Kings put Knights' season in checkmate in NCISAA 1-A semis
Area Roundup
From staff reports
ASHEVILLE - Far from home, Coby White tried to boost the Greenfield School varsity boys basketball team into the championship round of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A tournament.
But despite White's second output of more than 20 points in two days, the Knights saw an eight-point lead dissipate in the first half en route to a 71-57 loss to top-seeded Charlotte Victory Christian in Friday's semifinals on the campus of Asheville Christian Academy.
Greenfield, the No. 4 seed and champion of the 1-A/2-A Coastal Plain Independents Conference, ended its season at 25-9. Victory Christian of the Southern Piedmont Athletic Association improved to 27-6 and will face the winner of No. 2 Fayetteville Trinity Christian (23-9) and No. 3 Burlington School (29-1) in Saturday's championship.
"It was a heck of a game," Greenfield head coach Rob Salter said. "The first half, we had an eight-point lead and made a couple of mistakes that could have pushed it higher. We got them into foul trouble early.
While the Knights built their cushion, the Kings rallied to tie it at 33 at halftime. Then, the tables turned on Greenfield as Victory's size started to take over. Greenfield trailed 48-43 entering the fourth quarter.
"Victory was the better team tonight," Salter said. "Our guys played so hard until the end."
Ty Gadsen led four Victory Christian players in double figures with 23. Ebuka Izundu followed with 17 as Brent Davis and Deshawn Patterson each had 13 and 11, respectively.
White, who had 21 points in the Knights' 72-65 quarterfinal overtime win over Cape Fear Christian on Thursday, poured in 22. Seniors Dwanya Williams-Sutton and Will Crandell each had nine.
Greenfield earned its way into Friday's semifinals with a 72-65 overtime victory over Cape Fear Christian of Erwin on Thursday evening.
Sanders led Greenfield with a double-double 23 points and 11 rebounds. White had 21, while Williams-Sutton and sophomore Tyler Maye each bucketed 10. The Eagles knocked down eight 3-pointers to stay close, seven coming in the first half en route to trailing 36-34 at the half.
But Greenfield hit nine treys of its own, and buoyed by White, held off the upstart Eagles. White converted a crucial three-point play, and Maye's shot to win it in regulation was blocked. Greenfield erased a five-point deficit in the fourth quarter, and in overtime, connected on 7-of-9 free throws to help pull away
Cape Fear Christian, the No. 5 seed and champion of the Carolina Christian Conference, finished 17-13.
Greenfield careers came to a close for Williams-Sutton, Crandell, Sanders, Isaiah White and Parker Lucas.
Friday's game
GREENFIELD (57)
Williams-Sutton 9, Crandell 9, Sanders 7, C. White 22, Maye 7, Taybron 3, I. White, J. Taylor, L. Taylor, Lucas
VICTORY CHRISTIAN (71)
Patterson 11, Gadsen 23, Izundu 17, Austin 7, Davis 13
Score by quarters:
Greenfield 16 17 10 14 - 57
Victory 18 15 15 23 - 71
Thursday's game
CAPE FEAR CHRISTIAN (65)
Hensley 8, Diallo 15, Mobley 5, Boggs 23, Ugochukwu 7, Odunze 7.
GREENFIELD (72)
Williams-Sutton 10, Maye 10, Crandell 6, Sanders 23, C. White 21, L. Taylor 2, I. White, Taybron.
Score by quarters:
Cape Fear 20 14 20 8 3 - 65
Greenfield 20 16 15 11 10 - 72
Area Roundup
From staff reports
ASHEVILLE - Far from home, Coby White tried to boost the Greenfield School varsity boys basketball team into the championship round of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A tournament.
But despite White's second output of more than 20 points in two days, the Knights saw an eight-point lead dissipate in the first half en route to a 71-57 loss to top-seeded Charlotte Victory Christian in Friday's semifinals on the campus of Asheville Christian Academy.
Greenfield, the No. 4 seed and champion of the 1-A/2-A Coastal Plain Independents Conference, ended its season at 25-9. Victory Christian of the Southern Piedmont Athletic Association improved to 27-6 and will face the winner of No. 2 Fayetteville Trinity Christian (23-9) and No. 3 Burlington School (29-1) in Saturday's championship.
"It was a heck of a game," Greenfield head coach Rob Salter said. "The first half, we had an eight-point lead and made a couple of mistakes that could have pushed it higher. We got them into foul trouble early.
While the Knights built their cushion, the Kings rallied to tie it at 33 at halftime. Then, the tables turned on Greenfield as Victory's size started to take over. Greenfield trailed 48-43 entering the fourth quarter.
"Victory was the better team tonight," Salter said. "Our guys played so hard until the end."
Ty Gadsen led four Victory Christian players in double figures with 23. Ebuka Izundu followed with 17 as Brent Davis and Deshawn Patterson each had 13 and 11, respectively.
White, who had 21 points in the Knights' 72-65 quarterfinal overtime win over Cape Fear Christian on Thursday, poured in 22. Seniors Dwanya Williams-Sutton and Will Crandell each had nine.
Greenfield earned its way into Friday's semifinals with a 72-65 overtime victory over Cape Fear Christian of Erwin on Thursday evening.
Sanders led Greenfield with a double-double 23 points and 11 rebounds. White had 21, while Williams-Sutton and sophomore Tyler Maye each bucketed 10. The Eagles knocked down eight 3-pointers to stay close, seven coming in the first half en route to trailing 36-34 at the half.
But Greenfield hit nine treys of its own, and buoyed by White, held off the upstart Eagles. White converted a crucial three-point play, and Maye's shot to win it in regulation was blocked. Greenfield erased a five-point deficit in the fourth quarter, and in overtime, connected on 7-of-9 free throws to help pull away
Cape Fear Christian, the No. 5 seed and champion of the Carolina Christian Conference, finished 17-13.
Greenfield careers came to a close for Williams-Sutton, Crandell, Sanders, Isaiah White and Parker Lucas.
Friday's game
GREENFIELD (57)
Williams-Sutton 9, Crandell 9, Sanders 7, C. White 22, Maye 7, Taybron 3, I. White, J. Taylor, L. Taylor, Lucas
VICTORY CHRISTIAN (71)
Patterson 11, Gadsen 23, Izundu 17, Austin 7, Davis 13
Score by quarters:
Greenfield 16 17 10 14 - 57
Victory 18 15 15 23 - 71
Thursday's game
CAPE FEAR CHRISTIAN (65)
Hensley 8, Diallo 15, Mobley 5, Boggs 23, Ugochukwu 7, Odunze 7.
GREENFIELD (72)
Williams-Sutton 10, Maye 10, Crandell 6, Sanders 23, C. White 21, L. Taylor 2, I. White, Taybron.
Score by quarters:
Cape Fear 20 14 20 8 3 - 65
Greenfield 20 16 15 11 10 - 72
