Basketball teams look to holiday tournaments to fine-tune their game

Local coaches and players hope to use the holiday season to get better as they take the court at various tournaments.

That’s the case for coach Scott Brewer and his Concord boys basketball team. Despite their 5-0 start, during which the team has averaged 90 points per game, they hope to use the holiday season to get a step closer to their ultimate goal.

“Above our board in the locker room, I have the date and place of the state championship written on the first day of practice,” Brewer said. “That’s our goal, every year.”

Concord will try to defend its championship of the Lindberg Moody Tournament at Rock Hill Northwestern (S.C.) on Dec. 27-29. Brewer and his players hope to force their opponents to play at the dizzying pace that is a trademark of Spider basketball.

“I think the pace that we play at can be a shock to teams in tournament format,” Brewer said.

The Cox Mill boys basketball squad is one of the teams chasing Concord in the SPC, and it will also host a big event, the CMC Northeast Holiday Classic on Dec.27-29.

“Our tournament has gotten better and better each year and this is the strongest field we’ve ever had,” said Cox Mill basketball coach Brad Hinson. “It benefits us because we get to play three days of great basketball all while getting to stay close to home for the holidays and not having to travel.”

Here is a breakdown of the holiday tournaments local teams will be playing in:

Concord

• Boys: Lindberg Moody Invitational: Senior Darren Black (18 points per game) and Connor Burchfield (26 a game) set a staggering scoring pace that makes the Spiders a tough team to beat.

• Girls: CMC Northeast Holiday Classic: This season has been a struggle for coach Angela Morton’s young team, but Nakiah Black and the Spiders will look to gain momentum at the Cox Mill event.

A.L. Brown

• Boys: CMC Northeast Holiday Classic: The Wonders have the talent and experience to be near the top of the SPC, but they need to start heading up soon to do that.

• Girls: CMC Northeast Holiday Classic: The Wonders have gotten off to a slow start, but second-year coach Mike Wolford would love to get on a roll starting this weekend.

Hickory Ridge

• Boys: East Lincoln Winter Jam (East Lincoln High on Dec. 27-29): A young Ragin’ Bull team has emerging talent in the backcourt with junior Nick Hough (15 points per game) and sophomore Jaylen Stowe (12) that make them a tough draw.

Central Cabarrus

• Boys: CMC Northeast Holiday Classic: The Vikings look resurgent under coach Brian King with senior guards Dey’Quan Heath and Mason Spease driving a team that is a match-up nightmare on the perimeter.

• Girls: CMC Northeast Holiday Classic: The Lady Vikings have some pieces, like Diovonnie Powell (12 points, six rebounds a game), but they still have to put them together to win consistently.

Cox Mill

• Boys: CMC Northeast Holiday Classic: The Chargers have momentum coming off a hot start and will look to defend home court.

• Girls: CMC Northeast Holiday Classic: The team needs a boast at home after struggling early this season. A win or two here would go a long way for coach Katie Jenis’ Chargers.

Mount Pleasant

• Boys: CMC Northeast Holiday Classic: The Tigers have had some early success with Trey Swaringen (15 points per game) hot from the outside. But an undersized Tiger team will have to play big to get a victory or two here.

• Girls: CMC Northeast Holiday Classic: The Lady Tigers have struggled to score consistently and will need Ally Hunt (10 points per game) to help step up their game and get at least a win here.

Jay M. Robinson

• Boys: East Lincoln Winter Jam: After losing their top two players to graduation, the Bulldogs – led by sophomore Connor Boothe – are searching for a new identity and have a tough first-round draw with Ardrey Kell.

• Girls: East Lincoln Winter Jam: The Robinson girls are rebuilding their lineup but have forward Kelsi Mahoney (12 points per game) as a key piece inside. An opening-round game against Vance could be a challenge.

Cannon

• Boys: WNC Holiday Classic (UNC Asheville on Dec. 27-29): The Che Roth era of Cannon basketball has been up and down, but the Cougars have a big opportunity in front of them in a tournament with several of the states’ top private school programs.

Other local teams off this week: Cannon (girls), Covenant Classical (boys), First Assembly (both), Hickory Ridge (girls) and Northwest Cabarrus (both).