252/919 Winter Classic: Recap/Notes

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The third annual 252/919 Winter Classic presented by BTW Global went off without a hitch at Washington High this past weekend. Take a look at the results and game MVPs from this year's showcase.</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 --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clayton vs. Northern Nash</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Clayton Comets kicked the game off on a 10-0 run to kick off this year's 252/919 Winter Classic led by their frontcourt of [player_tooltip player_id='1365466' first='Andrew' last='Grimes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1212902' first='Justice' last='Mitchell']. Both led the way in the early going to get things going as the Comets looked to build off their victory over conference rival Garner High on Friday night. They thwarted a few runs from the Northern Nash Knights as the Knights wouldn't go quietly. They managed to get the score within single digits a few times but each time, it seemed like the Comets would answer with a run of their own. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2500754' first='Khaleil' last='Walters'] and Mitchell had a few fastbreak dunks and Grimes was impressive with his work in the post throughout to represent for the 919 area code. By halftime, they led by 15 points. The Knights would kick off the second half with some renewed energy before Clayton would call a timeout to stop the run. Northern Nash would battle back and tie things up at 38 halfway through the third quarter. [player_tooltip player_id='1948021' first='CJ' last='Rosser'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1154635' first='Randall' last='King'] were a few of the leading names in getting the Knights back into the game. At one point, Northern Nash would take a 40-38 lead before a big dunk from [player_tooltip player_id='1212902' first='Justice' last='Mitchell'] would wake his squad up. They would go on 6-0 run of their own to make it 44-40, triggering a Northern Nash timeout in turn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Halfway through the 4th, Clayton led by nine. They continued to space the floor with their inside-out attack and extended their lead to double-figures following a 3-pointer from [player_tooltip player_id='1365466' first='Andrew' last='Grimes']. As he finished with 20 points, [player_tooltip player_id='1212902' first='Justice' last='Mitchell'] would take home game MVP honors with a game-high 24 points. Clayton would take home the victory for the 919 with a 73-60 score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2316586,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/GDMRqADXcAAEObE.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/GDMRqADXcAAEObE.jpg?w=544" alt="" class="wp-image-2316586" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Greenfield vs. Southern Wake Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the second game of the day, the Greenfield Knights took on Southern Wake Academy. It was the third straight appearance for the Knights and the first appearance for the Lions as they represented for their respective areas. The Lions would come out swinging in the early going as they would battle with the Knights possession for possession. After 1, the Lions led 14-8. They executed their sets and it was shaping up to be another strong game from the 919 before the 252 would turn things up on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenfield would use a combination of pressure defense and a quick fastbreak to take things over in the second quarter. They would lead 23-21 with 2:20 to go in the first half. The Lions offense would hit a snag to close out the final minutes and by the half, Greenfield lead 33-23 thanks to a 10-2 run to close the half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third quarter, [player_tooltip player_id='1277989' first='Matt' last='Kirby'] took over in a big way as he showed off his ability to push the pace and finish in traffic. He would lead the way for the Knights as he took home game MVP honors with 20 points. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1280938' first='Kobe' last='Edwards'] was right behind him with 19 points while [player_tooltip player_id='1602914' first='Tyler' last='Barnes'] had 16. Greenfield outscored 25-17 in the third quarter to build a 58-40 lead after three. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenfield would control things in the final quarter and hold off the Lions. Although the Lions put up three more points the Greenfield, they managed to control the deficit all the way to victory. In the end, the Knights would take home an 81-66 victory and put the 252 on the board as the record for the event would tie up at 1-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2316592,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_9212.