Coby Buckets’
White bombs in Greenfield-record 52 points in Knights’ 110-78 romp in Christmas tourney semis
By Tom Ham
Senior Staff Writer
Coby White is not concerned with the number of points he scores. The 6-foot-5 junior’s approach is simply to allow the game to come to him.
Did it ever during Wednesday night’s second session of the annual Greenfield Christmas Tournament inside the Greenfield School gym.
White, who has verbally committed to the University of North Carolina and is the reigning Wilson Times Male Player of the Year, exploded for a school-record 52 points in leading the Knights to a resounding 110-78 conquest of independent Faith Assembly of Durham in Wednesday night’s second semifinal.
The Knights, attempting to win their holiday bash for the first time since 2011, trotted into Thursday night’s championship game at 7:30 against Fayetteville Academy, an 80-76 victor against Wayne Country Day.
White poured in 31 first-half points — including 20 in the second quarter, when Greenfield took command.
“Coby was phenomenal,” commented veteran Greenfield head coach Rob Salter. “When he gets into a rhythm, you see what he can do. When he got going in the first half, I knew he was going to have a big night. He did it at all three levels — inside, outside and from the line. That’s what he can do; he’s special!”
White drained 21 of 30 shots from the floor, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range. He was also 5 of 9 at the foul line and complemented his torrid scoring with nine rebounds and six assists.
Without a point for nearly the first four minutes of the second half, White tied his record of 46 points established last season with a putback with 5 minutes, 24 seconds remaining. He broke that mark with a dandy move inside with 4:23 remaining and became the first Greenfield player to reach the 50-point, single-game plateau with 2:09 left.
“It feels unreal, crazy ... I can’t explain it,” the smiling White reacted. “I was feeling it and just kept going. But I didn’t know I had broken the record until (public-address announcer Daniel Johnson) announced it. I was just going for the win and not really paying attention to the points. I always let the game come to me and try not to force anything.”
Greenfield (8-4) routed Faith Assembly for the second time this season, although the taller Lions showed with 11 players as compared to seven the first meeting. The final semifinal was stopped with less than 30 seconds remaining when the Lions demonstrated the intent to hold the ball and run out the clock.
Salter said the 110 points were the most scored by the Knights in the 17 years he has been associated with the program.
White was complemented by 6-5 junior Elijah McCadden with 29 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and a handful of crowd-rousing dunks. With junior starter Octavious Lacey sidelined with knee problems, Trey Pittman, a 6-4 freshman, stepped in and bucketed a career-high 14 points as well as drawing his coach’s praise.
A deeper Faith Assembly squad threatened to be a more difficult test the second time around, creeping as close as 31-26 in the second quarter behind the outside firing of seniors Elbert Ellis and Malik Saunders.
But the Knights shifted to a zone defense and an indoor track meet ensued. Both teams attacked the rim and, eventually, the Knights joined Faith Assembly in showing little interest in playing defense.
“We have to play better defense if we’re going to win (against Fayetteville Academy),” White cautioned. “We’ve got to get better defensively if we want to win the tough tournaments.”
Greenfield’s first-half cushion crested at 58-37 on a short jumper from Pittman and a free throw from senior Cedric Kirby.
The Knights quickly expanded the margin to 24 points at the outset of the second half and the Lions drew no closer than 17.
Ellis sizzled the nets for 31 points and Saunders fired in 25 for the Lions of head coach Marvin Reed.
Greenfield wound up knocking down 43 of 70 shots from the floor for a scorching 61.6-percent accuracy and a stat Salter definitely approved was a 9-for-17 showing from 3-point land.
“Offensively, we were really good,” Salter reviewed. “We attacked and made shots. That team had guys that could score individually, but we’ve got to get better defensively. I also think we kind of wore them down in the second half.”
In regards to the defensive indifference, Salter chuckled and said: “We knew we were going to get it right back and put it right back in. As a fan, it was a fun game to watch. There were definitely some highlight plays.”
White and McCadden put on a show.
hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819
FAITH ASSEMBLY (78)
Ellis 31, Reed 2, Saunders 25, Graham, Whitley, Hagen 2, Dees, Lewis 8, McKenzie, Evans 4, Frazier 6.
GREENFIELD (110)
White 52, McCadden 29, Suggs 9, Kirby 3, Pittman 14, Baker 3, Stone.
