GREENSBORO — Fayetteville Trinity Christian brought a young, talented basketball team to Greensboro on Monday for the 14th annual MLK Day N.C. Scholastic Classic. But it was the maturity and experience of an equally talented Dudley team that won the day as the Panthers held on for a 75-69 victory at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Juniors Josh Hopkins (22 points) and Hendon Hooker (20) led the way for Dudley, which fell behind for the first time at 65-64 with 1:41 to play. Hopkins, Hooker and fellow junior Myles White scored the final 11 points for the Panthers (10-3).
“We played pretty hard down the stretch limiting them to one shot,” said junior point guard Brion Seagraves. “We pushed the ball the whole game, and I think that really helped us at the end.”
“We just executed and settled down – really listened to our coaches – and didn’t rush like they did at the end,” Hopkins added.
Coach Brian Seagraves wasn’t completely satisfied with his team’s performance, but he liked some things he saw from the Metro 4-A Conference leaders.
“We’re beginning to get it. The difference is Hendon,” he said of the HSXtra All-Area quarterback. “He’s not just a football player, he’s a basketball player. He’s been playing so well the last four games … He’s one of the keys that’s putting us over the top, him playing smart, playing lights-out. He and Brion are playing unselfishly, getting out running and getting the ball to other guys.”
Heralded freshman Joey Baker led Trinity Christian (10-10) with 14 points, eight of those during the Crusaders’ fourth-quarter comeback before he fouled out with 55.2 seconds to play.
“This teaches us how to win a tight ballgame,” Brian Seagraves said. “We haven’t had many ballgames that were neck-and-neck where we came out on top. … I think we’re peaking.”
Juniors Josh Hopkins (22 points) and Hendon Hooker (20) led the way for Dudley, which fell behind for the first time at 65-64 with 1:41 to play. Hopkins, Hooker and fellow junior Myles White scored the final 11 points for the Panthers (10-3).
“We played pretty hard down the stretch limiting them to one shot,” said junior point guard Brion Seagraves. “We pushed the ball the whole game, and I think that really helped us at the end.”
“We just executed and settled down – really listened to our coaches – and didn’t rush like they did at the end,” Hopkins added.
Coach Brian Seagraves wasn’t completely satisfied with his team’s performance, but he liked some things he saw from the Metro 4-A Conference leaders.
“We’re beginning to get it. The difference is Hendon,” he said of the HSXtra All-Area quarterback. “He’s not just a football player, he’s a basketball player. He’s been playing so well the last four games … He’s one of the keys that’s putting us over the top, him playing smart, playing lights-out. He and Brion are playing unselfishly, getting out running and getting the ball to other guys.”
Heralded freshman Joey Baker led Trinity Christian (10-10) with 14 points, eight of those during the Crusaders’ fourth-quarter comeback before he fouled out with 55.2 seconds to play.
“This teaches us how to win a tight ballgame,” Brian Seagraves said. “We haven’t had many ballgames that were neck-and-neck where we came out on top. … I think we’re peaking.”
