Prep Rewind: private schools COVID pause; Butler star’s career high sparks Myers Park upset
Several private schools in the Charlotte area are taking a 10-day pause on athletics following a new directive from Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris.
School officials from Charlotte Country Day, Charlotte Latin and Providence Day told The Observer on Wednesday afternoon that all winter sports — basketball, wrestling, swimming — are being paused until Friday, Jan. 22.
Those teams will miss at least three games, and school officials said they hope to reschedule them.
Officials from Cannon School and Charlotte Christian said their athletic teams will continue playing.
The Observer reached out to officials at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools about possible changes. CMS spokesperson Brian Hacker said the district likely wouldn’t have comment until Thursday. CMS also has an emergency school board meeting planned for Thursday.
Harris’ directive, in part, says people should use virtual options for school and work. That prompted a scramble among school administrators in and around Charlotte, abruptly upending plans to gradually ease into a return to classroom. Some private schools, including Providence Day, were closed Wednesday as school officials planned next steps.
Harris’ directive also says that people ages 65 and older, as well as individuals considered high risk for coronavirus-related complications, should avoid leaving their homes.
The directive comes with an increased sense of urgency, Harris said at a news conference Wednesday morning. A 22-year-old died with COVID-19 in Mecklenburg on Tuesday — the county’s youngest coronavirus death to date, Harris said.
That death was a driving factor in issuing the new directive, Harris said. She said the 22-year-old had some underlying conditions that may have led to coronavirus complications, but she declined to provide more demographic data about the individual.
Wednesday’s #BIG5 Top Boys Performers
Cole Callaway, JT Harper, Pine Lake Prep: 51 points combined in an 86-61 win over Queens Grant -- 28 for Callaway and 23 for Harper.
Demonte Cunningham, Rocky River: Playing his second varsity game ever, Cunningham, a senior, had 19 points, 10 rebounds against Hickory Ridge.
Peyton Gerald, Ardrey Kell: Career-high 24 points in an 82-70 win over West Mecklenburg. Ardrey Kell is 3-0.
Jemez Herd, Olympic: 6-6 junior center had 18 points, 17 rebounds in a win over Berry.
Jesse Taylor, Butler: career-high 43 points as Butler upset No. 5 Myers Park 90-84.
Wednesday’s #BIG5 Top Girls Performers
Cassidy Geddes, Newton-Conover: 29 points in a win over Lincolnton.
Finley Lefevers, Hickory: game-high 22 points in a 61-27 win over South Caldwell.
Nyla McGill, Providence: 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists as Providence, No. 7 in the Sweet 16, beat No. 14 and SoMECK 7 conference rival South Meck.
Aniyah Scales, Olympic: 16 points, 10 rebounds, three assists in a 58-30 win over Berry.
Saniya Wilson, Kings Mountain: 28 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals in a 63-49 win over Hunter Huss.
Wednesday’s Boys Boxscores
NO. 3 ARDREY KELL 82, WEST MECK 70
Ardrey Kell 19 19 25 19-- 82
West Meck 5 23 19 23-- 70
ARDREY KELL 82 -- Peyton Gerald 24, Knoah Carver 16, Elijah Gray 16, Evan Smith 12, Nelson 4, Kyle Hanchard 4, Akenyelu 2
WEST MECK 70-- Pruitt 17, Smith 10.
Notable: Peyton Gerald scores a career high 24 points. Ardrey Kell moves to 3-0 and plays at Olympic on Friday night.
BUTLER 90, NO. 5 MYERS PARK 84
Butler: 16 11 17 17 29 - 90
MP: 16 8 13 24 23 - 84
Butler: Jesse Taylor 43, Ty Black 24, Fisher-Davis 9, Green 6, Colbert 3, Burgess 3, McDuffie 2
Myers Park: Elijah Strong 29, Sam Walters 18, Dallas Gardner 12, Farris 9, Ryan 6, Shore 5, Lynch 5
Jesse Taylor with a career high 43.
Butler moves to 1-2, Myers Park moves to 0-1.
Butler plays home against Independence on Friday.
