Homecourt advantage is a nice luxury to have. But it cannot really be quantified yet with this Christ School varsity basketball team.
The Greenies are winning big, no matter where they play, by an average of 22.8 points per game. And their record is 11-0 for only the fourth time in school history following another rout Saturday inside Mebane Field House.
Emanuel Richards ’23 was a handful for North Raleigh Christian Academy no matter where he received the ball in a 79-60 win. The Longwood University recruit finished with a team-high 20 points, Jamari Briggs ’24 added 16 points, and Keenan Wilkins ’24 rounded out the scorers in double figures with 12.
Every healthy Greenie saw playing time after Christ School took a 49-28 lead to halftime.
“I thought the Greenie Dome was jumping as usual, which is an extra boost for our boys,” Coach Josh Coley said.
“They guarded well, and we were able to get on a run. It started (Friday) night and I think it carried over. I'm proud of them. You can't simulate the reps our guys are getting right now in practice. It's priceless.”
Saturday’s 2 p.m. tip-off was a quick turnaround for the undefeated team, which blew past Spartanburg Day, 80-39, the night before. The Greenies did not look fatigued at all. Anthony Robinson '23 batted the opening tip to Jamari, who scored just five seconds into the game. There were plenty of highlight-worthy dunks, including a slam in the final minute by senior reserve Ty Dixon ’23 that pumped up the bench.
The rest of the scorers for Christ School were Anthony (eight points), Bryson Cokley ’24 (seven), Lleyton Thomas-Johnson ’24 (five), Matthew Pethel ’23 (four), T.J. Hamilton ‘24 (three), and Jo Ahart ’25 (two).
Coach Coley is pleased overall with his team’s progression ahead of Tuesday’s “Christmas in the Greenie Dome” game with the visiting Greenville (S.C.) Hurricanes. As is tradition, the always boisterous Christ School student section does not cheer until the home team scores its 10th point in what is also known as a “Silent Night Game.”
“Tuesday is special. I didn't quite know how special it was until last year and we hit that 10th point,” Coach Coley said.
“With the community coming out, it's going to be good for the boys and we're really looking forward to it."
JV Greenies 47, North Raleigh Christian 26
Will Sherrill ‘25 (14 points) and Brewer Nitcher ‘25 (11) combined for 25 points and the JV Greenies set the stage for the Varsity with another easy win of their own Saturday.
Christ School (7-1) got the rest of its points from Calvin Williams ‘24 (six points), James DeYoung ‘26 (five), Brody Ballard ‘25 (four), Wells Edwards ‘25 (three), William Neumann ‘24 (three), and Blue Simmons ‘25 (one).
The lineup for Tuesday is a Middle School game between Christ School and the Hurricanes at 4:30 p.m., the JV at 5:30, and the Varsity at 7.