BOYS' BASKETBALL: Oates has 36-point night for Wayne Christian

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on January 13, 2017 10:00 AM

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Full virtuosity.

One might very well say that of Darrian Oates, whose baseline-to-baseline, 36-point outburst propelled the Wayne Christian varsity boys' basketball team to a 77-64, non-conference triumph over Greenville Christian on Thursday evening in Patetown.

The victory, which halted a three-game skid, moved the Eagles to 4-8 overall this season.

Beginning in a lightning-quick first quarter, Oates slashed and weaved his way through the paint with ease, leaving hapless defenders in his wake and converting a handful of contortionist-inspired buckets at the rim.

When not finding his own action, No. 0 created for others -- all part of a crisp, seamless stanza that saw Wayne Christian assume a 21-15 advantage. And per WC head coach Victor Young, it was exactly the start his ball club needed.

"I told (Darrian) early, you have to run the show," he said. "And he came out in attack mode... one of the better guards in our conference. A coach's dream."

Greenville Christian, however, was not to be outdone.

Paced on the interior by the rugged duo of Davis Andrews and senior forward Tyler Conklin, the Knights battled back in the second period, establishing a bruising presence inside and taking advantage of a Wayne Christian roster that was missing 10 varsity regulars.

But Oates countered with a brilliant eight minutes of his own, twice dialing from distance and continuing at every turn his live-dribble action show.

With the clock dwindling and facing pressure from a rotating Knight defense, the junior found a wide-open Rayshawn Wellington for a deep triple that sent the Eagle faithful into a frenzy.

At the break, Wayne Christian led 47-35.

Oates emerged a facilitator in the third quarter, notching assists to three different players and allowing the Eagles to maintain their lead.

Of all his brilliance, however, one moment stood without peer.

Again facing a double team at the end of the period, Oates froze his defenders with a shoulder fake, then split them with a serpentine dribble before finding Darden Bynum for a layup that sent the bench into bedlam.

Done and done.

The final eight minutes were an exercise in keep away, with the Eagles getting timely buckets and rebounds from Oates and Wellington, who finished with 17 points and nine rebounds.

Greenville Christian (4-10) was led by Conklin's 22 points and eight rebounds. Frontcourt mate Davis chipped in with 13 points and 12 glass wipes, while senior forward JJ Fisher scored 22 points.

But this night was about the orchestration of a new-look Oates and Co. -- a different group, to say the least.

Seventh-grader Jayden Young, seeing his first varsity action, finished with nine points and three boards. Tyler Weeks scored eight points, while Jeremy Bentley added five -- good enough for a victory ahead of the team's winter homecoming tilt with Wayne Country Day on Saturday.

"Much needed," Young said of the triumph. "It's a stepping stone going into the weekend."