Greensboro Day has another title
Greensboro Day 67 Christ School 53
joe.sirera@greensboro.comRALEIGH — Greensboro Day had won 10 NCISAA boys basketball state championships heading into Saturday night’s Class 4-A final. But the Bengals had never won three straight.They made history with a 67-53 win over Arden Christ School at Ra-venscroft School, but the Bengals did it in a very familiar way: with defense.Facing a Christ School team with three regulars 6-foot-8 or taller, Greensboro Day had a plan. The Bengals (30-5) used their own big men to help and double-team the Greenies (16-14) whenever the ball went into the low post, and the strategy worked to perfection, although Christ School hit three 3-pointers in the first 4½ minutes.
Greensboro Day held the Greenies’ post trio of Gabe Wiznitzer, De’ante Green and Justice Ajogbor to a total of 17 points and dominated the boards.“We did a great job on defense,” said coach Freddy Johnson, who has guided Greensboro Day to 1,049 wins and all 11 of its state titles. “They hit those 3s at the start of the game, but my guards picked up their defense. The key was my big kids. They did a great job defensively.”
The Bengals’ post trio of Nick Evtimov (13), Mike Fowler (6) and Josh Tay-lor (6) outscored their counterparts by eight and controlled the boards. Johnson credited assistant coach Jeff Smith for the game plan and his players for the execution.“Jeff Smith is a great defensive coach,” Johnson said. “...
We did a great job with it of making them kick out.”It wasn’t just the defense of Greensboro Day’s post players, it was the offense of all three but particularly Evtimov.“We’ve all been working hard and I just wanted to come with a lot of energy and leave nothing on the floor,” said Evtimov, a 6-8 senior. “I just wanted to go out with no regrets.”Johnson certainly had none about the way Evtimov finished his Greens-boro Day career.“Nick has been really good the last 10 games for us,” said Johnson. “We were going in to him because he has the best post moves and we were trying to get their big kids in foul trouble, and it worked.”
Sophomore guard Cam Hayes, transfer from Smith, wasn’t part of the Bengals’ 2017 and 2018 state titles, but he had 17 points in this one.“I was looking to get my first ring, and it feels amazing,” Hayes said. Now the Bengals can start thinking about a 12th state title and a fourth straight crown.“I’ve got great kids, great players,” Johnson said. “They won the three straight, and I’m just happy I get to go along for the ride.”
Contact Joe Sireraat 336-373-7034, and follow @JoeSireraNR on Twitter.
Greensboro Day 67 Christ School 53
joe.sirera@greensboro.comRALEIGH — Greensboro Day had won 10 NCISAA boys basketball state championships heading into Saturday night’s Class 4-A final. But the Bengals had never won three straight.They made history with a 67-53 win over Arden Christ School at Ra-venscroft School, but the Bengals did it in a very familiar way: with defense.Facing a Christ School team with three regulars 6-foot-8 or taller, Greensboro Day had a plan. The Bengals (30-5) used their own big men to help and double-team the Greenies (16-14) whenever the ball went into the low post, and the strategy worked to perfection, although Christ School hit three 3-pointers in the first 4½ minutes.
Greensboro Day held the Greenies’ post trio of Gabe Wiznitzer, De’ante Green and Justice Ajogbor to a total of 17 points and dominated the boards.“We did a great job on defense,” said coach Freddy Johnson, who has guided Greensboro Day to 1,049 wins and all 11 of its state titles. “They hit those 3s at the start of the game, but my guards picked up their defense. The key was my big kids. They did a great job defensively.”
The Bengals’ post trio of Nick Evtimov (13), Mike Fowler (6) and Josh Tay-lor (6) outscored their counterparts by eight and controlled the boards. Johnson credited assistant coach Jeff Smith for the game plan and his players for the execution.“Jeff Smith is a great defensive coach,” Johnson said. “...
We did a great job with it of making them kick out.”It wasn’t just the defense of Greensboro Day’s post players, it was the offense of all three but particularly Evtimov.“We’ve all been working hard and I just wanted to come with a lot of energy and leave nothing on the floor,” said Evtimov, a 6-8 senior. “I just wanted to go out with no regrets.”Johnson certainly had none about the way Evtimov finished his Greens-boro Day career.“Nick has been really good the last 10 games for us,” said Johnson. “We were going in to him because he has the best post moves and we were trying to get their big kids in foul trouble, and it worked.”
Sophomore guard Cam Hayes, transfer from Smith, wasn’t part of the Bengals’ 2017 and 2018 state titles, but he had 17 points in this one.“I was looking to get my first ring, and it feels amazing,” Hayes said. Now the Bengals can start thinking about a 12th state title and a fourth straight crown.“I’ve got great kids, great players,” Johnson said. “They won the three straight, and I’m just happy I get to go along for the ride.”
Contact Joe Sireraat 336-373-7034, and follow @JoeSireraNR on Twitter.
