Saints, Rebels, Tigers eager for Classic to start

Will the road go through Wayne Country Day again?History favors that scenario.

The Chargers have played in five consecutive Greater Neuse River Fellowship of Christian Athletes Winter Classic championship games since 2018 and won three, including the 2022 crown.

Or will the path go through Wayne Prep Academy?The Generals have finished runners-up in the last three Classics.

“On paper, it seems like it might be anybody’s title [this year],” Southern Wayne head coach Brian West said.

It could happen.

The 11th installment of the three-day, pre-Christmas fiesta begins Wednesday inside Kornegay Arena on the University of Mount Olive campus.

Southern Wayne (3-4 overall) and Wayne Christian tip off at 2 p.m. — an opening-round rematch of last year’s affair won by the Saints.

First-year Classic participant North Duplin meets Wayne Prep at 3:30 p.m. Rosewood and Wayne Country Day square off at 5:30 p.m. A pair of 2A schools — James Kenan and Eastern Wayne — play the nightcap at 7 p.m.Daily game admission is $10.

No tournament passes are available.

“I think now my team is becoming a winner,” said West after a convincing, 11-point win over Eastern Wayne on Dec. 15. “They’re starting to see what’s going on [in games] that I stress in practice. The intensity we put into our effort, the drills we run … everything we do is starting to build their confidence.

“We’re slowly getting to where we want to be.”

The Saints wound up fourth in last year’s Classic after an 0-3 performance in 2020.

North Duplin enters with momentum.

The Rebels (3-3) grinded out a 61-58, non-conference triumph over Jones Senior on Dec. 13. DuJuan Armwood pumped in 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Program newcomer Micah Lesesane delivered a double-double – 16 points, 13 rebounds.

Defense has been the team’s calling card.

Head coach Jeff Byrd has been pleased with both zone and man-to-man tactics that have bothered opponents in the paint and on the perimeter. Lesesane plays on the blocks along with 6-foot-1 senior Thomas Morrisey and the immovable Trashawn Ruffin, a 6-3, 307-pound sophomore.

“I think our [preseason] schedule is going to help us for the conference,” Byrd said. “I don’t know what we’ll do in the next six or seven games, but we’re going to play some big boys [in the Classic].

“Getting ready for the conference is what we want to achieve.”

TJ Oates has emerged as a proven scorer for James Kenan, which is 2-2 after a loss at East Central 2A member Kinston on Dec. 15. The junior guard tallied a career-high 29 points against North Duplin.

Head coach Taylor Jones is also getting production from Tyquise Wilson, Jeremiah Hall, Stephone Stanley, Kel Artis and Darius Howard. Wilson and Hall work together in the backcourt, while Artis has become a force underneath the basket.

A fixture during the Classic’s early days, Eastern Wayne (3-5) is back after nearly a 10-decade absence. The Warriors logged a 2-1 worksheet during the 2015 tournament.

11th Annual

Greater Neuse River

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Winter Classic

(at Kornegay Arena, UMO)

Wednesday, Dec. 20

Game 1: Southern Wayne (3-4) vs. Wayne Christian (5-0), 2 p.m.

Game 2: North Duplin (3-3) vs. Wayne Prep Academy (6-7), 3:30 p.m.

Game 3: Wayne Country Day (7-6) vs. Rosewood (5-2), 5:30 p.m.

Game 4: Eastern Wayne (3-5) vs. James Kenan (2-2), 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 21

Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m.

Game 6: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.

Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 5:30 p.m.

Game 8: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 22

Seventh Place

Game 9: Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 2 p.m.

Fifth Place

Game 10: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 3:30 p.m.

Third Place

Game 11: Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 5:30 p.m.

Championship

Game 12: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 7 p.m.