CHRIST THE KING 79, CORVIAN 37
CTK 25 20 31 3 79
Cor 11 13 9 4 37
CTK 79 -- Clapp 4, LeBeau 7, Sides 2, Hendershott 16, Lagueux 12, Pollo 5, Steed 16, Kocher 2, Stanley 15
CORVIAN 37 -- Mason R 4, Jake F 12, Jack H 2, Caleb B 5, Ayden 2, Blake M 4, Owen F 4, Belle B 3, Jay H 1
Notable: Andrew Hendershott led Christ the King with 16 points and 8 assists. Dylan Steed added 16 points, Andrew Stanley had 15 points and 6 rebounds, and Bryce Laguex added 12 points
HOUGH 50, LAKE NORMAN 40
Lake Norman 8 16 14 2 -- 40
Hough. 7 8 17 18 -- 50
LAKE NORMAN 40 -- Hodges 4, Taylor 4, Kepley 9, Goree 1, Davis 6, Gruber 2, Seth Aeschliman 14
HOUGH 50 -- Turner 4, Viruso 3, McCormick 9, Shryock 4, Canford 5, Riehl 1, Worland 18, Stiff 6
MOUNTAIN HERITAGE 59, FREEDOM 55
Freedom: 16 10 06 23 = 55
Mtn. Heritage: 14 08 23 14 = 59
Freedom: Que Rice 22, Daylin Pritchard 14, Harris 4, Dellinger 2, Costello 5, Z. Pritchard 6, Hall 2, Pitman 2
Mtn. Heritage: Jalen Branton 25, Max Smoker 14, Austin 6, Crane 4, Silvers 4, Higgins 6
Freedom 1-1 (1-0) play next @ South Caldwell Friday 1/15
OLYMPIC 58, BERRY 34
Olympic 14 13 16 15 - 58
Phillip O. Berry 3 10 9 12 - 34
OLYMPIC 58 - Jemez Herd 18, Kyre Bishop 14, Isiah Golden 13, Kush Carter 6, Jalen Small 3, Jaamon Greene 2, AJ Shaw 2
PHILLIP O. BERRY 34 - I. Jackson 8, M. Dalin 6, S. Osborne 6, D. McCullough 5, J. Stevenson 3, E. Craig 2, K. Lennard 2, W. Humphries 2
Note: Jemez Herd a 6’6” Jr Center for The Olympic Trojans had a Double-Double scoring 18 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.
PINE LAKE PREP 86, QUEENS GRANT 61
Pine Lake - 11 29 23 23 86
Q. Grant - 20 15 13 13 61
PLP - Cole Callaway 28 JT Harper 23 Carson Shirley 19 Forest 6 Schwaba 3 Foley 3 Baldwin 2 Guilford 2
QG - Joel Taylor 13 Parker Burke 13 Jeremiah Wooten 12 Jaidyn Covington 10 L Covington 6 Rector 3 Faherty 2 Watkins 2
Pine Lake 2-0
SOUTH MECKLENBURG 72, PROVIDENCE 45
SOUTH MECK 72 – Nesbit 15, Rothacker 12, Alexander 11, Ferante 10, Lose 9, Boswell 5, Thompson 3, Naye 3, Taylor 2, Fry 2
PROVIDENCE 45 – Buckler 11, Gaither 9, Cicco 8, Taylor 7, Thillet 6, Campbell 4
MCDOWELL 68, WATAUGA 62
WATAUGA 9 13 19 21 -- 62
MCDOWELL 9 10 27 22 -- 68
WATAUGA 62 -- Ben Hale-7, Bennett Ricker-19, Micah Turbet-6, Orlando Leon-10, Jonah Martin-12, Gresham Collins-3, Isaiah Shirley-5
MCDOWELL 68 -- Mikey Queen-16, Colby Effler- 0, Riley Moore-2, Josh Smith- 6, Mason Lamb- 5, Jandon Robbins- 5, Mason McPeters- 16, Max Ledford- 2, Trent Lewis- 16
WINSTON-SALEM REYNOLDS 50, REAGAN 38
RJR -- 11-6-15-18 -- 50
REAGAN -- 7-13-10-8 -- 38
RJ REYNOLDS (3-0, 1-0) Caden Davis 15, Tyriek Leach 12, Calhoun 6, Harris 5, Jeter 5, Mowrey 4, Lumpkin 2, Yates 1.
