Tuesday, February 02, 2016 11:11 PM
A step back for Knights
Greenfield dunked by CPIC champ Freedom Christian
By Tom HamSenior Staff Writer
The North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A/2-A Coastal Plain Independents Conference varsity boys basketball regular-season championship was once again decided in the Greenfield School gym on Tuesday evening.
However, Greenfield will be eyeing a runner-up finish in the four-team league after tall and talented Freedom Christian of Fayetteville, the only 2-A member, posted a convincing 75-54 triumph before a sparse turnout on the Knights’ Senior Night.
The second conquest of Greenfield enabled the Patriots to rise to 4-0 in the conference and 15-9 overall.
With one league test remaining at archrival Wayne Country Day on Friday night, Greenfield fell to 3-2 and 13-12, respectively.
Despite a 25-point performance from 6-foot-4 sophomore Coby White, the Knights offered little answer to the Freedom trio of 6-8 junior Milos Supica, 6-6 junior Lawrence Williams and 6-7 senior T.G. Avar. The three "trees” combined for 53 points, 26 rebounds and 13 dunks. The Patriots shook off a pesky first half from Greenfield to dominate the last two quarters.
"We played hard,” assessed veteran Greenfield head coach Rob Salter. "But when you play a great team, you’ve got to take advantage of opportunities. They’re big and talented and we don’t match up very well.”
Jake Taylor, joined by twin brother Luke Taylor and Harrison Currin as Greenfield’s seniors, concurred with his coach’s observation.
"They’re big and talented,” Jake Taylor said, "and they are always a tough match-up for us.”
Avar stuffed in 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds. The fast-starting Supica contributed 18 points and nine rebounds. Williams posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Trevor Jenkins added nine points.
Even more convincing was the fact the Patriots utilized their height to rule the rebounding 37-16 and sizzled with their shooting from the floor, hitting 29 of 48 attempts for 61-percent accuracy. Greenfield went 18 of 45 for 40 percent.
"We are usually not a good-shooting team,” insisted Freedom head coach Dan Pruessner. "But every time we play Greenfield ... We need to keep playing them. We played good.”
Up 31-29 at intermission, the Patriots erupted for six points in the first minute of the second half, with Williams slamming twice. Freedom owned a 43-35 cushion when a 9-1 spree, featuring Avar underneath, resulted in a 52-36 advantage.
Greenfield countered with its last push, drawing as close as 60-53 on White’s drive with 2:58 remaining.
The Knights squandered opportunities to draw closer by missing an open 3-point shot and committing a turnover. With Avar enjoying a slam-fest, the Patriots took command with the next nine points.
"We just didn’t come out with the same defensive intensity the second half,” Jake Taylor reasoned. We didn’t rotate as good and that’s what led to a lot of open dunks.”
Neither team led by more than four points in the first half. Five lead changes and three ties marked the open quarter, while the second period produced three ties and three lead changes.
Greenfield’s first nine points came via a pair of three-point plays from White and a 3-pointer from Jake Taylor. Despite being dominated on the backboards, the Knights stayed close with the aid of Freedom turnovers and successfully drawing three charging fouls. But the Patriots were not fazed.
Freedom’s focus was upon White.
"It’s ridiculous how good he is,” Pruessner said. "You can only hope to contain him a little bit. We wanted to try to make him score on all of us; we couldn’t play him man-to-man — he’s that good. Our biggest thing was keeping Coby out of transition; we do that, we’re good. It worked for us some late.”
"And with our size, we have got to go inside. It was nice having 6-7 and 6-8 protecting the rim. We’re starting to roll right now.”
Jake Taylor finished with 12 points for Greenfield, which was without Luke Taylor for over half the game after he suffered a bloodied nose midway the opening quarter.
"That hurt,” Salter assured. "Losing the player who has been our rock all year hurt us. But (sophomore) D.J. (Rawlinson) was terrific. He was everywhere. He gave us a spark at both ends.”
Rawlinson managed six points, while 6-4 junior Dorrieon Suggs wound up with eight points and six rebounds.
Greenfield and Freedom won’t clash again this season unless in the conference tournament next week at Wayne Country Day.
"I hope we get a chance at them then,” Salter said.
