Davidson Day holds off Cannon School at MLK event, hopes to begin championship push
In Ron Johnson’s first season back as head coach at Davidson Day, the Patriots finished 20-5 and put the recent past behind them.
Johnson coached at the Mecklenburg County school from 2009-12 and the Patriots went 66-15. But after Johnson left, Davidson Day endured two losing seasons and just one with more than 16 wins.
Now, with Johnson back for Year 2 of his return, Davidson Day looks like it’s ready to hunt a championship. The Patriots, a 2A private school, showed serious mettle in a 57-53 win over 4A state title contender Cannon School at the Carmel Christian MLK Showcase powered by Phenom Hoops.
“It’s major,” Johnson said. “They’ve got a great team and this is a deep playoff, championship-type game. It’s major for our guys in terms of getting experience in playing games like this.”
Davidson Day (18-1), No. 2 in the Sweet 16, led No. 4 Cannon (18-6) by 11 points at halftime and had to withstand a big Cannon run in the final two quarters.
And when they needed it most, Davidson Day looked to Charlotte 49ers recruit Jackson Threadgill, who hit a big 3-point shot late in the fourth quarter and an equally big 15-foot pull jump shot even later.
Threadgill finished with a game-high 21 points.
“The guys look for me, so I think that’s the big thing,” Threadgill said, “that I’ve got the trust (of) my teammates and that’s why, when the game is on the line, the ball is in my hands.”
Jaden Bradley (21 points) and DJ Nix (19) led Cannon, which had its chances late to get in position to steal the win. But, time after time, Davidson Day got key defensive stands.
Johnson, however, wants more from his team.
“We’ve got to be a little tougher, I think, offensively,” he said. “I think we allowed them to kind of push us a little bit and we didn’t work hard enough to get open, things like that. It’s stuff for us to learn from and we will.”
Both Threadgill and Johnson believe the Patriots are ready to make a state championship run. And, despite not finishing quite the way they wanted Saturday, they believe this type of game -- big crowd, great opposition -- will only help them on their way.
“We’ve still got time to get better, so we’re doing that,” Johnson said. “I think we’ve got a good opportunity. There’s some good teams out there....We’re kind of peaking but they still believe and I know we’ve still got things to get better at.”
Elevator
↑Jacob Newman, Myers Park: sophomore point guard had nine points in a 68-58 come-from-behind win over Covenant Day at the Carmel Christian MLK Showcase. Newman had seven points in the fourth quarter and overtime, and he had several big offensive rebounds to extend possessions.
↑Mallard Creek girls: Sweet 16 No. 1 Mavericks limited No. 12 Victory Christian to 15 points in the first half of a 52-39 win.
↑Charlotte Christian defense: Down 23-14 to York Prep after the first quarter, the Knights limited York Prep to eight total points in the second and third quarters of a 57-45 win. Peter Lash (19 points) and Logan Jones (11 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals, two blocks) led the Knights.
↑East Lincoln shooting: in a 104-65 win over Kings Mountain, the Mustangs set a new school-record making 16 3-point field goals (in 31 attempts). The Mustangs have won seven straight games.
Quick Links
Major changes to Sweet 16 format; latest polls
Friday’s rewind: Myers Park’s rally, Sweet 16, stars
How Olympic High’s Josh Banks became one of the state’s best players
Observer boys basketball player of the week named
Observer girls basketball player of the week named
Observer athlete of the week named
3 Quick Thoughts
1. After losing 81-38 to No. 3 First Assembly, Carmel Christian had a big game Saturday at home against 4A public school power Vance. It was the type of game where a season could hang in the balance. Despite two of the team’s top three players -- Ben Burnham and Justin Taylor -- not being at 100 percent, Carmel played tough in a 49-48 win. If coach Joe Badgett’s team can get healthy, it could find itself in another game with First Assembly in February -- with a state title on the line.
2. Really impressed with Covenant Day freshman Aden “Bizkit” Holloway. He is the best freshman I’ve seen this year. With good size for a point guard, Holloway is an excellent ball-handler who has a really good mid-range game and excellent 3-point range. Holloway, who has a Syracuse offer, is going to a special player.
3. Great atmosphere at Carmel Christian Saturday. The gym was about 90 percent full almost all day and sold out at times. It was loud and the basketball was good. The public-private matchups lived up to their billing. I just hope a few more local powers like, say, North Mecklenburg, will play next season.
Saturday’s #BIG5 Top Performers
Trae Benham, First Assembly: made seven 3-point shots in a 81-55 win over Kannapolis Brown. Benham finished with 29 points. Garrett Hien (18 points, eight rebounds, three steals, three blocks), Isaac Boothe (12 points, six assists) and Cheick Traore (nine points, 15 rebounds, five blocks) also had strong games. Kheni Briggs had 16 for Brown.
