Wayne Country Day point guard Camden Tyler recorded a triple-double - 11 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Prep Academy’s Jabrion Armstrong (0) attempts to block a shot by Wayne Country Day’s Jeremiah Mercer. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Country Day’s Jeremiah Mercer has his shot contested by Wayne Prep’s Zach Golden during first-half play Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Country Day’s Jeremiah Mercer is surrounded by Wayne Prep Academy defenders on this shot attempt underneath the basket. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Country Day has won all nine meetings against Wayne Prep Academy. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Country Day’s Jalen Solomon looks for an open teammate after grabbing a rebound Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Prep’s Gaven Proctor (34) has his shot contested by a Wayne Country Day defender during first-period play Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Christian’s Nate Pack (0) and teammate Justin Weaver (35) scramble for possession of a loose ball with Eastern Wayne defenders Bobby Tann (12) and Shayon Faircloth (10). (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Christian’s Justin Weaver (35) fights to keep control the ball against Eastern Wayne. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Christian defender MIles Hamm gets a knee to the chest as he attempts to draw a charging foul against Eastern Wayne. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Eastern Wayne’s Charlie Thomas (20) goes up for two against Wayne Christian defender Jalen Watkins (24) on Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Eastern Wayne’s Micah Lesasene scores against Wayne Christian. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Christian guard Miles Hamm (14) looks for an open teammate as Eastern Wayne’s Micah Lesasene guards him Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Eastern Wayne’s Zavion Burden (1) scores against Wayne Christian’s Nasir Greenfield. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
James Kenan’s Tyquise Wilson hustles for a loose ball against Southern Wayne’s Demetrius Elliott near midcourt Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
James Kenan’s TJ Oates (5) scores as Southern Wayne’s Demetrius Elliott (1) trails on the play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
James Kenan’s Stephone Stanley (3) strips the ball away from Southern Wayne’s Demetrius Elliott (1). (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
James Kenan’s Zamarion Smith (2) gets trapped between Southern Wayne’s Demetrius Elliott (front) and Hayden Stroud (back) on Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Jayden Moore (21) drops in a bucket against James Kenan on Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
James Kenan’s TJ Oates knocks the ball away from a Southern Wayne player underneath the basket Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Jayden Hardy (15) bodies up against James Kenan’s TJ Oates and scores Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Rosewood’s Braxson Waters takes the ball from teammate Montavion Jones after he and a North Duplin defender scrambled for a loose ball at midcourt. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Rosewood’s Bryson Hobbs (with ball) attempts to score against North Duplin senior Luke Kelly. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Donavan Armwood (right) chases down a loose ball after he knocks it away from Rosewood’s Montavian Jones. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Branson Martin (20) scores against Rosewood’s Bryson Hobbs. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Somewhere in this pile of players, Rosewood’s Gage Lewis and teammate Braxson Waters battle with North Duplin’s Luke Kelly for possession of a loose-ball rebound. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Luke Kelly gets fouled by Rosewood’s Montavian Jones during first-period play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Rosewood’s Tielen McCrae looks for an open teammate after getting trapped by North Duplin’s Luke Kelly, middle, and teammate Lucas Dail on Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Revenge times two.
A milestone.
Dominance continues.
Those were the major storylines during final-day action of the 12th annual Greater Neuse River Fellowship of Christian Athletes Winter Classic on Monday afternoon.
Jeremiah Mercer earned Most Valuable Player (MVP) accolades and helped Wayne Country Day “three-peat” as Classic champion with a 74-38 romp over Wayne Prep Academy.
Teammate Marcel Freeman reached the 2,000-point plateau with a 10-point effort for the Chargers, who have won five Classic trophies overall since 2014.
Just 13 days ago, James Kenan suffered a home loss against Southern Wayne. Tyquise Wilson and Zamarion Smith delivered 15 points apiece for the Tigers, who avenged that setback in resounding fashion, 66-51.
Rosewood and North Duplin have been Carolina 1A Conference rivals for 50-plus years. The Eagles had endured three consecutive losses in the series, including the tournament final in Calypso last winter.
Not this time.
Second-team All-Classic pick Bryson Hobbs dropped in 15 points for the Eagles, who soared 63-54 in the seventh-place game contested inside Kornegay Arena on the University of Mount Olive campus. Rosewood picked up its 32nd triumph in 37 tries over ND since 2010.
One of three teams picked to contend for the Classic championship, athletic and taller Eastern Wayne overpowered Wayne Christian, 89-30, in the third-place game. It was the Warriors’ best Classic finish since 2014.
WCDS 74, Wayne Prep Academy 38
Fouled on a 3-point attempt with a continuous running clock ticking away the seconds, Freeman easily nailed all three free throws to achieve his feat.
Head coach Jeff Davis shook his hand and Freeman received high-fives from his teammates on the bench.
First-team All-Classic honoree Camden Tyler logged a triple-double – 11 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists. Fellow first-team All-Classic recipient Jeremiah Mercer scored 18 points.
Solomon finished with 16.
The Chargers (14-3) became just the second team in Classic history to “three-peat” since Goldsboro claimed three titles from 2015-17. Each traditional powerhouse has six Classic championship trophies in their possession.
