Carmel Christian defense shuts down Davidson Day in Phenom Hoops tipoff
Last February, Carmel Christian lost its first game in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association playoffs. It was the first time in 10 years that Joe Badgett didn’t coach in a state championship game.
In the previous nine years, whether as an assistant at Northside Christian with Byron Dinkins or as a head coach at Carmel Christian, Badgett had always worked the last game of the season.
That upset loss, which ruined a chance at a 3-peat, fueled the Cougars’ off-season. It also led to Friday’s 53-38 win over reigning NCISAA 2A state champion Davidson Day at the Phenom Hoops Tip Off at the Rock HIll Sports & Events Center.
“The kids who played in that game really understand what happened,” Carmel Christian coach Joe Badgett said of last year’s 60-47 home playoff loss to Cape Fear Academy. “They kind of harp on it and know what you can’t do if you want to be successful and win states. And those pieces that hadn’t bought into it aren’t with them now, through graduation or transfer. This is a real solid group. I’ve got kids who are not playing much and the bench is active, and we didn’t have that last year.
“They learned a lot from last year.”
With just 10 days of practice before Friday’s game, Badgett said he worked really hard on defense, and it showed. Davidson Day scored just 13 points after halftime. Besides Blane St. Clair, who had 20 points for Davidson Day, no Patriots player had more than Donovan Atwell’s 8.
Carmel Christian got 16 points from senior guard Justin Taylor and 16 from senior forward Ben Burnham.
“Getting them to comprehend how effective the defense was, that was key,” Badgett said. “(Davidson Day) got a little fatigued and we got them a little rattled in the second half. They’re a lot smaller than we are, we were working the ball in the paint and got some separation, and if you get separation on a team that wants to control possession of the ball, you can speed them up and get some mistakes out of them. It was a great win to start the year.”
Friday’s Top Performers
Javian Cannady, Concord Academy: 24 points, 10 rebounds, six steals in a 101-69 win over Charlotte Basketball Academy.
Xavier McKelvy, United Faith: 20 points, 10 rebounds for Myers Park transfer in a 72-57 win over High Pont Wesleyan. Teammate LJ Johnson (21 points, six rebounds) also had a big game.
Kris Robinson, Combine Academy: sharpshooter had 19 points, a team-high, in a 88-65 win over Carolina Basketball Academy
Phenom Scores/Schedules
The Phenom tournament concludes Saturday at the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center
Friday’s results: Carmel Christian 53, Davidson Day 38; Moravian Prep 67, Winston-Salem Christian 52; Liberty Heights 73, Bull City Prep National 69; Combine Academy 88, Carolina Basketball Academy (GA) 65
Concord Academy 101, Carolina Basketball Academy 69; Gaston Christian 43, Asheville Christian 34; Northside Christian 67, Bull City Prep National 53
Saturday’s schedule
Court 1: Northwood Temple vs. Asheville Christian, 1; Carmel Christian vs. New Faith (GA), 2:30; Cannon School vs. Davidson Day, 4; Burlington School vs Concord Academy, 5:30; Liberty Heights vs. Northside Christian, 7; Moravian Prep vs. Combine Academy, 8:30
Court 2: Gaston Christian vs. Rabun Gap, 1; Carolina Basketball Academy (GA) vs. Bull City National, 2:30; Charlotte Christian vs. Blue Ridge School, 4; Carolina Basketball Academy vs. Winston-Salem Christian, 5:30; Wesleyan Christian vs. Northwood Temple, 7
North Meck star Jessica Timmons changes schools
Jessica Timmons, one of the state’s best high school basketball players, has transferred to Independence HIgh School.
Timmons played her first three seasons at North Mecklenburg. North Mecklenburg and Independence are both in Mecklenburg County and both schools are part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Independence athletic director Elijah Ashley told the Observer that Timmons came to Independence after a family move.
Timmons was the Observer’s Mecklenburg County player of the year in the 2019-20 season. She signed with N.C. State this week and is considered a top 100 national recruit.
Timmons scored her 2,000 point last season and leaves North Mecklenburg with 2,012 career points, just behind the school’s all-time leader, Andrea Stinson. Stinson ended her career in 1987 with 2,128 points.
