MATTHEWS - Deep in the recesses of a gym that could not legally hold another person Tuesday night, Christ School players rapped and danced to “Take Over Your Trap,” the 2016 hip-hop song that has become an anthem for winning road teams in sports. 

The music fit the mood. And it was a nice postgame moment, but only a moment before the tone in the locker room shifted to what’s next. 

Guards make the world go around for Christ School. 

Further confirmation is that three leaders of the backcourt have been picked for the March 2 N.C. Private School All-Star Basketball Game in Charlotte – Jamari Briggs ’24, Bryson Cokley ’24, and Keenan Wilkins ’24. 

Something felt off Saturday – like Christ School needed to recalibrate for its first competitive game in weeks. 

T.J. Hamilton ’24 was ready and able to be part of the solution.

Cousins, and now Co-MVPs. 

Their first season as high school teammates could not have gone much better – point guard Keenan Wilkins ’24 and power forward Mikey Wilkins ’25 have been named the Co-Players of the Year in Carolinas Athletic Association basketball. 

It’s winning time. 

Those are the words that Christ School coach Josh Coley wants his players to fixate on as they open the NCISAA 4-A basketball playoffs as a sneaky No. 3 seed. 

Patterson Dew ’24 came out dressed like he normally would be for Senior Night.

Give the beloved team manager and Christ School’s coaching staff an award for craftiness because their surprise was yet to come. 

Just in time for a playoff run, Lleyton Thomas-Johnson ’24 has taken away the distraction of where he will play college basketball. 

Lleyton announced Thursday on his social media that he has verbally committed to Washington University in St. Louis. 

Water seeping out of the Christ School locker room and into the hallway told the story Thursday night – order has been restored to Carolinas Athletic Association basketball.

The players got a little carried away with celebrating an 8-0 run through the conference – but who could blame them?

Cole Boyer ’24 threw up a lob that was intended to be an alley-oop Tuesday but had the presence of mind to keep trailing the play. 

Sure enough, a rebound came back down into the senior’s hands, who stuck it back in for two of his team-high 14 points. For better or worse, it was that kind of night for Christ School basketball, who took care of the fundamentals and turned up the defensive heat on Rabun Gap for a 69-39 home win.  

Any basketball team with championships in mind better have a sense of urgency as February approaches.

Christ School looked ready for postseason mode throughout a two-game homestand Friday and Saturday.

One month and seven days.

The No. 1 ranked team in NCISAA basketball was beyond overdue for a home game and all the comforts that come with it. Christ School showed in flashes why it is 6-0 in Mebane Field House this season, wearing down Wando (S.C.), 76-44.

The Greenies (17-4) outscored the Warriors (12-9) in every quarter Friday, getting the bulk of their points from Keenan Wilkins ’24 (15 points), George Mason recruit Bryson Cokley ’24 (12), Jozohn Price ’24 (11), and USC Upstate recruit Jamari Briggs ’24 (10).  

ASHEVILLE - Carter Gym had been a house of horrors for Christ School’s senior class.

That can all be put in the past tense now thanks to the marksmanship of point guard Keenan Wilkins ’24. Keenan caught fire like only he can – knocking down a career-high seven 3-pointers in someone else’s gym Tuesday night. The Greenies needed every one of them to pull away from Asheville School, 68-49.

RABUN GAP, Ga. – Winning does not cure everything, but it sure helps.

There was some real angst over who or who might not be available Friday due to a flu bug which has ripped through the Christ School locker room.

The best medicine was outscoring Rabun Gap, 43-15, in the second and third quarters to pick up another hugely important road win in the Carolinas Athletic Association, 73-38.

SWANNANOA - When life gives you lemons, take over first place in the conference anyway.

By the end of the night Wednesday, two Christ School starters had fouled out and a third never dressed due to sickness. The Greenies were whistled for 28 fouls and hurt their own cause by going 17-for-29 from the free throw line.

They still found a way to get out of Asheville Christian Academy with a 58-52 win.

RALEIGH – Mikey Wilkins ’25 put the Outstanding in Most Outstanding Player at the John Wall Holiday Invitational.

Fifty-one points in three games over four days, not to mention bushels of rebounds, blocks, and altered shots were enough to impress even those who watch Mikey on a daily basis.

RALEIGH - Madden Collins ’25 came off the bench with no lack of confidence or shooting stroke Thursday night.

By the time he was done, there was one less undefeated team in North Carolina high school basketball.

MARIETTA, Ga. – The Lemon Street Classic had been a sour experience for Christ School varsity basketball until the Greenies turned it around in a big way Saturday.

Mikey Wilkins ’25 powered in a team-high 19 points and the team rebounded from its first back-to-back losses since the 2021-22 season with a 94-58 rout of Cherokee (Ga.).

Let’s be honest: the novelty of staying quiet wears off quickly for 300 boys.

Christ School did not make the student section wait long Tuesday night – about 1 minute and 55 seconds to be exact. Lleyton Thomas-Johnson ’24 boarded a miss by Legion Collegiate (S.C.), raced back down the floor, and took a feed from Bryson Cokley ’24.

Lleyton’s shot from just inside the paint kissed off the glass for points No. 9 and No. 10, the latter being the magic number in the annual Christmas in the Greenie Dome or "Silent Night" basketball game. 

Not every tradition originates here at Christ School, but the boys make it their own.  

Taylor University in Indiana deserves credit for coming up with the “Silent Night” basketball game in 1997. It has since morphed into “Christmas in the Greenie Dome,” a nice release for students in the middle of exams and a holiday staple every December at Christ School.  

At less than their best, but still pretty darn good.

Flu and sickness hit Christ School varsity basketball hard this week. The Greenies hit back Saturday night, storming past Gaffney (S.C.), 77-38, in the fourth and final game of the Asheville Classic showcase.