Saturday’s Basketball Rewind: No. 2 Carmel Christian survives upset bid; scores, stars
The team that Carmel Christian boys’ basketball coach Joe Badgett sends onto the floor in February will look a lot different than the team that rallied for a 58-54 victory Saturday night over Asheville School.
“They will know who to depend on,” says Badgett, who has coached the Cougars to state championships in three of the past five seasons, most recently last February.
“They will know who they can depend on for the big shot, who will be there for the pass, who will make the big stop,” Badgett says.
“As for now,” he adds, “they’re finding their way.”
Carmel Christian’s victory was the finale of a six-game slate on Day 2 of the Phenom Hoops Tipoff Classic. Earlier winners Saturday included Concord Academy, Combine Academy and Northside Christian.
Fans who follow Carmel Christian know that Badgett’s teams typically show a steady line of progress between November and late February. That was the case a year ago, and the Cougars’ head coach said Saturday night that he expects the same this season.
“I expected us to be where we are right now,” he says.
Carmel Christian is not currently in a place to win a state championship.
The Cougars (2-0) made only 39 percent of their shots against the Blues (0-1) and allowed Asheville School to shoot 57 percent from the floor.
Carmel Christian trailed by five points at halftime and needed a feisty third-quarter defensive effort to claw its way back into the game. During that period, the Cougars hounded any Asheville School player who had the ball, forcing four turnovers and making three steals.
“We had what I would call a ‘prayer meeting’ at halftime,” Badgett says, smiling. “Our guys responded in the third quarter.”
Badgett says he wants that defensive intensity all the time, without requiring him to begin preaching at halftime.
Carmel Christian’s defense was key in the Cougars’ championship game victory last February over nationally-ranked Greensboro Day.
Can this year’s version of the Cougars get there?
“Believe me, we have some really talented players here,” he says.
Jaeden Mustaf, a 6-6 junior, scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds and had four steals. He made three key free throws and grabbed four of his rebounds in the fourth quarter.
Bryce Cash, a 6-6 senior, scored 14 points with six rebounds. He was especially effective in the first quarter.
Senior guard Khamani Wertz and 6-9 junior center Michael Marcus Jr. had their moments, with Marcus connecting on three 3-pointers. Wertz had two.
Reserve guard Boston Smith brought fans out of their seats when he scored on an alley-oop in the fourth quarter.
But, Badgett says, the efforts weren’t consistent, and his team didn’t show the kind of finesse he sees in practice.
“We have guys who make shot after shot after shot in practice,” he says. “And then they come out here into a game and won’t take those shots.”
“My frustration isn’t about this game,” he adds. “It’s that the type of play I saw in practice didn’t appear on the court in this game.”
Badgett spent 30 minutes after the game with his team in the locker room.
“I told them that the coaches in this association (N.C. Independent Schools) will scout very well and prepare their teams to play us,” he says. “Every opponent we face will be ready for us. Our guys will have to respond and play at their best.”
The Cougars will get there, their coach says.
“This is a process,” he adds. “We are finding our way.”
Saturday’s other games
The Burlington School 82, Cannon School 75 (2 OT’s): Cannon School held a 61-56 lead in the final minute of regulation, but the Spartans rallied and forced overtime. Isaiah Henry then hit a 3-pointer to force a second overtime. The Cougars led 73-70 in the second extra session, but The Burlington School went on a 7-0 run and pulled away.
Henry, a sophomore, scored 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Austin Swartz had 24 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Concord Academy 68, Greensboro Day 57 (OT): J.J. Moore scored 23 points, and Isaiah Tate added 22 for the victors.