At Independence, Timmons will play for coach Lauren Galvani, the daughter of North Mecklenburg boys basketball coach Duane Lewis.
Timmons will team with Independence star and Cincinnati signee Braylyn Milton, forming one of the state’s top backcourts.
Friday’s Boxscores
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 53, DAVIDSON DAY 38
Carmel Christian 31 22 -- 53
Davidson Day 25 13 -- 38
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 53 -- Bean 3, Justin Taylor 16, Tyson 8, Ben Burnham 16, Coffey 3, Bynum 4
DAVIDSON DAY 38 -- Prunty 1, Clancy 2, Atwell 8, Horton 3, Blane St. Clair 20, Eley 2
COMBINE ACADEMY 88, CAROLINA BASKETBALL ACADEMY (GA) 65
Carolina 34 31 -- 65
COMBINE 42 46 -- 88
CAROLINA 65 -- Claxton 6, Omar Garnder 24, Alvarado 3, Camacho 3, Dalhouse 6, Elijah Wilson 17, Moore 9
COMBINE 88 -- Jaylen Curry 10, Smith 9, Dudley 4, Dillingham 8, Alfino 9, Wessler 8, Baucom 8, Bodrick 4, Wilson 2, Hamlin 2, Kris Robinson 19, Owens 5, Grant 2
CONCORD ACADEMY 101, CHARLOTTE BASKETBALL ACADEMY 69
Concord Academy: Trae Benham 31, Javian Cannady 24, KJ Perry 8, Tucker Johnson 6, Tyler Fearne 9, Logan Threatt 21, Brayden Lambert 2
Charlotte Basketball Academy: Dejohn Marlin 3, Sincere Malone 8, Shamik Graham 11, Malachi Travis 2, Clifford Barrow 24, Anthony Isaac 6, Nate Pericies 2, Tyrhe Fortey 10, Kaleb Siler 4
Notable: Javian Cannady 24 pts 10 rbs, 6 stls. Tucker Johnson 6 pts 10 rbs, 3 blks. Trae Benham Started the game with 4 straight 3’s.
Concord Academy Record 1-0
LIBERTY HEIGHTS 73, BULL CITY PREP 69
Liberty Heights 12 20 22 19 -- 73
Bull City 16 18 16 19 -- 69
BULL CITY 69 -- Treyvon Byrd 23, Watson 7, Therrien 3, Jackson 6, Liron Thomas 19, Bryce Harris 11
LIBERTY HEIGHTS 73 - Jamison 8, PJ Edwards 22, Jonas Aidoo 25, Isaac Farah 11, Baker 7
UNITED FAITH 72, WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN 57
United Faith -- 23 13 14 22 -- 72
Wesleyan Christian -- 15 12 15 15 - 57
United Faith 72: LJ Johnson 21, Xavier McKelvy 20, Marcus Willis 10, Charlie Hester 9, Quinton Scheuermann 4, Adriel de La Rosa 4, Jaden Quick 2, Xzavier Ivey 2
Wesleyan Christian 57: Isaiah Ray 14
Notes: Xavier McKelvy 20pts 10rebs | Quinton Scheurmann 10rebs | LJ Johnson 21p 6rebs 3ast 1stl | Adriel De La Rosa 4blks
UFCA Record: Overall: 2-0 | SPAA Conference: 0-0
WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN GIRLS 56, UNITED FAITH 21
United Faith 9 8 4 0 - 21
Wesleyan Chrisian 18 13 14 11 - 56
UNITED FAITH - Josie Hester 15, Madelyn Bronson 2, Ella Jordan 2, Jami Caldwell 2
WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN - M. Carter 16, L. Percira 13, L. Mcrae 4, M. HOwell 4, T. Hawley 3, B. Albany 2, S. Chrapivoy 2, A. Brown 2
Saturday’s Schedule
WAKE COUNTY AREA
South Wake Home School at Word of God (boys)
MECK COUNTY AREA
Arborbrook Christian at Covenant Day (girls)
Southlake Christian at Asheville School (boys)
Woodlawn School at Gaston Day (boys)
This story was originally published November 13, 2020 at 4:01 PM.
