Friday’s High School Rewind: Charlotte Christian routs Charlotte Country Day
Charlotte Christian shot 31 percent from the floor Tuesday night in a loss to Charlotte Latin.
Then the Knights turned around Friday night and made 46 percent of their shots against Charlotte Country Day.
Guess which of those games the Knights won?
“When you commit to guarding on defense and rebounding, it opens things up offensively in transition,” said Charlotte Christian coach Shonn Brown, after his team pummeled the host Buccaneers 81-54 in a CISAA game.
“We made 11-of-35 from the floor the other night,” Brown said, referring to his team’s 59-38 loss to Charlotte Latin.
“Coach Berger does a fine job with that team, and they played really well,” Brown said of Latin coach Chris Berger. “But we contributed to that by not playing like we should have.
“Tonight, we put a solid game together.”
The CISAA has the look of a league that won’t be decided until the final week of the season. Charlotte Christian entered Friday’s game as part of a four-way tie for first place. The Knights (12-9, 3-1) took the league lead temporarily, as the other two games were postponed. But Brown says he knows it will be tough the rest of the way.
“Every night, it’s a battle,” he said. “Every game is a competitive contest. Each team in this league is well-coached.”
Friday’s game was tightly played for much of the first half.
The Buccaneers (13-9, 0-3) hung with the Knights and trailed only 22-20 after Fletcher Bigham’s basket with 4:20 left in the half.
But Charlotte Christian’s defense changed the momentum. The Knights forced five Bucs turnovers in the next three minutes and converted each into a basket. Charlotte Christian outscored the Bucs 17-6 over the remainder of the quarter, led 39-26 at the half, and were never threatened after that.
“We set up some traps, and they helped us get some turnovers and score some points in transition,” Brown said.
He said he’s emphasized to his team that good defense isn’t always defined by the number of steals.
“Good defense is about putting the other team in positions it doesn’t want to be in,” he said.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Cade Nicholson, Charlotte Christian: A 6-4 junior wing, Nicholson scored 21 points, shooting 6-of-10 from the floor and making four 3-pointers.
John Lash, Charlotte Christian: Lash is a 6-6 freshman, and he is a big part of the Knights’ future. Friday night, he scored 15 points and pulled down 16 rebounds. He also had three blocked shots.
Dallas Gardner, Charlotte Country Day: Gardner, a 6-3 junior guard, scored a game-high 22 points.
WORTH MENTIONING
▪ Charlotte Christian overwhelmed the Buccaneers on the boards, piling up a 41-22 rebounding margin. John Lash had 16 rebounds, and Cade Preston added 10.
▪ A couple signs of Charlotte Christian’s tough defense and rebounding: The Knights had 26 more field-goal attempts than Charlotte Country Day, and they held the Bucs to 40 percent shooting from the floor.
▪ Charlotte Country Day had the game’s most spectacular play, however. As the clock wound down at the end of the first quarter, the Bucs’ Amare Bethel dribbled the ball across the time line and fired up a 35-foot shot. It bounced off the backboard and through the basket.
WHAT’S NEXT
Each team resumes CISAA play on the road Tuesday. Charlotte Christian visits Providence Day, and Charlotte Country Day is at Cannon School.
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
Statewide NC scores
Friday’s #BIG5 Top Performers
Toney Milton, South Point girls: 14 points, 13 rebounds in a 52-45 win over Stuart Cramer.
Evan Presnell, Alexander Central: 20 points, six assists, five steals in a 70-42 win over Hibriten.
Hudson Rixham, Charlotte Country Day girls: Rixham scored her 1,000th point in a 58-49 win over Charlotte Christian. She had a game-high 25 points.
Chesney Stikeleather, Alexander Central girls: 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals in 63-37 win over Hibriten.
Saniya Wilson, Kings Mountain girls: 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists, five steals and five charges taken in a 59-54 overtime win over Hunter Huss.
PHOTOS: Charlotte Christian girls at Charlotte Country Day
PHOTOS: Charlotte Christian boys at Country Day
Friday’s Girls Boxscores
ALEXANDER CENTRAL 63, HIBRITEN 37
Hibriten 5 6 13 13 -- 37
Alexander Central 18 18 17 10 -- 63
HIBRITEN 37 -- Manuel 2, Brown 7, Katie Story 11, Zoey Walker 15, Oliver 2
ALEXANDER CENTRAL 63 -- Madeleine Jenkins 10, Herman 8, Julianna Walter 13, Chesney Stikeleather 22, McDaniel 2, Smith 2, Childers 4, Jarrett 2
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 58, CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 49
Charlotte Christian 15 11 12 11 –49
Country Day 27 5 18 8 – 58
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 49 -- Rachel Noonan 12, Breanna Statler 10, Swilling 8, Coles 6, Hinde 5, Kay 4, Borrego 4
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 58 -- Hudson Rixham 25, Mary Holland Waters 19, Sasz 7, O’Neil 5, McKay 2
Records: Charlotte Christian 3-13 (1-3) Country Day 9-9 (2-2)
Notables: Hudson Rixham joined the 1,000 point club in tonight’s win over Charlotte Christian
KINGS MOUNTAIN 59, HUNTER HUSS 54 OT
KM 15 12 7 14 11 -- 59
Huss 18 6 13 11 6 -- 54
KINGS MOUNTAIN-- Saniya Wilson 28, Khalia King 10, Tyasya Bell 9, CoRey Simpson 8, Jacie Jarvis 2, Myracle Davis 2
HUSS-- Myla Hoover 14, Anyasiah Love 13, Brooklyn Swann 12, Savanni Harris 9, Ariyah Graham 2, Ari Camp 2, Trinity Swann 2
Notes: KM improves to 10-2 (7-0 Big South 3A) with an overtime win against Huss. The varsity boys did not play their game today due to weather concerns that occurred during the evening. The game against Crest (scheduled for Tuesday 1/18) has not found a play date yet.
