Anthony Morrow Shootout final proves one thing: Everyone is chasing Carmel Christian
(NOTE: Scroll down for Friday’s results)
There were extended periods Thursday night when the outcome was in doubt, when it looked as if Cannon School might grab “king of the mountain” honors from Carmel Christian.
Cannon, No. 6 in The Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 poll, had outscored No. 2 Carmel 36-24 over the middle two periods in the championship game of the Anthony Morrow Shootout at Charlotte Latin, erasing a big first-quarter deficit.
Carmel Christian, the defending 4A state private school champion, looked mortal.
But in the end, it was status quo, and as we head into the final week of 2022, the bottom line remains the same:
Everyone is chasing Carmel Christian, which beat Cannon 75-58.
Carmel (15-2) outscored Cannon School (15-3) 23-4 in the final period and didn’t allow a field goal. The Cougars win ended Cannon’s nine-game win streak.
Cannon School hadn’t lost since dropping a 79-63 game at Carmel Christian last month. Cannon’s streak included wins over 3A power Northwood, 4A power Chambers, NCISAA state 3A champion Concord Academy and NCHSAA 3A state champion West Charlotte.
So Carmel Christian made a bit of a statement Thursday night, and it remains at the top of the 4A private school pile … and can lay a legitimate claim as the state’s best high school team.
Not ready yet
But Cougars’ head coach Joe Badgett isn’t ready to crown his team yet. To him, the regular-season schedule is Development Road. He hopes to see steady improvement from his team, game by game.
He admits the Cougars are much better than the team that started the season, with a number of new faces.
“We’re just starting to get where it’s beginning to click,” Badgett says.
“Coming into the season, we knew this was a good defensive team,” he adds. “We knew we could rely on that.
“It was the offense that had to develop … that, and the ability of our guys to trust each other.”
Carmel Christian certainly can play defense.
Cannon School managed to erase a 20-7 deficit and take the lead several times in the third quarter because it made 8-of-11 from 3-point range in the second and third periods.
Austin Swartz, a 6-5 junior wing who’s already getting major Division 1 college offers, had three of those 3-pointers in the third quarter.
“My guys were guarding him, and he steps way outside the 3-point line and makes it,” Badgett says. “What can you do?”
Or, says Carmel Christian senior forward Bryce Cash, named the game’s Most Valuable Player, “Swartz is one heck of a player.”
Carmel stays calm
The key, according to Cash, was not to panic.
“We had to stick to our principles, stick to the things we work on in practice,” he says.
Carmel Christian chased Cannon’s ball-handlers around the floor, and eventually Cannon School appeared to tire. The 3-pointers stopped going in. And Cannon was shut out from the floor in the fourth quarter.
This Carmel Christian team is different from the 2019-20 squad, led by current Charleston player Ben Burnham; and the 2020-21 team, led by current Belmont freshman Cade Tyson. Both Burnham and Tyson were on hand Thursday night to watch their alma mater.
“This team doesn’t have that one dominant player,” Badgett says. “We’ve got a talented group of guys who are learning to work together. “You’re starting to see where they’re doing that.”
A month ago, Badgett’s players weren’t always sure where a teammate would be on an offensive possession. So they’d try to make things happen by themselves.
Now the Cougars are relying more on one another. Fast breaks have more passes, and the Cougars are finding open teammates slashing to the basket.
Cash finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Jaeden Mustaf, named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, had 19 points and six assists. Khamani Wertz scored 14 and had four assists. And Michael Marcus Jr. finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
Tough tests ahead
“A game like this will help the process of growth for us,” Cash says. “They gave us a pretty good run. They got up by six points. We had to rely on each other to come back.”
Badgett says there’s still quite a bit of growth needed before his team can hope to win another state title in late February.
Tough tests lie ahead. Carmel Christian will face three difficult foes – two from Virginia, another from South Carolina – in the Lowcountry Classic next week in Charleston. In mid-January comes a test with public school powerhouse Myers Park.