Aden Holloway, Covenant Day: 31 points in a 68-58 loss to Myers Park. Holloway, a freshman with a Syracuse offer, had 32 points against Cannon School Friday.
Myles Hunter, Carmel Christian: team-high 15 points in a 49-48 win over Vance.
Jackson Threadgill, Davidson Day: game-high 21 points in a 57-53 win over Cannon School in a battle of top 10 Sweet 16 teams.
Lauren Walker, Mallard Creek: game-high 21 points in a 52-39 win over Victory Christian.
Olympic rolls past Legion Collegiate at MLK Peace
The Olympic Trojans had no trouble with the upstart Legion Collegiate Lancers (Rock Hill, SC) at the MLK Peace Basketball Showcase Saturday at Johnson C. Smith University. Olympic led from start to finish in a 73-49 victory.
The Trojans’ trio of Trevon Williams, Josh Banks and Isiah Golden was a handful for the Lancers scoring 19, 18 and 17 points respectively. Legion Collegiate, in its first season of competition, did have two players in double figures with Marcus Kell scoring 13 points and Isaac Hawkins finishing with 12.
Olympic started the game on an 8-0 run with 3-pointers by Williams and Golden along with a deuce from Banks. The Trojans had four 3-pointers in the first quarter and six in the first half while building a 39-12 lead at the half.
The Trojans stormed out in the third quarter with a 13-0 run and the outcome was virtually decided.
“We came out and played hard and I had to step up and be a leader for my team,” said Williams, a junior. “Everybody had to do a part and I played my role and put the ball in the basket.”
Legion Collegiate is playing its first season, with games hard to schedule and no home gymnasium until next season. The combination of playing all its games on the road and being a first-year team has been a challenge, but Lancers’ coach Otis Wilson is optimistic about the future.
“I feel like the future is bright for us,” said Wilson. “I only have one senior and I feel like with the guys coming back, their commitment level is there. They’re going to get there. It’s just frustrating as a coach knowing that there are some things they can’t do and we’re not accomplishing them right now. But, they’ll get there.”
THREE WHO MATTERED:
Trevon Williams, Olympic – Led all scorers with a game-high 19 points including a pair of 3-pointers.
Marcus Kell, Legion Collegiate – 6-6 sophomore led the Lancers in scoring with 13 points on three, 3-pointers and four-of-four from the free-throw line.
Isiah Golden, Olympic – Joined Williams and Banks to finish in double figures with 17 points, including three, 3-pointers.
WORTH MENTIONING:
Senior star Josh Banks connected twice on long-range, 30-foot 3-pointers.
Legion Collegiate will join South Carolina’s 2A division next season.
Kell’s grandfather played college basketball at West Virginia University in the late fifties with NBA Hall-of-Famer Jerry West.
The trio of Williams, Banks, and Golden scored 54 of Olympic’s 74 points. (73%)
The Lancers finished the game with ten, 3-pointers for 30 of their 49 points.
WHAT’S NEXT: Olympic will host Harding this coming Friday while Legion Collegiate will play at Elevation Prep on Wednesday.
THEY SAID IT: “It’s a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. Not every team gets to play like we do, especially not in this type of tournament, so it’s a great experience.” Olympic Junior guard Isiah Golden on Olympic being asked to play in a local Martin Luther King holiday tournament.
RECORDS: Olympic (12-5); Legion (8-4)
- Tim Donelli
Saturday’s Scores
MLK Showcase at Carmel Christian
Asheville Christian 82, Cardinal Newman 67
Carmel Christian 49, Vance 48
Davidson Day 57, Cannon School 53
First Assembly 81, AL Brown 55
Myers Park 68, Covenant Day 58
Others
Charlotte Christian 57, York Prep 45
Combine Academy 76, West Charlotte 52
Cox Mill 76, First Flight 47
East Lincoln 104, Kings Mountain 65
Forest Hills 65, Monroe 55
Metrolina Christian 62, Cary Academy 37
Northside Christian 65, Shelby 55
Olympic 73, Legion Collegiate 49
SouthLake Christian 62, Franklin Prep 60
GIRLS
Burlington School 60, Davidson Day 41
Community School of Davidson 53, Union Academy 52
East Lincoln 61, Kings Mountain 41
Mallard Creek 52, Victory Christian 39
Rock Hill 42, West Charlotte 31
South Pointe 41, Legion Collegiate 34
This story was originally published January 18, 2020 at 10:09 PM.
