball.”

Junior guard Matt Kirby and senior Kyshon Atkinson each netted 12 points. Senior Micah Sherod came off the bench to score 12 points, and senior Jack Adair, another sub, claimed eight rebounds.

“Hampton has been All-State for two years,” Salter noted, “and he has to play and bring it every night. He had just eight points (Thursday night) and the intensity wasn’t there. He didn’t play like himself and he was pretty hard on himself. Tonight, that’s the Hampton everybody knows.”

“Matt Kirby was fantastic, and No. 12 (Sherrod) was fantastic off the bench.”

Observed Evans: “We lost (Thursday) night by one point (to Raleigh Christian) and we had to bounce back. We were a lot faster and had more energy; that helped us win.”

The Defenders’ Alex Godley, a 6-3 senior, swished a 3-point shot for the game’s first points. However, the Defenders, an independent team and a member of the Mecklenburg-Charlotte Athletic Conference, never led again.

The Knights countered with the next eight points and expanded the margin to 20-4 in holding Central Carolina without a field goal for over eight minutes.

The margin increased to 26-9 before the Defenders, led by 6-2 senior Christian Miller and Godley, chopped the deficit to 32-22. But a 3-pointer from junior Cole Evans ignited a 10-0 flurry and a 42-22 bulge.

The Commanders tallied the last six points of the first half and the first six of the final two quarters for a 12-0 tear that whittled Greenfield’s lead to eight points (42-34). Central Carolina, now 1-3 in a 38-game schedule,, drew within eight points once more at 44-36.

The Knights fared well at the foul line the second half (20 of 26 for the game) and took command to start the fourth quarter. Greenfield switched to a trapping defense that produced turnovers on three consecutive Defenders’ possessions.

Sherrod capitalized with a pair of layups and Adair added another. Greenfield owned a 61-39 cushion and reserves mopped up against a Defenders team that was down to five players as the result of three fouling out.

“We trapped the first pass,” Hampton Evans said. “(Sherrod) is a high jumper and a great defender. He got the steals.”

“We did not play well at all,” fifth-year head coach Pudgy Miller, who played on George Drawhorn-coached teams at Fike High from 1995-98, assessed. Miller is the only boys head coach for Central Carolina, in its fifth year of existence. “No effort. I don’t mind losing but I don’t like lack of effort.”

Coach Miller, animated and vocal, quickly learned he was not on the same page as the officials. He drew a technical with less than four minutes elapsed.

“A lot of fouls were called,” he reasoned. “Right many for this level of basketball. (The officials) let me know they were veterans, and that’s when I shut up a little. I just complained about regular stuff.”

After the game, Pudgy Miller kept his team in the dressing room for some 40 minutes.

“I fuss at them so much that I have to give them a little love,” he said. “That’s what that was all about.”

The Defenders’ head coach lauded the Greenfield team that evened its record at 1-1 and welcomes NCISAA 4-A member Ravenscroft of Raleigh on Tuesday evening.

“Tough, fast, good basketball,” Coach Miller remarked of the Knights. “That’s why we keep coming. We search for high level competition.”

Christian Miller, the son of the head coach along with Quincy Miller, triggered the defenders with a game-high 25 points. Godley fired in 18. Coach Miller said the Defenders were missing five players because of injuries and football. The absentees included two starters and the team captain.

Greenfield’s second-half performance especially pleased Salter.

“We want a fast tempo,” Salter assured, “and, in the second half, it was much better. We also did a better job of keeping them out of the lane. We did a better job of making them take tough shots.”

Salter contended the Knights welcome the 2-A challenge after finishing the NCISAA 1-A runner-up last serason.

“A lot more teams, a lot more skill,” Hampton Evans expressed. “We’re built for it. We are really close, and that’s a big thing for any team. We have a chance to go a long way.””

Said Salter: “He’s right. We’ve got four starters (Hampton Evans, junior Nik Edwards, Kirby and Atkinson) back; we have a lot of depth and we have experience.”

APA rolls past Cary Christian, prepares for title game showdown with John Paul II next week
Story by Keith Spence

No way history was going to repeat itself.

Last year, favored Parrott Academy got caught looking ahead to a possible state championship matchup with rival John Paul II and was upset by Cary Christian in the playoff semifinals.

This year, top-seeded APA again welcomed Cary Christian for a semifinal contest, but this time the laser-focused Patriots rolled to an easy 54-22 victory, setting up the title game with JPII that they missed out on last season.

“This team learned its lesson,” Parrott coach Matt Beaman said. “Last year we got a little greedy and full of ourselves. This year, from the first day of practice, we kept our eye on the ball and vowed not to let it happen again.”

Another stunning loss was never in the cards although APA had a few anxious moments on the first half.

