Category: CIC

Builders Dominate CIC, Improve to 4-0 in NSAC

RICHMOND, Va. – The Apprentice School men’s basketball team moved to 4-0 in New South Athletic Conference play with an 86-48 win over Central International Saturday afternoon.

After CIC (2-2 overall, 1-2 NSAC) hit a layup off the opening tip, Apprentice went on a 12-3 run to take the lead and not look back, leading for the rest of the contest. The lead got out to 32 by halftime at 50-18 and stretched to as many as 42 points before the final horn.

  • Shawn Eley had a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Tony Epps, Jr. finished two assists shy of a triple-double, notching 10 points and 10 boards to go with his eight dimes.
  • Karree Smith also finished in double figures with 11 points.
  • Apprentice (9-5, 4-0) shot 59.2 percent from the floor, hitting 5-of-10 threes along the way.

The game was in stark contrast to the November 12 meeting between the two teams when CIC trailed by only one with less than two minutes to play. The Builders would score the final six points to secure the win, 87-80.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

Cardinals Fly Past Southside 84-76

Amp Williams led a balanced scoring attack for Central International as the Cardinals downed Southside Virginia Community College 84-76 in a non-conference contest on Saturday.

Williams, a freshman from Richmond, chalked 18 points while Ty Rias added 16 and Deshawn Ridley contributed 15.

CIC improved to 2-1 on the season while the Panthers fell to 2-3.

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).

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.”