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STILL HUNGRY: W-S Prep, Thomasville eyeing 1-A crown
AP File Photo
Winston-Salem Prep is hopeful of repeating this kind of celebration in 2009. Prep defeated Pamlico 73-42 in last season's 1-A state-championship game at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill.
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Published: December 8, 2008
Winston-Salem Prep won its first Class 1-A boys basketball title a year ago, and Coach Andre Gould said his goals haven't been lowered.
The Phoenix, which was 30-6 and beat Pamlico in the state-championship game last year, lost Calvin Gantt, Reggie Johnson and Marcus Wright, leaving plenty of gaps and opportunities for playing time on Gould's team this year.
Gould expects forward Josh Hogge (6-4), guard Corey Gantt and shooter Justin Parham to fill much of the void.
"We have to find somebody to replace them," Gould said. "You'd like to think that you can win it again and we have the makeup that could get that accomplished. We have to work hard and build upon the success that we had last year. It will not be given to us. We have to go earn it."
Jacoby Corpening should also be a key member of Prep's lineup.
"We're playing well; just trying to get our chemistry down," Gould said. "We want everyone on the same page. That's our challenge this year."
One team that would like to keep Prep from winning again is Thomasville, which lost to Prep in the Western Regional final. The Bulldogs have won 14 straight Yadkin Valley Conference titles and were 22-3 last year. Thomasville won the 1-A title in 2007, the last of three straight championships.
The Bulldogs have several holes to fill this season because three seniors graduated, including E.J. Abrams-Ward, a 6-5 forward who was the NCHSAA's Male Athlete of the Year and plays football at Tennessee.
Dominique Pickett and C.J. Campbell are back after all-conference seasons a year ago, and D.J. McLendon and Brad Wilkes will take over as the Bulldogs' key players, along with newcomer Dee Dow. Coach Woody Honeycutt said he's still missing five players who are on the football team and will play for a 1-AA state title on Saturday. But that's nothing new in Thomasville.
"It causes us to start slow, but we learn and get better and build as we go," Honeycutt said. "You want to play your best at the end anyway, so that's how we deal with it."
In the Northwest 1-A Conference, Bishop McGuinness and Mount Airy appear to be the front-runners in the nine-team league. Coach Josh Thompson of Bishop McGuinness returns all but one player from a 17-9 season, in which the Villains finished second in the league at 12-4.
Ross Diachenko, a senior two-time all-conference guard, averages 17 points per game and five rebounds. Aaron Tomey, a junior point guard, averages 19 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
Steve Nealen (11 ppg) is another senior starter and he shoots 42 percent from 3-point range. The Villains also expect contributions from Zach Tommey (6-4 forward), Jake McSwain (6-7 center) and Robbie Fitzgerald (6-8 center).
"We hope to be in the mix," Thompson said. "I feel like there are three or four capable of winning it. Our league plays hard and we have good coaches and you can get beat any night you step out there."
Kevin Spainhour of Mount Airy had the Granite Bears rolling for much of last season. The Bears won their first 21 games, but finished 26-3 overall. They won the regular-season title, but were upset in the conference tournament and lost in the sectional final at Thomasville.
Mount Airy will not have Robby Reid, a 6-8 center and two-time conference player of the year, who is now playing for a prep school in New Hampshire. Tyler Bentley, a two-time all-conference selection, also graduated.
Robbie Rives is the Bears' top returning scorer at 10 points per game from last season. He also shot 37 percent from 3-point range. Point guard Dillon Bobbitt, the team's best on-ball defender, is also back. Andrew Harris (6-5) is the main inside scoring threat, and Wade Moody, a 5-9 junior, is the team's leading scorer early this season at 22 points per game. Justin Collier, a member of the Bears' 22-0 junior-varsity team last season, should also be a key player this year.
"Bishop didn't lose a soul off their team, so they are the favorite; but we'd like to think we will be there in the end," Spainhour said. "It will take us some time because we have five guys playing football and they will play a lot of minutes, but it will take us a while to play some good basketball."
Coach Jason Anderson of East Surry said that his team's biggest struggle this season might be getting healthy before the year is over. A year ago the Cardinals were 18-12 overall and placed third in the Northwest 1-A regular-season standings, before winning the conference tournament. East Surry lost to Albemarle in the second round of the playoffs.
Graduation took 75 percent of East's scoring, but returning are twins Walt and Spence Tuttle, Brett Smith, Casey Martin and Hunter Diamont, a post player who will be a major scorer but is still nursing a foot injury from football. Marcus Lawson, a junior, will be a key newcomer playing forward and guard for the Cardinals.
"This year's team could be a better offensive team than last year's was," Anderson said. "We've got some banged up from football and we just have to get healthy. Once we do that, I don't think people are going to want to see us walk in their gym.
"Fifteen and one has been winning this league and I don't think that will happen this year. There will be two or three losses for the winner."
Coach David Anderson of North Stokes returns seven of his top eight players from a year ago. His team was 13-12 overall and 11-5 in the Northwest 1-A.
Adam Carter (14 ppg, six rebounds per game), Dylan Hall (10 ppg) and Tay France (10 ppg, six assists) are the Vikings' leading returners. Patrick Hargrave, who was injured during football season, could return after Christmas, making North Stokes a dangerous foe in league play. France sets the tone at point guard and could lead the Vikings to a top-three finish.
South Stokes was 8-15 overall and placed seventh in the conference standings last season. The Sauras lost leading scorer Will Bennett to graduation. Coach Jason Clark of South Stokes does return five key players, including Bam Hairston, Brian Mays and Cole Green. Corey Hogan, a transfer from Gospel Light, will see significant action, along with Austin Cates.
Elkin was 13-13 a year ago and was fifth in the league standings. The Buckin' Elks' top returner is Russell Stewart. The Elks also expect big things from freshmen Tre and Jermaine Hayes.
Alleghany was 9-17 overall and 5-11 in the Northwest 1-A last year. West Wilkes was 8-19 overall and 4-12 in the league standings. Daniel Johnson will be one of West's top scorers this season.
East Wilkes was 1-23 a year ago and failed to win a conference game. The Cardinals will try to improve upon that low finish this year. Chris Vannoy is a speedy point guard who can slash to the basket. Vannoy's surrounding cast will include Ethan Lyon, Dillon Prevette and Jarred Cornette.
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