Wayne Christian boys eager for playoff game

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on February 15, 2016 1:48 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

It's about to get crazy -- despite expectations.

Wayne Christian School earned a berth in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1-A boys' basketball state tournament for the first time since 2007.

The eighth-seeded Eagles play host to ninth-seeded Crossroads Christian on Tuesday.

Game time is 6 p.m.

"I tell my guys all the time, 'We're so close to March, and crazy things always happen in March'," WCS head coach Victor Young said. "Good things happen to underdogs around this time of year. We embrace being an underdog, and we're just going to do what we do, and hopefully, we can stop some people in this conference and in this state."

The Eagles fell to Carolina Christian 1-A Conference regular-season and tournament champion Northwood Temple, 84-74, on Thursday. The loss may lower people's faith in WCS, but its entire season excels assumptions about the private school.

"We've had a tremendous season thus far," Young said. "We've exceeded a lot of expectations as far as the conference is concerned. No one expected us to be as good as we are. Last year, we finished the season with only seven wins, and the season before that, we only had two wins, so to win 16 games is amazing for Wayne Christian basketball."

Young says private schools dominate the playoffs with competition, which is not thought of by non-sports fans.

Consider Raleigh's Word of God Christian Academy in 2009. No one expected a private school to produce an eventual first overall pick -- John Wall -- in the 2010 NBA draft. WGCA lost to Charlotte's 1-A state champion United Faith Christian Academy in the 2009 playoffs.

The Eagles possess weapons of their own --senior point guard Tyrique McClain and sophomore guard Darian Oates. McClain dropped in 17 points against Lee Christian on Feb. 9, while Oates scored 33 points.

"The last time he (Oates) was at Cape Fear (Christian), he had 42 (points) maybe. He's had an excellent season," Young said. "He may be second team all-conference as a sophomore. I'm expecting good things from him because he shot lights out down there when we played at Cape Fear the last time."

"I expect him (McClain) to play well. He's one of our leaders, one of the older players, so I've been pushing him to be focused mentally before even going into the game. In that leading point guard position, everybody is looking for you. If you are the first person to dive on the floor then everybody else will dive on the floor. If you are the first person to take a charge, then everybody else will take a charge.

"To play as much is given, much is required."