Swartz and Cannon School likely will be a big roadblock for Badgett’s team in the state playoffs.
“Those are some of the games that will help us grow, hopefully,” Badgett says.
But he likes what he sees so far.
“It’s fun to see it coming together,” he says. “It’s fun to see the kids learning to do it the right way.”
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
Friday’s Battle at the Border boxscores
CAROLINA INTERNATIONAL 64, ANDREWS 61
Andrews (SC): 11 11 18 21 61
Carolina International (NC): 14 10 16 24 64
Andrews (SC): C. Cumbee 5, Rhue 5, A. Davis 25, R. Dorsey 18, Sumpter 4, McNair 4
Carolina International (SC): Perry 7, Featherston 5, Griffin 2, Power 15, Ashmore 18, Jefferson 6, Fullenwider 7, McCurty 4
PANTHER CREEK 56, LANDSTOWN (VA) 48
Panther Creek (NC): 15 17 9 15 56
Landstown (VA): 9 11 12 16 48
Panther Creek(NC): Richardson 8, Uwayo 12, Surgers 6, Hunter 7, Ward 7, Tator 9, Puckett 2, Becton 2.
Landstown (VA): Fletcher 3, Pollard 6, Spellman 8, Ward 17, Valentine 2, Glass 4, Haskett3, Stephens 3.
SCIENCE HILL (TN) 48, INDEPENDENCE 44
Science Hill (TN): 10 8 11 20 48
Independence (NC): 8 6 13 17 44
Science Hill (TN): Skeen 3, Lawson 12, Shafts 4, Ratliff 7, Peterson 5, Wood 12, Nerren 2, Trusty 4.
Independence (NC): Jasper 8, Thomason 6, Bosley-Slade 5, Johnson 7, Albarga 14, Iseah 1, Jasper 3.
VARINA (VA) 69, SOUTH MECKLENBURG 46
South Mecklenburg (NC): 6 16 8 16 46
Varina (VA): 14 13 18 24 69
South Mecklenburg(NC): Skelton 6, Chudgar 4, Lynch 2, Rothakes 2, Tusk 2, Nesbit 7, Ormand 1, Moye 22.
Varina (VA): Cosby 16, Derricott 5, Wyche 18, Conway 4, Jones 3, Hughes 9, Harris 2, Stinson13, Smith 2.
Friday’s Boxscores
CHAMBERS 59, IRMO (SC) 57
Chambers 22 12 13 12 -- 59
Irmo 21 8 16 12 -- 57
CHAMBERS 59 -- Marcus Brown 4, Amari Richardson 3, Nick Dorn 20, Jordan Patton 4, Jacoby Jackson 3, Maurio Hanson 25
Notables: Maurio Hanson 25 points, 12 Rebounds, 1 Block; Nick Dorn 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 deflections
OLYMPIC TROJANS 75, NEW ROCHELLE (NY) 37
Olympic 8 21 28 18 - 75
New Rochelle 16 3 10 8 - 37
OLYMPIC 75 - Demarco Reynolds 21. Devin Ragin 12, Jaydon Terrell 10, Deangelo Hall 8, Kameron Taylor 6, Kyre Bishop 6, Chandler Kennedy 5, Cameron Burns 4, Maurice Sabb 3
NEW ROCHELLE (NY) 37 - Conroy 9, Khalil Manigaulte 8, Zyon Lord 5, Gasper 5, Sainvil 5. Derrick Jones Jr.3, Darrin Greaves II 2.
Note: Senior Guard Demarco Reynolds scored a season high with 22 points to lead The Trojans over New Rochelle (NY) 75-37. Senior Devin Ragin scored a Double-Double scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while Sophomore Jaydon Terrell scored 10 points and dished out 6 assists.
Thursday’s #BIG5 Top Performers
Ollie Alford, West Charlotte: had 27 points, eight rebounds and two steals in a 73-70 win over Charlotte Latin.
