Trinity Christian School ends game on 14-0 run to down Prolific Prep
RALEIGH -- The goal of winning a Holiday Invitational has eluded Fayetteville's Trinity Christian School in four previous appearances in the tournament.
But the Crusaders are off to the right start in their quest to break through this year.
Trinity Christian downed Prolific Prep, a John Wall Holiday Invitational newcomer out of Napa, Calif., 67-59 on Thursday in the David West bracket opener for both. After trailing 59-53 with 3:38 remaining, Trinity closed the game on a 14-0 run.
The two teams were tied 18-all after the first quarter before Prolific (16-4) took a 34-33 lead at halftime. Trinity (11-2) surged ahead 49-44 going into the fourth.
"The biggest thing I wanted them to play really hard and compete on the backboard, because I knew they were a lot bigger than us," Trinity coach Heath Vandevender said. "Basketball is a game of runs and we made that last run there."
Providence recruit Greg Gantt came up big on both ends of the court, posting 21 points and seven rebounds and a number of key blocks.
K.J. Marshall had 18 points and a big highlight-reel crossover. D.J. Horne posted 12 points as did Talton Jones. The Crusaders were 11-of-22 from 3 for the game.
For Prolific Prep, Nimari Burnett had 22 points and Pierre Cockrell, who just re-joined The Crew last week after playing elsewhere his junior season, added 13.
"Very frustrating to go out and drop this one," Prolific coach Billy McKnight said. "To their credit, they went out and made shots. Some of them weren't open -- they were contested."
With the win, Trinity Christian will be in the David West bracket semifinals on Friday, playing either host school Broughton High of Raleigh or Orlando, Fla., Downey Christian at 5:15 p.m.
Prolific Prep falls into the consolation bracket and will play the loser of Broughton/Downey Christian at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.
RALEIGH -- The goal of winning a Holiday Invitational has eluded Fayetteville's Trinity Christian School in four previous appearances in the tournament.
But the Crusaders are off to the right start in their quest to break through this year.
Trinity Christian downed Prolific Prep, a John Wall Holiday Invitational newcomer out of Napa, Calif., 67-59 on Thursday in the David West bracket opener for both. After trailing 59-53 with 3:38 remaining, Trinity closed the game on a 14-0 run.
The two teams were tied 18-all after the first quarter before Prolific (16-4) took a 34-33 lead at halftime. Trinity (11-2) surged ahead 49-44 going into the fourth.
"The biggest thing I wanted them to play really hard and compete on the backboard, because I knew they were a lot bigger than us," Trinity coach Heath Vandevender said. "Basketball is a game of runs and we made that last run there."
Providence recruit Greg Gantt came up big on both ends of the court, posting 21 points and seven rebounds and a number of key blocks.
K.J. Marshall had 18 points and a big highlight-reel crossover. D.J. Horne posted 12 points as did Talton Jones. The Crusaders were 11-of-22 from 3 for the game.
For Prolific Prep, Nimari Burnett had 22 points and Pierre Cockrell, who just re-joined The Crew last week after playing elsewhere his junior season, added 13.
"Very frustrating to go out and drop this one," Prolific coach Billy McKnight said. "To their credit, they went out and made shots. Some of them weren't open -- they were contested."
With the win, Trinity Christian will be in the David West bracket semifinals on Friday, playing either host school Broughton High of Raleigh or Orlando, Fla., Downey Christian at 5:15 p.m.
Prolific Prep falls into the consolation bracket and will play the loser of Broughton/Downey Christian at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.
