Something is poetic about a team that was in New Orleans just weeks ago making a postseason run at the height of Mardi Gras.
And did you know that it’s been exactly 100 years since the first season of Christ School basketball? Legendary coach Richard “Fessor” Fayssoux ’1916 started the program with little to no fanfare in the winter of 1922-23. The Greenies’ first gym that wasn’t even a permanent structure.
The coincidences are piling up as Christ School marches on in the NCISAA 4-A playoffs. The Greenies (30-4) can truly become a team of destiny Saturday when they play Carmel Christian (28-3) for a state championship at Forsyth Country Day. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
“It’s hard work every day. There’s no secrets or shortcuts to success,” Coach Josh Coley said.
“The boys took the stairs the entire offseason. They know each other, they feed off each other. And I think that prepared them to go attack their goal which was first to win the conference, and now to be a player in the state. And no matter what happens – obviously we want to come out on top Saturday – the growth of our program has been enormous these last 18-20 months. We’re excited, locked-in, and ready to see if we can go hang a banner.”
The student section was a sea of green Tuesday that became a court-storming tsunami after the Greenies held off visiting Ravenscroft in the semifinals, 52-50.
Carolinas Athletic Association Player of the Year Emanuel Richards ’23 broke a 50-50 tie with his drive that came with 57.6 seconds on the clock. The Ravens (25-7) were down two and had the ball with 8.2 seconds to go. But Lleyton Thomas-Johnson ’24 applied good defense to the shooter and a three-point attempt hit the back of the iron.
Scorers for Christ School were Keenan Wilkins ’24 (19 points), Anthony Robinson ’23 (17), Emanuel (10), Lleyton (four), and Jamari Briggs ’24 (two).
The Greenies led 27-22 at halftime and by as many as eight points in the second half but could never land a knockout blow. Foul trouble plagued the team for the second game in a row with Jamari being called for his fifth with 5:25 remaining.
Lleyton gave the Greenies some nice minutes off the bench, scoring all four of his points in the fourth quarter. Keenan knocked down five 3-pointers.
The teams are much different, especially from Christ School’s vantage point. But Saturday is rematch from last year’s quarterfinals of the NCISAA 4-A playoffs, a game that Carmel easily won, 80-39, on its home floor. The Cougars are the defending state champions, and like the Greenies, have played a rugged schedule this winter. Carmel defeated Charlotte Providence Day, 72-55, in their Tuesday semifinal game.
“We’ve been working really hard this year and putting in the extra time,” Anthony said.
“Losing last year in the quarterfinals was definitely a motivating factor and we all wanted to see if we could go farther this year. The crowd was a big factor tonight. Every time something good happened for us, they got loud. It makes a big difference.”