MARIETTA, GA. - Bigger isn’t always better.
Christ School varsity basketball overcame a school with nine times its enrollment (Walton, Ga.), and then another Atlanta-area program (Lovett, Ga.), to leave the Lemon Street Classic with a 14-0 record.
Wake Forest University recruit Bryson Cokley ’24 came up with the winning basket and finished with a team-high 20 points in Tuesday’s 68-66 win over Lovett. The junior from Charlotte pivoted from the top of the paint, taking a pass from Jamari Briggs '24 to score with 6.5 seconds left.
A perfect record was seriously in peril before the Greenies turned aside a 36-32 halftime deficit to lead 56-46 at the conclusion of the third quarter.
Christ School beat Walton, 50-48, in another game Monday that came down to the final possession.
“They answered the call in a major way,” Greenies coach Josh Coley said.
“I thought we were really undisciplined in the first half (of the Lovett game). I really challenged them, I really challenged the leadership and the discipline, and who do we become after this game. I thought that Emanuel (Richards ’23) really led our group. He’s not the most vocal guy and he stepped up and said something. I am very proud of him for that. He didn’t’ let anything slide, we competed all throughout.”
Along with Bryson, the scorers for the Greenies in Tuesday's game were: Keenan Wilkins '24 (17 points), Anthony Robinson '23 (13), Jamari Briggs '24 (seven), Emanuel (six), Matthew Pethel '23 (three), and Jo Ahart '25 (two). The leading scorers for Monday's game were Bryson with 15 points, Emanuel (14), Keenan (nine), Jamari (six), Anthony (four), and T.J. Hamilton '24 (two).
The next event for Christ School is the Arby's Classic which is Dec. 27-31 in Bristol, Tenn.