Combine Academy 61, 1 of 1 Academy 58: Collin Tanner’s 18 points and six rebounds led Combine Academy. Yohance Connor paced 1 of 1 with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Northside Christian 68, Northwood Temple 51: Antonio Perkins had a big game for the victors, with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Quality Education 66, Westminster Catawba 50
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
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Phenom Hoops TipOff Scores
PHENOM HOOPS TIP-OFF AT CARMEL CHRISTIAN
Friday results
5 pm: Northside Christian 71, Quality Education 59
6:30 pm: Combine Academy 69, The Burlington School 52
8 pm: Carmel Christian 65, Northwood Temple 53
Saturday
Quality Education 66, Westminster Catawba 50
Northside Christian 68, Northwood Temple 51
Combine Academy 62, 1of1 Prep 58
Concord Academy 60, Greensboro Day 57 OT
The Burlington School 82, Cannon School 75, 2 OT
Carmel Christian 58, Asheville School 54
Saturday’s #BIG5 Top Performers
Isaiah Henry, Cannon School: 31 points, nine rebounds in a double-overtime loss to The Burlington School at the Phenom Tip-off. Teammate Austin Swartz (24 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals) also had a big game.
JJ Moore, Concord Academy: 23 points, five assists and four steals in a 60-57 overtime win over Greensboro Day. Teammate Isaiah Tate (22 points, four rebounds) also had a big game.
Jaeden Mustaf, Carmel Christian: team-high 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in a come-from-behind 58-54 win over Asheville School.
Collin Tanner, Combine Academy: 19 ponts, five assists in a 62-58 win over 1-of-1 Academy.
Zion Walker, The Burlington School: 31 points, eight rebounds five assists in an 82-75 double-overtime win over Cannon School at the Phenom Tip-off.
Saturday’s Boys Boxscores
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 58, ASHEVILLE SCHOOL 54
CCS: 18 5 17 18 -- 58
ASH: 16 12 14 12 -- 54
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 54 -- Jaeden Mustaf 16, Bryce Cash 14, Michael Marcus 11, Wertz 9, Freeman 2, Smith 4, Siler 2
ASHEVILLE CHRISTIAN 54 -- Derin Saran 21, Michael Mora 17, Ryan Soulis 10, Holdbrook 3, Kocaman 3
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 74, CARY ACADEMY 53
Charlotte Country Day 12 23 27 11 74
Cary Academy 6 15 13 19 53
CCDS 74 -- Fletcher Bigham 21, Dallas Gardner 19, Amare Bethel 8, Lowery 4, Schoot 1, Turner 4, O’Neil 2, Alessi 8,Hewett 7
CARY ACADEMY 53 -- Chance Gladdden 16, Mcoy Williams 11
Notes: The Buccaneers forced 19 turnovers in route to a second straight win over a 4A opponent. Fletcher Bigham had five threes through three quarters and Dallas Gardner contributed 19....Country Day is 2-0 and plays home vs.Metrolina Christian at 5:30 Tuesday.
COMBINE ACADEMY 62, 1-of-1 ACADEMY 58
1-of-1 Academy
Combine 16 16 16 14 -- 62
1-of-1 Academy 17 9 10 22 -- 58
1-OF-1 ACADEMY 58 -- Ware 6, Yohance Conner 11, LJ Rush 10, Akins 7, Moore 4, Tayeshaun Smith 10, Hamilton 6, Wilkins 2
COMBINE ACADEMY 62 -- Trentyn Flowers 12, Collin Tanner 19, Demary Jr. 4, Diallo 2, Rakease Pasemore 12, KeShawn Brown 7, White 4
CONCORD ACADEMY 60, GREENSBORO DAY 57 OT
CA: 14 19 13 9 13 69
GD: 7 9 19 20 2 57
CA: JJ Moore 23, Avion Pinner 7, Isaiah Tate 22, Mag Swinger 2, Noah Van Bibber 9, Petar Asceric 9
GDS: Reece Jr. 4, Otto 11, Jayden Young 25, Newkirk 4, Mooly 6, Bachman5
Notable: Guardes JJ Moore and Isaiah Tate combined for 45 pts. JJ Moore 23p 4r 5a, Isaiah Tate 22p 4r, Avion Pinner 7p 8r, 2 b.