Knights quarterback David Wisniewski picked apart the Parrott defense for 211 first half passing yards as the visitors trailed just 22-14 at halftime.

The Patriots were fortunate to take the lead into intermission as the Knights twice were stopped on downs after venturing inside the APA 15.

“Their quarterback has a big arm, and he was getting way too much time to throw,” Beaman said. “We knew we had to make some defensive adjustments at halftime.”

The adjustments actually started late in the first half as Wisniewski connected on just two of his last seven passes before the break with a pair of sacks.

“We put some more speed in on defense and decided to just go after him,” Beaman said. “They had basically abandoned the running game, so we just started to blitz to get more pressure and force the kid to make quicker decisions.”

The strategy worked as Wisniewski and his backup Reed Harvey combined for just 123 second half passing yards, 90 of which came on a single throw against the Patriot reserves after the game had already been decided.

Wisniewski completed 15 of 27 throws for 229 yards before leaving the game with an injury late in the third quarter but was just three of his last nine for 19 yards.

The Patriots (10-1) threw just five passes total, relying instead on a devastating rushing attack that generated 463 yards on the ground.

Three Parrott runners Aaron Jones (159), Ashton Brinson (151), and Andrew Daniels (119) crossed the 100-yard threshold.

“Three 100-yard runners tells you how well our offensive line played,” Beaman said. “The guys up front were very physical and allowed us to control the game on the ground.”

Brinson tallied all of his yards and a pair of TD’s in the first half before suffering a minor injury.

“He’s a fine and will be ready to go next week,” Beaman said.

Jones used his blazing speed on scoring bursts of 38 and 63 yards, while Daniels was the blue-collar fullback, picking up tough yards inside and scoring twice from short yardage.

“Aaron and Andrew did a fantastic job picking up the slack once Ashton went out.” Beaman said. “Ashton is our workhorse and gets a ton of credit, but Aaron and Andrew are pretty darn good football players themselves.”

All three will be needed when the Patriots host John Paul II in the upcoming championship game.

APA scored a wild 66-60 victory over the Saints in the regular season, so Beaman knows they will be looking some revenge.

“They have an excellent team and it’s going to be another battle,” Beaman said. “We had a great crowd that was really into the game tonight, and we’re going to need them again next week. With the crowd support we’ve been receiving all season, getting to play the title game at home is a huge deal for us. It should be a tremendous game.”

Phenom Hoops event at Carmel Christian Friday to feature nationally ranked teams, talent

Then on Saturday, games begin at noon and include a potential look at the private 3A state championship game when Concord Academy faces Greensboro Day at 4:30.

▪ Also Saturday, N.C. Independent power Providence Day will host a three-game event at 2 p.m. Full schedules are below.

THIS WEEKEND’S TOURNAMENTS PHENOM HOOPS TIP-OFF AT CARMEL CHRISTIAN

Friday

5 pm: Northside Christian vs. Quality Education
6:30 pm: Combine Academy vs. The Burlington School
8 pm: Carmel Christian vs. Northwood Temple

Saturday

12 pm: Quality Education vs. Westminster Catawba
1:30 pm: Northside Christian vs. Northwood Temple
3 pm: Combine Academy vs. 1of1 Prep
4:30 pm: Concord Academy vs. Greensboro Day
6 pm: Cannon vs. The Burlington School
7:30 pm: Carmel Christian vs. Asheville School

CHARGER SHOWCASE AT PROVIDENCE DAY

Saturday 2 pm:

Grace Christian (Sanford) vs. Cape Fear Academy
3:30 pm: Christ School vs. Grace Christian (Raleigh)
5 pm: Caldwell Academy vs. Providence Day

The next to last week of the 2022 football season. Some games have been moved to Thursday due to expected inclement weather. Last week I was 7-3 missing the Cary Christian-Wayne Christian, Hickory Grove-HP Christian and Latin-Christ School games.
Season record 140-26




133-23---7-3


8 Man

ROCKY MOUNT 6-3 @ JOHN PAUL II 10-1
RMA blanked Faith Christian 30-0 last week while JP II TOPPED Halifax 35-7. John paul won the regular season meeting 48-24. RMA’s three losses were to the other three teams in the playoffs while the Saints’ setback was to Parrott. John Paul’s victory margin this year has been almost 24 ppg.
My pick..John Paul



CARY CHRISTIAN 5-3 @ ARENDELL PARROTT 9-1
APA won the regular season contest 64-26. They have not loss to an 8 man team this year as their only loss was to Harrells in an 11 man contest in the season opener. Cary Christian knocked off APA last year in the state championship game 64-22 so revenge is on the mind of the Patriots.
My pick..Arendell Parrott.

