Varsity Boys Basketball

The Warriors opened EPIC Conference Tournament play Thursday at regular season champion Grace Christian. St. David’s would be without the services of Tai Goode who was at a choral event in New York.   Bo Rieker was also out with a severely sprained ankle. The Warriors got off to a slow start and found themselves in a 24-11 deficit after the opening period.  Keonte Bradley got busy in the second period slashing through the Grace Christian defense but SDS could only cut a point off the lead to give the Eagles a 42-30 lead at the half.  The Warriors came out in the third determined to battle back. Again spurred by Keonte Bradley’s great all around play to out score Grace Christian 18-12 to cut the lead to 6 (54-48)  heading into the final quarter.  The final quarter was a game of runs as St. David’s got as close as four points before an Eagle run would keep the game just out of reach.  The Warriors would fall 71-65.   Keonte Bradley led the Warriors with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and  2 blocks while taking the challenge of guarding 6’10 conference player of the year Jaylen Gibson. Nick Green also dropped in 11 points and 6 rebounds.   This was the first time in 6 years that the Warriors lost in the first round of the conference tournament and the 1^st time in 5 years that they will not be in the championship game.    SDS will open the playoffs on Tuesday.  “ I was proud of our team’s effort tonight" said coach Will Coley.  "We battled like champions.   We have battled all year.   I am proud to coach such a great bunch of guys.   Keonte did all he could to try to help us advance tonight.   We have shown so much growth.   Now it is time to prepare for Tuesday.”  

The JV and varsity Warriors lost at Grace Christian Tuesday. The JV fell, 68-60. Heyward George led three players in double figures with 15 points. Judson Thompson scored 11 and Scott York posted 10. The varsity led 13-8 after the first quarter, but trailed 29-22 at halftime on the way to a 52-44 loss. “Their center (Jaylon Gibson) is 6’9 and they went to him in the second quarter,” said coach Will Coley, whose team is 1-4 in league play and 11-12 overall. “That was the difference in the game.” Tai Goode led the scoring with 12 points. Keonte Bradley added nine and had six assists. Nick Green also scored nine and Bo Rieker had eight. Both teams play at Cary Christian Friday and close the regular season at home Saturday against Carmel Christian of Charlotte.

The varsity boys took a 71-39 loss at Fayetteville Academy Wednesday night. The Eagles scored the games’ first 19 points and never looked back. “They had something like 10 dunks and a ton of offensive rebounds,” said coach Will Coley, whose team is 10-8. “Their size was too much for us. It was a good measuring stick for us and we can’t let it get us down.” Keonte Bradley led SDS with nine points and six rebounds. The Warriors host Cary Christian Friday night.

The varsity boys mounted a furious comeback that fell just short Friday night in a 60-57 home loss to Grace Christian. The Warriors (10-7, 1-1) trailed by nine with 1:50 left, but used a full court press to come all the way back to trail by one with 33 seconds left. The Eagles hit both free throws for a three-point lead and the Warriors final three pointer to force overtime rimmed out. “I was proud of the way we kept fighting,” said coach Will Coley, whose starting point guard Tai Goode missed the game with a broken toe. “We played well short-handed and it was a great game to watch.” Keonte Bradley posted a game-high 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Nick Green scored 15 and Miek Goode added 10 with six steals.