By By RYAN ROCKWELL, Sports Writer
Right in the heart of Washington there is a player and a program many people might not be familiar with. At Emmanuel Christian Academy, center Cameron Lawrence is leading the Cavaliers into the N.C. Christian Athletic Conference Eastern Regionals into the playoffs.
Lawrence, a 6-foot, 3-inch junior post player has blossomed into a 20-point per game scorer, playing for Emmanuel since eighth grade. This season, the versatile performer has the Cavaliers (12-7, 3-3) in their first playoff game under head coach Mike Chandler.
Cameron grew up with the basketball around him. Both his mother, Lue Coffield, and his father, Horace Lawrence, played and Horace was a coach in Williamston.
Lawrence has taken his lumps along with the team, which had not had a winning season until this year, since the man in the middle has been there.
Lawrence has a heavy weight to bear, playing on a team that has just seven players on the roster, one of which is a senior, while one is in eighth grade.
The lanky post player likes to pop out and shoot the jumper, drive to the basket, as well as punish the opposition down low.
After finishing second to Grammercy in the N.C. Christian Athletic Association during the regular season, Emmanuel won its first round game of the conference playoffs over Fellowship Christian Academy, 44-27. Despite frequent double teams, Lawrence scored 14 points.
Emmanuel qualified for the conference title game against Grammercy, but fell 71-50. Now the team tunes up for Riverside tonight at Grammercy in Havelock in the first round of the state playoffs.