D-II

TRINITY CHRISTIAN 6-4 @ COVENANT DAY 7-3
Trinity crushed Harrells 50-0 last week in the first round while Covenant Day was awarded a bye. The two did not meet during the regular season but did have two common opponents. Both beat Metrolina and fell to North Raleigh.
My pick..Trinity Christian





HIGH POINT CHRISTIAN 5-6 @ ASHEVILLE SCHOOL 6-3
These two did not meet during the regular season. HPCA upset Hickory Christian (9-1) last week 19-7 while Asheville School had a bye. HPCA HAS GIVEN UP 299 ppg while scoring 227 ppg whilw Asheville School has scored 356 while allowing 248.
My pick..Asheville School




D-I

CHRIST SCHOOL 6-5 @ PROVIDENCE DAY 10-1
Christ School slipped by Latin 36-35 in the first round last week while Providence Day pounded Charlotte Country Day 56-7. PDS won the regular season game 42-0.
My pick..Providence Day


CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 9-2 @ RABUN GAP 8-3

CCS rolled over Ravenscroft last week 56-7 while RGN TOPPED Cabarrus/Cannon 45-14. The two met in the regular season with RGN taking a 24-10 win at home which was CCS last setback. CCS has won five straight including a huge victory over Providence Day.
My pick..Charlotte Christian

Rk. School Cl 2021-22 Record

1 Myers Park 4A 17-9
2 Carmel Christian 4A 26-3
3 Central Cabarrus 3A 30-1
4 Concord Academy 3A 17-16
5 Providence Day 4A 22-6
6 North Mecklenburg 4A 27-5
7 United Faith 1A 20-7
8 West Charlotte 3A 22-9
9 Robinson 2A 28-3
10 J.L. Chambers 4A 22-7
11 Lake Norman 4A 17-11
12 Hickory 3A 26-2
13 Salisbury 2A 20-5
14 Cannon 4A 16-5
15 Gaston Day 2A 27-4
16 Charlotte Latin 4A 23-4

LINCOLN CHARTER 51, CONCORD ACADEMY 47
CA 13 11 07 16 -- 47
LCHS 17 09 13 12 -- 51
CONCORD ACADEMY 47 -- Z. Ward - 20 points, M. Taylor - 10 points, A. Mack - 6 points, J. Byrd - 4 Points, A. Sloan - 3 points.
LCHS 51 --Kallie Lusk -- 18 points, Kenzie Ross -- 10 points, Maddie Lusk -- 8 points, Symphani Stevens -- 8 points, Grace Rinaldo -- 7 points
Notables: LCHS starts the season off with a win; Kallie Lusk lead the way with a double-double 18 points and 10 rebounds; Kenzie Ross added 10 points including two huge three pointers to complete the comeback and seal the game MORE

BEREAN BAPTIST 67 LIBERTY CHRISTIAN (Durham) 42

LA : 7-7-12-16---42
BB : 19-19-22-12-67
BBA : Abraham Jarriel 19, Ben Rebel 11, Jordan 8, Mitchell 8, Carter 2, Gibson 7, Martinez 5, Richardson 0, Howard 3
BBA 1-0 LCA 0-1

Football Overcomes Attrition With Playoff

CHARLOTTE – Gutsy call for a gutsy team.

Coach Chad Walker burned a timeout to buy a few more seconds Friday. But everything in his mind was saying that Christ School needed to go for a 2-point conversion to win its NCISAA Division I state playoff game at Charlotte Latin, rather than extend overtime.

And after everything the coach saw his team overcome this week, he liked the odds even more.

Tray Mauney ’23 bullied his way into the end zone twice in overtime – first on a 10-yard quarterback keeper, then again with the 2-point conversion run that followed – to give the Greenies a 36-35 win.

Christ School (6-5) was without at least 10 players Friday due to lingering effects of the flu, and stars like Zack Myers ’23, Cayden Jones ’24, and Cooper Perone ’24 haven’t suited up in weeks due to season-ending injuries. Many other Greenies have missed time as well with various aches and pains.

“You look back at Tuesday’s practice and we only had 18 guys available. And they were going against garbage cans because we didn’t have enough players for our team periods,” Coach Walker said.

“We’ve talked about resiliency with this group all season long and they showed it again tonight. So many guys stepped up, some in areas that were different for them. I don’t like to use the word ‘proud’ a lot, but I’m so proud of these guys. They are going to keep fighting and we can’t wait to get back down here next week.”

Indeed, Christ School advances to the second round which will be a Nov. 11 game at defending state champion Charlotte Providence Day (10-1). The Chargers beat Charlotte Country Day, 56-7, on Friday night.

