Knights can't weather 3-point storm in Christmas tourney final
Concord First Assembly rains 13 treys in 86-75 victory
By Tom Ham Senior Staff Writer WILSON DAILY TIMES
The Greenfield School varsity boys basketball team, despite a valiant effort, could never weather the storm in the annual Greenfield Christmas Tournament championship game.
On a rainy (outside, of course) Wednesday evening, Concord First Assembly, the reigning North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A champion, rained in 13 accurate 3-point shots in seizing an 86-75 shoot-out from the Knights of the NCISAA 1-A ranks.
The tournament drought continued for the Knights (9-7). They haven’t won their holiday tournament since 2011, finishing second each year except 2014 — when they conquered Concord in the third-place game.
Senior guard Weston Edwards drilled in eight of the 3-pointers en route to a 30-point performance and being proclaimed the tournament’s most valuable player after netting a combined 15 points the first two games.
Edwards was joined on the all-tournament team by the 6-foot-4 Greenfield duo of sophomore Coby White and junior Dorieon Suggs, 6-6 First Assembly senior Nenad Milenkovic, sophomore Kris Monroe of third-place St. David’s School of Raleigh and senior T.G. (Thank God) Avar of fifth-place Freedom Christian.
Greenfield was denied the championship although White poured in a tournament-record 107 points in the three games. After pouring in 40 and 35 points, respectively, the first two games, the Knights point guard drilled in a game-high 32 in the final. Suggs complemented with a monster performance of 26 points and 11 rebounds — amassing 70 points in three games.
"It hurts,” White assured. "We came up short last year, and we really wanted to come out and win our Christmas tournament. But, sometimes, things don’t go your way.”
Not only did the Knights of veteran head coach Rob Salter never lead but trailed by as many as 15 points (24-9) in the opening quarter. Greenfield scrapped within five points in the second quarter; thrice whittled the deficit to two points in the third period and crept its closest at 64-63 on White’s free throw with five minutes, 28 seconds remaining. Concord finally took command the final three minutes.
"We stepped up,” Edwards declared. "When they started coming back, we rallied as a team. We came together and decided it was not going to happen again.”
As White lamented, the Knights never "got over the hump.” Edwards was often responsible, draining a clutch shot from 3-point range.
"We played as a team,” Edwards insisted. "We kept our heads and everybody did their job. But when we need points, I want the ball in my hands.”
Edwards’ most impactful 3 occurred with 2:29 remaining, staking the Eagles of head coach Frank Cantatore to a 76-70 cushion. The lead mushroomed to 80-70 on a bucket from 6-foot-8 senior Nico Payne and a field goal off a steal from senior guard Marquise Beasley.
After Edwards’ 3-pointer, the harried Knights missed nine consecutive shots from the floor. Concord (9-2) was much taller and deeper, playing 11 players the first half. White blamed fatigue.
"We’re not that deep and our main players have to play most of the game,” he explained. "Plus, we played three straight nights. We were tired, our bodies were not there.”
But heart and adrenaline kept Greenfield close until the final three minutes.
Salter noted the Knights were hurt by a couple costly miscues in the waning seconds of the first half and by seven consecutive missed free throws after clawing within two points the final quarter.
"We depend on the little things leading to big things,” Salter said, "and we didn’t do the little things well tonight. Offensively, we knew we were going to get shots, but they made plays at the end. (Edwards) shot the 3 extremely well.
"But we kept on letting them get in the same spots. We didn’t do a good job of identifying the shooters. But we played hard, scrapped and left it on the floor. We showed a lot of toughness and we had opportunities. I was really proud of them.”
Trailing 24-9, Greenfield closed the deficit to 24-15 after one quarter behind Suggs and junior Cedric Kirby. The Knights pulled within 30-25 in the second quarter and again to within five points at 40-35 on Suggs’ 3-pointer with 1:48 before intermission. But Beasley capitalized on a Greenfield turnover to stake the Eagles (9-2) to a 44-35 halftime edge. Despite the Eagles’ eight 3-pointers, Greenfield stayed close with a 9-for-9 effort at the foul line.
The Knights effectively hit the backboards at the outset of the second half and starting finding the range from long distance. Suggs muscled inside and Greenfield trailed only 46-44. The Knights would trail by a mere two points on three more occasions before White, 14 for 15 at the foul line, sank the second of two free throws with 5:28 remaining.
White contended "getting over the hump” would have made a difference.
"We’re good at maintaining the lead until the end of the game,” he said. "We played with toughness but couldn’t find the net. Their size made it tough.”
Despite their size advantage, Edwards and company didn’t hesitate to bomb away from beyond the perimeter.
"If we’re hitting, we let ‘em go,” noted a smiling Edwards. "If we’re not, we look to the big men.”
Big man Milenkovic managed 12 points and seven rebounds, while Beasley supplied 16 points and 10 rebounds. Greenfield’s Suggs posted a double-double of 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Edwards assured Concord’s mission was to win the tournament and described the championship and the MVP accolade as "amazing.” "They are a very good team,” he continued. "Honestly, I was surprised (to be named MVP); I am truly blessed.”
hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819
Concord First Assembly rains 13 treys in 86-75 victory
By Tom Ham Senior Staff Writer WILSON DAILY TIMES
The Greenfield School varsity boys basketball team, despite a valiant effort, could never weather the storm in the annual Greenfield Christmas Tournament championship game.
