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By Jay Spivey

For the Clemmons Courier

Both the West Forsyth boys and girls basketball teams received an extra gift under the tree this past week after both won post-Christmas tournaments on Saturday.  

The boys won the Yellow Jacket Christmas Classic in Sanford after defeating Cary Green Hope 72-44 with the help tournament-MVP Jacari Brim, who scored 20 points.  

And the West Forsyth girls won the Ledford Christmas Classic in Wallburg after defeating Concord Robinson 53-34 with 16 points from Emma Staples, who was named tournament MVP.  

In the championship of the Yellow Jacket Christmas Classic, the West Forsyth boys dominated much of the tournament en route to winning the title. The title exactly one week after West Forsyth, which was the top seed in the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic, was tripped up by second-seeded Mount Tabor in the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Bracket championship. 

“We played West Forsyth basketball this week,” Coach Marlon Brim of the West Forsyth boys said. “It was king of a letdown in the Frank Spencer championship. But that’s what (they’re) going to learn. I give these guys credit. We came to Sanford three nights and we played very well.” 

The team drove back and forth between Clemmons and Sanford. 

“I think it was a good experience for the guys,” Marlon Brim said. “It gave them a chance to play other teams. Nobody knew who we were besides, people who knew who Jacari was as far as that, but nobody knew a lot about West Forsyth.” 

In addition to Jacari Brim scoring 20 points in the championship against Green Hope, Jordan Tate added 18 and was named all-tournament. Princeton Scott scored 12, and Kamauri Manuel was also named all-tournament after scoring 6 points Saturday night and added five assists. 

“We’re not familiar with the teams, so you’ve got to play their game every night,” Marlon Brim said. “Fan travel wasn’t that great, so we had to rely on each other and things like that. We had some parents to show, but sometimes in these games likes this you’ve got to trust your teammates and play the way we’re supposed to play.” 

In the first round of the Yellow Jacket Christmas Classic, West Forsyth routed St. Pauls 84-27.  

Max Skilman led West Forsyth with 14 points and added six rebounds. Arrington Kee had 13 points, and Tate and Nicholas Fleming had 12 points apiece. 

“We came out and played well in the first half,” Marlon Brim said. “We got a little complacent in the second half, but I thought overall we played really well for four quarters.” 

Even though the West Forsyth boys played Mount Tabor in the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic championship four days before Christmas, sometimes it can be hard to play after a holiday. 

“I thought they responded well,” Marlon Brim said. “And that’s why I wanted to play after the Frank Spencer…These games are kind of like playoff games, conference tournaments playing three games in a week. You know, things like that. So, thought they bounced back well. And that was my concern was how we would bounce back after losing to Tabor. Would we be ready or would we come out slow? We actually played well in all three nights.” 

In the semifinals on Friday night, the West Forsyth boys defeated Apex Middle Creek 53-42 with the help of 25 points and five rebounds by Jacari Brim. Manuel had 13 points and six assists, and Tate had 6 points and 10 rebounds.  

West Forsyth led 9-6 after the first quarter, but it extended the lead to 26-13 at halftime. 

“I thought we played really well (Friday) night,” Marlon Brim said. “I thought Cari took over the game and the guys just followed his lead. And we just ended the game on like a 9-0 run.” 

The West Forsyth boys (9-1, 2-0 Central Piedmont 4-A) will practice the Monday-Thursday this week in preparation for Friday’s conference game at Reagan (6-4 as of Sunday, 1-1 Central Piedmont 4-A).  

West Forsyth defeated Reagan 62-54 in the semifinals of the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic.  

“Our guys know what our goal is,” Marlon Brim said. “We talk about it a lot. The guys talk about it, too. They know that conference is a big thing for us. We’ve just got to be able to lock in for the next run.” 

The West Forsyth boys also have a nonconference game Saturday night at High Point Andrews. 

“They’re a scrappy team,” Marlon Brim said. “Coach Irv(in) (Turner) is a good friend of mine. He’s turning that program around. So, those kids are going to play hard. It’s going to be an away game on a Saturday. I felt like it tests our kids playing on the road. You know, that could help us in conference and in playoffs.” 

In the championship of the Ledford Christmas Classic, the West Forsyth girls led 9-6 after the first quarter, but they pulled away in the second quarter and led 27-13 at halftime. 

“We was seeded No. 3,” Coach Johnathan Gainey of the West Forsyth girls said. “Our goal was to win our bracket. We wanted the opportunity to play in the championship. To do that we had played (Trinity) Wheatmore (in Friday’s semifinals), who was the No. 2. We were successful in that. And just the opportunity. You know, we had the opportunity to make the championship and we was able to achieve a goal that we set out when the tournament started.” 

In addition to Staples winning tournament MVP, Brooklynn King was named all-tournament after scoring 16 points against Robinson in the championship. Brandie Davis was also named all-tournament.  

“It was the process of getting better every game,” Gainey said. “And in the tournament in three days we played to of course win our first game. Coming off the holiday we didn’t play exceptionally well (against East Davidson on Thursday). We had some early turnovers expected when you come off a little break. It took us a while to get in the ballgame. Then, we played much better (Friday). And (Saturday night) we put it all together and we really played well (Saturday night).” 

In the semifinals Friday night against Wheatmore, West Forsyth won 49-34. Davis led West Forsyth with 12 points and Staples chipped in with 11.  

Staples and Isabel Gil added 12 points apiece for West Forsyth, and King contributed 10.  

Gainey said the Titans led by as many 18. 

“After that game we talked about controlling our game, — playing the game the full 32 minute, not getting comfortable when we get a lead,” he said. “And we had been in that before. We lost an overtime game to Southeast Guilford (earlier in the season). We had a big lead, got in some foul trouble, and they was able to come back in the fourth quarter and ended up going to overtime. We ended up losing. So, we talked about just learning to close our games.” 

And in the first round this past Thursday, Davis led all scorers for West Forsyth with 16 as it defeated East Davidson 56-45.  

“I think we’re playing well together,” Gainey said. “I think that starts by each of our starting five has led us in scoring one game or the other. So, they’re really playing well together. They’re sharing the ball. We’re just playing basketball the right way.” 

The West Forsyth girls (8-2, 2-0 Central Piedmont 4-A) will have almost a week off before it dives back into conference play Friday night at Reagan (6-4 as of Sunday, 1-1). 

“I don’t want to look too far ahead,” Gainey said. “You know, Reagan, we’re in a tough conference. You know, we’re going to try and take it game by game. You know, this is a big win. We’re going to enjoy this one and we’ll get in the gym on Monday and we’ll prepare for Reagan.  

“You know, it’s going to be a rivalry game. It’s one of the greater rivalries. Records don’t matter. You’ve to bring your A game if you want to win. So, we’ve got to make sure we keep this momentum. As long as we keep playing the right way — sharing the ball, playing defense, diving on the floor – I like my chances going forward. But it’s a long season.”