Knights fall short in first game of John Wall
Posted on December 27, 2021
Greenfield’s Aaron Murphy (13) looks to drive into the paint during a 72-68 loss to Farmville Central at the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh.
Greenfield’s CJ Alston (4) looks to drive past Farmville Central’s Alex Moye (5) during the Knights’ 72-68 loss to the Jaguars in the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh.
Greenfield’s Kyshon Atkinson (5) drives to the basket during the Knights’ 72-68 loss to Farmville Central at the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh.
Greenfield’s Matt Kirby (3) runs the point against Farmville Central at the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh.
By Andrew Schnittker
aschnittker@wilsontimes.com | 252-265-7807 | Twitter: @aschnitt53
RALEIGH — In a battle of top-ranked teams Monday at the John Wall Holiday Invitational, Greenfield School went head to head with Farmville Central at Wake Tech but fell short in a 72-68 loss at Wake Tech North Campus.
Missed opportunities were the story of the game for the Knights (10-4), as they missed a plethora of layups, went 9 for 17 from the free-throw line and had 16 turnovers against the Jaguars (9-0), top-ranked among North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2-A teams and 14th overall in the state. Greenfield, ranked No. 1 among North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A teams and 11th overall statewide, led at halftime and for most of the first three quarters, but unraveled late in the third and early in the fourth quarter, and couldn’t make up the difference late.
“Great high school game,” said Greenfield head coach Rob Salter. “I thought it was between two really good teams. I thought both teams played extremely hard. We blew some opportunities that we had to win the game. We missed too many easy shots. But you’ve gotta give Farmville credit. A couple of those guys made some shots that we would live with. And they stepped up and made it at the big moment. … But I’m proud of our guys. Coming to the (John Wall), great environment, great tournament, I still think it’s the best tournament in the country at Christmas. It’s an honor to be here.”
Aaron Murphy led the Knights with 19 points, followed by Matt Kirby with 17, Kyshon Atkinson with 16 and Hampton Evans with 11. Jayden Pitt led the Jaguars with 18 points, followed by Jah Short with 17 and Alex Moye with 15.
Despite not achieving their goal of advancing to the winner’s bracket, the Knights got the chance to play in an electric atmosphere, with around 1,900 people in attendance.
“I’ve never played in anything like this,” Murphy said. “It’s been wonderful. I always watched it on TV. I’d seen Greenfield a couple years back against that really good Millbrook team. I was like, ‘Man, I always wanted to play in this.’ Today my dream came true.”
The Knights got off to an excellent start in the first quarter, building a 17-8 lead after eight minutes. Greenfield played strong defense and attacked in transition en route to building its early lead.
In the second quarter, however, Farmville Central caught fire. The Jags’ zone defense started to give Greenfield problems as the Knights’ shooting went cold, and turnovers became an issue as the Jaguars were able to cut Greenfield’s lead to 34-32 at halftime.
“I just feel like we were together, and down the stretch we just lost focus,” Murphy said. “We lost focus on the free throws and turnovers. We were together in the first half, and that’s how we were able to keep the lead.”
With Greenfield up 50-43 in the third quarter, the tide turned. An 8-0 run for Farmville Central gave the Knights their first lead of the game with under a minute left in the third.
Farmville Central continued its positive momentum into the fourth quarter, with an 11-1 run to start the frame giving them an 11-point lead. Greenfield seemingly couldn’t buy a basket as the Knights missed several layups in the quarter’s first few minutes before a layup from Murphy cut the deficit to nine.
“Turnovers and offensive rebounds,” Salter said. “We just kind of lost focus a little bit. They’re aggressive. They come at you. You know they’re coming. That’s who they are. I thought in the first half, for the most part, especially the first quarter and a half, we were really good at taking care of the ball. But they went to their 1-3-1, gave us some trouble and they got in their trapping areas. And if you let them get up and going, they’re dangerous.”
That seemed to wake the Knights up, as six straight points brought Greenfield within five with four minutes and change to play. The Knights continued to battle, and CJ Alston knocked down a 3-pointer to bring them within three with about three minutes left.
With Farmville Central up 67-64 with 1:22 left, Evans drew a foul, and hit both his shots to bring Greenfield within one.
The Knights got multiple chances to either tie the game, take the lead or trim their deficit in the final minute, but came up empty.
“It’s frustrating,” Salter said. “But the Wall is different. You’re here playing in front of a fantastic atmosphere. There’s been pressure situations and then there’s the Wall. I always compare it to a state championship-like atmosphere every game. You’ve got to step up and make the shot when it’s your turn, and we didn’t today.”
Greenfield will now face Raleigh Broughton, which lost 70-64 in overtime to Life Christian (Florida) on Monday, at Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.