Bryce Cash, Carmel Christian: 26 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal in a 75-58 win over Cannon School in the Anthony Morrow Shootout championship game.
JJ Moore, Concord Academy: 17 points, eight rebounds, eight assists in a 70-67 win over JM Robinson. The game matched the reigning NCISAA 3A state champs (Concord Academy) against the NCHSAA 2A champs.
Chloe Norman, West Lincoln: 27 points, six rebounds and two steals in a 49-47 win over Maiden. She scored her 1,000th career point just before halftime.
Zion Walker, The Burlington School: 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists in a 64-53 win over Ardrey Kell.
Anthony Morrow Shootout Recaps
Central Cabarrus 68, United Faith 61: Central Cabarrus jumped out to a 20-10 first quarter lead and was up 13 at halftime before the Falcons made a late rally. United Faith had a chance to trim the lead to two with about 40 seconds left, but a layup was missed. Central got 21 points from Chase Daniel and 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists from Carson Daniel. United Faith was led by 14 points, five rebounds and five assists from JD Bowden and 18 points, four rebounds and three steals from Alex Bates.
Concord Academy 70, JM Robinson 67: JJ Moore had 17 points and Isaiah Tate 15 to lead Concord Academy to a close win over NCHSAA 2A reigning state champion JM Robinson. Concord Academy is the NCISAA 3A reigning champions. Concord Academy started out hot, running off to a 22-11 lead before Robinson rallied behind Zi’Kei Wheeler and 23 from Jermaine Gray. It was a fairly close game after that.
Charlotte Latin girls 46, Olympic 26: Latin limited Olympic to single-digit scoring in every quarter to pick up the win. Two Olympic players scored: Devin Long (10 points) and Barri Terry (16). Latin got 15 points, five rebounds, five steals from Charlotte Tune and 11 points, three rebounds and two assists from Alison Archibald.
The Burlington School 64, Ardrey Kell 53: The Burlington School took a 35-26 halftime lead and made it stick in the seventh place game. Zion Walker had 17 points, nine rebounds and two assists for the Spartans, who got 12 points from Steven Lassister and 11 points and 10 rebounds from Ty Outlaw. Ardrey Kell was led by 22 points and seven rebounds from Brock Rose.
West Charlotte 73, Charlotte Latin 70: West Charlotte got a close win in the fifth place game, despite Latin getting two more huge performances from Ned Hull (19 points, seven rebounds) and Sean Rose (23 points, 10 rebounds). Lions’ big men Donovan Raymond and Mari Day combined for 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocks and point guard Ollie Alford had 27 points, eight rebounds and two steals. How close was this game? West Charlotte led 15-14 after the first quarter, and the teams were tied at halftime and to start the fourth quarter.
Anthony Morrow Shootout Boxscores
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 75, CANNON SCHOOL 58
Carmel Christian 28 13 11 23 -- 75
Cannon School 18 18 18 4 -- 58
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 75 -- Freeman 3, Khamani Wertz 14, Jaeden Mustaf 19, Bryce Cash 26, Michael Marcus Jr. 12
CANNON SCHOOL 58 -- Austin Swartz 21, Titus 2, Claggett 9, Isaiah Henry 13, Sean Birmingham 13
Carmel notable: Bryce Cash 26p 10r 5a 1b 1s; Jaeden Mustaf 19p 2r 6a 1s; Khamani Wertz 14p 2r 4a; Michael Marcus 12p 7r
Cannon notable: Austin Swartz 21p 2r 5a 2b 2s; Sean Birmingham 13p 6r 4a 1b; Isaiah Henry 13p 4r
CAROLINA INTERNATIONAL 87, WHITE KNOLL 65
White Knoll (SC): 15 10 19 21 = 65
Carolina International (NC): 18 19 32 18 = 87
White Knoll (SC): Watson 10, Thomas 1, Funderburk 4, Sims 12, Newton 2, Mitchell 2, Geromoni 6, Smith 25, Gordon 5
Carolina International (SC): Perry 20, Griffin13, Power 25, Ashmore 8, Stitt 3, Hatch 6, McCortt 2, Rodney 10.
