Category: Apprentice

Apprentice Thwarts Upset Bid, Again

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – In a game reminiscent of its conference opener just four nights ago, Apprentice held off a New South opponent with upset on its mind for a close win, this time an 87-80 win over visiting Central International.

The Builders (2-1 overall, 2-0 NSAC) pushed out to lead by as many as 12 in the first half, only to have the Cardinals launch into a 9-2 run going into intermission trailing 40-34. The Redbirds also manufactured an 11-0 outburst early in the second half to take their first lead of the game, 52-51, and exchanged the lead with AS several times until the final two minutes. CIC (0-1, 0-1) would pull within one at 81-80 with 1:43 left, but the Builders would score the last six points of the game to seal the deal.

Apprentice defeated Blue Lights on Tuesday in the opener for both schools, 80-73.

This was the season opener for CIC.

Central All-Conference guard Ty Rias scored 23 points to lead all scorers while Apprentice’s Shawn Eley recorded a double-double (21 points, 15 rebounds).

Builders Slip at Shenandoah 63-58

WINCHESTER, Va. – The Apprentice School men’s basketball team dropped a nailbiter in a non-conference game at Shenandoah Thursday night, 63-58.

The Builders (1-1) and Hornets went back-and-forth throughout the game with neither team leading by more than seven points. With 2:45 to play, Avin Hawkins hit a layup to tie the game at 55-55 before Shenandoah finished the night on an 8-3 run to take the win.

The Builders cut the Hornet lead to two points with just three ticks left on the clock but could get no closer.

Apprentice returns home on Saturday to face NSAC foe Central International at 4:00 pm.

Story courtesy gobuilders.com; image courtesy suhornets.com

Builders Hold off Feisty Thoroughbreds in Conference Opener

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – After fighting to a 32-32 draw at halftime, Apprentice pulled away from Blue Lights in the game’s final 10 minutes to claim an 80-73 win in the season opener for both teams.

The Builders (1-0 overall, 1-0 NSAC) led by as many as 10 down the stretch, but BLC always seemed to have an answer, most often a three pointer, to get the lead manageable again. Blue Lights (0-1, 0-1) actually outshot Apprentice 39.7% to 36.5%, but the Builders made the most of their rebounds, outscoring the Herd 23-13 on second chances.

BLC’s Wol Yak led all scorers with 23 points. Apprentice’s Adrion Wall came off the bench to lead the Builders with 21.

It was the season and conference opener for both squads.

First Conference Tilt of Season Tips Tonight

Apprentice School and Blue Lights College are wasting no time jumping into the conference schedule as they will start their seasons with the New South Conference Tip-Off Classic tonight in Virginia Beach.

The Builders are coming off a 14-15 campaign that saw them advance to the Eastern Metro Athletic Conference finals and the USCAA tournament. Apprentice is picked to finish second in the NSAC under the leadership of veteran coach Evan Kee.

The Thoroughbreds finished 18-12 in ’21-22 but sport a fresh new lineup and are led by first year coach Nolan Adams. BLC is tabbed to finish fifth.

The two teams met in January last season with Apprentice taking a 91-80 win.

Game time is 6:00 pm and can be viewed here.

Gators Picked to Repeat in Men’s Basketball

Virginia Peninsula has been tabbed to repeat as NSAC men’s basketball champs this season in a vote by the league’s coaches, with Apprentice and Mid-Atlantic hot on their heels.

VPCC, formerly Thomas Nelson Community College, swept through the conference undefeated last year and finished 18-1 overall, their only loss to 10th-ranked Sandhills.

Both the Gators and the Builders collected three first-place votes, showing how much respect they have among their fellow coaches.

2022-23 NSAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Rankings

  1. Virginia Peninsula – 23 (3)
  2. Apprentice – 20 (3)
  3. MACU – 18
  4. Carolina Christian – 12
  5. Blue Lights – 10
  6. Central International – 7

Here are some of the comments from the league’s coaches entering the season:

  • “The competition will be tough, but we are preparing our guys for it. We have a great chance to compete for a title because our guys work hard and have great chemistry on and off the court.“
  • “Apprentice School comes with the most experienced team in the league and are extremely deep this year in every position. Coach Kee has grown that program into one that will be tough for the next few years.”
  • “We look forward to the conference schedule against a competitive group of opponents. Every team in the league has talent and is capable of winning the league. Should be a fun year.“
  • “MACU had a strong recruiting class to add to their returnees as well with some good size and length. Coach Sims has hit the ground running in his first year at the helm.”
  • “Blue Lights is a wild card with a new coach and brand new team this year, but they could be able to shake the conference up.”