The Greenies dropped their season opener to Charlotte Latin (10-6 on Aug. 19 in Arden) and Friday’s rematch didn’t look great at times either. The Hawks (5-5) drove 80 yards in under three minutes on their opening possession, which included a single pass attempt, to take a 7-0 lead.

Tray threw his lone touchdown pass of the night to Brewer Nitcher ’25 – a 4-yard connection at the 8:12 mark of the second quarter – but Christ School was behind 21-7 at halftime. The Greenies managed to hang around in the second half. Their defense stiffened up, and the team got a pair of touchdown carries from Kaden Brown ’24 (1 and 12 yards) sandwiched around an electric 66-yard pitch to Vincent Lytle ’24. Friday was the first game for Kaden since suffering a knee injury Sept. 2 against Carrollwood Day (Fla.).

Christ School had a chance to win Friday's playoff game in regulation, but it was not meant to be. The snap was high on a 32-yard field goal attempt with under 10 seconds to go and the kick missed. That play was still fresh in Coach Walker’s mind when he made the fateful decision to go for two points.

“We had a high snap on the field goal and (Charlotte Latin) got a little penetration up the middle as well,” Coach Walker said.

“It was just one of those things where we felt like we had the momentum and it didn’t look like No. 10 could be stopped. The analytics looked good. So, we put the ball in Tray's hands and let him make the decision, and he had a heck of a run.”

Jack Shimer '23 is averaging a team-high 7.0 tackles per game for the defense, which only gave up seven second-half points to Charlotte Latin. Other leaders include Jordan Edgecomb '25 (5.2 tackles per game), Josh Harrison '24 (5.1), Eythan Serrano '25 (4.2), Jakob Iwanek '24 (4.1), and JoVaughn Hudson '23 (4.0).

APA gets past LAAS in first round, hosts Cary Christian in playoff semifinals
Story by Michael Humphrey

Parrott Academy established their running game early in a 54-36 home victory over Lawrence Academy/Abermarle School on Friday night.

On Parrott’s first play from scrimmage, Caleb Sanderson tossed Jones the ball to his right and he scampered 56 yards down to Lawrence Academy’s 18. The offense lined quickly and Jones busted through a hole into the end zone for the touchdown. Jones finished the game with 20 touches for 180 of Parrott’s 420 total rushing yards.

Parrott QB Caleb Sanderson lead the second Patriot drive with three carries for 17 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Brinson had a fairly mortal game with 10 carries for 152 yards and two rushing touchdowns in the victory, as his touches were limited in preparation for next week.

Parrott head coach Matt Beaman was happy to come away with the win and wasn’t too concerned by the play by his defense in the fourth quarter, as the Patriots at one point led 54-14.

“We tried to give a lot of people playing time so we could be healthier next week and the guys would kinda lose focus,” said Beaman. “It’s our first round game, playing a team we haven’t played in a while, so I think it was just first round jitters maybe. But we’ll be ready next week.”

Speaking of next week, a familiar team will be traveling east from Wake County — the Patriots face Cary Christian, who won a thriller Friday night defeating Wayne Christian 50-48.

Parrott defeated Cary Christian 50-26 in September behind the rushing legs of Brinson, who had his best rushing game of his season where he finished with 303 rushing yards on 25 carries and three touchdowns.

Kickoff is scheduled for November 11th at 7:00 pm in Kinston.

Wells Hutson and Isaac Lewis each scored a pair of touchdowns as Rocky Mount Academy advanced to the second round of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) Division II playoffs with a 31-0 victory over crosstown rival Faith Christian School at home on Friday night.

Hutson scored on runs covering 35 and 22 yards for the Eagles (6-3 overall), the No. 3 seed. Lewis returned a fumble 40 yards for one TD and scored on a 3-yard run.

8 MAN

CARY CHRISTIAN 50 WAYNE CHRISTIAN 48
JOHN PAUL 35 HALIFAX 7
ROCKY MOUNT 31 FAITH CHRISTIAN 0
ARENDELL PARROTT 54 LAWRENCE 36

D-I
PROVIDENCE DAY 56 CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 7
RABUN GAP 45 CANNON 14
CHRIST SCHOOL 36 LATIN 35
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 46 RAVENSCROFT 7

D-II
HIGH POINT CHRISTIAN 19 HICKORY GROVE 7
TRINITY CHRISTIAN 50 HARRELLS 0

Bethel Christian football coach Brick Crowder resigns
The only football coach Bethel Christian has known since the program’s restoration has stepped down.

In an interview with The Bryan Hanks Show Monday, Brick Crowder announced his resignation from the Trojans’ program. Crowder was recently voted as the new pastor of First Baptist Church in Snow Hill and said its’ truly a blessing while thanking the Bethel Christian community.

