RALEIGH – Keenan Wilkins ’24 was powerless to stop the bearhug of Jamari Briggs ’24. Next thing you know, the two seniors were lying in a pile of bodies on the court with teammates rushing over to pick them up.
Ah, the exhilaration of back-to-back state championships.
Mikey Wilkins ’25 (17 points, nine rebounds) and Keenan (16) combined for 33 points and Christ School reached the pinnacle of NCISAA basketball for the eighth time Saturday afternoon. The Greenies controlled the boards, defended well, and led Charlotte Providence Day from start to finish in the 4-A state final at Ravenscroft School, 56-45.
Madden Collins ’25 (eight points), T.J. Hamilton ’24 (six), Bryson Cokley ’24 (five), and Jamari ’24 (four) were the other scorers for the Greenies (26-5).
Unlike last year when the team upset Carmel Christian in the championship game, Christ School was the one that everybody else in NCISAA 4-A had been gunning for since the season began in November.
“It’s surreal. I don’t even know how to explain it,” Keenan said.
“I could tell on the bus ride here that we were ready. We wanted it more.”
Neither team shot the ball particularly well, but the Greenies didn’t need to. Sound defense and second-chance points were what won the day.
Mikey had six of his points in the first quarter and Christ School turned a 24-18 halftime lead into a 38-25 margin after three quarters. To their credit, the Chargers (25-9) then cut the lead down to as few as four but got no closer. The Greenies scored 14 of their 18 fourth-quarter points from the foul line.
Mikey ended up with the ball in his hands as the final horn sounded.
“It hasn’t really kicked in yet,” Mikey said of his first state championship.
“I was there last year when they won it. Since then, I’ve wanted to come and be part of this.”
Saturday was the final game as Greenies for nine seniors – Bryson, Jamari, Keenan, T.J., Bruce White ’24, Calvin Williams ’24, Cole Boyer ’24, Jozohn Price ’24, and Lleyton-Thomas Johnson ’24.
“It’s a great feeling, honestly,” Lleyton said.
“This is my second year at Christ School, so I went 2-for-2. It’s great to have built a relationship with these guys and to go out with a bang. We’d been talking about it all season, so it was great to carry out.”
Third-year head coach Josh Coley has now led the Greenies to 73 wins in that time. The two state championships pair with back-to-back titles in the Carolinas Athletic Association, including an 8-0 run through the league this winter.
“I thought we prepared well. We had their full attention in the film room, their full attention in the weight room, and full attention out on the floor. And it showed,” Coach Coley said.
“And our defense traveled. It made it down to Raleigh, and that’s big, because that’s who we are. It’s a testament to the work that they’ve put in. I’m very proud of them. I’m forever grateful and honored to have been their coach. Providence Day is one of the most well-coached teams in the state of North Carolina. So, for us to respond and do what we did again them, it really shows a lot.”