CENTRAL CABARRUS 68, UNITED FAITH 61
Central Cabarrus 20 25 12 11 -- 68
United Faith 10 22 15 14 -- 61
CENTRAL CABARRUS 68 --Jaiden Thompson 9, Chase Daniel 21, Miller 8, Ford 7, Carson Daniel 13, Bullock 8, Kent 2
UNITED FAITH 61 -- JD Bowden 14, Slay 2, Lance Gill 12, Morton 2, Johnson 6, Alex Bates 18, Sutherland 7
CHARLOTTE LATIN GIRLS 46, OLYMPIC 26
Charlotte Latin 11 12 12 9 -- 46
Olympic 8 5 7 6 -- 26
CHARLOTTE LATIN 46 -- McMahan 4, Poole 4, Hume 3, Alison Archibald 11, Fisher 4, Charlotte Tune 15, Vandiver 5
OLYMPIC 26 -- Devin Long 10, Barri Terry 16
CONCORD ACADEMY 70, JM ROBINSON 67, THIRD PLACE GAME
Concord Academy 22 11 19 18 -- 70
Robinson 11 16 19 21 -- 67
CONCORD ACADEMY 70 -- JJ Moore 17, Cooke 9, Pinner 6, Isaiah Tate 15, Cvetkovic 5, Van Bibber 4, Benham 3, Asceric 7, Swinger 4
ROBINSON 67 -- Zi’Kei Wheeler 17, Brooks 4, Parker 2, Rowe 3, London Roseman 12, Jermaine Gray 23, Hobbs 4, White 2
THE BURLINGTON SCHOOL 64, ARDREY KELL 53 (7TH PLACE GAME)
ARDREY KELL 53 --Milliken 3, Delani Hammonds 11, Brock Rose 22, Weckerle 2, Caden Caskey 16
THE BURLINGTON SCHOOL 64 -- Zion Walker 17, Steven Lassister 12, Hammond 2, Ty Outlaw 11, Taylor 8, Durham 2
WEST CHARLOTTE 73, CHARLOTTE LATIN 70 (5TH PLACE GAME)
West Charlotte 15 18 14 26 -- 73
Charlotte Latin 14 19 14 23 -- 70
WEST CHARLOTTE 73 -- Donovan Raymond 10, Ollie Alford 27, Traylor 4, Mari Day 10, D. Day 9, Markus Kerr 13
CHARLOTTE LATIN 70 -- Ned Hull 19, Sayman 2, Jones 7, Levy 9, Houpt 3, Sean Rose 23, Hendley 7
Battle at the Border Boxscores
(at Independence High School)
ANDREWS (SC) 58, HIGHLAND TECH 51
Highland Tech: 9 17 13 12 51
Andrews (SC): 7 10 11 29 58
Highland Tech: Hairston 7, Whitted 14, Foust 1, Sherrill 15, Jenkins 7, Joseph 6, Spake 2
Andrews (SC): C. Cumbee 2, Rhue 3, Davis 10, R. Dorsey 14, Sumpter 20, B. Cumbee 4, Wright 2, K. Dorsey 2
CHAMBERS 63, LANDSTOWN (VA) 47
Chambers 12 16 20 15 -- 63
Landstown 9 10 13 15-- 47
CHAMBERS 63 -- Marcus Brown 6, Nick Dorn 23, Jahmir 2, Jordan Patton 11, Jacoby Jackson 3, Maurio Hanson 17, Germani Wilson 1
LANDSTOWN(VA) 47 -- Derrell Stephens 5, Demeir Pollars 10, Shawn Spellman 3, Zaevion Cleveland 5, Xavier Glass 5, Nayir Valentine 3, Isaiah Rambert 2, Jayden Sepulveda 2, Ethan Ward 12
INDIAN LAND 77, SOUTH MECKLENBURG 58
South Mecklenburg (NC) 20 14 12 11 -- 58
Indian Land (SC) (SC) 25 13 21 18 -- 77
SOUTH MECKLENBURG 58 -- Skelton 3, Ceaser 2, Chudgar 13, Nesbit 2, Moye 32
