Big-time players make big-time shots': Cam Oates' clutch play helps Trinity Christian earn another shot at Northwood Temple
Rodd Baxley The Fayetteville Observer
Cam Oates chased the chance to be clutch Friday night.
In the final moments of Trinity Christian's second round playoff game at Freedom Christian Academy, Oates seized the moment and lifted the Crusaders to a 67-64 victory.
“Big-time players make big-time shots,” said Crusaders coach Heath Vandevender.
It’s cliche, but it’s exactly what Oates did against the Patriots (15-9), who twice led in the final minute before Trinity's point guard took the lead back ... twice.
Oates scored 10 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, including five points in the final 40 seconds. With just over 40 seconds left, he drilled a 3-pointer over the hands of a much taller defender before adding a pair of free throws with 14.3 seconds remaining to give the Crusaders (11-7) the lead for good.
“I just knew it was a mismatch, so I took it straight to him,” said Oates, who got the switch he wanted and went into attack mode on the final two plays.
“I had to make a move.”
Vandevender, who wants his guys to play loose on the court, was confident one of his players would make the right play in winning time.
“We run a lot of different sets, but it gives guys multiple opportunities with different options to do different things,” Vandevender said.
“Cam felt good, he raised up, and he shot it with confidence.”
For just the second game this season, Oates was joined on the court by sophomore guard Xavier Tubbs and junior guard Jamori McDougald.
Tubbs missed several games as he recovered from a knee injury suffered during the Crusaders’ fall football campaign, and McDougald missed time as he recovered from an ankle injury.
Those three players, along with sophomore Steven Lassiter, combined to score 58 of Trinity’s points Friday.
“Kids made big plays,” Vandevender said.
“Cam, he’s our quarterback, he’s our team captain. He made some huge plays and Steve Lassiter hit some big shots. X hit some big shots.”
That production has been vital since the departure of Freddie Dilione, Trinity’s leading scorer through nine games at 21.6 points per contest. He left in late January to play at Word of God in Raleigh.
“We’re kind of young and we had to mature a lot over the year,” Oates said of the changes.
“It’s a lot mentally. We all just pitched in. Everybody knew their role … that’s what we needed.”
Tubbs scored 12 of his 17 points in the first half and eighth-grader Howard Herbert beat the second-quarter buzzer with a spin-around jumper as he was falling to the ground to give the Crusaders a 31-27 halftime advantage.
“That was a big momentum play,” Vandevender said of Herbert’s shot.
“He and Devaughn Brown play a ton of minutes as eighth-graders. It’s just been a weird year with everybody on a lot of levels, but I’m very proud of these guys.”
The third quarter belonged to Lassiter, who scored 11 of his 12 points in the second half, including eight in the third.
Despite McDougald’s off night on the offensive end, Vandevender praised the guard for his defense and his ability to “be a threat,” even on a cold shooting night.
The head coach was also impressed with senior Jaylen Burke, who provided key minutes down the stretch when starting post player Rob Wright Jr. fouled out early in the fourth quarter.
After Oates’ 3-pointer gave Trinity a 63-62 lead, Freedom regained the lead on a baseline jumper by Jalen Higgins. Oates responded by racing down the floor to draw contact in the lane and made a pair of free throws.
On Freedom’s final possession, junior guard Jacob Dar was called for a carrying violation that left the Patriots’ bench incensed. McDougald, who finished with eight points, netted two free throws to ice the victory with 0.2 seconds left.
Dar had a team-high 20 points to lead four Patriots in double figures. Higgins finished with 14 points, Deng Atak scored 13 and James Wilds tallied 10.
“I think we’re just gonna keep building on this,” Vandevender said.
Now, the Crusaders will get another shot at Northwood Temple (25-7), which won the NCISAA 1-A state title in 2020. The Eagles have beaten Trinity in both meetings this season and will carry a 14-game winning streak into Monday’s playoff matchup.
“They’re very good and (Northwood Temple coach James) Strong has done a great job,” Vandevender said. “They’ve got a lot of bigs and they beat us both times. Last year, we beat them three straight and then lost (in the playoffs). Every time we play, it’s a lot of fun.”
As Oates prepares for what he expects to be a “really emotional game,” he’s ready to keep making big plays for his team.
“We know their guys and they know us,” Oates said.
“Everybody on the team, they still got that from last year in their heads and it’s in the back of our heads. We’ll be ready for that matchup.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
Keep up with local sports and your favorite college teams across the state with a digital subscription to The Fayetteville Observer.
