Mark Lindsay HP Enterprise
GREENSBORO — The players and coaches have changed over the years, but the intensity and drama were still there when archrivals High Point Christian and Wesleyan Christian faced off Saturday night.
The Cougars found an edge during the final two minutes of a tight, back-and-for th game and held on to beat the Trojans 65-61 in a nonconference meeting of NCISAA boys basketball powers in the Zaxby’s MLK Tourney Town Showcase at Ben L. Smith.
“We really had a tough game (Friday) at Calvary — a big 3A conference matchup,” said HPCA coach Joseph Cooper, who, in his third season, beat Wesleyan for the first time. “We got up 14 or 15 with a few minutes left, and then they came storming back. So, it was really an emotional game.
“It was going to be interesting all day to see what their mentality was. To see if they’re satisfied with last night or if they wanted more. Through three quarters I couldn’t decide myself. Then, in the fourth quarter, guys started to win 50/50 balls, we got some shots to fall and hit some big free throws down the stretch.”
The Cougars snapped a string of six straight losses to the Trojans going back to Jan. 26, 2016. That year both teams won more than 20 games and HPCA reached its first 3A championship game. The Cougars have been steadily rebuilding the last two years, while Wesleyan has been contending for state titles.
This time, though, it was first-year Trojans coach C.J. Lee who got his first experience of the rivalr y that, from 2008-09 through 2015-16, featured 13 of 18 games decided by 10 points or fewer — including five games in 2012-13 and 2013-14 in which every one was seven points or fewer.
KJ Garrett scored 19 points to lead the Cougars (15-7), ranked No. 5 among NCISAA 3A teams by MaxPreps, while Wesleyan is No. 4 among NCISAA 4A teams. Zach Shumate added 18 points while Landon Sutton followed with 13 points as HPCA had a key 5-0 spurt to lead by four with 1:14 left in the game.
“Coach (Michael) McDuffie said we needed defensive stops and I was determined to get them — I had to be the leader on the team,” Garrett said. “I think it was just the energy. The outgoing energy from the bench, on the court, the atmosphere — it was amazing. I think that really helped us.”
The Cougars’ Sayyid Daltonhit a 3-pointer from theright corner to regain thelead, 58-56, with 1:50 left and,following two key misses by the Trojans on their ensuing trip up the court, HPCA tacked on two free throws by Garrett with 1:14 left to lead 60-56 — equalling the largest lead by either team to thatpoint.
Wesleyan got back within 60-58 when for ward Luke Davis scored on a reverselayup with 1:00 left and tried to force turnovers with a fullcourt trap before fouling. But the Cougars made fi ve of six three throws in the final 45 seconds to extend its lead to five and hung on as Wesleyan got as close as two.
Kaleb Brooks scored 19 points to lead the Trojans(9-7), who led 47-46 at halftime. Davis added 17 points and Aisaiah Phillips followed with seven points as Wesleyan’s players — many of whom were role players in previous years — grow andLee continues to build thefoundation of his program.
“It was a typical rivalry game — back and forth, no one really got much separation,” Lee said. “I just felt like we didn’t have the communication and energy we’ve been talking about the last three weeks. We’ve really tried to narrow the focus of our young men by speaking that, offensively and defensively. Ithink we showed our youth and inexperience at times. Every team’s learning curve is different. So, unfortunately as a program, we have to go through some of these games.
“But I like my group. They just have to recognize that some things are non-negotiable that you have to bring every single night — regardless of how you’re feeling, if your shot’s going in, if you’re having a great game statistically. If you bring those things, the game honors you. We didn’t do those things. But credit High Point Christian — over the 32 minutes, they probably made the tougher plays. That’s somethingit’s tough for them tohear, but it’s the absolutetruth.”
Wesleyan will play again Monday night at 6:30 against Southeast Guilford in MLK Basketball Tournament at Southeast, while the Cougars will return to Piedmont Triad Athletic Conference action
Tuesday at HPCA starting with the girls game at 5:30 p.m.
