Wayne Country Day to face Hickory Christian Academy

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 16, 2015 1:48 PM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

David Flowers spent most of Sunday evening on the phone talking with coaches and searching the internet for any information on Hickory Christian Academy.

He undoubtedly expects a tough test when his Wayne Country Day squad entertains the Knights in opening-round action of the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1-A boys' basketball playoffs Tuesday evening.

Tip-off is 5 p.m.

Each earned an at-large bid in the 12-team field announced earlier Sunday afternoon. The sixth-seeded Chargers have appeared in the postseason every year since 2000, and are 11-4 in first-round games during that stretch.

Hickory, the No. 11 seed, is in the playoffs for the third straight year. The Knights advanced to the elite eight in 2013.

"They're not very athletic, but they are very fundamental, they're well coached and are going to run their stuff," Flowers said. "If we can do what we like to do - run, pressure the ball and hit our shots - we're going to be all right. It's a game where we're going to have to step up and play.

"It's not going to be a walkover at all."

WCDS lost 12 contests, including nine against the top five seeds combined, during the regular season.

While the results didn't settle well at times with the ultra-competitive Flowers, he also realized the difficult schedule would prove beneficial in the long run.

The Chargers have logged a 5-8 worksheet since Jan. 1.

"I know our record is not great, but it's a better seed this year because of what we've done," Flowers said. "We haven't backed down and played some of the best teams out there. We've had some good wins, too, like Wilmington Christian which won its region on the Christian school level.

"From what I've been told, Hickory and Wilmington are similar."

Hickory (13-9) has won five of its last eight contests.

The Knights have just one senior, captain Will Duncan.

The remaining 11-player roster consists of four juniors, three sophomores, three freshmen and an eighth-grader.

"We just have to get after them," Flowers said.