Around the State: NCHSAA 3A Coastal Conference

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">There are a few teams making noise in the NCHSAA 3A Coastal Conference worth taking note of as the high school basketball season approaches conference play. </h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: <strong>JAYANDERSON30</strong>, sign up <a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>TODAY</strong></a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Croatan High (10-0)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Croatan Cougars are leading the charge as the early favorite to emerge in the NCHSAA's 3A Coastal Conference halfway through the month of December. The Cougars are 10-0 with 6-foot guard [player_tooltip player_id='2298572' first='Trey' last='Jones'] leading the way for them. He's averaging 20.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.0 APG and 2.7 SPG on 56 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent shooting from deep. He's slowly working his way off the PH Watch List in 2025. He's knocked down 17-of-34 3-pointers through 10 games and shown his overall presence in the backcourt while freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2272084' first='Kannon' last='McBride'] has emerged on the perimeter as well. McBride is shooting 37 percent from deep (28-of-76) while posting 13.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.8 APG and 2.5 SPG. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2236583' first='Matthew' last='Crittenden'] is coming along in the frontcourt as well, producing 4.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 1.6 BPG. They're an underrated group with a chance to make some noise in the East.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Swansboro High (6-1)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swansboro High has won five games in a row since losing their second game of the season to Laney High, 55-54. They made easy work of Lejeune, 94-49, this past Thursday. Their junior trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1361282' first='Jermaine' last='Cunningham'], [player_tooltip player_id='1990376' first='Jonah' last='Holt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1990377' first='Tay' last='Tangiora'] have them playing a strong brand of basketball. They outscored Lejeune High 20-4 in the fourth quarter. Cunningham is leading the way for them with 15.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.3 APG and 2.8 SPG. Holt is right behind him with 15.2 PPG, 10.3 RPG and 4.0 APG. Tangiora is producing 14.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 3.0 APG and 1.3 BPG in the frontcourt. They're a solid bunch for DII programs in the region to get eyes on and are slowly figuring out how to find success on the floor together. They'll be tough to beat when conference play arrives in January. They'll face Jacksonville High this Tuesday on the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">White Oak High (6-1)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The White Oak Vikings are another squad in the Coastal Conference with a one-point loss to Laney High on their record heading into a new week. They're fresh off a victory against Wake Forest High in the Dexter Cooley Showcase. Unsigned seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1076356' first='Derrick' last='Benbow Jr'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2299516' first='Zak' last='Noel'] have been the leaders on the floor while 2025 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1226607' first='Curtis' last='Jackson'] continues to show he can contribute in a variety of ways. Benbow has fit in quite nicely as a new face, posting 18.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.8 SPG and 2.7 APG. Noel is holding things down at the forward spot with 13.7 PPG and 8.0 RPG. Jackson is filling up the stat sheet with 13.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.5 APG and 2.3 SPG. They're a well-coached group that's tough to defeat when they're firing on all cylinders. They'll travel to Independence High on Dec. 21-22 for games against Mill Creek (GA) and Andrews (SC).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">West Carteret High (5-4)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025s Nehemiah Hester and [player_tooltip player_id='2043886' first='Jaylen' last='Hewitt'] are just scratching the surface of what they're capable of on the hardwood. It wouldn't be too surprising to see the Patriots upset a team or two in the race to the top of the Coastal Conference standings. Sawyer Davis and Jejuan Tripp are also names to know with this group. They've won two games in a row heading into the holiday break and aren't a team to sleep on with a 5-4 record currently. They'll face Kinston High and Havelock High on Tuesday and Wednesday night this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->