Top ranked Cavaliers looking to defend their Class A championship
By Neill Kirkpatrick
Special to the HSSR
Greenville – Winning the region 1A championship may be a more daunting task for top ranked and defending class A champion Christ Church Episcopal school than the upcoming class A state tournament as three other region members (St. Joseph #2, Southside Christian #3, High Point Academy #15) are ranked in the top 16 of the HSSR class A poll.
The Cavaliers are currently 10-5 overall but more importantly they have gone 4-0 through the first half of the region schedule. The five losses have all come against higher classification schools. They will head to Brasher Middle College Charter (11-5/1-3) before wrapping up the regular season with four consecutive home contests.
“We always schedule tough games early in the season. It teaches our guys to play faster and stronger. And even when we lose and our record/rankings drop, the players understand that the competition will better prepare us for the region and the playoffs,” said Head Coach John Butler.
Coach Butler credits his seniors for the team’s success, “Our seniors are doing a fantastic job teaching the winning traditions to our five sophomores. This is crucial for our program to continue to be successful.”
Leading the way is three-times all region performer and top five class A senior players DJ Harvey. The senior point guard leads the team in scoring at 12.8 points per game, assists at 4.2 and steals at 2.5. He also grabs 6.6 rebounds a game which is second on the team. He needs 78 points over the final five regular season contests to reach the coveted 1000-point career mark.
Senior wing Jack Fagan is the Cav’s top three-point shooter knocking down 40 shots from behind the arc. He is scoring 11.7 points per game. He is the team’s top free throw shooter at 79%.
Another returning all-region selection from last season is junior wing Adam Brown. Brown is second in scoring at 12.6 points per game. He is also one of the Cavs’ top defenders.
Sophomores wing Jonathan Perry and center Reid Hipp have been solid in their first year as starters. Hipp is the team’s tops rebounder, cleaning the glass to the tune of 7.8 per game while scoring 7.9 points per game. Perry is second on the team in assists at 2.5 a game.
Key reserves for the Cavs have been senior Thomas Nuckolls and sophomores point guard Anthony Atkins and wing David Dixon. Dixon is third on the team in three-pointer made with thirteen and he shots 37% from behind the arc.
“This team has the potential to make a state championship run. If they continue to play good defense and get a little better in half-court offense; this team will be a tough out in the playoffs,” said coach Butler.
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