Gaston Day Players Recognized At SPAA Tournament

In the finals of the SPAA boys basketball tournament United Faith beat Victory Christian 50-49 on a foul shot at the end of the game. The Gaston Day boy's team was there first to support the girl's team that lost earlier to Victory but also to watch and learn from the two teams playing in the finals.  The Spartans had played both teams in the last week and were interested in how this game turned out.

 

At the end of the game three Spartans were recognized by the SPAA.  Spartan sophomore Corey Raley was picked as an all-conference player.  Brandon McClain, Andre Cornelius from VCC, joined him on the first team as well as  Keith Gabriel and Auburn recruit Kenny Gabriel from United Faith.  "It is a tribute to have a sophomore selected to be on the first team," said Spartan Coach John Whitley.  'Cory will be a high Division One player and it is exciting to know he is going to be back for two more years," Raley average 19 points, 6 rebounds for the 12-16 Spartans.  Raley brother Brandis, a Gaston Day alumni, is a sophomore at South Carolina and led the nation in the 3-point shooting percentage earlier in the season.

 

Selected for the all-conference second team was the Spartan center HJ Fridriksson.   Fridriksson averaged 12.5 points and 11 rebounds and had a conference high 79 blocked shots.  "This is well deserved for Hjalti and he truly deserves the award," said Whitley.  "HJ is the first at practice and works very hard and understand the game as well as anyone I have coached," Recently Limestone College has offered the senior a full basketball scholarship and he visited the school last weekend. Fridriksson has not decided if he will enroll at Limestone or return to Iceland to play on the national team.

 

Sophomore Pet Sumner was honored by the SPAA conference with the Christian Character Award.  Sumner averages 11 points and 3.5 assist a game.   He has connected on 57 three pointers this season. "Pet is truly a special kid to coach, he love the game, shots the ball incredible well, but he is more than a talented player, he is a good kid and players from teams from all over know him and like him, a great testament." Said Whitley.

Gaston Day will play a home game this Tuesday against a visiting 1-A team ( to be determined on Sunday) and if they win they will travel to Raleigh for the start of the quarter finals of the State tournament on Thursday.

 

Corey Riley spaa all-conference first team	HJ Fridriksson spaa all-conference second team
Pet Sumner SPAA Christian Character Award