Score by quarters:
Faith Assembly14232318—78
Greenfield22362329—110
White bombs in Greenfield-record 52 points in Knights’ 110-78 romp in Christmas tourney semis
By Tom Ham
Senior Staff Writer
Coby White is not concerned with the number of points he scores. The 6-foot-5 junior’s approach is simply to allow the game to come to him.
Did it ever during Wednesday night’s second session of the annual Greenfield Christmas Tournament inside the Greenfield School gym.
White, who has verbally committed to the University of North Carolina and is the reigning Wilson Times Male Player of the Year, exploded for a school-record 52 points in leading the Knights to a resounding 110-78 conquest of independent Faith Assembly of Durham in Wednesday night’s second semifinal.
The Knights, attempting to win their holiday bash for the first time since 2011, trotted into Thursday night’s championship game at 7:30 against Fayetteville Academy, an 80-76 victor against Wayne Country Day.
White poured in 31 first-half points — including 20 in the second quarter, when Greenfield took command.
“Coby was phenomenal,” commented veteran Greenfield head coach Rob Salter. “When he gets into a rhythm, you see what he can do. When he got going in the first half, I knew he was going to have a big night. He did it at all three levels — inside, outside and from the line. That’s what he can do; he’s special!”
White drained 21 of 30 shots from the floor, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range. He was also 5 of 9 at the foul line and complemented his torrid scoring with nine rebounds and six assists.
Without a point for nearly the first four minutes of the second half, White tied his record of 46 points established last season with a putback with 5 minutes, 24 seconds remaining. He broke that mark with a dandy move inside with 4:23 remaining and became the first Greenfield player to reach the 50-point, single-game plateau with 2:09 left.
“It feels unreal, crazy ... I can’t explain it,” the smiling White reacted. “I was feeling it and just kept going. But I didn’t know I had broken the record until (public-address announcer Daniel Johnson) announced it. I was just going for the win and not really paying attention to the points. I always let the game come to me and try not to force anything.”
Greenfield (8-4) routed Faith Assembly for the second time this season, although the taller Lions showed with 11 players as compared to seven the first meeting. The final semifinal was stopped with less than 30 seconds remaining when the Lions demonstrated the intent to hold the ball and run out the clock.
Salter said the 110 points were the most scored by the Knights in the 17 years he has been associated with the program.
White was complemented by 6-5 junior Elijah McCadden with 29 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and a handful of crowd-rousing dunks. With junior starter Octavious Lacey sidelined with knee problems, Trey Pittman, a 6-4 freshman, stepped in and bucketed a career-high 14 points as well as drawing his coach’s praise.
A deeper Faith Assembly squad threatened to be a more difficult test the second time around, creeping as close as 31-26 in the second quarter behind the outside firing of seniors Elbert Ellis and Malik Saunders.
But the Knights shifted to a zone defense and an indoor track meet ensued. Both teams attacked the rim and, eventually, the Knights joined Faith Assembly in showing little interest in playing defense.
“We have to play better defense if we’re going to win (against Fayetteville Academy),” White cautioned. “We’ve got to get better defensively if we want to win the tough tournaments.”
Greenfield’s first-half cushion crested at 58-37 on a short jumper from Pittman and a free throw from senior Cedric Kirby.
The Knights quickly expanded the margin to 24 points at the outset of the second half and the Lions drew no closer than 17.
Ellis sizzled the nets for 31 points and Saunders fired in 25 for the Lions of head coach Marvin Reed.
Greenfield wound up knocking down 43 of 70 shots from the floor for a scorching 61.6-percent accuracy and a stat Salter definitely approved was a 9-for-17 showing from 3-point land.
“Offensively, we were really good,” Salter reviewed. “We attacked and made shots. That team had guys that could score individually, but we’ve got to get better defensively. I also think we kind of wore them down in the second half.”
In regards to the defensive indifference, Salter chuckled and said: “We knew we were going to get it right back and put it right back in. As a fan, it was a fun game to watch. There were definitely some highlight plays.”
White and McCadden put on a show.
hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819
FAITH ASSEMBLY (78)
Ellis 31, Reed 2, Saunders 25, Graham, Whitley, Hagen 2, Dees, Lewis 8, McKenzie, Evans 4, Frazier 6.
GREENFIELD (110)
White 52, McCadden 29, Suggs 9, Kirby 3, Pittman 14, Baker 3, Stone.
Score by quarters:
Faith Assembly14232318—78
Greenfield22362329—110
