JV Boys Basketball

Our JV Boys Basketball Team hosted Trinity Academy on Friday, February 3rd in what would be their final game of the 2022/2023 season.  The Warriors got off to a good start as they were able to apply effective defensive ball pressure which would cause the Lions some issues early on in the contest.  The Warriors energy level started to decrease which allowed the Lions to creep back into the contest.   The Warriors continued to claw and fight throughout the game.  There were several lead changes with no team gaining a considerable advantage.  "The small things cost us tonight.  We had some missed box out assignments, some risky passes that resulted in turnovers and we were loose with the ball."- Coach Clifton  The game went down to the wire with some free throws at the end that put the Lions ahead for good.  "I am extremely proud of this group of guys.  I took over late in the season and the guys were on board with what I brought to the table."-Coach Clifton  I would like to thank the parents, the athletes and the Athletic Department for a hard fought memorable season! 

Our JV Boys Basketball Team loaded up and headed to Durham, NC to take on the Cavaliers of Durham Academy on Tuesday, January 31st.  The Warriors were in for a battle from the opening tip.  The Warriors came out slow which is not the norm for them.  The Warriors struggled on the offensive end but continued to battle and were able to go on a few runs of their own sparked by team defense.  "Our press was effective but when we became fatigued we had to come out of it."-Coach Clifton  The Warriors used their reserves to help them try to fight their way back into the contest.  One reserved that helped give the Warriors some energy was Sophomore Clark Tant.  "I am so proud of Clark Tant.  He never complains, is very coachable and whenever I put him on the court he always gives 110%"- Coach Clifton  Although they continued to battle, the Warriors did not have enough weapons to claw their way back into this contest.  The Warriors were led in scoring by Freshman Parker Henson who had 9 points.  Sophomore Will Sink added 8 points of his own for the Warriors.  The Warriors will be in action again on Friday, February 3rd as they take on Trinity Academy.  

Our JV Boys Basketball Team traveled to take on Wake Christian Academy on Friday, January 27th.  The Warriors had success in the previous match-up against the Bulldogs and were hoping to pull off the same result on Friday.  The Warriors had to fight their way back into the game from the beginning.   The Bulldogs went on a run a seemed to become more physically aggressive as the game progressed.  The Warriors put together some runs of their own sparked by their scrappy defense.  "At half-time I just asked the guys what is your competitive response.  I told them not to expect a call, to play for one another, and to compete until the final buzzer."-Coach Clifton  The Warriors came out of the half on a run sparked by two 3 pointers by Freshman Keenan Garrison.  The Warriors battled but a few questionable calls seemed to slowly let the air out of their sails.  The Warriors battled until the end but came up short.  The Warriors will be in action again on Tuesday, January, 31st as they travel to take on Durham Academy.

The JV Boys Basketball Team hosted conference opponents Cary Christian on Tuesday, January 24th.  The Warriors were looking to get back on track and break their small losing streak.  The Warriors started the game off sluggish and seemed to have as much energy as they usually display.  The Warriors were having trouble getting their usual shots to go tonight.  The Warriors could not seem to get over the hump but they continued to fight.  The Warriors were able to go on a small run in the second half but it was not enough to overcome the Knights and gain the win.  Sophomore Jake Stickney led the Warriors with 10 points on the night.  Sophomore Will Sink and Freshman Nico Janas both chipped in 6 points each for the Warriors.  "We were not mentally focused for this game.  We came out flat and Cary Christian took advantage of it." -Coach Clifton The Warriors will be in action again on Friday, January 27th as they travel to take on the Bulldogs of Wake Christian.  

The JV Boys Basketball Team traveled across town to face off with the Eagles of Grace Christian on Friday, January 20th.  The JV Boys were looking to have a better showing then they had on Tuesday.  The Warriors came out with more energy and kept the contest close in the early stages of the game.  The Warriors battled and got the game within striking distance but could not maintain the momentum they had put together.  "I am proud of the effort the guys put forth today.  We looked much better than we did the first time we played Grace." - Coach Clifton. The Warriors will be in action again on Tuesday, January 24th as they host the Knights of Cary Christian.

Our JV Boys Basketball Team hosted the Centurions of Coastal Christian on Tuesday, January 17th.  The Warriors were coming off of a win against Trinity Academy the previous week.  The Warriors entered the contest looking to continue to get better and improve as a team.  The Warriors started the game a bit sluggish and not moving at the normal pace.  "I think coming off of the long weekend the guys were not back into the routine of a full day.  It showed by how slow we were reacting to the ball tonight." -Coach Clifton  The Warriors continue to ball and went on a small run but were unable to capture the lead and win the game.  The Warriors will be in action again on Friday, January 20th as they travel to take on conference opponent Grace Christian. 