On a rainy (outside, of course) Wednesday evening, Concord First Assembly, the reigning North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A champion, rained in 13 accurate 3-point shots in seizing an 86-75 shoot-out from the Knights of the NCISAA 1-A ranks.
The tournament drought continued for the Knights (9-7). They haven’t won their holiday tournament since 2011, finishing second each year except 2014 — when they conquered Concord in the third-place game.
Senior guard Weston Edwards drilled in eight of the 3-pointers en route to a 30-point performance and being proclaimed the tournament’s most valuable player after netting a combined 15 points the first two games.
Edwards was joined on the all-tournament team by the 6-foot-4 Greenfield duo of sophomore Coby White and junior Dorieon Suggs, 6-6 First Assembly senior Nenad Milenkovic, sophomore Kris Monroe of third-place St. David’s School of Raleigh and senior T.G. (Thank God) Avar of fifth-place Freedom Christian.
Greenfield was denied the championship although White poured in a tournament-record 107 points in the three games. After pouring in 40 and 35 points, respectively, the first two games, the Knights point guard drilled in a game-high 32 in the final. Suggs complemented with a monster performance of 26 points and 11 rebounds — amassing 70 points in three games.
"It hurts,” White assured. "We came up short last year, and we really wanted to come out and win our Christmas tournament. But, sometimes, things don’t go your way.”
Not only did the Knights of veteran head coach Rob Salter never lead but trailed by as many as 15 points (24-9) in the opening quarter. Greenfield scrapped within five points in the second quarter; thrice whittled the deficit to two points in the third period and crept its closest at 64-63 on White’s free throw with five minutes, 28 seconds remaining. Concord finally took command the final three minutes.
"We stepped up,” Edwards declared. "When they started coming back, we rallied as a team. We came together and decided it was not going to happen again.”
As White lamented, the Knights never "got over the hump.” Edwards was often responsible, draining a clutch shot from 3-point range.
"We played as a team,” Edwards insisted. "We kept our heads and everybody did their job. But when we need points, I want the ball in my hands.”
Edwards’ most impactful 3 occurred with 2:29 remaining, staking the Eagles of head coach Frank Cantatore to a 76-70 cushion. The lead mushroomed to 80-70 on a bucket from 6-foot-8 senior Nico Payne and a field goal off a steal from senior guard Marquise Beasley.
After Edwards’ 3-pointer, the harried Knights missed nine consecutive shots from the floor. Concord (9-2) was much taller and deeper, playing 11 players the first half. White blamed fatigue.
"We’re not that deep and our main players have to play most of the game,” he explained. "Plus, we played three straight nights. We were tired, our bodies were not there.”
But heart and adrenaline kept Greenfield close until the final three minutes.
Salter noted the Knights were hurt by a couple costly miscues in the waning seconds of the first half and by seven consecutive missed free throws after clawing within two points the final quarter.
"We depend on the little things leading to big things,” Salter said, "and we didn’t do the little things well tonight. Offensively, we knew we were going to get shots, but they made plays at the end. (Edwards) shot the 3 extremely well.
"But we kept on letting them get in the same spots. We didn’t do a good job of identifying the shooters. But we played hard, scrapped and left it on the floor. We showed a lot of toughness and we had opportunities. I was really proud of them.”
Trailing 24-9, Greenfield closed the deficit to 24-15 after one quarter behind Suggs and junior Cedric Kirby. The Knights pulled within 30-25 in the second quarter and again to within five points at 40-35 on Suggs’ 3-pointer with 1:48 before intermission. But Beasley capitalized on a Greenfield turnover to stake the Eagles (9-2) to a 44-35 halftime edge. Despite the Eagles’ eight 3-pointers, Greenfield stayed close with a 9-for-9 effort at the foul line.
The Knights effectively hit the backboards at the outset of the second half and starting finding the range from long distance. Suggs muscled inside and Greenfield trailed only 46-44. The Knights would trail by a mere two points on three more occasions before White, 14 for 15 at the foul line, sank the second of two free throws with 5:28 remaining.
White contended "getting over the hump” would have made a difference.
"We’re good at maintaining the lead until the end of the game,” he said. "We played with toughness but couldn’t find the net. Their size made it tough.”
Despite their size advantage, Edwards and company didn’t hesitate to bomb away from beyond the perimeter.
"If we’re hitting, we let ‘em go,” noted a smiling Edwards. "If we’re not, we look to the big men.”
Big man Milenkovic managed 12 points and seven rebounds, while Beasley supplied 16 points and 10 rebounds. Greenfield’s Suggs posted a double-double of 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Edwards assured Concord’s mission was to win the tournament and described the championship and the MVP accolade as "amazing.” "They are a very good team,” he continued. "Honestly, I was surprised (to be named MVP); I am truly blessed.”
hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819