INDIAN LAND 77 -- Rasul 13, Jones 22, Nelson 24, Breedon 10, Callahan 5, Petri 2, Recker 3
IRMO (SC) 74, PANTHER CREEK 54
Panther Creek: 20 6 10 15 54
Irmo (SC): 14 19 24 17 74
Panther Creek: Richardson 9, Uwayo 11, Surger 10, Hunter 2, Ward 2, Tator 3, Puckett 5, Ware 3, Robinson 2, Ehlinger 4
Irmo (SC): White 10, McLaughlin 2, Mas. Collins 12, Hopkins 2, Summons 5, Mad. Collins 16, Crawford 24, Brand 3
SUN VALLEY 51, SCIENCE HILL 38
Sun Valley 19 16 10 6= 51
Science Hill 11 16 6 5= 38
Sun Valley Tavaras 4, Tyree White 15, Keegan Mason 17, Brockington 4, Kaelan Marsh 11
Science Hill Skeen 2, Lawson 16, Wood 3, Trusty 2, Watson 8, Daniel 5
VARINA (VA) 62, INDEPENDENCE 33
INDEPENDENCE (NC) : 7 7 16 3 = 33
VARINA (VA) : 14 20 15 13 = 62
Independence (NC): K. Jasper 3, K. Jasper 3, Thomason 13, Kolbe 2, Alberga 7, Davis 3, Barnes 2,
Varina (VA): Cosby 6, Greene 3, Derricott 10, Wyche 19, Coleman 7, Johnson 4, Stinson 10,
OVERALL Records: Indepenence 6-4 con: 1-1; Varina 5-1 con 2-0
Thursday’s Boys Boxscores
MARVIN RIDGE 63, BLYTHEWOOD 42
Marvin 19 13 16 15 -- 63
Blythewood 13 12 8 9 — 42
MARVIN RIDGE 63 -- Zahra Douglas 18, Ella Chepul 11, Kelsie Robitaille 8, Reese Fritz 8, Cadence Douglas 8, Kiley Lenahan 5, Lanie Edwards 2, Kate Sheridan 2, Sophie Fritz 1
BLYTHEWOOD 42 -- Thomas 13, Hightower 12, Williams 10, Cross 3, Brown 2, Young 2
Record: Marvin 8-4
MAIDEN 62, WEST LINCOLN 47
Maiden 14 19 11 18 — 62
West Lincoln 6 13 8 20 — 47
WEST LINCOLN 47 — Jordan Truesdale 19, Zander Harrelson 12, Lucas Howell 2, Mikalister Anderson 2, Bryce Beddingfield 10, Evan Hartsoe 2
Maiden 62 -- Gibbs 8, Robinson 9, Culliver 23, Thompson 6, Teague 3, Sigmon 6, Walker 3, Misher 9
OLYMPIC TROJANS 89, SALISBURY 63
Olympic 19 26 20 24 - 89
Salisbury 14 7 17 25 - 63
OLYMPIC 89 - Devin Ragin 16, Kameron Taylor 14, Deangelo Hall 14, Jaydon Terrell 10, Demarco Reynolds 10. Cameron Burns 9, Chandler Kennedy 9, Kyre Bishop 7.
SALISBURY 63 - Juke Harris 36, Mike Geter 11, Bryce Dalton 8, Deuce Walker 5, Jaylon Chunn 2, Jerimiah Davidson 1.
Note: Senior Center Devin Ragin scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds while Junior Kameron Taylor and Sophomore Deangelo Hall added 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds a piece in The Trojans win over Salisbury. Olympic remains unbeaten on the season at 9-0. Juke Harris led the Hornets with 36 points.