REAGAN (0-2, 0-1) Kam Hill 12, Jalil Rogers 11, O.Koivisto 6, Kiger 2, George 2. Joines 2, Jackson 2, Fagan 1.
Wednesday’s Girls Boxscores
NO. 7 PROVIDENCE 44, NO. 14 SOUTH MECK 38
PROVIDENCE - 9 10 9 16 = 44
SOUTH MECK - 4 14 6 14 = 38
PHS: Nyla McGill 17, Eva Butler 8, Madison Skinner 5, Lindsey Nolan 10, Delanie Hill 5
SMHS: Sinclair 6, K. Houpt 5, Johnston 4, M. Houpt 3, E. Miller 6, Ndango 8, D. Miller 6
Notable: Nyla McGill also added 9 rebounds, 4 assists
Records: Providence: 2-0
NO. 11 MYERS PARK 72, BUTLER 30
Butler High School 8 9 14 0 - 30
Myers Park High School 20 17 20 17 -- 72
BUTLER 30 -- Jordan Durant 13, Ralda 6, Scott 5, Williams 3, Black 4
MYERS PARK 72 -- Jerin Truesdale 15, Naya Clamp 14, Mia Xerras 14, Nelson 8, Thompson 2, Davis 2, Griffin 3, Wilson 7, Paraison 7
Butler 1-1 (1-1); Myers Park 2-0 (2-0)
HICKORY 61 SOUTH CALDWELL 27
South Caldwell 2 8 13 4—27
Hickory 16 22 16 7—61
SOUTH CALDWELL 27— Propst 3, Olivia Miller 13, Anderson 2, Jackson 2, Phillips 2, Sy Austin, Dorsey 2, Sa Austin, Katlyn Wynn 3, Heavener
Records: South Caldwell 2-1, 1-1
KINGS MOUNTAIN 63, HUNTER HUSS 49
KM 13. 23. 11. 16. -- 63
Huss 18. 4. 22. 5. -- 49
KINGS MOUNTAIN 63 -- Saniya Wilson 28 points, 6 reb, 4 assists, 3 steals; Khalia King 17 points, 3 reb; Tyasya Bell 6 points, 6 reb; Kennedy Barnes 5 points, 4 reb; Jacie Jarvis 2 points; Austyn Dixon 2 points, 5 reb; Alayna Patrick 3 steals
HUNTER HUSS 49 -- Jamya Daniels 29 points; Anyssiah Love 7 points; Savanni harris 4 pts; Lanadia Adams 4 pts; Trinity Swann 3 pts; Kenedi Armstrong 2 pts
LAKE NORMAN 59, HOUGH 31
Lake Norman 12 8 26 13 -- 59
Hough 2 11 8 10 -- 31
Lake Norman 59 – Aly Wadkovsky 20, Kirsten Lewis-Williams 15, Madison Saunders 14, Leigh Marks 6, Jade Lowe 2, Bella Harwood 2
Hough 31 – Schwartz 9, Polito 8, Louthan 4, Raymond 2, Frino 2, Phocas 2, Sell 2, Hibbeler 2
Notes: Lake Norman’s first game on the season.
MCDOWELL 61, WATAUGA 50
McDowell 12, 12, 16, 21 61
Watauga 12, 14, 9, 15 50
McDowell 61 - Naliyah Boyce 24, Madi Smith 16, Daisy Rice 15, Payton Koone 3, Katie Baker 3
Watauga 50 - Brelyn Sturgill 15, Charlotte Torgerson 11, Ava Williamson 9, Chelsi Hodges 6, Marley Coffey 4, Bellamy Cook 3, Macie Keller 2
Notable: McDowell used eight offensive rebounds in the third quarter to overcome a half time deficient and pull away for the win.
