NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School men’s basketball team is in very familiar territory as they will play in their fourth straight conference tournament championship game when they battle Lighthouse Christian on Sunday afternoon for the New South Athletic Conference Championship after defeating Central International Saturday 111-80.

The Builders are the defending champions of the league after running through the conference slate undefeated in the 2022-23 season. Apprentice lost just two conference games in the 2023-24 season, and one of those was to the Makos of Lighthouse Christian in a 76-73 thriller on February 15.

Apprentice wasted no time getting going Saturday against the Cardinals, jumping out to a 16-7 lead seven minutes into the contest. The Builder lead ballooned to as many as 21 in the first half and 39 in the second half on the way to the semifinal win.

Leading the way for Apprentice was Adrion Wall with a career-high 31 points, recording a double-double with 11 rebounds. Avin Hawkins added 18, while Donovan Means tallied 16. Kurij Harrell was also in double figures with 12 points on a day where every Builder that saw playing time recorded at least two points.

The championship game will take place Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. between the Builders and the Makos. Tickets to the championship game are $7 and can be purchased at GoBuilders.com. All fans must have a ticket to get into the facility. Fans should also account for extra time getting to the arena as the One City Marathon race course finishes just blocks from the gym, and most of Washington Avenue will be closed as part of the course.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics