Travel down Wayne Country Day Road and turn right at the “T” onto Patetown Road.
Barely 100 yards down the on the right, you’ll find Wayne Preparatory Academy.
For the third time since 2020, the two independent powers square off Monday evening to determine the 2024 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Winter Classic champion.
WCDS weather a late, third-quarter rally and reached the finals with a 70-54 conquest of Eastern Wayne. Wayne Prep held a one-possession lead after the opening period and cruised past Wayne Christian, 72-55.
WPA emerged as the Classic runner-up in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Meanwhile, WCDS seeks a “three-peat,” which hasn’t happened since Goldsboro won three straight from 2015-17.
The title tilt is 7 p.m. Monday inside Kornegay Arena on the University of Mount Olive campus. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-to-10-years old.
Play begins at 2 p.m.
Carolina 1A rivals Rosewood (2-4 overall) and North Duplin (0-5) meet in the seventh-place game for the second consecutive year. The Rebels won last year’s meeting.
The fifth-place game pits Southern Wayne (2-5) against James, who met just two weeks ago in Warsaw. Tip-off is 3:30 p.m.
A fifth-place finisher in last year’s Classic, Eastern Wayne (7-2) takes on Wayne Christian (2-6) at 5 p.m.
“We fought back, could have easily folded,” EW head coach Cleveland Williams said as he prepared to shake hands with the WCDS players.
Southern Wayne 72, Rosewood 33
The Saints started slow against the Eagles and trailed 7-3 after Braxson Waters swished a 3-pointer off Talan Collins’ assist.
They didn’t fold.
Instead, Southern Wayne answered with solid, pressure defense on the ball, consistent play in transition and attacked the glass.
The four-point deficit morphed into a 23-7 lead.
“The guys went and raised their bar on defense in which yesterday we were lacking on our rotations and keeping the ball in front of us,” SW head coach Brian West, “[Today] we played hard, competed with effort [which] made the difference.”
Southern Wayne outscored Rosewood 49-26 from that point.
Kairell Evans scorched the UMO nets for 28 points. Hayden Stroud provided 10 off the bench, including a pair of 3-pointers and an assist.
Jayden Hardy added eight.
Hunter Sasser paced the Eagles with seven points. Collins and Bryson Hobbs notched five points apiece.
James Kenan 80, North Duplin 67
Former conference rivals, North Duplin raced to a 19-8 lead during opening-half action.
The Tigers finally capitalized on their speed, strength and relentless to work on the offensive glass. Plus, they employed a 2-2-1, full-court trap that completely changed the momentum.
Kenan led 42-31 at halftime.
I was really proud of how we played in the second quarter to get ourselves back in the game. We played with dead legs and unfocused to start the game,” Tigers head coach Taylor Jones said. “I was definitely disappointed in our lack of focus at the beginning. We have young men, but we still have to be more focused and ready to come and play no matter the circumstances.
“It wasn’t our best, but we were able to get the job done. We will learn, grow and move forward.”
Donavan Armwood, who scored 23 points, and DuQuan Stevens kept the Rebels within reach. Armwood’s steal and layup closed the gap to 57-53 late in the third quarter.
Tyquise Wilson and David “Cito” Zeleya helped spark a 6-0 run to start the final period. TJ Oates’ layup off Zamarion Smith’s assist capped the surge.
The Rebels could get no closer.
Oates logged a 24-point effort for the Tigers. Wilson knocked down 16, followed by Stephone Stanley (14 points) and Smith (12).
WCDS 70, Eastern Wayne 54
Charlie Thomas’ traditional three-point play pulled Eastern Wayne to within 44-36 after three quarters.
“Hey, the game is ours,” Williams told his team in the huddle. “I believe we are going to win this game.”
Junior guard Marcel Freeman converted back-to-back steals into layups for a 48-36. The picks spearheaded a 10-3 run for WCDS, which led 50-37 with 5:56 left in regulation.
Thomas accounted for the Warriors’ lone point – a free throw after he got fouled on an offensive putback.
The Chargers seized their biggest advantage, 66-44, on Freeman basket. Camden Tyler pulled down a defensive rebound and bounced a pass to Thomas, who kissed the ball off the glass.
Freeman emerged as the Chargers’ top scorer with 17 points. Jeremiah Thompson and Jaelen Solomon each scratched for 12 points. Tyler and Jeremiah Mercer each had 11.
Thomas led EW with 24.
Wayne Prep Academy 72, Wayne Christian 55
A top-four finisher last season, WPA used an 8-3, second-quarter run to take command against the Eagles.
The advantage grew to 33-22 with 3:01 left before halftime.
Turnovers plagued Wayne Christian throughout the second half. The miscues allowed the Generals to flourish in transition and eventually collect their 11th victory in 14 outings this season.
Zach Golden paced WPA with 15 points. Gaven Proctor and Jabrian Armstrong supplied 13 and 12 points, respectively. Josiah Banks scored 11.
Javion Goodman knocked down 20 for the Eagles. Miles Hamm chipped in 11, while Josh Black scored seven.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
2024 Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Winter Classic
(at Kornegay Arena, UMO)
Friday’s games
Game 1 — Wayne Christian 61, Rosewood 55
Game 2 — Wayne Prep 79, Southern Wayne 62
Game 3 — Wayne Country Day 85, North Duplin 48
Game 4 — Eastern Wayne 75, James Kenan 61
Saturday’s games
Game 5 — James Kenan 80, North Duplin 67
Game 6 — Southern Wayne 72, Rosewood 33
Game 7 — Wayne Country Day 70, Eastern Wayne 54
Game 8 — Wayne Prep Academy 72, Wayne Christian 55
Monday, Dec. 22 games
Seventh Place
Game 9 — North Duplin (0-5) vs. Rosewood (2-4), 2 p.m.
Fifth Place
Game 10 — James Kenan (3-3) vs. Southern Wayne (2-5), 3:30 p.m.
Third Place
Game 11 — Wayne Christian (2-6) vs. Eastern Wayne (7-2), 5 p.m.
Championship
Game 12 — Wayne Prep Academy (11-3) vs. Wayne Country Day (13-3), 7 p.m.
