Elevator

UP: Marvin Ridge cheerleaders: Won Super Large division state title last month in the N.C. High School invitational championships.

UP: Myers Park girls: 5-0 after 69-30 win over Olympic. Rydeiah Rogers had 14 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. Saadia Timpton had 16 points.

UP: First Assembly girls: Beat Victory Christian 51-48 in 2OT behind 34 combined points from Goddess Steele and Paris Johnson.

UP: Statesville: Upset No. 4 Mooresville 82-77.

Harding upsets No. 1 West Charlotte

When Harding lost 74-58 to nationally ranked Milton (GA) at the Charlotte Hoops Challenge last month, Rams coach Walter Aikens said he was proud of his team. He loved how tough his kids played and knew if they could repeat that kind of performance against N.C. competition, even elite N.C. competition like West Charlotte, the Rams would be a tough out.

Sure enough, on the same night West Charlotte celebrated winning the 2010 N.C. 4A state championship, that toughness showed in a 66-65 upset that is one of the biggest in Mecklenburg County in years.

West Charlotte is nationally ranked in many polls and sits at No. 1 in the Observer's Sweet 16. Harding (4-1) ended the Lions' 15-game win streak. West Charlotte is 1-1.

Jarvis Haywood hit two free throws with 1.1 seconds to win the game. He finished with 29 points. Harding led by 10 in the first half and fell behind by 10 in the second half. Aikens said it was Harding's first win over West Charlotte since 2009.

Olympic loses starter to eligibility

Olympic High's boys basketball team, ranked No. 2 in the Observer's Sweet 16, will play the remainder of the season without of one its best players.

B.J. Gladden, a 6-foot-5 junior wing, has been declared ineligible. Sources told the Observer the issue was with his residency. Gladden was not living in Olympic's district.

Sue Doran, director of athletics for Mecklenburg County schools, said Olympic will not be held accountable for the eligibility issue. While not naming Gladden, due to privacy issues, she said the school was not at fault.

Olympic coach Ty Baumgardner, who did not return calls, did not include Gladden's name on the roster he released today with his game notes. Olympic (4-0) beat Myers Park (3-2) Friday in the Trojans first game without Gladden.

Gladden scored nine points in Olympic's 88-79 win over Butler Tuesday. Gladden, a 6-foot-5 forward, is ranked among the state's top 10 players in the junior class by several statewide scouting services. He played at Queens Grant Charter School last year, which has no attendance boundaries.

Gladden was Olympic's fourth leading scorer (8.7 points per game) and second leading rebounder (5.0). He led the team in steals (1.7 per game).

Friday's Best

Sharee' Boyd, Hopewell girls: 17 points, eight rebounds, six steals, four assists and two blocks in 52-38 win over East Meck. Sandra Knox had 21 points and 12 rebounds for East.

Beth Erb, Country Day girls: 28 points in 46-41 loss to High Point Christian.

Jordan Henry, Marvin Ridge girls: 17 points, 13 rebounds, four steals in 51-35 win over Union County rival Piedmont. Teammate Rachel Walker had 10 rebounds and eight points.

Shannon Hines, Mercedes Davis, R-S Central girls: 20 points each in 67-43 win over Mitchell. R-S Central is 4-1.

J.J. Douglas, Kennedy Charter: 18 points, 8 rebounds in 79-45 win over Union Academy. Julius Hamilton added 18 points and Jalen White had 16 points and six assists.

Shelton Mitchell, Cuthbertson: 26 points, 11 rebounds in 59-50 win over Weddington.

DeSean Murray, East Gaston: 24 points in 70-50 win over Kings Mountain.

Rob Noyes, Freedom: 24 points in 82-45 win over Morganton County rival Draughn. Freedom held Draughn to 27 points in the first three quarters.

Shaun Stewart, Sun Valley: 30 points in 72-41 win over West Stanly.

By The Numbers

30 Average margin of victory for Myers Park girls

25 Assists for Ardrey Kell girls in 65-44 win over Charlotte Catholic. Oceania Anderson had 12 points and eight assists. Wake Forest signee Christelle Shembo had 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists.

24 Points for Charlotte Catholic's Mark Pollack in a 57-41 win over Ardrey Kell

31 Steals for Queens Grant Charter's girls in a 75-26 win over Pine Lake Prep.