Spartanburg Day Griffins Boys’ Basketball Headed To The Play-offs

Spartanburg Day Griffins Boys’ Basketball Headed To The Play-offs



By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Spartanburg—The ole adage that it is not how you drive, but how you arrive, that matters most could certainly be applied to the 2024-25 Spartanburg Day Griffins boys’ basketball team under the coaching tutelage of Gregg Nibert.

“We started the season 0-2, and lost our best player to an injury in the very first game of the season but we kept working, got our best player back and went on a three-game win streak towards the end of the season, so we are feeling good right now,” said Coach Nibert who spent a number of years as the head basketball coach at Presbyterian College.

The team was 5-9 and 3-4 near the conclusion of the regular season. Their three straight wins came over FPAASF twice (51-38 and 64-50) along with a huge win over rival Spartanburg Christian (57-40) on February, 4.

On February, 7 the Griffins lost to Greenwood Christian (49-45) after taking a huge lead in the game. “At one point we were up nearly 20 points but their two fine guards started hitting a bunch of threes in the second half to get back in it,” said Coach Nibert. “We are certainly very proud of our senior Payne Wood who scored 28 points in the game. He was the young man who got hurt in our first game of the season and we were glad to get him back.

“Payne is a natural great shooting guard but out of need we have had to play him a lot at point guard position,” said Coach Nibert.

Coach Nibert also mentioned the stellar play of Estonia Exchange student Ron Rank who had 11 rebounds and six assists in the Greenwood Chrisitan game. Rank is the leading scorer on the season at 10.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists a game.

Junior forward Brice Henderson finished the regular season scoring 8.9 points a game along with 5.1 rebounds. Coach Nibert has described Henderson as a good on-ball defender.

Junior shooting guard Thomas Hyde finished the regular season averaging 7.9 points and 3.1 rebounds an outing. Coach Nibert has talked about his three-point shooting accuracy.

Wood, who has a strong desire to play at the next level, finished the season averaging 10 points a game. Sophomore guard Gabe Smith finished the regular season at 4.9 points and 2.1 rebounds a game.  

The team’s top rebounder for the season was 6-4 senior Price Nelson at 6.5 recoveries per game while averaging four inside points a game.

Other key reserves on the team include sophomore guard Evan Bourla, junior guard Evans Taylor, senior guard Coleman Tolbert along with sophomore Brienn Daniel Ayerdi and senior Aiden Darr. Matt Barr is also a junior forward.

The SCISA play-off bracket will be announced on February, 13^th.

“The guys know their roles entering the play-offs and we just have to maintain our focus and play excellent defense,” said Coach Nibert. “We are excited to be playing in the play-offs”

Spartanburg Day Girls Get Win Over Greenwood Christian 45-44 On February, 7

Despite being 4-12 and 2-4 at the end of the regular season the Lady Griffins took a hard-fought 45-44 win over Greenwood Chrisitan to conclude the regular season. They also defeated Greenwood Chrisitan by the score of 46-2 on January, 28.

Team members for the 2024-25 season included seniors Kaytlin McJimpsey, and Grace Becker, along with juniors Manoela Feuerschuette, Aiala Llona Diez and Maria Neves. The sophomores were comprised by Layla Lemmonds, Sarah Johnson, Merrill Loring, Hannah Vincent and Katelyn Vincent.

The team is head coached by Brian Wood.