2018-19 Catawba County boys basketball preview
Teams to Watch
Maiden: The Blue Devils will lean on their senior backcourt trio in Avery Boyles, Mason High and Caleb McDaniel, who averaged a combined 35 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists last year. If Maiden can get consistent production from their frontcourt they will be a South Fork 2A conference contender and a dangerous playoff matchup with their experience and playmaking abilility.
Hickory: The Red Tornadoes have averaged 25 wins per season in Coach Andy Poplin’s five seasons in charge. Keeping up with that pace won’t be easy on a team that returns only one starter in junior guard Cody Young (13 ppg). But Hickory has a tradition of reloading quickly, finding a way to be in the thick of the Northwestern 3A/4A conference race and making a deep playoff run.
Hickory Christian: The Knights’ have the experience and talent to be a major factor in the South Piedmont Athletic Association (SPAA) race and into the postseason with three senior starters in Andy Cook (10 ppg), Luke Harris and Jack McMahon (8 ppg , 4 rpg) back to lead the way for a team that won 15 games a year ago.
Bunker Hill: The Bears made a major jump from 2-23 in the 2016-17 season to 13-13 last year. This season, Bunker Hill will look to all-conference seniors in point guard Christian Ramseur (17 ppg) and 6-foot-6, center Thaxton Isenhour (13 ppg), to help the Bears move even further up the Northwest Foothills’ 2A standings and into more favorable playoff position.
Bandys: The Trojans will look to three senior starters in Davis Clanton (9 ppg, 7 rpg), Hunter Clanton (5 ppg, 3 apg) and Charlie Styborski (9 ppg) to help keep Bandys in the top half of the South Fork 2A conference and in playoff position.
Players to Watch
Mason High, Maiden senior: The 6-foot, Blue Devils’ all-conference guard (14 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg) is part of an explosive backcourt with classmates Avery Boyles (10 ppg) and Caleb McDaniel (11 ppg).
Andy Cook, Hickory Christian senior: The 6-foot-4, Knights’ senior forward (10 ppg, 6 rpg) is a key piece to a veteran Hickory Christian team that could make a move in the ultra-competitive SPAA.
Cody Young, Hickory: The Red Tornadoes’ lone returning starter (13 ppg) will need to step into a big role for a younger Hickory team.
Christian Ramseur, Bunker Hill senior: The 5-foot-9 senior all-conference point guard (17 ppg) will have the ball in hands a lot for a team that is eager to prove it can be a Northwest Foothills’ 2A conference contender.
Nash Whitener, Fred T. Foard senior: The 6-foot-5 Tigers’ point guard (7 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 apg) looks to lead a veteran Fred T. Foard team back up the Northwest Foothills’ 2A conference standings and into the playoffs.
Can’t Miss Games
Davidson Day at Hickory Christian, Monday, Nov. 19: The Knights get a strong early season test against Davidson Day.
Draughn at Bunker Hill, Tuesday, December 18: If the Bears are going to contend for a Northwest Foothills’ 2A title they will have to hold serve against some of the league’s top teams at home.
University Christian at Hickory Christian, Friday, December 21: This SPAA battle the Friday before Christmas has a special meaning as all the proceeds from the game and donations go to Samaritans’ Purse Hurricane Relief Fund.
Dicks’ Sporting Goods Classic Tournament at Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC), Dec. 27-29: This annual event at CVCC will showcase most of Catawba County’s best boys’ and girls’ basketball players and teams.
East Lincoln at Maiden, Friday, Feb. 8: Any road to a South Fork 2A conference regular season title will likely go through East Lincoln and this will be a critical February league game for both teams.
Newton Conover at Maiden, Tuesday, Feb. 12: Catawba County rivalry always a big game, but even bigger when the South Fork 2A conference foes meet with three days left in the regular season.
Interesting Notes
Hickory Christian coach Gary Bowne, in his 43rd year of coaching, is the Coaches vs. Cancer chairman. Bowne and company will participate in the Suits vs. Sneakers’ Coaches vs. Cancer week Jan. 21-26. Hickory Christian raised $12,000 last year and has raised more than $50,000 for cancer research in the last seven years.
Maiden basketball coach Danny Anderson has 690 wins in his 36th as a head coach. Anderson needs only 10 wins to get to the 700-victory milestone this season. Anderson has averaged 19.7 wins per season in his overall coaching tenure.
First year St. Stephens basketball coach Patrick Smith is a former assistant to current West Caldwell coach Billy Anderson, when he helped East Carteret to a state champion and state runner-up finish in his tenure. This year, coach Smith takes over an Indians team without any players returning with varsity experience.
The Newton Conover basketball team has struggled in the last three years, going 17-58. But the Red Devils should be much improved with four starters returning to the lineup, led by juniors Jameim McCathern (8 ppg, 5 rpg) and Matthew Martinez (6 ppg, 4 rpg).
Conference Predictions
Northwestern 3A/4A Boys
Freedom; 2. Hickory; 3. McDowell; 4. Alexander Central; 5. West Caldwell; 6. Watauga; 7. South Caldwell; 8. St. Stephens.
Northwest Foothills 2A Boys
Draughn; 2. Hibriten; 3. Bunker Hill; 4. Patton; 5. Fred T. Foard; 6. East Burke; 7. West Iredell.
South Fork 2A Boys
East Lincoln; 2. North Lincoln; 3. Maiden; 4. Lake Norman Charter; 5. Lincolnton; 6. Newton Conover; 7. Bandys; 8. West Lincoln.
South Piedmont Athletic Association (SPAA) Boys
United Faith; 2. Victory Christian; 3. Hickory Christian; 4. University Christian; 5. Statesville Christian; 6. North Hills Christian; 7. Woodlawn School.