The JV Boys Basketball Team traveled to Trinity Academy to take on the Lions on Friday, January 13th.  The Warriors entered the contest looking to bounce back from a loss against Fayetteville Academy earlier in the week.  The Warriors found themselves down early but was able to maintain their composure and climb back into the contest.  The Warriors were sparked by their efforts on the defensive end with several players make key defensive plays.  "I'm pleased with the focus our guys had today.  I was able to draw up an offense we hadn't practice and the guys did a great job of executing it." -Coach Clifton.   Tough play by the captains Sophomore Jake Stickney, Sophomore Griffin Chesson, and Sophomore Will Sink led the Warriors in battle and help secure another win.  "I stress to the guys the importance of defense.  I tell them everyday that the quickest way to earn playing time from me is to play tough, solid defense.  Tonight they did just that" -Coach Clifton. The Warriors will be in action again on Tuesday, January, 17th as they host Coastal Christian.

Our JV Boys Basketball Team traveled down to Fayetteville to take on the Eagles of Fayetteville Academy on Tuesday, January 10th.  The JV Boys Basketball Team had a tough challenge ahead facing the much bigger eagles.  "The Eagles have always been known for their size and athleticism so I knew coming in that we were in for a battle." - Coach Clifton  Fayetteville Academy jumped out to an early lead but the Warriors did not fold.  They battled their way back into the contest to even the score.  "Once we settled into the game and saw that we could score against them then our confidence started to rise a little more," said Coach Clifton.  Although the Warriors fought until the final buzzer they did not have enough to bring home the win.  "I am very proud of the way my guys battled tonight.  We were diving for loose balls, rotating on defense and playing aggressive.  We were just undersized and things just did not go our way tonight, but we can learn from this game." - Coach Clifton  The Warriors played tough and did a decent job of handling the aggressive and physical play of the Eagles.  For his hard-nosed play and toughness, Sophomore Jake Stickney earned the "Hard Hat Award" from Coach Clifton.  The Warriors will be in action again on Friday, January 13th as they travel to take on Trinity Academy.

The JV Boys Basketball Team hosted the Bulldogs of Wake Christian Academy on Friday, January 6th.  The Warriors entered the contest looking to continue the 2 game win streak they had started before the break.  The Warriors started the game off in a shooting slum.  "I wasn't shocked that our shots didn't fall early on.  We are coming back from a 15 day break," said Coach Clifton.  The Warriors were looking for some energy and got just that when Freshman Nico Janas entered the game.  "Nico gave us a much needed spark off the bench in the first half.  He was able to hit two big 3 point shots for us as well as play so very very good defense." - Coach Clifton   The Bulldogs played a very aggressive press which gave the Warriors a little trouble until they were able to settle down and find the open gaps.  The Warriors got their usual tough play from Sophomore Jake Stickney.  "Jake is a glue guy for us.  He is willing to do whatever is asked of him to help the team win.  I think that every team needs a player like Jake." - Coach Clifton  Freshman Parker Henson also had a solid game for the Warriors. "Parker has been giving us constant reliable minutes all season.  He plays solid defense and tonight he knocked down some huge free throws to keep the pressure on the Bulldogs," said Coach Clifton.  "I am proud of our entire team.  Everyone got in the game and was able to contribute one way or another." - Coach Clifton. The Warriors will hit the court again on Tuesday, December 10th as they load up and travel to Fayetteville Academy.  

Our JV Boys Basketball Team hosted Arendell Parrott on Friday, December 16th.  The Warriors were fresh off their first victory of the season the night before and were trying to keep the momentum going to hopefully come away with another one.  The Warriors jumped out to an early 13-0 lead following 3 three pointers by Freshnman Keenan Garrison, some key steals and layups by Sophomore Will Sink, and some huge defensive plays by Sophomre Jake Stickney.  The Warriors continued to play aggressively on defense and hold the Patriots scoreless through the first quarter.  The Patriots continued to fight and eventually got within 6 points of the Warriors.  The Warriors continued to apply pressure on defense and tighten up their execution on offense.  The Warriors were in control the entire game and pulled away with a 49-24 victory to head into the Christmas break.  "We were able to execute better on offense tonight.  We actually ran our plays and were able to explore different options in the sets," said Coach Clifton.  Three Warriors were in double figures, Sophomore Will Sink had 15 points, Freshman Keenan Garrison added 12 points and Sophomore Jake Stickney chipped in with 10 points. The Warriors are not in action again until January 6th when they travel to Wake Christian to face the Bulldogs.