Wayne Prep’s Gaven Proctor knocked down 14 points and earned a nod on the All-Classic first team. Teammate Zach Golden was a second-team All-Classic selection.
The Generals (11-4) have emerged as the Classic runners-up in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024.
James Kenan 66, Southern Wayne 51
“We’re going to junk it up,” Tigers head coach Taylor Jones said moments before tip-off against the Saints.
His planned work.
Southern Wayne never solved a variety of defenses – including a triangle-and-two and box-and-one scheme – against the backcourt of Kairell Evans and Demetrius Elliott. Neither could find any suitable shooting room on the perimeter.
The ploys enabled James Kenan to flip a one-point deficit into an eight-point lead it would never relinquish after the opening quarter.
Up 29-25 at the break, the Tigers uncorked a 14-3 run.
They converted seven of their first nine shots from the floor, including offensive putbacks by Wilson and second-team All-Classic honoree TJ Oates.
“Let’s go white, keep playing,” SW head coach Brian West said to his team on numerous possessions.
However, James Kenan continue to exploit Southern Wayne’s weaknesses and returned home to Warsaw with its fourth win of the young season.
Oates finished with 14 points.
Evans dumped in 14 for the Saints, who departed 2-6 in eight outings. The 6-foot-2 sophomore tallied 73 points during the three-day event and earned second-team All-Classic recognition.
Jayden Hardy contributed 12 points, followed by Jayden Moore with 10. Elliott knocked down nine points – all from 3-point range.
Rosewood 63, North Duplin 54
Branson Martin grabbed the defensive board and converted a coast-to-coast layup barely one minute into the third quarter.
The Rebels led 37-26.
Foul trouble became an issue for ND.
Rosewood ramped up its defensive pressure.
Each eventually factored in the outcome.
Donovan Armwood picked up his fourth foul and headed to the bench. He watched Robbie Boren swish two free throws, which pushed the Eagles ahead 42-41 with 1:52 left in the third quarter.
Moments later, the Rebels’ DuQuan Stevens fouled out.
Boren scored again to make it 44-41 and Armwood answered. Talan Collins hit the front end of a two-shot foul. Rosewood led 45-43 after three quarters on the strength of a 19-3 run.
“I thought we grew up a little bit today and possibly took a step in the right direction,” RHS head coach Michael Gurganus said. “[I’m] proud of the guys and how they were able to stay composed down the stretch in this game.”
Holden Williams’ layup off Armwood’s steal knotted the game at 47-47. Braxson Waters drained a 3-pointer before Armwood converted an old-fashioned, three-point play.
Just 39 seconds later, Armwood picked up his fifth foul.
The Eagles broke the 50-50 tie on two Hobbs free throws. Montavion Jones scored off Collins’ assist after a turnover. Waters provided two free throws and CJ Lucas’ offensive putback stretched the margin to 58-51.
Branson Martin closed the gap to 58-53 on a steal and layup, but North Duplin (0-6 overall) couldn’t get any closer.
Waters dropped in 17 for the Eagles, who improved to 3-4 this season. Collins ended up with nine.
Martin, who received second-team All-Classic accolades, ended the night with 14 points. Armwood added 14, while Williams supplied 12.
Eastern Wayne 89, Wayne Christian 30
Disappointed from a semifinal-round loss, the Warriors took out their frustrations on the Eagles.
They tallied 14 second-chance points during the opening quarter and led 28-10 once the buzzer sounded.
Nothing changed from that point.
Eastern Wayne’s athleticism, height and quickness in transition proved too much for youth-ladened Wayne Christian.
Second-team All-Classic selection Charlie Thomas paced the Warriors’ offense with 17 points. Michael Bailey and Zavion Burden knocked down 14 apiece, while Micah Lesasene scored 10.
In all, 10 EW players scratched in the scorebook.
Jalen Watkins paced the Eagles with 10 points. Javion Goodman, a second-team All-Classic pick, tallied nine. Nasir Greenfield registered five points.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
2024 Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Winter Classic
(at Kornegay Arena, UMO)
Friday’s games
Wayne Christian 61, Rosewood 55
Wayne Prep 79, Southern Wayne 62
Wayne Country Day 85, North Duplin 48
Eastern Wayne 75, James Kenan 61
Saturday’s games
James Kenan 80, North Duplin 67
Southern Wayne 72, Rosewood 33
Wayne Country Day 70, Eastern Wayne 54
Wayne Prep Academy 72, Wayne Christian 55
Monday’s games
Seventh Place
Rosewood 63, North Duplin 54
Fifth Place
James Kenan 66, Southern Wayne 51
Third Place
Eastern Wayne 89, Wayne Christian 30
Championship
WCDS 74, Wayne Prep Academy 38
•
2024 Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Winter Classic
All-Tournament Teams
MVP: Jeremiah Mercer (WCDS)
First Team: Jalen Solomon (WCDS), Camden Tyler (WCDS), Gaven Proctor (Wayne Prep), Javion Goodman (Wayne Christian), Charlie Thomas (Eastern Wayne).
Second Team: Zach Golden (Wayne Prep), TJ Oates (James Kenan), Kairell Evans (Southern Wayne), Branson Martin (North Duplin) and Bryson Hobbs (Rosewood).
