Winners of 5 of last 6, FCS hoops finding its groove
By SAMUEL EVERS ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Sports Writer
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Still groggy from the after effects of a state title run in football, the Faith Christian boys’ basketball team to start this 2018-19 season stumbled early.
The Patriots practiced only three times before jumping into their schedule, losing their first three games.
Since, though, they’ve won five of six, the latest a 63-50 victory on Tuesday night at home against NCISAA Coastal Conference opponent St. Thomas More Academy (4-5, 3-3).
Just a 23-21 lead at halftime, the Patriots (5-4, 3-1) finally starting doing what coach Rob Brothers had wanted them to do from the opening tip: feed 6-foot-4 big man Zach Warrick, who didn’t have a similar matchup height-wise with anyone on the other team.
For the game, Warrick, who entered averaging 11.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, finished with a total of 25, with 15 coming in the second half and 10 coming in the third quarter, an eight-minute stretch in which the Patriots pumped their lead from two to 13.
“Well, the game plan was to go inside from the very beginning. It took two quarters to get it through their head to throw it inside,” Brothers said. “At the halftime we made the adjustment to get it inside and that opened up that lead. When you have somebody like (Warrick) you try and get him the ball whenever you can.”
In the victory, Hobart Brantley added 10, all in the second half. He entered the game just behind Warrick in scoring, with 11.4.
Overall, this Faith Christian team is very similar to the one last season, with seven of their top nine players back. They return 94 percent of their scoring from 2017-18, as Brothers pointed out, and have the benefit of comfort in the system they run.
“We’re on the right track. It’s a veteran group,” Brothers said. “We have one more conference game against Halifax Academy on Friday before Christmas. We feel we can be 4-1 (in conference) and take care of business heading into the holidays.”
By SAMUEL EVERS ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Sports Writer
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Still groggy from the after effects of a state title run in football, the Faith Christian boys’ basketball team to start this 2018-19 season stumbled early.
The Patriots practiced only three times before jumping into their schedule, losing their first three games.
Since, though, they’ve won five of six, the latest a 63-50 victory on Tuesday night at home against NCISAA Coastal Conference opponent St. Thomas More Academy (4-5, 3-3).
Just a 23-21 lead at halftime, the Patriots (5-4, 3-1) finally starting doing what coach Rob Brothers had wanted them to do from the opening tip: feed 6-foot-4 big man Zach Warrick, who didn’t have a similar matchup height-wise with anyone on the other team.
For the game, Warrick, who entered averaging 11.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, finished with a total of 25, with 15 coming in the second half and 10 coming in the third quarter, an eight-minute stretch in which the Patriots pumped their lead from two to 13.
“Well, the game plan was to go inside from the very beginning. It took two quarters to get it through their head to throw it inside,” Brothers said. “At the halftime we made the adjustment to get it inside and that opened up that lead. When you have somebody like (Warrick) you try and get him the ball whenever you can.”
In the victory, Hobart Brantley added 10, all in the second half. He entered the game just behind Warrick in scoring, with 11.4.
Overall, this Faith Christian team is very similar to the one last season, with seven of their top nine players back. They return 94 percent of their scoring from 2017-18, as Brothers pointed out, and have the benefit of comfort in the system they run.
“We’re on the right track. It’s a veteran group,” Brothers said. “We have one more conference game against Halifax Academy on Friday before Christmas. We feel we can be 4-1 (in conference) and take care of business heading into the holidays.”
