Impressive Knights rule their own Christmas tourney
By Tom Ham
Special to the Times
The team’s most impressive performance of the first 17 games of the 2022-23 varsity boys basketball season produced the 15th Greenfield Christmas Tournament champion Friday night in the Greenfield School gym.
Greenfield, for the first time since 2019, reigns as king of its Christmas tournament by schooling Trinity Academy of Raleigh, 88-65.
After the opening quarter, the title game belonged to the Knights, who celebrated their 14th win against three losses. Trinity lost for just the second time in 10 games. Both teams play in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A ranks. The Knights atoned for a 20-point loss in the teams’ only meeting last season.
“(Greenfield) returned the favor,” Tigers head coach Bryan Burrell noted.
“We know they are a good team, and we came out wanted revenge for how they did us last year,” said 6-foot-5 Greenfield junior Hampton Evans, who was proclaimed the most valuable player in the eight-team field.
“This is the best we have played all year.”
Head coach Rob Salter supported the observation of his stalwart inside performer, saying: “Our most complete game in all facets — defense, offense and effort. The guys knew it was a big game, and they wanted it. When we play like that and come out with focus, we play to a high level.
“We’re excited. It was a great atmosphere. It was great to have our people (former players and students) here. They wanted to win this one.”
The Knights didn’t expect to dominate, but Salter reminded his team is capable.
Greenfield turned in a near-flawless performance in the turnover category. The 3-point shooting was back on the mark and, led by the combo of senior Jack Adair and junior Matt Kirby, found a way to work the ball inside against the talented and taller Tigers. The Knights hit their free throws. Greenfield stayed with Trinity on the boards and again played stifling man-to-man defense that forced 6-9 Trinity junior Clash Peters out of his comfort zone.
Salter cited another critical factor.
“The tempo was back to where Greenfield wants it,” he revealed. “We were getting up and down.”
Added Hampton Evans: “The defense was phenomenal and we stayed disciplined. We controlled the game with the lead. (Trinity) didn’t get too close.”
From a 11-11 tie, the Knights spurted to a 19-11 margin they would never relinquish on Adair’s field goal and a 3-pointer each from senior Kyshon Atkinson and junior Cole Evans. The Tigers retaliated with a rare four-point play from 6-2 senior Trevor Barrett. However, Hampton Evans’ bucket staked Greenfield to a 21-17 margin.
In the second quarter, Hampton Evans and Atkinson each bombed in a pair of 3-pointers. Atkinson’s second 3 resulted in a 38-23 Knights bulge. On a flashy Kirby to Adair play, the advantage became 42-26.
Trinity’s Barrett was also whistled for his third foul. The Knights led 44-28 at intermission.
Barrett drew his fourth foul midway the third quarter and fouled out two minutes later. Peters watched from the bench because of three fouls. Led by sophomore Parker Bye, the Tigers drew as close as 11 points. Then, the Kirby-Adair duo again clicked — this time at the third-quarter buzzer — and the Knights owned a 64-51 cushion.
A field goal from junior Nik Edwards and a putback from junior Xavier Baptiste left Greenfield in command at 77-55 with 5:01 remaining. Greenfield’s lead crested at 24 points at 81-57.
“We did not play well at all,” Trinity’s Burrell said. “Greenfield was all about effort the entire game, and they were very well-coached. They beat us with second-chance points and effort. We didn’t box out very well. Their kids just played and wanted it.”
Bye poured in a game-high 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for the Tigers. Peters wound up with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Senior Keron Vanderhorst netted 10 points.
Hampton Evans’ 19 points paced Greenfield. Atkinson drilled in 17; Adair scrapped for 16; and Kirby bucketed 12 in addition to triggering the playmaking. Freshman Kobe Edwards contributed nine points.
Salter credited Adair with a double-double, estimating that he claimed at least 15 rebounds.
He also cited Kirby and Kobe Edwards as elite passers and hailed the team’s ability to step up after Nik Edwards encountered foul trouble. Salter pointed out Hampton Evans’ fast start and strong first half. Kirby, the veteran head coach observed, played a complete game and he spoke excitedly of Adair’s toughness and ability to make big plays.
“We got big-time plays at the time we needed them,” Salter continued. “We can be really talented offensively; we’ve got a lot of weapons. Our versatility gives a lot of teams problems. What we’re trying to find is the focus to play at that tempo every game. We won the 50-50 balls. Everybody stepped up.”
Hampton Evans was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Adair, Kirby and Atkinson, and the Trinity duo of Peters and Vanderhorst.
