Knights bogged down by Victory Christian in NCISAA 1-A semifinal
By Jimmy Lewis jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 | Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT
Quality looks at the basket proved to be challenging for the Greenfield School varsity boys basketball team Tuesday night.
Facing the size and length of Charlotte Victory Christian, the Knights, making their fifth straight appearance in the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association 1-A semifinals, often encountered stagnation and man-to-man resistance when attempting to get into a flow with its perimeter game.
The result was a Greenfield team that was also limited in transition and held to its lowest point total of the year, as the Kings squeezed out a 68-53 victory that sets up an all-Charlotte final after No. 2 West seed United Faith Christian advanced over top East seed Cape Fear in the other semifinal. Greenfield, the No. 2 seed from the East, ended its season with a 14-6 record that had two pauses related to COVID-19 protocol.
“I can’t be upset with the effort,” Greenfield head coach Rob Salter said. “We just didn’t play good enough today. Victory is really, really talented, big and athletic and we had some shots that we wanted. But we just didn’t make them. Early on, we had some shots at the rim. We had shots in the lane, and we had some open 3s a couple times that were big plays. But we didn’t make them. And when you get in the final four, you’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities. We’ve been there enough to know, and when you play teams like that, teams that are more talented and bigger than you are, you’ve got to take advantage.”
Greenfield, facing the sticky man-to-man pressure of Victory (20-7), went over half the first quarter without a field goal until sophomore Matt Kirby’s 3-pointer. That allowed the Knights to get within 8-6, but a barrage of treys from the Kings — four to close the period — allowed Victory, the top seed from the West, to engineer a 14-2 run and take a 22-8 lead into the second quarter.
The Knights shot just 18 for 47 from the field, good for a 38.3% clip. However, a long-range attack that produced 14 3-pointers in the quarterfinal victory over Community Christian was held to a 4-for-14 showing against the Kings.
Victory Christian head coach Marcus Dilligard identified Greenfield’s perimeter game on the scouting report as an element that had to be contained. The likes of 6-foot-3 Tajuan Simpkins, 6-2 Takai Simpkins, 6-6 guard Lewis Duarte, 6-8 Randi Ovalle and 6-2 Demar Anderson did it with success.
“That was our goal,” Dilligard said. “That was our focus. Take that 3 away, and make them do something they’re not comfortable doing.”
In the first half, the Knights struggled to hold Victory Christian to one shot on the offensive end as junior Aaron Murphy picked up his second personal foul with 6:32 before halftime. But he returned several minutes later and converted a layup that sent Greenfield into halftime trailing 33-20. Justin Holland, the lone Greenfield senior, fouled Victory’s Tajuan Simpkins with .6 seconds left in the half behind the 3-point line, but all three foul shots came up empty.
The Knights had one run left for the second half. Despite trailing 37-22 in the third quarter, the Knights pulled within seven on a three-point play by freshman Hampton Evans. Greenfield’s defensive rebounding improved in the third quarter, but the Knights were beaten in transition on a pair of layups by Lewis Duarte and Takai Simpkins. Murphy, who had 16 points and eight rebounds, was denied inside prior to the Takai Simpkins layup at the buzzer. He was slow to get up, but remained in the game.
Victory Christian opened the fourth quarter on a 13-2 run to lead by 22, but the Knights utilized a pair of Holland free throws to climb back within 11 at 58-47 with 2:26 to go. Greenfield opted to extend the game via fouling with two minutes remaining before finally abandoning the effort in the final minute.
Evans led Greenfield with 18 points and had three steals. Takai Simpkins paced the Kings with 20 points.
“I feel like we played our heart out,” Murphy said. “We just couldn’t execute on a few shots. A few possessions should have went our way, and we just didn’t finish and make shots. They were a real tough team, real big. They’ve got a bunch a talent. Most of those guys are coming back, so we’ll see them again.”
But most of Greenfield’s roster will also make its return in the bid for its sixth consecutive trip to the semifinals.
“That’s where we feel like we belong,” Salter said. “These young guys take pride in wearing the Greenfield jersey, and anytime you can get to the final four, it’s a special year. Our guys will be hungry in the offseason. For this young group to get there and get there and get back where we feel we belong, I’m very proud of them.”
VICTORY CHRISTIAN (68)
Taj. Simpkins 11,, Tak. Simpkins 20, Duarte 16, Ovalle 3, Anderson 11, Reyas 7.
GREENFIELD (53)
Murphy 16, Clay 3, Alston 4, Holland 8, Evans 18, Kirby 3, Peten 1, Edwards, Pittman, Wall, Watt.
