Southern Wayne head coach Brian West, left, pleads his case to an official during last year’s Southern Bank-Mount Olive Pickle Winter Classic. The Saints open Classic play Tuesday afternoon against Wayne Christian. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Prep Academy finished runner-up in the 2020 and 2021 Southern Bank-Mount Olive Pickle Winter Classic tournaments. The Generals won the 2022 Carolina Athletic Association Schools of Choice state title this past winter. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
For the second consecutive year, the reigning Southern Bank-Mount Olive Pickle Winter Classic champion won’t return to defend its title.
Goldsboro, owner of six Classic crowns, has committed to a three-day, post-Christmas tournament on its home court. The Cougars are 20-2 in eight Classic appearances with seven trips to the championship game.
So, the throne is available again.
The 10th installment tips off Tuesday afternoon inside Kornegay Arena on the University of Mount Olive.
Wayne Prep, the Classic runner-up in 2020 and 2021, opens play against Rosewood at 2 p.m. The Generals, directed by first-year head coach Michael Thomas, are the reigning Carolina Athletic Association Schools of Choice state champion.
Southern Wayne and Wayne Christian square off at 3:30 p.m.
South Johnston starts the evening session with a 5:30 p.m. contest against perennial independent schools power Wayne Country Day. James Kenan and Coastal Christian meet in the nightcap at 7 p.m.
The three-day tournament continues through Thursday.
Admission is $10 for a day pass and $25 for a tournament pass.
Six of this year’s eight Classic participants reached the postseason last winter. WCDS appeared in the NC Independent Schools 2A semifinals. Coastal Christian and Wayne Christian were NCISAA playoff qualifiers.
Rosewood and Kenan each advanced to the NC High School Athletic Association postseason.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” said Ronnie Wise, area director of the Greater Neuse River Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “Usually I feel like I have a pretty good idea where all the teams are going to fall by the end of the tournament and I’ve been kinda close. This year I’m a little unsure about it.
“I always have an outside source to help me seed the bracket and it was pretty difficult to get a balanced bracket. I’m excited about seeing the outcome.”
Southern Wayne looks to erase last year’s 0-3 performance.
The Saints dropped outings against Rosewood, Parrott Academy and Kenan.
Junior swingman Chris Carmon averages a team-leading 12.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per outing. Dontae Wright scores at an 8.3 clip, while Chris McDuffie Jr. and Donovan Armwood each knock down seven per game.
Junior Eli Boykins pulls down a team-best 10.2 rebounds.
“Our approach to the tournament is our approach to every game we play,” said second-year SW head coach Brian West. “We’ll do what we do … play our game, defend and see what our chances are to win the basketball game one game at a time.”
Alex Hayden, voice of the UMO Trojans, will handle play-by-play duties.
Wise said all 12 games will be streamed live.
10th annual Southern Bank-MOP Classic
Schedule
Tuesday, Dec. 20
Game 1 – Wayne Prep (10-2) vs. Rosewood (2-2), 2 p.m.
Game 2 – Southern Wayne (3-4) vs. Wayne Christian (5-2), 3:30 p.m.
Game 3 – South Johnston (3-5) vs. Wayne Country Day (11-2), 5:30 p.m.
Game 4 – James Kenan (2-3) vs. Coastal Christian (4-4), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, 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 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 22
Game 9 – 7th place game, 2 p.m.
Game 10 – 5th place game, 3:30 p.m.
Game 11 – 3rd place game, 5:30 p.m.
Game 12 – Championship, 7 p.m.
