Crossroads Christian dominates Oxford Prep on opening night
By Brandon White bwhite@hendersondispatch.com; 252-436-2840 6 hrs ago
HENDERSON -- Everything went according to plan for Crossroads Christian head coach Scottie Richardson in the team’s season-opener on Friday.
Playing in front of a sold out crowd for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Crossroads exerted their usual explosiveness on offense against Oxford Prep while simultaneously playing stellar defense that limited their opponent to just 19 points.
Richardson credited the defense for putting the game out of reach for Oxford Prep in just the first half and said that more wins are coming for Crossroads as long as his players can duplicate the consistency on both sides of the ball from Friday’s 74-19 victory.
“We put such an emphasis on defense this year,” Richardson said. “It’s a little bit of a different system but the kids have bought in. [Oxford Prep] only had four points in the second half. We know we can run but it’s a whole new mindset on defense this year.”
After getting knocked out early in the NCISAA 1A Tournament during the last two years, Richardson knew a change needed to be made defensively if Crossroads wanted to advance further in the postseason.
While Richardson anticipated that it would take time for his players to become more defensive-minded, he said that everyone adapted to the change in philosophy and that the commitment was on full display Friday.
Crossroads’ defense preventing Oxford Prep from generating any momentum provided more room for the offense to attack the basket. The most efficient of Crossroads’ offensive contributors was junior John Henderson Jr., who repeatedly drove the ball to the rim while knocking down several perimeter shots.
Richardson said that Henderson, who transferred from Falls Lake during the summer, provides another level of versatility to Crossroads that he believes will become more apparent as soon as he plays a few more games.
“[John Henderson Jr.] has the potential to be our best player,” Richardson said. “He’s got the skill but he’s also steadily learning to take his game to the next level. The game is about dribbling, passing, rebounding, finding an outlet and talking on defense. He’s starting to learn those things.”
With Henderson and several other Crossroads playmakers like seniors Andres Prince and Drew Rogers consistently making shots, Oxford Prep head coach Eddie Crews tried to do everything possible to keep his players composed and focused.
Crews entered Friday having only been the head coach of the men’s varsity basketball team for a couple days following Leo Brunelli’s resignation. Despite the circumstances, Crews had familiarity with the players after previously coaching most of them in middle school.
Crews admitted that Oxford Prep has to make many improvements before they are ready to defeat a team like Crossroads but said that the teamwork his players showed on Friday is going to result in victories during the 2021-22 season.
“[Crossroads] is a really good team,” Crews said. “I’m not sure how that collection of players came together but that is a team that is going to do a lot of damage. They’re probably the best team we’ll play all year but I thought our kids really competed. We could have executed a little bit better but I’m proud of the effort.”
While Oxford Prep returned home with an 0-1 record, Richardson said that Crossroads established the confidence they needed ahead of a big rivalry matchup against Henderson Collegiate on Tuesday evening.
The last meeting between Crossroads and Henderson Collegiate on Nov. 29, 2018resulted in a 90-63 outcome favoring the latter. Although Henderson Collegiate has undergone numerous changes since that day, Richardson is expecting an immensely challenging game and hopes that some minor errors from Friday will be cleaned up before then.
“We have to get more vocal on defense,” Richardson said. “I thought our rebounding was very good but we could do a little bit of a better job there. The game with Henderson Collegiate is a local rivalry and George [Marshall] and I are great friends but [Tuesday] is going to come down to toughness and who can bring it.”
Crossroads and Henderson Collegiate will meet at the former’s school for a 7 p.m. matchup on Tuesday. Oxford Prep’s next game will take place on the same day against East Wake Academy at 7:30 p.m..
By Brandon White bwhite@hendersondispatch.com; 252-436-2840 6 hrs ago
HENDERSON -- Everything went according to plan for Crossroads Christian head coach Scottie Richardson in the team’s season-opener on Friday.
Playing in front of a sold out crowd for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Crossroads exerted their usual explosiveness on offense against Oxford Prep while simultaneously playing stellar defense that limited their opponent to just 19 points.
Richardson credited the defense for putting the game out of reach for Oxford Prep in just the first half and said that more wins are coming for Crossroads as long as his players can duplicate the consistency on both sides of the ball from Friday’s 74-19 victory.
“We put such an emphasis on defense this year,” Richardson said. “It’s a little bit of a different system but the kids have bought in. [Oxford Prep] only had four points in the second half. We know we can run but it’s a whole new mindset on defense this year.”
After getting knocked out early in the NCISAA 1A Tournament during the last two years, Richardson knew a change needed to be made defensively if Crossroads wanted to advance further in the postseason.
While Richardson anticipated that it would take time for his players to become more defensive-minded, he said that everyone adapted to the change in philosophy and that the commitment was on full display Friday.
Crossroads’ defense preventing Oxford Prep from generating any momentum provided more room for the offense to attack the basket. The most efficient of Crossroads’ offensive contributors was junior John Henderson Jr., who repeatedly drove the ball to the rim while knocking down several perimeter shots.
Richardson said that Henderson, who transferred from Falls Lake during the summer, provides another level of versatility to Crossroads that he believes will become more apparent as soon as he plays a few more games.
“[John Henderson Jr.] has the potential to be our best player,” Richardson said. “He’s got the skill but he’s also steadily learning to take his game to the next level. The game is about dribbling, passing, rebounding, finding an outlet and talking on defense. He’s starting to learn those things.”
With Henderson and several other Crossroads playmakers like seniors Andres Prince and Drew Rogers consistently making shots, Oxford Prep head coach Eddie Crews tried to do everything possible to keep his players composed and focused.
Crews entered Friday having only been the head coach of the men’s varsity basketball team for a couple days following Leo Brunelli’s resignation. Despite the circumstances, Crews had familiarity with the players after previously coaching most of them in middle school.
Crews admitted that Oxford Prep has to make many improvements before they are ready to defeat a team like Crossroads but said that the teamwork his players showed on Friday is going to result in victories during the 2021-22 season.
“[Crossroads] is a really good team,” Crews said. “I’m not sure how that collection of players came together but that is a team that is going to do a lot of damage. They’re probably the best team we’ll play all year but I thought our kids really competed. We could have executed a little bit better but I’m proud of the effort.”
While Oxford Prep returned home with an 0-1 record, Richardson said that Crossroads established the confidence they needed ahead of a big rivalry matchup against Henderson Collegiate on Tuesday evening.
The last meeting between Crossroads and Henderson Collegiate on Nov. 29, 2018resulted in a 90-63 outcome favoring the latter. Although Henderson Collegiate has undergone numerous changes since that day, Richardson is expecting an immensely challenging game and hopes that some minor errors from Friday will be cleaned up before then.
“We have to get more vocal on defense,” Richardson said. “I thought our rebounding was very good but we could do a little bit of a better job there. The game with Henderson Collegiate is a local rivalry and George [Marshall] and I are great friends but [Tuesday] is going to come down to toughness and who can bring it.”
Crossroads and Henderson Collegiate will meet at the former’s school for a 7 p.m. matchup on Tuesday. Oxford Prep’s next game will take place on the same day against East Wake Academy at 7:30 p.m..
