Coastal Christian uses fourth-quarter surge to beat Arendell Parrott in CRC Tourney finals
By Junious Smith III / Sports Editor KINSTON FREE PRESS
WILMINGTON | Coastal Christian’s Roy Holdford had problems cutting the nets after the game, but had no issues lighting them up late in the fourth quarter.
Holdford hit consecutive 3-pointers — the second with 1:48 to play — to help lead the Centurions to a 48-39 victory over the upset-minded Arendell Parrott Patriots Saturday in the Coastal Rivers Conference tournament championship game, played at Cape Fear Academy. The senior scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter as Coastal Christian (18-8) captured its first ever CRC tournament title.
“It feels really good knowing this was the first time we’ve ever won this tournament and as a senior, you always want to go out with a bang,” Holdford said.
Arendell Parrott (14-14) was the fourth seed in the tournament, defeating No. 5 Fayetteville Christian at home 62-53 on Tuesday before stunning the top-seeded Harrells Christian 60-54 Friday at Cape Fear Academy. The Patriots shot just 3 of 13 in the opening quarter but trailed just 9-7 late before the Centurions went on a 7-0 run, capped off with a Brian Howell offensive rebound putback early in the second. Trailing 25-19 late in the half, Arendell Parrott used two free throws by Kris Wooten and an assist by Wooten to Harrison McLawhorn as time expired to close the gap to two heading into the break.
Coastal Christian came out hitting its first three shots in the third quarter, going on a 6-0 run to extend the lead to 31-23. Arendell Parrott clawed back into the game with defense, forcing five Centurion turnovers and preventing the opposition from putting up a shot in a stretch of 4:50. The Patriots cut the deficit to 34-32 heading into the fourth and tied the game on a Zacchaeus Rasberry reverse layup with 7:35 to play.
The Centurions came back with six unanswered to take control again. Arendell Parrott used a Patrick Mayo free throw and a John McLawhorn basket to cut the deficit to three, but Holdford countered 18 seconds later with his first three and the second put Coastal Christian up 46-37 and allowed the Centurions to coast from there.
“I didn’t think twice about taking the shots,” Holdford said. “The game was close and (Parrott) started trapping up top, which left the corners open.”
Coastal Christian coach Craig Wheeler said the third match between the two teams was definitely a battle, although Arendell Parrott never led. The Centurions won the first two matchups — one by 3 and the other by 27.
“Wells Gulledge has that team playing very hard and he does a phenomenal job coaching,” Wheeler said. “We knew we were going to have a battle the third time around and our senior leadership made the biggest difference, with guys like Roy and Connor (Norris), along with our bigs Brian Howell and Michael Parker.”
For Gulledge, he said the Patriots had the opportunities, but is ready to see what next season brings.
“I felt like in the fourth quarter, we tried to make an emphasis on getting the ball inside with (Coastal Christian) in foul trouble,” Gulledge said. “I felt like we were successful, but then settled with the long ball — there might have been five or six straight possessions where we didn’t go inside. Coastal Christian stepped up and (Holdford) hit two big shots. Craig does a great job with those kids, particularly with the fundamentals — every one of his players could put it on the floor, defend and score. They also made great passes, which is something we’re going to work on to get to the next level.
“We’ve got a talented bunch returning and we’re hoping to be back here in the future. To our five senior guys (Jackson Beyer, Matthew Chappell, Jason Farsaie, John McLawhorn and Rasberry), I’m thankful for their contributions to the program and the great thing is three will graduate and attend N.C. State, one is going to Kansas and the fifth is undecided, but will go to a great school. This team was fun to be around, they love each other and we hope to be here again next year.”
For Coastal Christian, Parker had a game-high 16 points and Howell added 12. A.J. Banker led Arendell Parrott with 12 points and John McLawhorn added 10. Banker and Wooten were also members of the CRC All-Tournament Team.
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter and Snapchat @JuniousSmithIII.
COASTAL CHRISTIAN 48, ARENDELL PARROTT 39
APA 7 16 9 7 — 39
CC 14 11 9 14 — 48
ARENDELL PARROTT — A.J. Banker 12, John McLawhorn 10, Wooten 7, Rasberry 4, Farsaie 3, P. McLawhorn 2, Mayo 1
COASTAL CHRISTIAN — Michael Parker 16, Brian Howell 12, Roy Holdford 12, Murphy 3, Greene 2, Norris 2, Perez 1
Fouled out — None
Technical fouls — None
Three-pointers — Arendell Parrott: Banker 2, Wooten, Farsaie. Coastal Christian: Holdford 2, Murphy, Parker.