Evans cast aside mental struggles — including doubting his playing ability — at the perfect time. In three games, he fired in 54 points and, in the title game, effectively handled the assignment of defending the 6-9 Peters.
“I was struggling mentally,” Evans admitted. “I hold myself to very high standards. Sometimes, that’s not a good thing and, sometimes, it is. I got my confidence back and, mentally, I feel fine. I feel like I did good. I think my first half gave us spark and was a big factor in trying to break away and show us how good we can be.
“I had the responsibility to hold (Peters) down and keep him off the glass. He was not scoring a lot in the paint. We made him catch the ball and locked him up. One-on-one is not his game.
“I feel great (about the MVP award). It shows all the work I’ve put in, how my confidence is and helping the team a lot to win. But all the praise goes to my savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
TRINITY ACADEMY (65)
Becker, Barrett 8, Vanderhorst 10, Tucker 2, Kirby, Bye 26, J. Anderson, Peters 15, Mills, Young, C. Anderson 2, Jeffries, Bertolini-Felice 2.
GREENFIELD (88)
K. Edwards 9, N. Edwards 7, Kirby 12, Atkinson 17, H. Evans 19, Sherrod, Adair 16, C. Evans 5, Lucas, Baptiste 2, Wright, Willem-Tewes 1.
Score by quarters:
Trinity 17 21 23 10 — 65
Greenfield 21 23 20 24 — 88
Greenfield Christmas Tournament Glance
Wednesday, Dec. 21
Fayetteville Academy 59, Grace Christian (Sanford) 50
Trinity Academy 72, Northwood Temple 63
Grace Christian (Raleigh) 54, Crossroads Christian 48
Greenfield 83, New Life Christian 36
Thursday, Dec. 22
Northwood Temple 77, Grace Christian (Sanford) 56
Crossroads Christian 89, New Life Christian 69
Trinity Academy 68, Fayetteville Academy 48
Greenfield 70, Grace Christian (Raleigh) 51
Friday, Dec. 23
Seventh-place game
Grace Christian (Sanford) 91, New Life Christian 62
Fifth-place game
Northwood Temple 71, Crossroads Christian 56
Third-place game
Grace Christian (Raleigh) 61, Fayetteville Academy 58
Championship game
Greenfield 88, Trinity Academy 65
By Tom Ham
Special to the Times
The team’s most impressive performance of the first 17 games of the 2022-23 varsity boys basketball season produced the 15th Greenfield Christmas Tournament champion Friday night in the Greenfield School gym.
Greenfield, for the first time since 2019, reigns as king of its Christmas tournament by schooling Trinity Academy of Raleigh, 88-65.
After the opening quarter, the title game belonged to the Knights, who celebrated their 14th win against three losses. Trinity lost for just the second time in 10 games. Both teams play in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A ranks. The Knights atoned for a 20-point loss in the teams’ only meeting last season.
“(Greenfield) returned the favor,” Tigers head coach Bryan Burrell noted.
“We know they are a good team, and we came out wanted revenge for how they did us last year,” said 6-foot-5 Greenfield junior Hampton Evans, who was proclaimed the most valuable player in the eight-team field.
“This is the best we have played all year.”
Head coach Rob Salter supported the observation of his stalwart inside performer, saying: “Our most complete game in all facets — defense, offense and effort. The guys knew it was a big game, and they wanted it. When we play like that and come out with focus, we play to a high level.
“We’re excited. It was a great atmosphere. It was great to have our people (former players and students) here. They wanted to win this one.”
The Knights didn’t expect to dominate, but Salter reminded his team is capable.
Greenfield turned in a near-flawless performance in the turnover category. The 3-point shooting was back on the mark and, led by the combo of senior Jack Adair and junior Matt Kirby, found a way to work the ball inside against the talented and taller Tigers. The Knights hit their free throws. Greenfield stayed with Trinity on the boards and again played stifling man-to-man defense that forced 6-9 Trinity junior Clash Peters out of his comfort zone.
Salter cited another critical factor.
“The tempo was back to where Greenfield wants it,” he revealed. “We were getting up and down.”
Added Hampton Evans: “The defense was phenomenal and we stayed disciplined. We controlled the game with the lead. (Trinity) didn’t get too close.”
From a 11-11 tie, the Knights spurted to a 19-11 margin they would never relinquish on Adair’s field goal and a 3-pointer each from senior Kyshon Atkinson and junior Cole Evans. The Tigers retaliated with a rare four-point play from 6-2 senior Trevor Barrett. However, Hampton Evans’ bucket staked Greenfield to a 21-17 margin.
