SBMOP WINTER CLASSIC: Methodical Patriots defeat Saints

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on December 28, 2016 9:57 AM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Cold calculus.

That is the perhaps the best way to remark Parrott Academy's ever-diligent, 67-56 victory Tuesday afternoon over Southern Wayne in opening-round play of the Southern Bank/Mount Olive Winter Pickle Classic held at venerable Kornegay Arena.

The triumph, equal parts diverse and poised, moved the Patriots to 4-2 on the season. It also established a semifinal matchup today with Wayne Country Day, which emerged as 61-42 victors over Spring Creek.

Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.

From the outset, the Patriots displayed a comprehensive dose of motion sets, forcing the Saints to guard every position on the floor for extended periods of time.

Ball movement was flush and precise. Manic and controlled.

Call it higher-order floor spacing.

And per Parrott head coach Wells Gulledge, very much by design.

"We had to make them defend and get north-south," the coach said. "We preach team foul, personal foul... attacking the basket."

Parrott forward AJ Banker, a Classic all-tournament selection from a year ago, did much of the heavy lifting early, using his inside-out versatility to score seven quick points and propel the Patriots to a 19-12 advantage after eight minutes.

Southern, however, would answer.

Led by senior Bless Thomas, the Saints clawed their way back into the matchup in the paint, crashing the offensive glass as a unit and piling up eight points to close the quarter.

The lunch-pail effort, which saw seven Saints snare at least two caroms, was lauded by head coach Dwight Smith.

"We made some adjustments," the coach noted. "A tweak in our lineup, went smaller... matched up better."

At the break, Parrott led 29-25.

The second half offered crisp play and volume scoring, as both teams worked efficiently in the half court -- especially Patriot guard Kris Wooten. Playing within the revolving door of the Parrott's endless motion, the junior turned the stanza into a live-action shooting drill, getting buckets from everywhere on the floor.

Floaters in the lane? Check.

Well-defended triples at the key? Check.

Money? Absolutely.

His effort culminated in a game-high 25 points, each necessary to turn back a game Southern Wayne squad that saw 10 players contribute offensively and which shot a sizzling 81 percent from the charity stripe.

"He knows the game," Gulledge said. "He did a phenomenal job with the ball in his hands late in the game."

Banker filed 21 points and six rebounds in support of Wooten. They were joined by the trio of Matthew Huntley, Patrick Mayo and JJ Williams, who combined for 17 points and eight rebounds.

Southern Wayne (3-10 overall) was led by Rakilen Butler's 17 points. Thomas registered 16 points and six rebounds in a sterling, all-around effort.

The Saints met Spring Creek at 4 p.m. today.