Posted on December 27, 2021
Greenfield’s Aaron Murphy (13) looks to drive into the paint during a 72-68 loss to Farmville Central at the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh.
Greenfield’s CJ Alston (4) looks to drive past Farmville Central’s Alex Moye (5) during the Knights’ 72-68 loss to the Jaguars in the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh.
Greenfield’s Kyshon Atkinson (5) drives to the basket during the Knights’ 72-68 loss to Farmville Central at the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh.
Greenfield’s Matt Kirby (3) runs the point against Farmville Central at the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh.
By Andrew Schnittker
aschnittker@wilsontimes.com | 252-265-7807 | Twitter: @aschnitt53
RALEIGH — In a battle of top-ranked teams Monday at the John Wall Holiday Invitational, Greenfield School went head to head with Farmville Central at Wake Tech but fell short in a 72-68 loss at Wake Tech North Campus.
Missed opportunities were the story of the game for the Knights (10-4), as they missed a plethora of layups, went 9 for 17 from the free-throw line and had 16 turnovers against the Jaguars (9-0), top-ranked among North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2-A teams and 14th overall in the state. Greenfield, ranked No. 1 among North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A teams and 11th overall statewide, led at halftime and for most of the first three quarters, but unraveled late in the third and early in the fourth quarter, and couldn’t make up the difference late.
“Great high school game,” said Greenfield head coach Rob Salter. “I thought it was between two really good teams. I thought both teams played extremely hard. We blew some opportunities that we had to win the game. We missed too many easy shots. But you’ve gotta give Farmville credit. A couple of those guys made some shots that we would live with. And they stepped up and made it at the big moment. … But I’m proud of our guys. Coming to the (John Wall), great environment, great tournament, I still think it’s the best tournament in the country at Christmas. It’s an honor to be here.”
Aaron Murphy led the Knights with 19 points, followed by Matt Kirby with 17, Kyshon Atkinson with 16 and Hampton Evans with 11. Jayden Pitt led the Jaguars with 18 points, followed by Jah Short with 17 and Alex Moye with 15.
Despite not achieving their goal of advancing to the winner’s bracket, the Knights got the chance to play in an electric atmosphere, with around 1,900 people in attendance.
“I’ve never played in anything like this,” Murphy said. “It’s been wonderful. I always watched it on TV. I’d seen Greenfield a couple years back against that really good Millbrook team. I was like, ‘Man, I always wanted to play in this.’ Today my dream came true.”
The Knights got off to an excellent start in the first quarter, building a 17-8 lead after eight minutes. Greenfield played strong defense and attacked in transition en route to building its early lead.
In the second quarter, however, Farmville Central caught fire. The Jags’ zone defense started to give Greenfield problems as the Knights’ shooting went cold, and turnovers became an issue as the Jaguars were able to cut Greenfield’s lead to 34-32 at halftime.
“I just feel like we were together, and down the stretch we just lost focus,” Murphy said. “We lost focus on the free throws and turnovers. We were together in the first half, and that’s how we were able to keep the lead.”
With Greenfield up 50-43 in the third quarter, the tide turned. An 8-0 run for Farmville Central gave the Knights their first lead of the game with under a minute left in the third.
Farmville Central continued its positive momentum into the fourth quarter, with an 11-1 run to start the frame giving them an 11-point lead. Greenfield seemingly couldn’t buy a basket as the Knights missed several layups in the quarter’s first few minutes before a layup from Murphy cut the deficit to nine.
“Turnovers and offensive rebounds,” Salter said. “We just kind of lost focus a little bit. They’re aggressive. They come at you. You know they’re coming. That’s who they are. I thought in the first half, for the most part, especially the first quarter and a half, we were really good at taking care of the ball. But they went to their 1-3-1, gave us some trouble and they got in their trapping areas. And if you let them get up and going, they’re dangerous.”
That seemed to wake the Knights up, as six straight points brought Greenfield within five with four minutes and change to play. The Knights continued to battle, and CJ Alston knocked down a 3-pointer to bring them within three with about three minutes left.
With Farmville Central up 67-64 with 1:22 left, Evans drew a foul, and hit both his shots to bring Greenfield within one.
The Knights got multiple chances to either tie the game, take the lead or trim their deficit in the final minute, but came up empty.
“It’s frustrating,” Salter said. “But the Wall is different. You’re here playing in front of a fantastic atmosphere. There’s been pressure situations and then there’s the Wall. I always compare it to a state championship-like atmosphere every game. You’ve got to step up and make the shot when it’s your turn, and we didn’t today.”
Greenfield will now face Raleigh Broughton, which lost 70-64 in overtime to Life Christian (Florida) on Monday, at Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.
