Find complete game notes here.
TIP-OFF TIDBITS
The Newport News Apprentice School has found success in the New South Conference (USCAA) as head coach Evan Kee has facilitated an early 2-1 league record. Their wins against Blue Lights & Central International have put the Shipbuilders at the top of the conference leaderboard. In their season opener, three Shipbuilders found double-digit-scoring with Clifton Goode (F, So.) scoring a game-high 13 points.
N.N.A.S. PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Tony Epps, Jr.: The junior lead guard leads the Shipbuilders in minutes while handing out 4.5 assists per game. A defensive standout, Epps also averages almost 2 steals a game while helping out on the glass at almost 5 boards a game.
Shawn Eley: The senior wing has been a double-double machine so far this season. In only 24 minutes per game, Eley is averaging a productive 12 points and 10 boards per contest. He has been highly successful on the offensive glass with 11 boards leading to many second chance opportunities for the Shipbuilders.
Karree Smith: The sophomore guard has been the most explosive scorer for the Shipbuilders. Leading the team at 18 points per game, Smith, however, does not have a three-point make.
UVA WISE NEWS & NOTES
The UVA Wise Cavaliers are still rolling through the early season without a loss as the Cavs struck down Pfeiffer by a 41-point margin. The 3-0 record marks the best start for the program since the 2013-14 season when the Cavs defeated King 74-64 and Virginia Univ. Lynchburg 64-58.
Success has derived from Southwest Virginia products Bradley Dean and Luke Lawson in the beginning stages of the season — but this time, Grayson Honaker sprinkled in some of his own magic against the Falcons. The Honaker, Va. native dropped 18 points including four three-pointers in the 117-76 win over Pfeiffer. The four shots from the arc tagged a career-high for the sophomore.
UVA Wise looks to improve their record to 4-0 as they face The Newport News Apprentice School in another matchup in the Prior Center on Saturday, Nov. 19. This will mark the first meeting between the two schools.
Listen to Coach Mellinger's pregame interview here.