“These last 11 years here (at Bethel) have been incredible,” Crowder said. “We’ve seen so many students come to know the Lord and grow in their relationship with Him. Being able to coach football and use it as a tool to point them to the Lord has been an incredible privilege.”

On the field, Crowder coached the team to a 28-23 record in six seasons with the Trojans, including state championships in 2016 and 2020. The program laid dormant for 38 years before Crowder helped revitalize it and while the team wasn’t able to play this season, the junior varsity team went 3-2, including a 28-16 victory over Community Christian in the season finale.

Rk. Team Class 2021-22 Record

1. Charlotte Catholic 4A 28-3
2. North Mecklenburg 4A 24-4
3. Cannon School IND 21-7
4. Mallard Creek 4A 14-10
5. Myers Park 4A 21-7
6. Lake Norman 4A 24-4
7. South Mecklenburg 4A 21-4
8. Salisbury 2A 28-1
9. Providence Day IND 21-4
10. Watauga 4A 24-4
11. Shelby 2A 22-3
12. Ashbrook 3A 20-9
13. Concord Academy IND 22-8
14. East Lincoln 3A 28-2
15. Newton-Conover 2A 24-3
16. Independence 4A 19-7

Also receiving consideration: Albemarle (1A, 19-8); Hickory Ridge (4A, 19-9); Marvin Ridge (4A, 22-6); Parkwood (3A, 23-7).

Knights end first season in 2-A ranks with state title game loss


HIGH POINT – Despite an excellent first half, the Greenfield School boys soccer team fell short in a 3-1 loss to Gaston Day in the NCISAA 2-A state championship game at Westchester Country Day on Saturday.
The Knights (18-4-1) of the 2-A/3-A Coastal Plain Independents Conference took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but ceded three goals to the Spartans (16-2) of the Metrolina Conference in the second half.
“I don’t even know if it really went wrong,” said Greenfield head coach Justin Wilkinson. “They’re a really good team. They have some really good players. We did really well in the first half of going at them, taking chances and things like that. And then, when the second half rolled around, I think they wanted to sit back a little further. Maybe that was the downfall, wanting to play more defensive when they were putting that pressure on us the whole time.”
The Knights wasted no time taking a 1-0 lead, striking about 30 seconds into the game. After Greenfield played a ball over the top – as has often been the Knights’ strategy early in games, Jo-Willem Tewes played a ball through the Spartans back line to Landyn Coolbaugh, who buried it for the 1-0 lead.
That advantage was one the Knights managed to take into the break, as they played the game they wanted to in the opening 40 minutes.
“For the first half, I feel like we really jumped on them early,” said Greenfield senior Nathan Lozevski. “From the very first second, we started moving the ball. We just wanted to win the game so badly. When we got that first goal, we felt like we were on top of the world. We came out with so much energy and passion. We were working so hard defensively, and everyone was covering for one another. So the first half went spectacular. It was the best first half we could have had.”
In the second half, however, things began to unravel. The Spartans struck twice on Knights defensive miscues to take a 2-1 lead, prompting Wilkinson to switch to a 3-5-2 formation to generate more offense.
Gaston Day capped the scoring on what Wilkinson called a spectacular shot from the outside.
“The second half, however, I felt like we kind of fatigued ourselves with all the pressure that we were acclimating ourselves to,” Lozevski said. “After we went up 1-0, they started pressuring us more and more. Eventually, we cracked and they scored on us. After that goal, we fell flat, but nonetheless I feel like we all gave our best effort in both halves. But, in the second half, I feel like we just wore ourselves out due to all the defensive pressure that we were enduring.”
The Spartans outshot the Knights 16-7, and Nick Wester was stellar in goal, coming up with 11 saves.
“He’s had a rough time,” Wilkinson said. “No one believed in him for a little bit. I always told him, ‘You got this, you can do this.’ His two years he’s been playing, he’s made it to the state finals both times and proved why he should be there. He definitely proved it tonight for putting up 11 saves. None of the goals were his fault at all. He was fantastic.”