Thursday’s Girls Boxscores
CANNON 64, LAKE CITY (IND) 62
Cannon School 19 45 - 64
Lake City (ID) 37 25- 62
CANNON SCHOOL 64 -- Samyha Suffren 15, Maya McCorkle 14, Lili Booker 10, Kierra Morrow 9, Ashley Fowler 9, Jamyrah Cherry 7Lake City 62
Notes: Cannon School goes 3-1 and finishes 3rd place in the Joe Bracket at Nike Tournament of Champions. Samyha Suffren selected to the all tournament team after averaging 17ppg and 11rpg.
HIBRITEN 63, SOUTH POINT 49
SP - 12 22 10 5 -- 49
H - 11 23 18 11 -- 63
SP - Amya Graham 23 pts 14 reb, Toney Milton 11 pts 10 reb
South Point plays in Catawba Ridge’a Copperhead Classic next week.
MARVIN RIDGE 63, BLYTHEWOOD 42
Marvin: 19, 13, 16, 15--63
Blythewood 13, 12, 8, 9—42
Marvin: Zahra Douglas 18, Ella Chepul 11, Kelsie Robitaille 8, Reese Fritz 8, Cadence Douglas 8, Kiley Lenahan 5, Lanie Edwards 2, Kate Sheridan 2, Sophie Fritz 1
Blythewood: Thomas 13, Hightower 12, Williams 10, Cross 3, Brown 2, Young 2
Record: Marvin 8-4
NEWTON-CONOVER 56, LINCOLNTON 22
Newton-Conover. 14 20 11 11 -- 56
Lincolnton. 6 2 6 8 -- 22
NEWTON-CONOVER 56 -- Cassidy Geddes 21, Hadleigh Swagger 4, Alaysia Hewitt 8, Julie Krause 6, Lizzie Sain 6, Jaylen Barnes 5, Reagan Brown 4, Grayson Rowe 2, Kylie Hill, Madison Reinhardt, Samiyah Hope
LINCOLONTON 22 -- Mackenzie Sand-Odom 10, Justice Smith 4, Camella Holland 4,Kayden Ray 2, Jondyan Williams 2, Armstrong, Rhyn, Eley
Records: Newton-Conover 8 - 1; Lincolnton 2 - 6
WEST LINCOLN 49, MAIDEN 47
WLHS 12 14 12 11 -- 49
MHS 9 15 10 13 -- 47
WLHS 49 -- Chloe Norman: 27, Anna Bieberich: 3, Carolina Robinson: 6, Zoey Owenby: 11, DeeDee Wallace: 2
MAIDEN 47 -- Raegan: 7, Aleah: 2, Khiara: 9, Kennedie: 18, Kynsea: 2, Neeley: 7
Notable: Senior #1 Chloe Norman was the leading scorer with 27 points. She scored her 1000th career points tonight right before half time. The game ball was presented to Chloe. She had 2 rebounds. 6 steals; Junior #15 Carolina Robinson - 6 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks; Junior #5 Zoey Owenby - 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist.
Records: WLHS 7-2: Overall, 2-0: Conference
Friday’s Key Games
(Boys and girls) Battle of the Border, at Independence High – A seven-game schedule finishes with a boys’ game between Chambers, North Carolina’s No. 6-ranked 4A team, and S.C. 5A powerhouse Irmo (7-1). Yellowjackets’ head coach Tim Whipple has more than 800 career victories and guided Irmo to a second-place finish in the 5A playoffs last season.
(Boys and girls) Bam Winter Classic, at Olympic – In the 7 p.m. finale, the Olympic boys, ranked No. 5 in the state, face New Rochelle (N.Y.) High. The visiting Huguenots are a strong defensive club that could provide a tough test for Olympic’s offense, led by Kameron Taylor (19.0 points, 11.4 rebounds per game).
PHOTOS: Carmel Christian vs. Cannon at Morrow Shootout
This story was originally published December 22, 2022 at 9:00 PM.
