LEWISVILLE - Emanuel Richards ’23 clapped his hands to demand the inbounds pass, dribbled once, and then slung the basketball with all his might.
With that, the horn sounded and the celebration was officially on as Christ School students poured out of the bleachers.
Everyone knows that North Carolina is synonymous with basketball. There wasn’t a better high school team anywhere in the state than the Greenies on Saturday.
They led favored Carmel Christian for the large majority of the NCISAA 4-A championship game. Every time the Cougars made a run, Christ School counterpunched. One last flurry put the Greenies over the top for a 53-48 win.
#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/b5TXZrF9h0
— Christ School Athletics (@greeniesports) February 26, 2023
Emanuel (16 points), Jamari Briggs ’24 (12) and Bryson Cokley ’24 (10) reached double figures and Christ School returned to the mountaintop with its seventh state championship in the basketball program’s 100th year of existence.
“It feels amazing. To turn the whole basketball program around in two years and get a state championship is a blessing. I’m just thankful,” Emanuel said.
“It was a great season. With a lot of juniors, I knew that myself and (Anthony Robinson ’23) had to step up and be the vocal leaders so they can keep this going when we’re gone.”
The core of Christ School’s team arrived on campus in the summer of 2021, as did coach Josh Coley. The program had gone 3-13 the previous season.
“When they came in, they didn’t know me and had no reason to believe I could coach even a little bit,” Coach Coley said.
“But they trusted that our staff had a plan for them, and they’ve never wavered. They’ve grown so much and I really appreciate them for trusting us to coach them.”
Eight of the wins for Christ School (31-4) this season came by five or less points, including Saturday. Carmel (28-4) was the defending NCISAA 4-A champion and many had predicted another coronation at the Greenies’ expense. Instead, Christ School led 16-7 at the end of the first quarter, 25-22 at halftime, and 35-34 entering the fourth.
“Those close games prepared us for tonight. The hard practices prepared us for tonight,” Coach Coley said.
“That’s why our guys never wavered down the stretch. They showed the same grit that we’ve had all year. They were mentally-tough. They were locked-in. Honestly, they were patient with our plan. Even when (Carmel) went on runs, we stayed solid. I’m proud of them, very proud of them.”
Gonna need everyone’s sizes. #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/WJVxMueaQT
— Christ School Athletics (@greeniesports) February 26, 2023
The rest of Christ School’s scorers were Keenan Wilkins ’24 (seven points), Anthony (four), and Lleyton Thomas-Johnson '24 (four).
Christ School’s previous six state championships in basketball came in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Two of Carmel’s assistant coaches, Chavis Holmes ’05 and Travis Holmes ’05, were part of the 2005 Christ School team coached by David Gaines ’84.
More photos from Saturday can be viewed at this link.