While the season did not end the way Greenfield hoped in the program’s 24th state championship game Saturday, there’s still plenty for the Knights to be proud of.
In their first season in the 2-A ranks, the Knights won 18 games, won the CPIC going away and advanced to the state championship game for the second year in a row.
“The fact that we even made it to the 2-A final is spectacular in itself,” Lozevski said. “Honestly, if you told me in the very beginning of the season that we would make the 2-A final, I wouldn’t have believed you. This is so spectacular with what we’ve accomplished to even get to that point in the season. … The fact that we had the chance to win it all and we were only 40 minutes away from being 2-A state champions is something that everyone on our team is so proud of to have accomplished.”
Saturday’s game marked the end of the Greenfield soccer careers of Lozevski, Tewes, Matt Kirby, Bryson Wall, Nick Wester, Hanson Ngo, Veer Patel, Porter Wells, Lee Powell and Harrison Batchelor.
Wilkinson, who is in his second year as the Greenfield varsity head coach, coached the junior varsity team before that and has gotten to watch his senior class grow from the start of their careers.
“They all started to develop and find their own style of play,” Wilkinson said. “Seeing some of those guys step into a leadership role where it’s weird seeing them younger and it’s like ‘I don’t know if it will ever happen,’ and then they actually do and it’s like ‘Wow, I can’t believe the maturity and the way they present themselves on the field and around the players.’”
“They’re trying to build what was taught to them and show it to the younger players like Landyn Coolbaugh, Grayson Coulter and Noah Wright. It’s something that those guys are going to be like ‘Hey, I gotta be like that guy next year.’ It’s the building steps for each of them, and knowing what they can do and help out for the future of the team. It’s really cool. They’re such a good group and such a different group in how much that I love them. They’re my first group, and it’s so sad to see them go. It’s not the result that we want, but they just accomplished so much this year and I love that about them.”
The outgoing players, in their turn, reflected on what their time in the Knights’ program meant to them.
“It meant the absolute world to me,” Lozevski said. “For everyone who’s been supporting me these past five years on varsity soccer, it has been my most fun journey in high school yet. All the coaches, all of my teammates, my parents, everyone involved who has helped get me to the point where I can even talk about this now is just truly a blessing for me.”

Lady Chargers do it again: Wilson Christian claims 12th NCCSA volleyball crown

WILMINGTON -— When Wilson Christian lost the first game of its North Carolina Christian School Association 2-A volleyball championship match to old foe Lexington Union Grove Christian, it was the moment for which the Lady Chargers had been preparing all season.
Undaunted, to say the least, Wilson Christian, the defending state champion and 2-A East top seed with a string of high-level matches outside the NCCSA, kicked into gear Saturday at Wilmington Christian.
“I think after the first set, after we got past it, we just took off and, I don’t know, something just clicked and we just started playing our hearts out and started encouraging each other, which is the most important thing,” said senior Jocelyn Bailey.
Wilson Christian head coach Ryan Vanderboegh credited his players for standing firm in the face of the opening onslaught by Union Grove.
“They responded really well,” he said. “They started to kind of like get a little down and I said, ‘Look, girls, they’re going completely on adrenaline.’ And you can just tell they were amped up and our girls were steady, which I liked. It wasn’t like (when) we were amped up the night before the semifinal, and they played great the first two sets and then they started really struggling third set because they’re out of juice. Well, our girls were real steady today. And so I called timeout, maybe my second timeout, and I said, ‘Girls, you just have to weather it. There is a storm, but they are going to run out of energy.’ And that second set, we kind of took over.”
The Lady Chargers ran off three straight games to avoid a troublesome fifth game and celebrated the program’s 12th state title.
“It feels amazing. Like I can’t even believe it,” gushed super senior Sophia Nesbit, who totaled a whopping 24 kills in her final game in a Wilson Christian volleyball uniform.
Getting it done in four was paramount to Wilson Christian, which had only gone five sets twice all season in splitting a pair with the Cary Crowns home school team and did not want to play five Saturday.
“No, we did not. Five sets are very stressful,” said Bailey, who finished with 10 kills and 12 digs.
Vanderboegh said in that decisive game 4 junior Emma Mercer made “the play of the tournament” with a block to break a 16-all tie. A few minutes later, the teams broke from a 22-all deadlock as WCA surged ahead by two points. Union Grove grabbed one back but, facing another set point, the Lady Chargers relied on a familiar routine of Bailey passing and junior Izzy Barnes setting for Nesbit.
“Everybody in the gym knew it was going to Sophia if we got the pass,” Vanderboegh said. “Jocelyn has a perfect pass to Izzy and it was a quick pass to Izzy, a quick set and Sophia hammers it home. It was fantastic.”

