Men's Basketball Senior Night

Matt Wotus
Features Editor

(L to R) Valdini, Greeson, and Clayton are recognized with their
families before the game.

Senior night – a night filled with mixed emotions for athletes playing in their last regular-season home game. On one hand, it’s bittersweet, but the game still has to be played. Friday, February 15, was no different for Apex Men’s Basketball seniors Gray Clayton, Scott Greeson, and Jeff Valdini. “It’s sad because it’s the last home game, but I’m thankful for being on the team and being able to play,” Greeson said. Valdini added that it was upsetting, but he was also happy because of the magnitude of the game. “Because it was a game for first place, I was kind of happy,” he said. Apex went on to beat opponent Middle Creek by 14, a performance Head Coach David Neal called his team’s best of the season. In doing so, the Cougars became regular-season conference champions for the second straight year.

Neal called this year’s seniors a special group. “They’ve been a part of two [regular-season] conference championship teams, back-to-back,” he said. Neal added that watching the three of them being recognized before the game was emotional, as is every senior night. “It’s an emotional night, no matter who we’re playing,” he said. Every senior night, Neal shares a quote by Roy Williams, the head coach of UNC Men’s Basketball: “It’s up to the underclassmen to perform well for the seniors.”

Neal added that the leadership of all three definitely contributed to the team’s success this year. “Jeff and Scott have been a huge part of what we’ve been able to accomplish so far,” he said. Even Clayton, who suffered a tear in his ACL and partial tear in his MCL in the first game of the season, was always by Neal on the sideline, leading from the bench.

Valdini said the one thing he would miss most about playing basketball for Apex are his teammates. “They’re hilarious,” he said. “Without them, it would be so much harder to go to practice every day.” Greeson agreed, but also said he would miss the student section at home games, dubbed the Cougar Crazies. The Cougar Den, as the Apex gym is nicknamed, is consistently called one of the most difficult places for visiting teams to play. Valdini also recalled one memory he would never forget – winning the conference championship last year against Green Hope in an overtime thriller.

Both Valdini and Greeson agree that Neal has had a huge impact on them. “He’s a really great coach. He has taught me to play within myself and become a better leader,” Valdini said. Greeson added, “He’s a really good coach, and makes you play hard. He makes sure we are prepared for games.”

Playoff Update: Apex lost in overtime to Green Hope on Friday in the Tri-9 Conference Championship Game. For the second straight year, Cougar standout TJ Evans was named Tri-9 Player of the Year. The state playoffs begin tonight, with Apex, the third seed, playing host to 14th-seeded Lumberton.