Box Score Apex, NC – In his pre-game interview, Coach Evan Kee said he thought his team did not play fast enough last Saturday. He expected his team to step it up tonight as they traveled to North Carolina to face Blue Lights College. This was an opportunity for Apprentice to even their record at .500 before the Thanksgiving break, but they would first have to shut down a Thoroughbreds team who was also looking to push the ball up and down the court and create a fast-paced game.
From the opening tip, the Builders dominated the pace of the game and jumped out to a large lead behind the play of Marion Moore and Vershawn Eley. Mid way through the first half, Apprentice would take a 37-22 advantage after Karree Smith grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up for 2 points. Most of the Apprentice points come off strong defensive play, where they were able to cause turnovers and convert on the offensive side of the court. With 4:44 left in the half, a Marion Moore free throw put the Builders up by a score of 47-29. That possession was followed by a Corey Joyner 3-pointer, which was his second of the game, to increase their lead to 21 points, 50-29. Blue Lights would begin to press Apprentice, but they handled it and Avin Hawkins was able to drain a baseline three, to go up 57-36. As the half came to an end, the Builders would head to the locker room with a 20-point lead, 59-39.
The second half saw Apprentice pick up where they left off and dominate the game, taking a 71-46 lead. Blue Lights did not have answer for the Builders offense and that allowed Avin Hawkins to easily convert another Apprentice basket. After the basket, the Builders defense continued to frustrate the Thoroughbreds, as they were not able to cut into the lead and at a stoppage of play Apprentice would lead by a score of 77-57. The Builders proceeded to go on a 6-0 run extending their lead to 83-57, as a result of strong defensive pressure. Behind a solid overall team performance, Apprentice would come away with the dominating 98-77 win.
The Builders were led in scoring by Avin Hawkins who finished with 19 points, while Marion Moore finished with 18 points and Corey Joyner contributed with 13 points. Every Builders got into the game tonight, with the bench once again giving Apprentice the advantage in scoring. "Our offense got going early and I thought we did a really good job driving and attacking the basket", said Coach Evan Kee. "I thought our offense carried us early on and we got up 20 at the half and were able to hold onto that". The Builders will return to action Saturday in an exhibition against Division I North Carolina Central and then return home for a rematch against Thomas Nelson Community College on December 1st.