Barnes’ 38th assist and Nesbit’s 24th kill gave Wilson Christian its 11th straight victory as the Lady Chargers finished 17-5 with all five defeats coming against non-NCCSA opponents. September losses to North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association teams like Parrott Academy and Rocky Mount Academy as well as NCHSAA member East Wake Academy and vaunted home school programs New Life Camp and the Crowns left the Lady Chargers more than battle-tested, especially against Union Grove (26-5) and 5-foot-11 star junior outside hitter Katy Brauser.
The Patriots, seeded No. 3 from the West Region, and Lady Chargers go back a few years. Union Grove stopped WCA in the 2019 state final and the teams waged a memorable battle in what was considered an exhibition game during a midseason Christian school tournament in Pensacola, Florida. Union Grove earned its spot in Saturday’s final by toppling West No. 1 Tabernacle Christian in three games in the semifinals after slipping past host and East No. 2 Wilmington Christian in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
“I had a feeling that they were going to be the team because, overall in the west, even though they weren’t the higher seed, I could tell that they were the more dominating team,” Nesbit said.
And the presence of Brauser and her 402 kills coming into the match meant that Wilson Christian would have to be ready for a more dominating presence on the other side of the net, like the ones the Lady Chargers faced in those outside matches.
“There’s no doubt that that helped us in the long run,” Vanderboegh said. “The strength of schedule that we played early on because we saw multiple teams with hitters like Katy — now Katy’s as strong as any of them and she’s only a junior — but we saw hitters just like her and so the girls knew they could dig her. And they knew how to play against girls like that. If we had not played those strong teams, there’s no way we would beat them. We just wouldn’t have been ready for it. She would have overpowered us, and then it just allowed Sophia and some of our hitters to go against really good block, really good defense. So we just found the hole sometimes and there are some times we’re like, how did that ball not go down? And then they just were really, really scrappy. So it was fun both ways.”
High-flying senior Jocelyn Bailey (5) goes up for the hit during Saturday’s NCCSA 2-A championship match against Lexington Union Grove Christian played at Wilmington Christian. The Lady Chargers won in four sets. Nino Villaverde | Special to the Times
Junior Gracie Farmer supplied her usual all-around stat line with 17 digs, six kills and a pair of aces and Barnes added six digs, three kills and an ace. Junior Allie Smith came through with five kills.
But as always, it was the four seniors — Nesbit, Bailey, Kate Hoskins and Emma Robbins — who epitomized the team’s steady flow. Robbins came up with 10 digs while Hoskins had eight digs, a kill and an assist. Nesbit added three blocks, three aces and an assist.
The four seniors have been major cogs in all three WCA state finalists and will be tough to replace, Vanderboegh said.
“Jocelyn, Sophia and Emma and Kate, I mean just the leadership,” he said, looking for the right words. “They can’t, I mean, the semifinal, this just tells you what kind of girls they are. Semifinal, we beat Vandalia, and their good player No. 15, Kate immediately walks under the net, goes over and gives her a hug. And you know, they have a heart for people. They pulled out one of the middle school kids that was there and had her in the middle circle as they were getting ready to do a little jump at the beginning of the game. Had her in the middle of the group. They’re investing in these younger kids. They’re all about, I don’t know, they’re just all about other people. It’s hard to have so many girls that don’t care about themselves. They care about the team, you know, like they’re not worried about their individual stats. They’re just worried about winning. And so they’re a special, special group of seniors.”

High-flying Lions win big in season finale
ACA AIR ATTACK LANDS 49-12 VICTORY OVER MOUNT ZION CHRISTIAN
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 29, 2022


The football was flying in Swannanoa, Oct. 28, when Asheville Christian Academy hosted their final game of the season. When it landed, it was often in the hands of a Lions receiver.

ACA closed out its 4-6 campaign with a 49-12 victory over Mount Zion Christian Academy, showcasing an aerial attack that was led by junior quarterback Javier Rice and senior wide receiver Jacob Price.

In their first season under head coach Rusty Bradley, the Lions unveiled a high-powered passing offense that quickly overwhelmed the visiting Warriors. Rice, who finished the night with 362 passing yards on 18 completions in 23 attempts, hit Price within the first two minutes of the game for his first of 6 touchdown passes in the contest.

The quarterback put the finishing touches on a junior season in which he passed for 3,287 yards and 37 touchdowns on 234 completions in 369 attempts.

Price, who hauled in 3 of those touchdowns Friday, finished his final high school game with 161 yards, while fellow senior receiver Bram Lowery racked up 120 yards and 2 touchdowns.

ACA found the end zone early and often in the first half, establishing a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter. Rice and his receiving corps picked up the pace in the second quarter, which got underway with a season-long 84-yard touchdown reception by Price. As the Lions defense forced a turnover on downs on the ensuing Mount Zion Christian possession, the offense capitalized when Rice lobbed a 24-yard touchdown pass to junior Kyiwonn McMorris, increasing their lead to 28-0.

Junior linebacker Max Dasher picked off his second pass of the game on the next Warriors drive, and Rice quickly connected with Lowery for a 59-yard pass down the sideline, which the duo followed with a touchdown reception.

ACA established a 42-0 lead by halftime and added a second half touchdown to the tally, while the Warriors offense found the end zone twice.

The victory marked the “bittersweet” end to a high school football career for Price, a Black Mountain native who transferred to ACA from Owen after his junior season.