Notable: Concord Academy moves to 3-0
COVENANT DAY 71, CAROLINA INTERNATIONAL 54
Covenant Day 17 12 21 21 71
Carolina International 15 10 14 15 54
COVENANT DAY 71 -- Elijah Green 17pts; Niles Shipp 2pts; Chris Rivens 11pts; Hamilton Huitt 15pts; Charles Weaver 13pts; Patrick Penosky 6pts; Harris Crumpler 3pts; Walker Olshefski 4pts
Notes: Covenant Day Improves to 2-0
NORTH RALEIGH CHRISTIAN 57, METROLINA CHRISTIAN 53
METROLINA CHRISTIAN 11 16 12 14 = 53
NORTH RALEIGH CHRISTIAN 19 15 9 14 = 57
MCA: Clark 19, Wilson Jr. 13, Price 12, Leatherwood 5, Rucks 4
Metrolina notable: Sr. Eli Clark 19pts, 8rbs, 4asts; Sr. Colton Price 12pts, 10rbs; Sr. Michael Wilson Jr. 13pts, 10rbs. Metrolina Christian 1-1 plays Charlotte Country Day School on Tuesday, November 15th at 7pm.
NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN 68, NORTHWOOD TEMPLE 51
Northwood Temple 16 8 13 14 -- 51
Northside Christian 15 9 24 19 -- 68
NORTHWOOD TEMPLE 51 -- Vera 5, Shoe 1, Cannon Keziah 24, Kendell Cave 10, Lee 1, John Baldwin 11
NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN 68 -- Kamar Goudelock 12, Jones 4, Kyrell Shaw 18, Bullock 8, Thompson 5, Antonio Perkins 21
QUALITY EDUCATION 66, WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 50
Quality Education 13 21 21 20 -- 66
Westminster Catawba 9 9 12 20 -- 50
QUALITY EDUCATION 66 -- Benitez 2, Barrett 8, Jermaurhiyan Anderson 11, Keyon Webb 11, Baird 3, Okwakol 4, King 2, Bobby Cannn 10, AJ Reeves 15
WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 50 -- Hall 5, Booker 9, Derek Bradley 14, Winn 3, Hamrick 9, Kenyon Addie 10
Saturday’s Girls Boxscores
WINSTON-SALEM CHRISTIAN 80, CANNON SCHOOL 43
Cannon 14 11 8 10 -- 43
WS Christian 25 23 24 8 -- 80
CANNON SCHOOL 43 -- A Fowler 13, L Booker 10, Suffren 8, Cherry 5, Thompson 3, McCorkle 2, Mathis 2
Friday’s late girls boxscore
UNITED FAITH 45, SOUTH CHARLOTTE THUNDER 28
UFCA 8 11 12 14 - 45
SC TH 10 2 7 9 - 28
UFCA - Tiana Gongora 19, Savonnah Bryant 10, Ashlyn Clifton 9, Jami Caldwell 7
NOTE - This is the first 2-0 start for the Lady Falcons since the 2010-11 season.
Friday’s late boys boxscore
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 72, DURHAM ACADEMY 38
CCDS 24 13 23 12 72
Durham Academy 14 6 7 11 38
COUNTRY DAY 72 -- Dallas Gardner 20, Amare Bethel 13, Sam Turner 13, Mac O’Neil 5, Carter Alessi 7, Charles Jones 3, Jerome Lowery, AJ Hewett 4, Fletcher Bigham 3
DURHAM ACADEMY 38 -- Tupper 7, Delwig 9
Records: Country Day 1-0; DA 0-1
Notable: The Bucs jumped off to an early lead and never looked back. Nine players scored. Country Day plays Cary Christian Saturday at 12:30
PHOTOS: Asheville School at Carmel Christian
PHOTOS: Cannon School vs. Burlington School
This story was originally published November 12, 2022 at 12:49 PM.