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_9212.jpg?w=819" alt="" class="wp-image-2316592" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hertford County vs. Trinity Academy Raleigh</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was back and forth battle in Game 3 of the 252/919 Winter Classic as the Hertford County Bears took on the Trinity Academy Raleigh Tigers. In the first, both teams came out firing on all cylinders. They showed they weren't afraid to get things going on offense. The Tigers led 20-15 after one quarter thanks to the efforts of [player_tooltip player_id='1076337' first='Kamran' last='Prince'], [player_tooltip player_id='1165160' first='Parker' last='Bye'] and Owen Tucker. Foul trouble would plague the Tigers throughout and allow the Bears to start creating distance in the second half. At the half, the Tigers held onto a 30-28 lead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hertford County would come out with a renewed direction in the second half thanks to eventual game MVP [player_tooltip player_id='1225453' first='Keveon' last='Rodgers']. He was masterful in getting [player_tooltip player_id='2316727' first='Rimiez' last='Williams'] and others involved to flip things around. They would outscore the Tigers 15-4 in the third quarter. After three, the Bears turned things around and led 43-34 heading into the final quarter. The Tigers took their biggest blow of the game when Prince fouled out with 5:59 to go in the game. After that, the Bears took all the momentum for the 252 and would win the game going away, 60-48. The Bears would put 252 back up on the 919 in the win-loss column, making things 2-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2316593,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_9211.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_9211.jpg?w=819" alt="" class="wp-image-2316593" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Garner High vs. Bertie High</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garner High and Bertie High would make their first appearances in the 252/919 Winter Classic. The Trojans made quite the statement with their fast-paced style of play and jumped out to an early lead. After 1, they led 17-12. The Falcons would come out a lot more aggressive in the second quarter led by Zy'miere Dempsey and Tequan Holley. Holley stood out with his athleticism and shot-blocking ability around the rim. Dempsey showed off his ability to knock down shots and operate in space. They outscored the Trojans 11-7 to decrease the deficit in the second quarter. At the half, Bertie held a 24-23 lead in a defensive performance for both teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Falcons struggled from the free-throw line all game long as they missed 12 free throws in the second half. They managed to keep things close, but they couldn't seem to get over the hump. They got to their spots in the paint to create opportunities, they just couldn't seem to close out the visiting 919 squad. The Trojans would go on to give Bertie their first loss on the season, 52-49, to tie things back up at 2-2 in the win/loss column heading into the final game of this year's 252/919 Winter Classic presented by BTW Global. [player_tooltip player_id='2299464' first='Cam' last='Reyes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1596874' first='Tayshaun' last='Whitner'] would take home co-MVP honors as they managed to control things with their ability to make plays and knock down shots when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2316602,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_9210.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_9210.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-2316602" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Washington High vs. Goldsboro High</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the final game of the night, the Washington Pam Pack and Goldsboro Cougars squared off with area bragging rights on the line. The Pam Pack came out swinging in the early going as [player_tooltip player_id='1280985' first='Chaise' last='Smith'] brought the early energy and broke the game open with the first five points. He got Washington out to an early lead in the first frame in front of a sellout crowd. After one, he had Washington up 19-14. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goldsboro wouldn't go away quietly though as they turned things up in the second quarter. [player_tooltip player_id='1076371' first='Amari' last='Latham'], Malik Cadet and [player_tooltip player_id='1076339' first='Jaquan' last='Green'] became staples in the strategy for the Cougars. Green would have his best scoring quarter as he put up seven of his 12 total points in the quarter. His aggression welcomed others to get more aggressive and at the half, the Cougars trailed by just one point to the home team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third quarter, Latham and Tate would get going a whole lot more and the momentum began to shift Goldsboro's way. He scored 11 of his 23 points in the third as they outscored the Pam Pack 19-14. They took a 50-46 into the final quarter. Tate put up nine of his 16 points in the second half. He stepped up in a big way in a starting role. The Pam Pack cooled a bit coming out of the halftime break as it seemed they wouldn't be able to hold home-court advantage in the finale.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the fourth quarter, both teams would trade buckets but the Cougars would manage to hold their own. They managed to stave off the Pam Pack and in the end. They got a 68-62 victory to win this year's event for the 919 in the 252/919 Winter Classic. Green, Latham and Cadet would take home co-MVP honors for the game as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2316614,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_9209.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_9209.jpg?w=832" alt="" class="wp-image-2316614" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->