NEWTON-CONOVER 70, LINCOLNTON 33
Newton-Conover 14 19 16 21 = 70
Lincolnton 3 10 13 7 = 33
NEWTON-CONOVER 70 -- Cassidy Geddes 29, Grace Loftin 20, Emma Fox 13, Jayla Woods 4, Hannah Watkins 4, Emily Sandel, Mia Powell, Monet Wilson, Nalece Duncan, Lizzy Duncan
LINCOLNTON 33 -- Mackenzie Sunett-Odom 17, Diamond Ross 7, Alexis Hough 5, Maleigh Ganner 2, Elizabeth Eudy 2, Momah Ross, Leah Tweed, Emma Rhyne, Rachel Sandens, Caroline Carpenter, Allison Carpenter
Records: Newton-Conover 3 - 0; Lincolnton 0 - 1
OLYMPIC 58, BERRY 30
Olympic 9 21 10 18 -- 58
Berry 7 9 4 10 -- 30
OLYMPIC 58 - Aniyah Scales 16 pts 10 reb 3 ast, Cydney Harris 13 pts 4 stl 3 reb, Aliyah Terry 5 pts 5 reb 5 ast, Azeria Thomas 9 pts 6 reb, Jaelin Register 15 pts 7 reb 3 stl
BERRY 30 -- Lauren Wallace 2 pts, Maleigha Jackson 8 pts, Janila Bennett 2 pts, Lauren Joseph 9 pts, Chazmin Johnson 3 pts, Kaila Lassiter 3 pts, Lena Brown 2 pts, Savonnah Bryant 1 pts
Carolina Classic All-Star Game canceled
Due to continuing public health concerns, the Carolinas Classic all-star basketball games have been canceled.
The annual girls and boys games feature some of the top North Carolina seniors from public schools facing their S.C. counterparts. The games are put on by the N.C. Coaches Association (NCCA) and the S.C. Athletic Coaches Association (SCACA).
The games are played in Wilmington.
Both state associations will name the 2021 girls and boys to honor the 40 student-athletes for their career achievements. That list will be released early next month.
“As happened last year, our concern for the safety and well-being of these young student-athletes, as well as for spectators attending the games from communities across the two-state area, coaches, and essential personnel, prompted this decision,” said Phil Weaver, co-executive director of the NCCA and Shell Dula, executive director of the SCACA in a statement.
Late Tuesday Boxscores
CHARLOTTE LATIN 53 CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 39
CL 8 17 10 18--53
CD 12 11 7 9--39
CL--Chase Montgomery 14, Graham Calton 12, Jones 8, Haughton 7, Hirsch 5, Hull 3, Morgan 3, Hendley 1
CD--Erwin 8, Ray 6, Tabor 5, Turner 5, Alessi 4, Hedrick 4, Gardner 3, Hicks 2, Mitchell 2
Record: Charlotte Latin 9-3, 1-0
DAVIDSON DAY GIRLS 71, WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN 54
Davidson Day 28 5 13 25 -- 71
Wesleyan Christian 23 5 13 13 -- 54
Davidson Day -- Mallorie Haines 22, Juliana Park 22, Jessie Wiles 12, Callie Pestana 8, Hannah Higbea 4, Ashley Fowler 3.
Wesleyan Christian -- L. McRae 14, T. Hawley 10, M. Tat 7, M. Carter 5, L. Pereira 5, S. Chrapliwy 5, A. Browne 4, M. Howell 4.
Davidson Day notable: Mallorie Haines and Juliana Park scored 22 points each to help pace the Patriots on Tuesday at home. Haines also grabbed 4 rebounds and added 1 steal while Park dished 5 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds. Jess Wiles added 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Callie Pestana provided a spark off the bench by contributing 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Thursday’s Schedule
CISAA
Providence Day at Charlotte Latin, ppd
South Piedmont 3A (boys)
A.L. Brown at Jay M. Robinson
Central Cabarrus at West Cabarrus
Concord at Cox Mill
South Piedmont 3A (girls)
Cox Mill at Concord
Jay M. Robinson at A.L. Brown
West Cabarrus at Central Cabarrus
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Metrolina Christian at Gaston Christian
Foothills 2A
Bunker Hill at West Caldwell
East Burke at Draughn
Patton at Hibriten
West Iredell at Fred T. Foard
Nonconference
Davidson Day at Concord Academy
Northside Christian at Hickory Christian
Northwest Cabarrus at Mount Pleasant
South Rowan at South Davidson
United Faith Christian at Arborbrook Christian (girls)
Victory Christian at Comenius
This story was originally published January 13, 2021 at 5:35 PM.
