Southern Wayne senior forward Ta’Niyah Glaspie looks for an open teammate after grabbing a rebound during a game earlier this season. The Saints (5-2 overall) return to action Wednesday in the second annual Greater Neuse FCA Winter Classic girls’ basketball tournament at Lenoir Community College in Kinston. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s girls face a tough gauntlet of competition during the second annual Greater Neuse River FCA Winter Classic, which begins Wednesday at Lenoir Community College.
The Saints (5-2 overall) have been placed in the four-team pod with perennial Eastern Plains 2A powers Farmville Central and Kinston, and independent 2A member Wayne Country Day.
Spring Creek will participate in the annual Johnstonian Invitational, which is hosted by North Johnston High School. The four-team, two-day fete tips off Wednesday afternoon.
And if basketball isn’t on your holiday calendar, how about wrestling?
Southern Wayne’s matmen, after a four-year absence, return to the prestigious Falcon Invitational. The day-long individual tournament is Dec. 30 at Charles B. Aycock HS.
FCA Classic
KINSTON – The 2022 installment of the three-day event is comprised of 12 teams split into three four-team pods. Instead of crowning an overall winner, each team with the best record in its respective pod is deemed the “Tournament Champion.”
Daily admission is $10.
Kinston awaits Southern Wayne in the opener Wednesday.
The Saints have won 6 of 11 meetings, including a 25-point rout of the Vikings in the inaugural Classic last winter.
On Thursday, Southern Wayne (5-2 overall) has its first-ever encounter against Farmville Central. The Jags have appeared in the the last four 2A state finals, and were named co-state champions with Newton-Conover in 2020 due to COVID.
The final contest is Thursday against Wayne Country Day, which reached the NC Independent Schools Athletic Association 2A semifinals in 2022.
It’s a rematch of last year’s Classic game won by the Saints.
All three contests tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Southern Wayne is led by the “big three” — sophomore guard Nevaeh Hines-Bass, senior forward Ty’Niyah Glaspie and senior forward Jamaiya Bass.
Hines-Bass collects 10 points, three assists and three steals per game. Glaspie, an outstanding indoor and outdoor track athlete, averages seven points 11 rebounds each time she steps onto the court. Bass provides nine points, five rebounds and three steals.
Johnstonian
KENLY – Spring Creek’s boys and girls each look to improve upon last year’s third-place finish at the Johnstonian Invitational.
Directed by first-year head coach and alum Daniel Krentz, the boys oppose Neuse Charter at 4:30 p.m. The Gators (2-7) are eager to avenge last year’s opening-day, invitational loss to the Cougars, who lead the all-time series 5-4.
Senior guard Deyjhon Leonard averages 12.3 points an outing. Sophomore Nathan Jackson knocks down 10.6 points, while freshman Brennan Chambers contributes 6.4.
SC scores 46.7 points a game.
Off to a program-best 6-3 start with head coach Paul Hayes, the Gator girls also face Neuse Charter. The former Carolina 1A rivals square off for the 10th time in their series history at 3 p.m.
North Johnston and Research Triangle battle in the other girls’ and boys’ contests.
Falcon Invitational
PIKEVILLE — Third-year Southern Wayne head coach Tori King has yet to put a full team (14 grapplers) on the mat for either individual or dual-team tournament action this season.
The Saints have competed short-handed due to injuries, illnesses and other factors.
Freshman Omar Soler Sanchez, Lamontez White and Eli Hulet are expected to contend for medals in their respective weight classes. Hulet’s best finish is runner-up at heavyweight in the Saints Takedown Kings Invitational held Nov. 19.
First-round matches begin at 9 a.m.
