BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - Five different players in double figures and an early 19-0 run made up a nice introduction to the Arby’s Classic for this Christ School team.
The Greenies will forever hold the distinction as the first-ever North Carolina basketball program to win the 39-year-old holiday tournament (in 2011). The current group of players distinguished themselves in Tuesday’s opening game.
With Wake Forest University coach Steve Forbes looking on, Demon Deacons recruit Bryson Cokley ’24 shared the team lead in scoring with fellow junior Keenan Wilkins ’24 (12 points). Jamari Briggs ’24 added 11 points, while Anthony Robinson ’23 and Emanuel Richards ’23 had 10 each to blow past Virginia’s Gate City, 60-26.
Anthony pulled down a dozen rebounds, too. Thanks to the big run, the Greenies held a commanding 19-6 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter and were ahead, 33-8, at halftime. Christ School is 15-0 for only the second time in school history and only one win away from matching its overall total from the 2022-23 season. Last year's team reached the NCISAA 4-A state quarterfinals.
The rest of the scorers Tuesday for the Greenies were T.J. Hamilton ‘24 (three points), and Diego Rojas-Bowe ‘25 (two). Christ School will face an opponent from the Atlanta area for the third time in two weeks Wednesday when it takes the floor at 4 p.m. against Pace Academy (6-2).