Northwood Temple comes up short against Greenfield
By Rodd Baxley
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
RALEIGH — Northwood Temple’s Josh Nickelberry walked off the court at North Raleigh Christian Academy on Saturday afternoon, and was the first one to congratulate Wilson Greenfield coach Rob Salter.
The third-seeded Eagles were the first team in program history to appear in the NCISAA 1-A state championship, but they came up just short of the ultimate prize in a 68-67 loss to the Knights.
“We all gave it all we had,” said Nickelberry, who scored 19 points in his final prep game before heading to the University of Louisville.
“Of course, I’m disappointed. I wanted to win it for my last year, but my team fought hard and I fought hard.”
The Eagles (20-14) rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final period to tie the game at 67 with 26 seconds left after a layup by Nickelberry, but Bryson Baker — Greenfield’s lone senior — made the go-ahead free throw with 19 seconds remaining to propel the Knights (33-4) to their first state title since 2006.
“It’s just a complete team effort,” Salter said. “. … Like all year, somebody steps up. I’m just so proud of them.”
Following the departure of Coby White, now the starting point guard at North Carolina, Greenfield leaned on a young, balanced group en route to the championship.
Sophomore Creighton Lebo, son of former North Carolina guard Jeff Lebo, scored 19 points to lead four Greenfield players in double figures. Jacari Outlaw tallied 18, Collin Guilford had 11 and Trey Pittman, who took a game-changing charge, finished with 10 for the Knights.
After Baker’s free throw, Nickelberry fired up a 3-pointer in the final 10 seconds, but it caromed off the rim. Emmanuel Sepulveda grabbed the rebound and kicked it back out to Nickelberry, who swung a pass to Jamahri Harvey on the left wing. Harvey drove in the lane but was called for the charge with 2.9 seconds left.
“We just talked about detail all week and it came down to one possession,” Salter said. “What a charge by Trey there at the end. I think that’s the first charge of his career.”
The Eagles had another chance on a full-court inbounds play with 1.1 seconds on the clock, but Travon Jackson’s pass was intercepted at midcourt by Lebo as time expired.
“Guys were putting their bodies on the line,” Lebo said. “. … We were just composed under pressure. We didn’t freak out. We stay composed and came together when it was crunch time. That really just sealed the deal for us.”
It was a tough sight to see for Northwood Temple’s firstyear coach James Strong, who praised the fight of his guys.
“As far as excuses, I have none, man,” Strong said.
“This team came a long way and I’m very proud of them. I couldn’t be more proud of them. Right now, in my heart, I feel like we won. I know the work we put in to get to this point.'
Senior Charles Paige scored a game-high 21 points, knocking down three of his five 3-pointers in the first quarter to help the Eagles take an early 11-2 lead. But Harvey, who finished with 16 points, went down with a right knee injury and missed the second quarter before returning after the intermission.
Greenfield carried a 35-33 lead into the break after a putback by Outlaw in the closing seconds and stayed ahead throughout the third quarter with a 49-45 entering the final period.
The Knights started the final eight minutes with a 7-1 run, capped with a layup by Outlaw to take a 56-46 lead with 5:45 remaining.
“In order for us to win championships, we really have to focus on the defensive end,” Strong said. “I thought we were focused for the first half and we had a let down at the end of the third quarter.”
But Northwood had one final run, outscoring Greenfield 21-11 over the next 5:19 to knot the game up at 67 before the Knights took the lead for good on Baker’s free throw.
The Eagles had fought. It just wasn’t enough.
“I just feel like we turned it on too late,” Nickelberry said. “We came out hot, but once they fought back and got a lead, we never recovered.”
Still, Nickelberry was pleased with how his team battled throughout the season to get to this point.
“Nobody expected us to be here, but we got here and shocked everybody,” he said. Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver. com or 910-486-3519.
By Rodd Baxley
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
RALEIGH — Northwood Temple’s Josh Nickelberry walked off the court at North Raleigh Christian Academy on Saturday afternoon, and was the first one to congratulate Wilson Greenfield coach Rob Salter.
The third-seeded Eagles were the first team in program history to appear in the NCISAA 1-A state championship, but they came up just short of the ultimate prize in a 68-67 loss to the Knights.
“We all gave it all we had,” said Nickelberry, who scored 19 points in his final prep game before heading to the University of Louisville.
“Of course, I’m disappointed. I wanted to win it for my last year, but my team fought hard and I fought hard.”
The Eagles (20-14) rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final period to tie the game at 67 with 26 seconds left after a layup by Nickelberry, but Bryson Baker — Greenfield’s lone senior — made the go-ahead free throw with 19 seconds remaining to propel the Knights (33-4) to their first state title since 2006.
“It’s just a complete team effort,” Salter said. “. … Like all year, somebody steps up. I’m just so proud of them.”
Following the departure of Coby White, now the starting point guard at North Carolina, Greenfield leaned on a young, balanced group en route to the championship.
Sophomore Creighton Lebo, son of former North Carolina guard Jeff Lebo, scored 19 points to lead four Greenfield players in double figures. Jacari Outlaw tallied 18, Collin Guilford had 11 and Trey Pittman, who took a game-changing charge, finished with 10 for the Knights.
After Baker’s free throw, Nickelberry fired up a 3-pointer in the final 10 seconds, but it caromed off the rim. Emmanuel Sepulveda grabbed the rebound and kicked it back out to Nickelberry, who swung a pass to Jamahri Harvey on the left wing. Harvey drove in the lane but was called for the charge with 2.9 seconds left.
“We just talked about detail all week and it came down to one possession,” Salter said. “What a charge by Trey there at the end. I think that’s the first charge of his career.”
The Eagles had another chance on a full-court inbounds play with 1.1 seconds on the clock, but Travon Jackson’s pass was intercepted at midcourt by Lebo as time expired.
“Guys were putting their bodies on the line,” Lebo said. “. … We were just composed under pressure. We didn’t freak out. We stay composed and came together when it was crunch time. That really just sealed the deal for us.”
It was a tough sight to see for Northwood Temple’s firstyear coach James Strong, who praised the fight of his guys.
“As far as excuses, I have none, man,” Strong said.
“This team came a long way and I’m very proud of them. I couldn’t be more proud of them. Right now, in my heart, I feel like we won. I know the work we put in to get to this point.'
Senior Charles Paige scored a game-high 21 points, knocking down three of his five 3-pointers in the first quarter to help the Eagles take an early 11-2 lead. But Harvey, who finished with 16 points, went down with a right knee injury and missed the second quarter before returning after the intermission.
Greenfield carried a 35-33 lead into the break after a putback by Outlaw in the closing seconds and stayed ahead throughout the third quarter with a 49-45 entering the final period.
The Knights started the final eight minutes with a 7-1 run, capped with a layup by Outlaw to take a 56-46 lead with 5:45 remaining.
“In order for us to win championships, we really have to focus on the defensive end,” Strong said. “I thought we were focused for the first half and we had a let down at the end of the third quarter.”
But Northwood had one final run, outscoring Greenfield 21-11 over the next 5:19 to knot the game up at 67 before the Knights took the lead for good on Baker’s free throw.
The Eagles had fought. It just wasn’t enough.
“I just feel like we turned it on too late,” Nickelberry said. “We came out hot, but once they fought back and got a lead, we never recovered.”
Still, Nickelberry was pleased with how his team battled throughout the season to get to this point.
“Nobody expected us to be here, but we got here and shocked everybody,” he said. Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver. com or 910-486-3519.