Mlindsay@hpenews.com @HPEmichael
GREENSBORO — The players and coaches have changed over the years, but the intensity and drama were still there when archrivals High Point Christian and Wesleyan Christian faced off Saturday night.
The Cougars found an edge during the final two minutes of a tight, back-and-for th game and held on to beat the Trojans 65-61 in a nonconference meeting of NCISAA boys basketball powers in the Zaxby’s MLK Tourney Town Showcase at Ben L. Smith.
“We really had a tough game (Friday) at Calvary — a big 3A conference matchup,” said HPCA coach Joseph Cooper, who, in his third season, beat Wesleyan for the first time. “We got up 14 or 15 with a few minutes left, and then they came storming back. So, it was really an emotional game.
“It was going to be interesting all day to see what their mentality was. To see if they’re satisfied with last night or if they wanted more. Through three quarters I couldn’t decide myself. Then, in the fourth quarter, guys started to win 50/50 balls, we got some shots to fall and hit some big free throws down the stretch.”
The Cougars snapped a string of six straight losses to the Trojans going back to Jan. 26, 2016. That year both teams won more than 20 games and HPCA reached its first 3A championship game. The Cougars have been steadily rebuilding the last two years, while Wesleyan has been contending for state titles.
This time, though, it was first-year Trojans coach C.J. Lee who got his first experience of the rivalr y that, from 2008-09 through 2015-16, featured 13 of 18 games decided by 10 points or fewer — including five games in 2012-13 and 2013-14 in which every one was seven points or fewer.
KJ Garrett scored 19 points to lead the Cougars (15-7), ranked No. 5 among NCISAA 3A teams by MaxPreps, while Wesleyan is No. 4 among NCISAA 4A teams. Zach Shumate added 18 points while Landon Sutton followed with 13 points as HPCA had a key 5-0 spurt to lead by four with 1:14 left in the game.
“Coach (Michael) McDuffie said we needed defensive stops and I was determined to get them — I had to be the leader on the team,” Garrett said. “I think it was just the energy. The outgoing energy from the bench, on the court, the atmosphere — it was amazing. I think that really helped us.”
The Cougars’ Sayyid Daltonhit a 3-pointer from theright corner to regain thelead, 58-56, with 1:50 left and,following two key misses by the Trojans on their ensuing trip up the court, HPCA tacked on two free throws by Garrett with 1:14 left to lead 60-56 — equalling the largest lead by either team to thatpoint.
Wesleyan got back within 60-58 when for ward Luke Davis scored on a reverselayup with 1:00 left and tried to force turnovers with a fullcourt trap before fouling. But the Cougars made fi ve of six three throws in the final 45 seconds to extend its lead to five and hung on as Wesleyan got as close as two.
Kaleb Brooks scored 19 points to lead the Trojans(9-7), who led 47-46 at halftime. Davis added 17 points and Aisaiah Phillips followed with seven points as Wesleyan’s players — many of whom were role players in previous years — grow andLee continues to build thefoundation of his program.
“It was a typical rivalry game — back and forth, no one really got much separation,” Lee said. “I just felt like we didn’t have the communication and energy we’ve been talking about the last three weeks. We’ve really tried to narrow the focus of our young men by speaking that, offensively and defensively. Ithink we showed our youth and inexperience at times. Every team’s learning curve is different. So, unfortunately as a program, we have to go through some of these games.
“But I like my group. They just have to recognize that some things are non-negotiable that you have to bring every single night — regardless of how you’re feeling, if your shot’s going in, if you’re having a great game statistically. If you bring those things, the game honors you. We didn’t do those things. But credit High Point Christian — over the 32 minutes, they probably made the tougher plays. That’s somethingit’s tough for them tohear, but it’s the absolutetruth.”
Wesleyan will play again Monday night at 6:30 against Southeast Guilford in MLK Basketball Tournament at Southeast, while the Cougars will return to Piedmont Triad Athletic Conference action
Tuesday at HPCA starting with the girls game at 5:30 p.m.
Mlindsay@hpenews.com @HPEmichael
