Wilson Prep wrapped up an unbeaten and largely unchallenged 1-A Eastern Carolina Athletic Conference regular season with a 92-21 thrashing of North Edgecombe on Friday night, Feb. 13, at the “Tigers Den.”
With an average winning margin of nearly 50 points (49.8) in 10 conference games, the Tigers capped it with their biggest winning margin of the season overall. Wilson Prep’s 18th consecutive win left it 19-3 overall and ranked No. 2 in NCHSAA 1-A RPI while the Warriors tied for fourth place at 4-6 while exiting 8-10 overall.
Senior Hailee Thoms topped the Tigers with a game-high 20 points to go with five rebounds and four assists while sophomore MyAngel Brimage produced 10 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Sophomore Paris Best totaled 13 points, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds and freshman Chloe Murphy put up 11 points, five steals, four assists and two rebounds. Kaiden Brown added nine points and five rebounds.
Cyclones fight past Faith to end regular season
GOLDSBORO — Community Christian assured itself of no worse than the No. 3 seed—or more likely, the No. 2 seed—for the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Christian Athletic Association 2-A tournament with a 39-27 triumph Thursday in the regular-season finale at Faith Christian.
The Cyclones, 12-6 overall, went 7-3 against MACAA foes and that should make them No. 2 unless top-seeded and unbeaten New Bern Christian falls next week to Gramercy Christian, which would then grab the second seed.
Community Christian surged ahead of Faith Christian (7-11, 3-7 MACAA), coached by Wilson native and former Fike head coach Kim Howard, in the second quarter and built on its lead mostly through defense. No Cyclone scored in double figures as the team used a balanced attack.
The most eye-popping statistics for CCS was 20 rebounds by Libby Bass, who also had four points, three steals and two blocks.
“She played outstanding on the defensive end of the court as she was matched up against their leading scorer, and she got rebound after rebound after rebound,” said CCS head coach Carl Bradshaw.
Tyana Edmondson scored eight points to go with six assists and four rebounds while Autumn Bradshaw added seven points and four steals.
“Tonight’s game was so much fun to be part of,” Carl Bradshaw added. “Kim always has her team ready to play, and Faith came out tonight and showed so much determination. Our girls showed grit, and they showed that they are ready to compete in the MACAA tournament next week.”
BOYS BASKETBALL
CCS denied perfect MACAA run
GOLDSBORO — Community Christian’s goal of a third straight Mid-Atlantic Christian Athletic Association 2-A championship hit a speed bump Thursday as host Faith Christian seized a 74-71 victory that was the first loss for the Cyclones in 10 games against MACAA opponents.
CCS, now 19-6 overall, saw its eight-game winning streak halted as the Conquerors, now 18-2, took revenge for a 27-point loss in Wilson on Dec. 12 by matching the Cyclones’ 9-1 league record. Faith Christian is coached by former Beddingfield High head coach Jeremy Howard.
The teams will likely get a rubber match next weekend at the MACAA 2-A tournament at Campbell University.
“This was a great game,” CCS head coach Derrick Atkinson said. “It was intense. This is the way a basketball game is supposed to be played. I’m looking forward for the MACAA state championship next weekend.”
Pierce Stone led CCS with 19 points while Evan Gattis had 14 points, five assists and four rebounds. Jack Beamon posted 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks while Sam Allegood added 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Chason Bryant contributed seven points and six rebounds.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Cyclone girls reach final
The Community Christian girls basketball season is ending in a whirl as the Cyclones won twice Friday to reach the Mid-Atlantic Christian Athletic Association championship game following a victory in Thursday’s regular-season finale.
CCS, now 13-3 and the No. 3 seed, will take on tournament host Trinity Christian on Saturday afternoon in the championship game at Parkers Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. The teams split their two regular-season meetings.
The Cyclones earned a spot in the final with a 21-4 shutdown of Gramercy Christian in the semifinals Friday evening at Parkers Chapel. CCS, which lost 21-14 at Gramercy on Tuesday, focused on shutting down Gramercy standout AJ Morris. Trinity Bolden and Julianne Batten combined to hold her to a point.
Tyana Edmondson led CCS with nine points and eight rebounds while Bolden and Claire Boswell each had four points. Bolden added six steals and Boswell had six rebounds.
Boswell led the way with eight points to go with four rebounds in Community Christian’s 22-11 defeat of Christ Covenant in the first game Friday. Bolden supplied six points, five steals and two rebounds.
The Cyclones concluded an 8-2 MACAA regular season Thursday with a 26-7 victory at Faith Christian in Goldsboro.
Boswell had 12 points and three rebounds while Isabella Ford contributed four points, three rebounds and two assists. Paisley Jackson snatched a team-high five rebounds.
CCS boys also earn finals appearance
Both Community Christian junior varsity teams will play for Mid-Atlantic Christian Athletic Association titles after the Cyclone boys thumped Trinity Christian 38-22 in Friday’s semifinals at Parkers Chapel Church.
CCS will take a 15-2 mark into Saturday’s final against Gramercy Christian.
Luke Allegood led the Cyclones with 17 points to go with six rebounds while Ashton Bradshaw netted 10 points and Ryan Starling yanked down 10 rebounds.
Community Christian ended its regular season Thursday with a 48-16 victory at Faith Christian in Goldsboro.
Allegood again led the way with 11 points while Starling, Drake Bass and Ethan Barnes each scored six points.