By Junious Smith III / Sports Editor KINSTON FREE PRESS
WILMINGTON | Coastal Christian’s Roy Holdford had problems cutting the nets after the game, but had no issues lighting them up late in the fourth quarter.
Holdford hit consecutive 3-pointers — the second with 1:48 to play — to help lead the Centurions to a 48-39 victory over the upset-minded Arendell Parrott Patriots Saturday in the Coastal Rivers Conference tournament championship game, played at Cape Fear Academy. The senior scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter as Coastal Christian (18-8) captured its first ever CRC tournament title.
“It feels really good knowing this was the first time we’ve ever won this tournament and as a senior, you always want to go out with a bang,” Holdford said.
Arendell Parrott (14-14) was the fourth seed in the tournament, defeating No. 5 Fayetteville Christian at home 62-53 on Tuesday before stunning the top-seeded Harrells Christian 60-54 Friday at Cape Fear Academy. The Patriots shot just 3 of 13 in the opening quarter but trailed just 9-7 late before the Centurions went on a 7-0 run, capped off with a Brian Howell offensive rebound putback early in the second. Trailing 25-19 late in the half, Arendell Parrott used two free throws by Kris Wooten and an assist by Wooten to Harrison McLawhorn as time expired to close the gap to two heading into the break.
Coastal Christian came out hitting its first three shots in the third quarter, going on a 6-0 run to extend the lead to 31-23. Arendell Parrott clawed back into the game with defense, forcing five Centurion turnovers and preventing the opposition from putting up a shot in a stretch of 4:50. The Patriots cut the deficit to 34-32 heading into the fourth and tied the game on a Zacchaeus Rasberry reverse layup with 7:35 to play.
The Centurions came back with six unanswered to take control again. Arendell Parrott used a Patrick Mayo free throw and a John McLawhorn basket to cut the deficit to three, but Holdford countered 18 seconds later with his first three and the second put Coastal Christian up 46-37 and allowed the Centurions to coast from there.
“I didn’t think twice about taking the shots,” Holdford said. “The game was close and (Parrott) started trapping up top, which left the corners open.”
Coastal Christian coach Craig Wheeler said the third match between the two teams was definitely a battle, although Arendell Parrott never led. The Centurions won the first two matchups — one by 3 and the other by 27.
“Wells Gulledge has that team playing very hard and he does a phenomenal job coaching,” Wheeler said. “We knew we were going to have a battle the third time around and our senior leadership made the biggest difference, with guys like Roy and Connor (Norris), along with our bigs Brian Howell and Michael Parker.”
For Gulledge, he said the Patriots had the opportunities, but is ready to see what next season brings.
“I felt like in the fourth quarter, we tried to make an emphasis on getting the ball inside with (Coastal Christian) in foul trouble,” Gulledge said. “I felt like we were successful, but then settled with the long ball — there might have been five or six straight possessions where we didn’t go inside. Coastal Christian stepped up and (Holdford) hit two big shots. Craig does a great job with those kids, particularly with the fundamentals — every one of his players could put it on the floor, defend and score. They also made great passes, which is something we’re going to work on to get to the next level.
“We’ve got a talented bunch returning and we’re hoping to be back here in the future. To our five senior guys (Jackson Beyer, Matthew Chappell, Jason Farsaie, John McLawhorn and Rasberry), I’m thankful for their contributions to the program and the great thing is three will graduate and attend N.C. State, one is going to Kansas and the fifth is undecided, but will go to a great school. This team was fun to be around, they love each other and we hope to be here again next year.”
For Coastal Christian, Parker had a game-high 16 points and Howell added 12. A.J. Banker led Arendell Parrott with 12 points and John McLawhorn added 10. Banker and Wooten were also members of the CRC All-Tournament Team.
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter and Snapchat @JuniousSmithIII.
COASTAL CHRISTIAN 48, ARENDELL PARROTT 39
APA 7 16 9 7 — 39
CC 14 11 9 14 — 48
ARENDELL PARROTT — A.J. Banker 12, John McLawhorn 10, Wooten 7, Rasberry 4, Farsaie 3, P. McLawhorn 2, Mayo 1
COASTAL CHRISTIAN — Michael Parker 16, Brian Howell 12, Roy Holdford 12, Murphy 3, Greene 2, Norris 2, Perez 1
Fouled out — None
Technical fouls — None
Three-pointers — Arendell Parrott: Banker 2, Wooten, Farsaie. Coastal Christian: Holdford 2, Murphy, Parker.