KM Leaders: Saniya Wilson 28 pts 7 reb, 6 assists 5 steals, 5 charges taken, Khalia King 10 pts, 3 reb, 2 assists, Tyasya Bell 9 pts 7 reb, CoRey Simpson 8 pts, 8 reb, Jacie Jarvis 2 pts, Myracle Davis 2 pts 3 reb, Alayna Patrick 5 reb, 3 assists, Austyn Dixon 7 reb
SOUTH POINT 52, STUART CRAMER 45
SOUTH POINT 52 -- Maddie Frank 16 pts. 5 rebounds 5 assists, Toney Milton 14 pts. 13 rebounds, Lexi Birtwistle 11 pts. 8 rebounds, Dajshia Foust 7 pts. 8 rebounds 5 steals
CRAMER 45 -- Dasia Harris 25 pts., Hadley Womack 15 pts.
Next game - Hunter Huss at South Point Tuesday, January 25th
STATESVILLE CHRISTIAN 47, HICKORY CHRISTIAN 24
Statesville Christian 16 10 9 12 -- 47
Hickory Christian 3 4 9 8 -- 24
STATESVILLE CHRISTIAN 47 -- Ansleigh Sherrill 8, Jaidyn Pendley 2, Grace Cole 12, Brenna Rae Bentley 20, Jordan Vaughn 5
HICKORY CHRISTIAN- 24 -- Bryn Harris 2, Savannah Pope 5, Mary Alice Bowman 5, Olivia Lail 5, Caleigh McMurray 7
Records: Hickory Christian 3-8; Statesville Christian 10-4
Friday’s Boys Boxscores
ALEXANDER CENTRAL 70, HIBRITEN 42
Hibriten 11 8 8 15 -- 42
Alexander Central 10 19 19 22 -- 70
HIBRITEN 42 -- Garrett Smargian 12, Gray 2, Nylan Battle 16, Maxwell 5, Vaught 2, Thomas 3
ALEXANDER CENTRAL 70 -- Sigmon 6, Lowrance 9, Cook 7, Grayson Presnell 6, Evan Presnell 20, Hammer 6, Stubbs 2, G. Barnes 2, J. Barnes 4, Lasher 6, Jack 2
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 81, CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 54
Charlotte Christian 16 23 17 25 – 81
Charlotte Country Day 14 12 15 13 – 54
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN: Cade Nicholson 21; Gilbert 4; Bryce Cash 16; John Lash 15; Cade Preston 15; Peach 6; King 4; Jamison 0.
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY: Calame 2; Dallas Gardner 22; Amare Bethel 10; Alessi 3; Bigham 5; Murphy 1; Woodard 3; Turner 5; Blythe 2; Hewett 0; Mermans 0; Hicks 0.
Saturday’s Schedule
Big South 3A
Hunter Huss at Crest (boys), 12:30
Forestview at Kings Mountain (boys), 3
Mountain Foothills 2A
Patton at Polk County (girls, 2; boys, 4)
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Community School of Davidson at Langtree Charter (girls, 2:30; boys, 4)
Western Highlands 1A-2A
Avery County at Draughn (girls, 1; boys, 2:30)
Madison County at Mountain Heritage (boys, 2; girls, 3:30)
Rosman at Mitchell County (girls, 12:30; boys, 2)
Big Shots Charleston Invitational (boys)
(at North Charleston, S.C.)
Liberty Heights vs. N.C. Good Better Best, 3:30
Franklin Prep vs. Spire Institute (OH), 5
Olympic vs. Oceanside Collegiate (SC), ppd
1 of 1 Academy vs. TD Prep (GA), 8
Nonconference
Charlotte Christian at Winston-Salem Christian, noon
Combine Academy at New Hanover (boys), 3
Comenius at Elevation Prep (boys), 3
New Hope Leadership at Charlotte Elite Academy (boys), 2
Shelby at East Rutherford (girls, 3:30; boys, 5)
Sunday
Big Shots Charleston Invitational (boys)
(at North Charleston, S.C.; two courts)
Liberty Heights vs. North Florida Institute, 1
Franklin Prep vs. TD Prep (GA), 1
This story was originally published January 21, 2022 at 10:57 PM.