In the second quarter, Hampton Evans and Atkinson each bombed in a pair of 3-pointers. Atkinson’s second 3 resulted in a 38-23 Knights bulge. On a flashy Kirby to Adair play, the advantage became 42-26.
Trinity’s Barrett was also whistled for his third foul. The Knights led 44-28 at intermission.
Barrett drew his fourth foul midway the third quarter and fouled out two minutes later. Peters watched from the bench because of three fouls. Led by sophomore Parker Bye, the Tigers drew as close as 11 points. Then, the Kirby-Adair duo again clicked — this time at the third-quarter buzzer — and the Knights owned a 64-51 cushion.
A field goal from junior Nik Edwards and a putback from junior Xavier Baptiste left Greenfield in command at 77-55 with 5:01 remaining. Greenfield’s lead crested at 24 points at 81-57.
“We did not play well at all,” Trinity’s Burrell said. “Greenfield was all about effort the entire game, and they were very well-coached. They beat us with second-chance points and effort. We didn’t box out very well. Their kids just played and wanted it.”
Bye poured in a game-high 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for the Tigers. Peters wound up with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Senior Keron Vanderhorst netted 10 points.
Hampton Evans’ 19 points paced Greenfield. Atkinson drilled in 17; Adair scrapped for 16; and Kirby bucketed 12 in addition to triggering the playmaking. Freshman Kobe Edwards contributed nine points.
Salter credited Adair with a double-double, estimating that he claimed at least 15 rebounds.
He also cited Kirby and Kobe Edwards as elite passers and hailed the team’s ability to step up after Nik Edwards encountered foul trouble. Salter pointed out Hampton Evans’ fast start and strong first half. Kirby, the veteran head coach observed, played a complete game and he spoke excitedly of Adair’s toughness and ability to make big plays.
“We got big-time plays at the time we needed them,” Salter continued. “We can be really talented offensively; we’ve got a lot of weapons. Our versatility gives a lot of teams problems. What we’re trying to find is the focus to play at that tempo every game. We won the 50-50 balls. Everybody stepped up.”
Hampton Evans was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Adair, Kirby and Atkinson, and the Trinity duo of Peters and Vanderhorst.
Evans cast aside mental struggles — including doubting his playing ability — at the perfect time. In three games, he fired in 54 points and, in the title game, effectively handled the assignment of defending the 6-9 Peters.
“I was struggling mentally,” Evans admitted. “I hold myself to very high standards. Sometimes, that’s not a good thing and, sometimes, it is. I got my confidence back and, mentally, I feel fine. I feel like I did good. I think my first half gave us spark and was a big factor in trying to break away and show us how good we can be.
“I had the responsibility to hold (Peters) down and keep him off the glass. He was not scoring a lot in the paint. We made him catch the ball and locked him up. One-on-one is not his game.
“I feel great (about the MVP award). It shows all the work I’ve put in, how my confidence is and helping the team a lot to win. But all the praise goes to my savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
TRINITY ACADEMY (65)
Becker, Barrett 8, Vanderhorst 10, Tucker 2, Kirby, Bye 26, J. Anderson, Peters 15, Mills, Young, C. Anderson 2, Jeffries, Bertolini-Felice 2.
GREENFIELD (88)
K. Edwards 9, N. Edwards 7, Kirby 12, Atkinson 17, H. Evans 19, Sherrod, Adair 16, C. Evans 5, Lucas, Baptiste 2, Wright, Willem-Tewes 1.
Score by quarters:
Trinity 17 21 23 10 — 65
Greenfield 21 23 20 24 — 88
Greenfield Christmas Tournament Glance
Wednesday, Dec. 21
Fayetteville Academy 59, Grace Christian (Sanford) 50
Trinity Academy 72, Northwood Temple 63
Grace Christian (Raleigh) 54, Crossroads Christian 48
Greenfield 83, New Life Christian 36
Thursday, Dec. 22
Northwood Temple 77, Grace Christian (Sanford) 56
Crossroads Christian 89, New Life Christian 69
Trinity Academy 68, Fayetteville Academy 48
Greenfield 70, Grace Christian (Raleigh) 51
Friday, Dec. 23
Seventh-place game
Grace Christian (Sanford) 91, New Life Christian 62
Fifth-place game
Northwood Temple 71, Crossroads Christian 56
Third-place game
Grace Christian (Raleigh) 61, Fayetteville Academy 58
Championship game
Greenfield 88, Trinity Academy 65
