NC’s Greenfield School a champion at John Wall Invitational basketball tourney
Kobe Edwards was a factor all game long for Greenfield School in Tuesday’s final of the Day’Ron Sharpe bracket at the John Wall Holiday Invitational.
When Coronado punched the Knights in the mouth early, Edwards kept his team close. When they needed a late rally, he was a catalyst. And when they needed a defensive stop in overtime, even though he was playing with four fouls, Edwards again delivered.
Behind Edwards’ 20 points, six rebounds and multiple other intangibles, Greenfield School of Wilson held off Coronado of Henderson, Nevada, 64-61 in overtime, to win the bracket championship.
Edwards, who has committed to play college basketball for Elon, finished the tournament with 60 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists over three games to earn tournament MVP honors.
Braxton Dubose led another trio of Greenfield players in double figures with 13 to go with eight rebounds. Johnny Winborne added 12 points and Cameron Moore chipped in 11.
Coronado took the home crowd out of the game early, and maintained its advantage all the way to halftime, posting an 11-point lead at the break. Greenfield struggled to hit shots in the opening half, particularly in the second quarter.
Edwards was a bright spot in the early going for Greenfield, helping keep the Knights close, particularly late in the first quarter.
The Cougars kept Greenfield at bay through most of the third quarter, as well, but the Knights started to creep back into the contest, thanks again to Edwards. Back-to-back baskets early in the fourth quarter cut the Coronado lead to eight, and then Greenfield closed to within three with about four minutes to play.
After the teams battled back and forth into the final seconds, Munir Greig had a chance to put Coronado in front, but missed at the rim. Greenfield then had its chance, but Johnny Winborne’s layup at the horn wouldn’t go, fittingly sending the contest into overtime.
Greig finished with 14 points for the Cougars, while Amare Oba led the team with 17 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
Coby White boys’ bracket championship
Spire 63, Southeastern Prep 57
A halftime deadlock must have felt like a blessing for Spire Academy, which found itself in an early hole against Southeastern Prep Academy in the final of the Coby White bracket at the John Wall Holiday Invitational on Tuesday.
On the strength of a three-pronged attack featuring King Gibson, Darrell Davis and Dorian Rinaldo-Komlan, Spire ran up a 14-point lead by the end of the third quarter and held off SEPA for a 63-57 win in the bracket final.
Gibson led Spire with 16 points. Rinaldo-Komlan had 14 with eight rebounds, and Davis added 12 in the win. Tarris Bouie also had eight boards for Spire.
Southeastern Prep had the early edge after handling Spire’s pressure while playing some solid defense of its own. Spire, though, crept back into the game in the second quarter, in part by slowing the tempo, and forced a tie game headed into halftime.
Obinna Ekezie led all players with 17 points for Southeastern Prep. Beckham Black added 15 and CJ Rosser had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
Wonderland girls’ bracket championship
Princess Anne 70, Bullis 57
Micah Ojo threw up a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds to help lead Princess Anne of Virginia to a 70-57 win over Bullis School of Maryland in the Wonderland bracket final at the John Wall Holiday Invitational on Tuesday.
Jizzelle James added 18 points for Princess Anne, while Maya Land-Dailey added 11.
Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka was again strong for Bullis, stuffing the scoresheet with 30 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists.
The win is Princess Anne’s 53rd consecutive victory, per MaxPreps.
Consolation games
The Burlington School 84, Millbrook 62
Four players scored at least 17 points as The Burlington School finished its week at the John Wall Holiday Invitational strong with an 84-62 win over Millbrook of Raleigh on Tuesday in the seventh-place game of the Coby White bracket.
Geren Holmes led Burlington with 21 points, while Drew Johnson added 20. Julian Lowe had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Kamari Nicholson also netted 17 in the win.
Josh Conti led all players with 24 points for Millbrook, which started strong and actually held the lead after the first quarter. Matt Kuppinen added 18 for the Wildcats.
Ambassador Christian 57, Davidson Day 40
RJ Moore led all players with 23 points to help lift Ambassador Christian to a 57-40 win over Davidson Day in the fifth-place game of the Coby White bracket at the John Wall Holiday Invitational on Tuesday.
Moore was 5-for-10 from the 3-point line. Judah King added 14 points for Ambassador Christian.
Cody Peck led Davidson Day with 11 points, the lone member of his team to reach double digits.
Greensboro Day 69, IMG 59
IMG Academy had three players score in double figures, but it had little answer for Micah Gunter as Greensboro Day rode 24 points and solid all-around play from Gunter to a 69-59 win in the third-place game of the Coby White bracket of the John Wall Holiday Invitational on Tuesday.
Gunter reached 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Marty Giant added 14 for Greensboro Day, and Grant Duggins chipped in 11 in the win.
IMG, which is missing Hillsborough native and N.C. State commit Cole Cloer after a preseason injury, got 17 points from Trey Beamer, 14 from Chase Foster and 10 from Aziz Olajuwon in the loss.
In a bit of news this week, Cloer has registered for spring classes at N.C. State and will continue his injury rehab with the Wolfpack’s medical team.
Highland School 77, Wilson 50
Eleven of the 12 players on Highland School’s roster registered at least a point and all 12 active players attempted at least one shot as the Hawks of Warrenton, Virginia, rolled to a 77-50 win over Wilson of Florence, South Carolina, in the third-place game of the Day’Ron Sharpe bracket of the John Wall Holiday Invitational on Tuesday.
Shivas Taylor led the balanced Highland attack with 14 points and seven rebounds. Jayden Banks added 12 points for the Hawks, and Jaeden Palmer chipped in with 11.
Wilson’s Josh Leonard led his team with 22 points and 11 rebounds for the double-double. Isaiah Addison added 16 in the loss.