Warriors, Golden Falcons, Gators coaches get 1st look at teams in hoops jamboree

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on June 19, 2015 1:48 PM

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cellis@newsargus.com

Ten schools from Wayne County and eastern North Carolina participated in a half-day, second annual jamboree hosted by Eastern Wayne on Thursday.

Teams played each other in a round-robin format.

Second-year EW head coach Phil Gray patterned the jamboree from his days when he coached at New Bern.

"The year before I got here, they would go to Charlotte and go to other places," he said. "But with the network of coaches and schools I had from (New Bern), I realized that we could have something here in Wayne County.

The Warriors, Charles B. Aycock and Spring Creek represented the county schools. Gray also invited Havelock, Clinton, Eastern Alamance, Northern Nash, New Bern, Western Harnett and Durham Jordan. A $3 admission to fans helped the Warriors' program, but also benefited the participating teams.

"You pay to come to the Jamboree," Gray said. "But I give it back to you. Every team that's here, their players get a free meal. We're paying for the officials and giving you a meal."

Although the primary goal was to raise funds for the EW basketball programs, the jamboree gave teams a chance to scrimmage during the offense and allow coaches to network within the high school and college ranks.

Gray said coaches can offer information about other teams and players they've seen to college scouts in their particular area of the state.

The teams didn't keep score during games that were not played at regulation length, but the competition was there. Whether it was winter rivalries heating back up for a day or in-team battles for varsity spots, there were still some things on the line for some teams.

Aycock, which lost the core of its starting lineup to graduation, "absolutely" used the jamboree to take an early look at what they would be working with come October tryouts.

"I don't believe in bringing girls up from JV unless as a freshman or sophomore unless they're going to start or play a lot," CBA head coach Roy Harrell said. "They're better off getting that experience at the JV level.

"It's something to measure up to. If you don't play better competition you're not going to get better. You know what you have to beat. Some of these girls have had some exceptional success at their high schools, and that's where we want to go with Aycock."

Gray didn't coach, but did find time to yell a few tips from his players from across the gym. He used the opportunity to see how his team fared during the offseason event.

"We can't make all the players come, but it's mandatory," he joked.

Competition aside, the day served as a fun chance for teammates who hadn't been together since late February to get out of the heat and back into the air-conditioned gym.

"To me," Gray said, "It's more about giving back to the players and giving back to the kids than it is raising money."