Rodd Baxley The Fayetteville Observer
Cam Oates chased the chance to be clutch Friday night.
In the final moments of Trinity Christian's second round playoff game at Freedom Christian Academy, Oates seized the moment and lifted the Crusaders to a 67-64 victory.
“Big-time players make big-time shots,” said Crusaders coach Heath Vandevender.
It’s cliche, but it’s exactly what Oates did against the Patriots (15-9), who twice led in the final minute before Trinity's point guard took the lead back ... twice.
Oates scored 10 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, including five points in the final 40 seconds. With just over 40 seconds left, he drilled a 3-pointer over the hands of a much taller defender before adding a pair of free throws with 14.3 seconds remaining to give the Crusaders (11-7) the lead for good.
“I just knew it was a mismatch, so I took it straight to him,” said Oates, who got the switch he wanted and went into attack mode on the final two plays.
“I had to make a move.”
Vandevender, who wants his guys to play loose on the court, was confident one of his players would make the right play in winning time.
“We run a lot of different sets, but it gives guys multiple opportunities with different options to do different things,” Vandevender said.
“Cam felt good, he raised up, and he shot it with confidence.”
For just the second game this season, Oates was joined on the court by sophomore guard Xavier Tubbs and junior guard Jamori McDougald.
Tubbs missed several games as he recovered from a knee injury suffered during the Crusaders’ fall football campaign, and McDougald missed time as he recovered from an ankle injury.
Those three players, along with sophomore Steven Lassiter, combined to score 58 of Trinity’s points Friday.
“Kids made big plays,” Vandevender said.
“Cam, he’s our quarterback, he’s our team captain. He made some huge plays and Steve Lassiter hit some big shots. X hit some big shots.”
That production has been vital since the departure of Freddie Dilione, Trinity’s leading scorer through nine games at 21.6 points per contest. He left in late January to play at Word of God in Raleigh.
“We’re kind of young and we had to mature a lot over the year,” Oates said of the changes.
“It’s a lot mentally. We all just pitched in. Everybody knew their role … that’s what we needed.”
Tubbs scored 12 of his 17 points in the first half and eighth-grader Howard Herbert beat the second-quarter buzzer with a spin-around jumper as he was falling to the ground to give the Crusaders a 31-27 halftime advantage.
“That was a big momentum play,” Vandevender said of Herbert’s shot.
“He and Devaughn Brown play a ton of minutes as eighth-graders. It’s just been a weird year with everybody on a lot of levels, but I’m very proud of these guys.”
The third quarter belonged to Lassiter, who scored 11 of his 12 points in the second half, including eight in the third.
Despite McDougald’s off night on the offensive end, Vandevender praised the guard for his defense and his ability to “be a threat,” even on a cold shooting night.
The head coach was also impressed with senior Jaylen Burke, who provided key minutes down the stretch when starting post player Rob Wright Jr. fouled out early in the fourth quarter.
After Oates’ 3-pointer gave Trinity a 63-62 lead, Freedom regained the lead on a baseline jumper by Jalen Higgins. Oates responded by racing down the floor to draw contact in the lane and made a pair of free throws.
On Freedom’s final possession, junior guard Jacob Dar was called for a carrying violation that left the Patriots’ bench incensed. McDougald, who finished with eight points, netted two free throws to ice the victory with 0.2 seconds left.
Dar had a team-high 20 points to lead four Patriots in double figures. Higgins finished with 14 points, Deng Atak scored 13 and James Wilds tallied 10.
“I think we’re just gonna keep building on this,” Vandevender said.
Now, the Crusaders will get another shot at Northwood Temple (25-7), which won the NCISAA 1-A state title in 2020. The Eagles have beaten Trinity in both meetings this season and will carry a 14-game winning streak into Monday’s playoff matchup.
“They’re very good and (Northwood Temple coach James) Strong has done a great job,” Vandevender said. “They’ve got a lot of bigs and they beat us both times. Last year, we beat them three straight and then lost (in the playoffs). Every time we play, it’s a lot of fun.”
As Oates prepares for what he expects to be a “really emotional game,” he’s ready to keep making big plays for his team.
“We know their guys and they know us,” Oates said.
“Everybody on the team, they still got that from last year in their heads and it’s in the back of our heads. We’ll be ready for that matchup.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
Keep up with local sports and your favorite college teams across the state with a digital subscription to The Fayetteville Observer.
