Prep captures fifth state title
Phoenix defeat Pamlico County 70-46 to take NCHSAA 1A Championship
Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy (WSPA) wrapped up a magical season with a state title last weekend when they defeated Pamlico County by 24 points.
After starting out slow on March 10, the Phoenix caught fire in the second half and never looked backed in route to a 70-46 victory. After trailing 30-28 at halftime, WSPA finished the game on a 33-4 run and held the Hurricanes to only four points in the final period.
WSPA was led by senior guard Daivien Williamson who finished the game with 27 points and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Senior KJ Watson, who was named West Region Most Valuable Player, had a stellar game for the Phoenix as well; he finished the contest with nine points and eight rebounds.
Other standout players for WSPA were, Chaz Gwyn, Zachary Austin, Justice Goodloe, and Corey Rutherford. The Hurricanes were led by Lamont Murray, who finished with 20 points.
“Being a first-year Prep Parent, I can honestly say these boys deserved all that’s been given to them. They earned and fought hard all season – on the court and in the classroom. I am very blessed to have two sons on the team, a senior and a freshman. The sky is the limit for them all,” said Delana Sellars, the mother of Corey Rutherford and Anthony Sellars, both varsity players on Winston-Salem Prep’s team.
The win marks the 24th in a row this season for the Phoenix, and the fifth North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 1A Conference Championship in the school’s short history.
No team moved into the playoffs with more momentum than the Phoenix of Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy.
A 93-82 victory over conference foe Mount Airy in the Northwest 1A Conference Championship game pushed the Phoenix’ winning streak to 19 in a row.
Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy @ Atkins is housed in the former Atkins High School and opened in the fall 2004. The school was created as a magnet school to attract highly motivated students whose primary interest is to prepare themselves for a four-year university education.
The winning tradition at WSPA has followed the boy’s program for more than a decade.
Bridget Elam contributed to this report.
