By Junious Smith III / Sports Editor KINSTON FREE PRESS
Posted Nov. 19, 2015 at 10:54 PM
Updated Nov 19, 2015 at 10:55 PM
The initial storyline about Arendell Parrott’s season opener against Wayne Christian was supposed to be about the great play of Kinston transfer Kris Wooten, along with the inside play of John and Harrison McLawhorn.
Rashawn Wellington flipped the script and dynamic with two late shots to help the antagonistic Eagles walk away with a victory.
Wellington’s game-tying 3-pointer with 1:32 remaining and go-ahead downtown shot with 50 seconds left gave Wayne Christian a 69-63 win over Arendell Parrott on Thursday. Before Wellington’s shots, the Eagles (4-2) were just 2 of 14 from beyond the arc before closing the game on a 9-0 run.
“I felt like I needed to step up for my teammates,” Wellington said. “Darrin (Oates) shielded me and gave me great passes.”
Oates led all scorers with 29 and Tyrique McLain added 26 for Wayne Christian in a contest which was close throughout. No team held a double-digit lead and leads were changed five times in the first half. Arendell Parrott (0-1) took an early 13-6 lead on the strength of three of Wooten’s five three-pointers, but Wayne Christian tied the score at 14 after one quarter of play.
The Patriots’ best offensive quarter came in the second, with the team making 10 of 15 shots, including 3 of 4 beyond the arc. Wooten scored 17 of his 22 points in the first half, including a three as time expired to give Arendell Parrott a 37-34 halftime lead. The hot shooting for the Patriots continued, with the team making five of its first six shots. John McLawhorn and Patrick McLawhorn combined four eight points in a 10-4 run to push the Arendell Parrott advantage to nine.
Wayne Christian refused to go down quietly, fighting back and finally tying the contest at 58 with 3:45 to play on a 3-pointer by Oates. Patrick McLawhorn countered with a basket with 3:07 left and two free throws by John McLawhorn with 1:46 to go gave Arendell Parrott a 63-60 advantage.
The Patriots wouldn’t score again, with Wellington providing the big shots and free throws by McLain and Josiah Simmons clinching the win for the Eagles.
Wayne Christian coach Victor Young said he was happy to get the win against a team coached by fellow college alums.
“I graduated from the University of Mount Olive along with (Arendell Parrott coach) Wells Gulledge and assistant coach Dory Hines,” Young said. “It’s a crosstown rival and this has been the best game we’ve played this season. We kept fighting and I told our seniors this is the last time they’re coming to Parrott. In big situations, we had players stepping up to the challenge.”
Gulledge said he liked the play of his team — particularly from Wooten and the double-doubles acquired from the McLawhorns. Patrick had 15 points and 10 rebounds playing his first game as a freshman with John adding 14 points and 12 rebounds.
“First off, congratulations to Victor Young and Wayne Christian,” Gulledge said. “I thought his kids rallied, it was a back-and-forth battle and we left a lot of points around the basket. Kris was big for us in the first half with 17 points, including that big three and I thought we came out well to take the nine-point lead in the third, but (Wayne Christian) beat us off the bounce.
“Our inside game has a lot of promise with John and Harrison. I don’t think we’ve had a pair of bookends like them in a long time. Wayne Christian kept attacking, so we switched to zone and I thought we had tough rotations, but we might have missed one or two when those shots (by Wellington) went in late. You can be pretty good all night, but it only takes one time.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
Wayne Christian 69, Arendell Parrott 63
WC 14 20 15 20 — 69
APA 14 23 17 9 — 63
WAYNE CHRISTIAN — Darrin Oates 29, Tyrique McLain 26, Rashawn Wellington 11, Simmons 3
ARENDELL PARROTT — Kris Wooten 22, Harrison McLawhorn 15, John McLawhorn 14, Spear 4, Banker 4, Farsaie 3, Mayo 1
Fouled out — none
Technical fouls — none
Three pointers — Wayne Christian: Wellington 3, Oates. Arendell Parrott: Wooten 5, Farsaie.