“As a freshman, playing at Owen, playing my last football game, especially for ACA, was really something I couldn’t imagine,” said the receiver, who finished the season with 1,043 yards and 17 touchdowns. “But, getting a win tonight and ending the season right was really special to me.”

Price, who joined the Lions program in its second season, credits the coaching staff for his growth as a player.

“Coach Bradley has helped me and and my teammates so much, and in the next five years you’re going to see ACA really take off,” he said. “He has this way getting his players ready to play and wanting to play well for him, and that’s been a fun thing to be a part of.”

Price, who plans to continue his football career in college, is one of four seniors who played their final game in a Lions uniform on Friday night. The group played a major role in ending the season “on a high note,” the head coach said after the game.

“The team played so well on both sides of the ball,” Bradley said. “It was really important for us to come out, start fast, play well and try to get everybody into the game, which we were able to do in the second half.”

The coach was impressed with his team’s ability to adjust to a new coaching staff this season.

“When you look at where things were when we got going in the summer, and see how far these guys came, it’s exciting,” Bradley said. “We lost 48-19 to open the season, and ended up 4-6, which really could’ve easily been 5-5. The progress we’ve made, and with only losing four seniors, I’m really excited about the future of this team.”

Undisputed champions
PERFECT SEASON CULMINATES IN ACA’S 14TH STATE VOLLEYBALL TITLE
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 30, 2022

There are many volleyball championship banners hanging above the court in the gymnasium at Asheville Christian Academy, but when the Swannanoa school raises its latest, it will represent much more than a state title.

The 14th volleyball state championship in Lions history, clinched Oct. 29, in a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Wake Christian, will, in fact, symbolize perfection.

Number 1 seed ACA put its 23-0 mark on the line Saturday, as it hosted the NCISAA 3A State Championship match against the number 3 seed Bulldogs, who entered the contest with a 23-8 record. Head coach Torri Render and the Lions, for the first time this season, would need five sets to complete their first undefeated title run since 2017.

The Lions were dominant throughout much of the 2022 campaign, dropping only four sets all season, and none in the seven matches leading up to the title game. The team found itself down, 1-0, after dropping the first set, 25-22, to an energized Wake program.

Seniors Katie Alexander, who led ACA with 50 assists in the match, and outside hitter Peyton Hightower gave their team a 3-point lead in the second set when the setter recorded one of her team-leading 19 digs with her foot. The save set up a powerful kill for Hightower, who ended the long volley to give the home team its biggest lead of the match. Hightower, who finished with a team-high 21 kills, was a force at the net in ACA’s 25-19 victory in the tying set.

The home team jumped out to a quick lead in the third set, but the Bulldogs fought to a 3-2 advantage, which they held on their way to a 25-23 win.

Down, 2-1, sophomore Haleigh Kamer, who led the Lions with 226 kills this year, made plays on the offensive and defensive sides of the net, as the Lions never trailed in the fourth set. The momentum from their decisive 25-17 showing carried into the final set, as ACA found room between the Wake defense in a 15-8 performance to clinch the title.

The victory was an “amazing” experience for the team and the six senior players who have attended the school together for years, according to the head coach, who picked up her fourth state championship at the helm of the program.

“It’s only the second time in school history we’ve had the opportunity to host this game, so that’s huge,” Render said. “It was a really fun atmosphere to play in, and we fed off that because Wake is a really good team.”

The coach praised her players for their ability to respond after falling behind, 2-1.

“We really turned it on in game 4,” she said. “We’ve had some tough matches this year, but with everything on the line in a state championship match, in a win or go home situation, this had to be our toughest.”

As they have all season, the Lions relied on each other with the game on the line, according to Alexander.

“We’ve all been through a lot together, and we knew we all had to step up to get this done,” she said. “It’s really emotional because the six seniors, who have all been playing on this team since we were freshmen, are about to go into the next chapters of our lives. So, it’s bittersweet because we’re all so close with each other.”

Senior Elizabeth Harrington also highlighted the team’s chemistry and work ethic as the keys to an undefeated season and title run.

“It’s a lot of hard work, and it’s not the kind of thing that just comes to you,” she said. “You really have push yourself in practice, and this is a team that also likes to have fun. By the last set tonight, we could have just given up, but that’s not was this team does, so we worked together and closed it out.”

The playoff atmosphere fueled by the home crowd also played a role in the championship victory, Alexander added.

“It helped a lot,” she said. “We have a lot of energy on this team, but having their energy pick us up when we were down let us know there was no way we were losing on this court.”

D-I

CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY (4-7) @ PROVIDENCE DAY (9-1)
CHRIST SCHOOL (5-5) @ LATIN (5-4)
RAVENSCROFT (10-1) @ CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN (8-2)
CANNON (8-2) @ RABUN GAP (7-3)