Score by quarters:
Victory Christian 22 11 10 25 — 68
Greenfield 8 12 12 21 — 53
By Jimmy Lewis jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 | Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT
Quality looks at the basket proved to be challenging for the Greenfield School varsity boys basketball team Tuesday night.
Facing the size and length of Charlotte Victory Christian, the Knights, making their fifth straight appearance in the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association 1-A semifinals, often encountered stagnation and man-to-man resistance when attempting to get into a flow with its perimeter game.
The result was a Greenfield team that was also limited in transition and held to its lowest point total of the year, as the Kings squeezed out a 68-53 victory that sets up an all-Charlotte final after No. 2 West seed United Faith Christian advanced over top East seed Cape Fear in the other semifinal. Greenfield, the No. 2 seed from the East, ended its season with a 14-6 record that had two pauses related to COVID-19 protocol.
“I can’t be upset with the effort,” Greenfield head coach Rob Salter said. “We just didn’t play good enough today. Victory is really, really talented, big and athletic and we had some shots that we wanted. But we just didn’t make them. Early on, we had some shots at the rim. We had shots in the lane, and we had some open 3s a couple times that were big plays. But we didn’t make them. And when you get in the final four, you’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities. We’ve been there enough to know, and when you play teams like that, teams that are more talented and bigger than you are, you’ve got to take advantage.”
Greenfield, facing the sticky man-to-man pressure of Victory (20-7), went over half the first quarter without a field goal until sophomore Matt Kirby’s 3-pointer. That allowed the Knights to get within 8-6, but a barrage of treys from the Kings — four to close the period — allowed Victory, the top seed from the West, to engineer a 14-2 run and take a 22-8 lead into the second quarter.
The Knights shot just 18 for 47 from the field, good for a 38.3% clip. However, a long-range attack that produced 14 3-pointers in the quarterfinal victory over Community Christian was held to a 4-for-14 showing against the Kings.
Victory Christian head coach Marcus Dilligard identified Greenfield’s perimeter game on the scouting report as an element that had to be contained. The likes of 6-foot-3 Tajuan Simpkins, 6-2 Takai Simpkins, 6-6 guard Lewis Duarte, 6-8 Randi Ovalle and 6-2 Demar Anderson did it with success.
“That was our goal,” Dilligard said. “That was our focus. Take that 3 away, and make them do something they’re not comfortable doing.”
In the first half, the Knights struggled to hold Victory Christian to one shot on the offensive end as junior Aaron Murphy picked up his second personal foul with 6:32 before halftime. But he returned several minutes later and converted a layup that sent Greenfield into halftime trailing 33-20. Justin Holland, the lone Greenfield senior, fouled Victory’s Tajuan Simpkins with .6 seconds left in the half behind the 3-point line, but all three foul shots came up empty.
The Knights had one run left for the second half. Despite trailing 37-22 in the third quarter, the Knights pulled within seven on a three-point play by freshman Hampton Evans. Greenfield’s defensive rebounding improved in the third quarter, but the Knights were beaten in transition on a pair of layups by Lewis Duarte and Takai Simpkins. Murphy, who had 16 points and eight rebounds, was denied inside prior to the Takai Simpkins layup at the buzzer. He was slow to get up, but remained in the game.
Victory Christian opened the fourth quarter on a 13-2 run to lead by 22, but the Knights utilized a pair of Holland free throws to climb back within 11 at 58-47 with 2:26 to go. Greenfield opted to extend the game via fouling with two minutes remaining before finally abandoning the effort in the final minute.
Evans led Greenfield with 18 points and had three steals. Takai Simpkins paced the Kings with 20 points.
“I feel like we played our heart out,” Murphy said. “We just couldn’t execute on a few shots. A few possessions should have went our way, and we just didn’t finish and make shots. They were a real tough team, real big. They’ve got a bunch a talent. Most of those guys are coming back, so we’ll see them again.”
But most of Greenfield’s roster will also make its return in the bid for its sixth consecutive trip to the semifinals.
“That’s where we feel like we belong,” Salter said. “These young guys take pride in wearing the Greenfield jersey, and anytime you can get to the final four, it’s a special year. Our guys will be hungry in the offseason. For this young group to get there and get there and get back where we feel we belong, I’m very proud of them.”
VICTORY CHRISTIAN (68)
Taj. Simpkins 11,, Tak. Simpkins 20, Duarte 16, Ovalle 3, Anderson 11, Reyas 7.
GREENFIELD (53)
Murphy 16, Clay 3, Alston 4, Holland 8, Evans 18, Kirby 3, Peten 1, Edwards, Pittman, Wall, Watt.
Score by quarters:
Victory Christian 22 11 10 25 — 68
Greenfield 8 12 12 21 — 53