Records: Wayne Christian 4-2, Arendell Parrott 0-1
Posted Nov. 19, 2015 at 10:54 PM
Updated Nov 19, 2015 at 10:55 PM
The initial storyline about Arendell Parrott’s season opener against Wayne Christian was supposed to be about the great play of Kinston transfer Kris Wooten, along with the inside play of John and Harrison McLawhorn.
Rashawn Wellington flipped the script and dynamic with two late shots to help the antagonistic Eagles walk away with a victory.
Wellington’s game-tying 3-pointer with 1:32 remaining and go-ahead downtown shot with 50 seconds left gave Wayne Christian a 69-63 win over Arendell Parrott on Thursday. Before Wellington’s shots, the Eagles (4-2) were just 2 of 14 from beyond the arc before closing the game on a 9-0 run.
“I felt like I needed to step up for my teammates,” Wellington said. “Darrin (Oates) shielded me and gave me great passes.”
Oates led all scorers with 29 and Tyrique McLain added 26 for Wayne Christian in a contest which was close throughout. No team held a double-digit lead and leads were changed five times in the first half. Arendell Parrott (0-1) took an early 13-6 lead on the strength of three of Wooten’s five three-pointers, but Wayne Christian tied the score at 14 after one quarter of play.
The Patriots’ best offensive quarter came in the second, with the team making 10 of 15 shots, including 3 of 4 beyond the arc. Wooten scored 17 of his 22 points in the first half, including a three as time expired to give Arendell Parrott a 37-34 halftime lead. The hot shooting for the Patriots continued, with the team making five of its first six shots. John McLawhorn and Patrick McLawhorn combined four eight points in a 10-4 run to push the Arendell Parrott advantage to nine.
Wayne Christian refused to go down quietly, fighting back and finally tying the contest at 58 with 3:45 to play on a 3-pointer by Oates. Patrick McLawhorn countered with a basket with 3:07 left and two free throws by John McLawhorn with 1:46 to go gave Arendell Parrott a 63-60 advantage.
The Patriots wouldn’t score again, with Wellington providing the big shots and free throws by McLain and Josiah Simmons clinching the win for the Eagles.
Wayne Christian coach Victor Young said he was happy to get the win against a team coached by fellow college alums.
“I graduated from the University of Mount Olive along with (Arendell Parrott coach) Wells Gulledge and assistant coach Dory Hines,” Young said. “It’s a crosstown rival and this has been the best game we’ve played this season. We kept fighting and I told our seniors this is the last time they’re coming to Parrott. In big situations, we had players stepping up to the challenge.”
Gulledge said he liked the play of his team — particularly from Wooten and the double-doubles acquired from the McLawhorns. Patrick had 15 points and 10 rebounds playing his first game as a freshman with John adding 14 points and 12 rebounds.
“First off, congratulations to Victor Young and Wayne Christian,” Gulledge said. “I thought his kids rallied, it was a back-and-forth battle and we left a lot of points around the basket. Kris was big for us in the first half with 17 points, including that big three and I thought we came out well to take the nine-point lead in the third, but (Wayne Christian) beat us off the bounce.
“Our inside game has a lot of promise with John and Harrison. I don’t think we’ve had a pair of bookends like them in a long time. Wayne Christian kept attacking, so we switched to zone and I thought we had tough rotations, but we might have missed one or two when those shots (by Wellington) went in late. You can be pretty good all night, but it only takes one time.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
Wayne Christian 69, Arendell Parrott 63
WC 14 20 15 20 — 69
APA 14 23 17 9 — 63
WAYNE CHRISTIAN — Darrin Oates 29, Tyrique McLain 26, Rashawn Wellington 11, Simmons 3
ARENDELL PARROTT — Kris Wooten 22, Harrison McLawhorn 15, John McLawhorn 14, Spear 4, Banker 4, Farsaie 3, Mayo 1
Fouled out — none
Technical fouls — none
Three pointers — Wayne Christian: Wellington 3, Oates. Arendell Parrott: Wooten 5, Farsaie.
Records: Wayne Christian 4-2, Arendell Parrott 0-1