Our JV Boys Basketball Team traveled to Thales Academy on Thursday, December 15th for a non-conference matchup.  The Warriors entered the gym still hunting for their first victory of the season.  The Warriors jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead spear headed by 2 three pointers in a row by Freshman Keenan Garrison.  The defense of the Warriors was clicking on all cylinders as they were able to apply pressure and force turnovers early in the contest.  The Knights when on a run of their own and was able to even the score.  The shooting of the Knights kept the game close but the defense of the Warriors were able to steady the ship.  With only minutes left in the game, Sophomore Griffin Chesson stepped up to the line and knocked down 2 key free throws  to put the Warriors up by 3.  The Warriors switched defenses and played man to man for the final seconds to prevent the Knights from being able to shoot a 3 and try to force overtime.  The tough nose on ball man to man defense, led by Sophomore Will Sink, did not allow the Knights to get a shot off and the Warriors prevailed 45-42.  "I am so happy for our guys.  They have been working so hard this past week and I am glad they were able to experience some success." -Coach Clifton  The Warriors will be in action again on Friday, December 16th as they host Arendell Parrott.

Our JV Boys Basketball Team played South Wake at home on Tuesday, December 13th.  The Warriors went into the contest still searching for their first win of the season.  The Warriors start off slow and soon found themselves down by 10.  The Warriors were able to settle into the game and fight their way back within striking distance.  The Warriors played hard the entire game.  Sophomore Will Sink and Sophomore Jake Stickney provided the defensive intensity for the Warriors.  "I am proud of the guys and the effort they gave tonight.  We just aren't in good enough shape to compete at our best for a full game yet but we will get there." -Coach Clifton The Warriors will be in action again on Thursday, December 15th as they travel to take on Thales Academy.

Our JV Boys Basketball Team traveled to Cary Christian on Friday, December 9th to take on the Knights in a conference match up.  The Warriors headed into Friday's game for the first time with a new coach.  After only 2 days of practice under the new helm the Warriors took the court for battle.  The Warriors were very competitive early on in the contest.  The Warriors were aggressive and scrappy on defense and everyone that touched the court brought the same energy.  "We had some issues executing tonight.  We have had limited practice so with work we will get better with running our plays." - Coach Clifton. The Warriors will be in action again on Tuesday, December 13th at home as they take on South Wake at 4:15pm. 

Our JV Boys Basketball team entered conference play on Friday, December 2nd as they hosted Grace Christian.  The Warriors were ready for the test ahead and played the Eagles very tough.  The Warriors were able to keep the contest close in the first half by picking up the intensity on defense.  The defensive charge was led by Freshman Parker Henson who took 4 charges in the first half of the contest.  Henson also had several rebounds against much larger opponents.  Sophomore Jake Stickney also added to the Warriors defensive efforts with several hustle plays and some key rebounding,  Freshman Nico Janas provided the Warriors with an offensive spark off the bench. "Overall it was a much better effort from the entire team," said Coach Boone.  "I have enjoyed having the privilege to Coach each and every one of the players on the JV Team." - Coach Boone.   The Warriors will be in action again on Friday, December 9th as they travel to take on conference opponent Cary Christian at 4:15pm.

Our JV Boys Basketball Team hosted New Life Camp on Friday, November 18th.  The Warriors were looking to improve upon their performance from the previous contest.  The Warriors were scrappy from the tip.  "We missed a lot of assignments on the defensive end but did a great job of cutting down on our turnovers.  I was proud of the way the guys moved the ball on offense as well." - Coach Boone.  The missed rotations on defense costs the Warriors as the Storm were able to capitalize on our mistakes.  The Warriors fought the entire game and never gave up hope.  "Malachi did a great job of rebound for us," said Coach Boone.  The Warriors will be in action again on Tuesday, November 22nd as they host Ravenscroft. Come out and show your support!

Our JV Boys Basketball team hosted Cape Fear Academy on Friday, November 11th.  The Warriors are a fairly new team with a few exceptions so it was expected that they would have a few butterflies.  After the first few minutes the Warriors settled into the game and begin to see some scoring opportunities.  The Warriors fought hard until the final buzzer went off.  "Once the guys got over their nervousness, we played a lot better on the defensive end," said Coach Boone.  The Warriors will be in action again on Friday, November 18th at home as they take on New Life Camp.