Friday’s girls’ basketball rewind: No. 14 Hickory Ridge stops No. 8 Myers Park at the Lynch
After two easy wins to start the 2024-25 high school basketball season, Hickory Ridge coach Jupiter Wilson had every reason to believe that Friday’s game at Myers Park would be a lot different.
It was the opening game of the George Lynch Invitational, the best tournament in the state so far this season, and Myers Park — No. 8 in The Observer’s preseason Sweet 16 — was playing at home.
But Wilson said he was proud to see how his team handled a tougher opponent, and a little adversity, before winning 39-36.
“It was good for the girls,” Wilson said. I told them coming over here … it would be a tough game.”
It didn’t start out that way.
Hickory Ridge (3-0) jumped out to a 13-2 first-quarter lead and led 24-15 at halftime.
But led by star forward Amani Barner, Myers Park fought back and got within striking distance late.
The Ragin’ Bulls, however, held off the Mustangs, burning up large portions of the clock on their possessions and not turning it over.
“I thought our girls did a good job at the end of executing what we were talking about. It was just their mental toughness. A lot of times, when things get tight, people fold,” Wilson said.
Hickory Ridge star Amya Leathers, who had a team-high 14 points, said the key for the Bulls was sticking together when things got close.
“We didn’t have our fans,” she said. “We didn’t have our cheerleaders. We had to bring our own energy and pull out the win.”
Friday’s girls’ #BIG5 top performers
NyKira Arrington, South Mecklenburg: Ashbrook transfer had her second triple-double of the week, going for 22 points, 12 rebounds and 12 steals in a 60-12 win over Cuthbertson.
Janiyah Boyd, Monroe: In a 57-37 win over Garinger, Boyd had 42 points, five assists and three steals. Teammates Deanna Walters (nine points, six rebounds, four steals) and Dezarih Hailey (2 points, 16 rebounds) had strong games.
Duraejah Hardin, Ashbrook: Hardin made six 3-point shots and had a game-high 27 points in a 59-20 win over West Mecklenburg.
Ava McDermott, Concord Academy: McDermott had a game-high 22 points in a 77-19 win over High Point Christian.
Ashanti Taylor, Porter Ridge: Taylor had a game-high 40 points in a 64-38 win over Lincoln Charter.
Game previews
SATURDAY
No. 2 Mallard Creek vs. No. 3 Lake Norman, in George Lynch Classic at Myers Park, 1:30 p.m. — The Saturday schedule in the George Lynch Classic is heavy with big girls’ games. This one could be a preview of a late-round playoff matchup next February or March. Mallard Creek had most of its top players returning anyway, but the Mavericks are even better with the addition of Kiara Anderson (20.7 ppg), an East Lincoln transfer. Lake Norman returns all five starters from a 26-3 team, including twin sisters Samantha (18.7 ppg) and Alexis Shehan (17.2 ppg). The main gym at Myers Park will be filled with future college basketball players.
Watauga vs. No. 7 Concord Academy, in George Lynch Classic at Myers Park, noon — If Watauga were inside the Observer’s main circulation area, the Pioneers would be ranked near the top. The Pioneers, opening their season in this game inside the main gym at Myers Park, are led by 5-9 senior guard Kate Sears, a strong candidate for N.C. Player of the Year. Concord Academy has the fast-rising young star in 6-1 freshman Justice Alexander, who has averaged 23 points in her team’s first three games.
Friday’s girls’ box scores
NO. 4 SOUTH MECKLENBURG 60, CUTHBERTSON 12
South Meck 16 14 15 15 — 60
Cuthbertson 0 6 4 2 — 12
SOUTH MECK 60 — NyKira Arrington 22, Kluttz 11, Hensley 8
CUTHBERTSON 12 — Coffey 6
Records: South Meck 3-0; Cuthbertson 0-2
Notes: South Meck’s NyKira Arrington recorded her second triple-double of the week. She finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 12 steals. Hope Kluttz was 5 of 7 from the field for 11 points.
NO. 6 MARVIN RIDGE 55, ARDREY KELL 24
Ardrey Kell 7 2 6 9 — 24
Marvin Ridge 13 8 20 14 — 55
ARDREY KELL 24— Kayla Adarkwah 10, Mapp 5 Veal 2, Glahn 4, McCoy 2, Turner 1
MARVIN RIDGE 55 — Lenohan 3, Alessandro 6, Sheridan 6, Chadderton 2, Schindler 19, Briggs 9, Douglas 10
Records: Ardrey Kell 1-2, Marvin Ridge 1-1
NO. 7 CONCORD ACADEMY 77, HIGH POINT CHRISTIAN 19
Concord Academy 23 27 23 4 — 77
High Point Christian 4 4 4 7 — 19
CONCORD ACADEMY 77 — Ava McDermott 22, Justice Alexander 21, Quinn Hicks 10, Faith Bekich 9, Taylor Smith 7, Jayla Brower 5, Faith Crowell 3
HIGH POINT CHRISTIAN 19 — Blakely Bowman 11, Lauren Robinson 4, Kerri Langfitt 2, Maci Burkhart 2
NO. 12 CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 61, FORSYTH COUNTRY DAY 38
CCDS 17 20 8 16 -- 61
Forsyth Country Day 10 3 5 20 -- 38
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 61 — Sam Vanderhave 20, Margaret Blythe 15, Evelyn Turner 5, Olive Bigham 12, Starnes 6, Bharti 2, Liles 2
FORSYTH COUNTRY DAY 38 — Lyons 15, Kelly 10, Antosch 7, Beth 4, Fowler 2,
Record: CCDS 3-0
NO. 14 HICKORY RIDGE 39, NO. 8 MYERS PARK 36
Hickory Ridge 13 11 7 8 — 39
Myers Park 2 13 9 12 — 36
MYERS PARK 36 — Cole 2, Christian 2, Hopkins 6, Amani Barner 16, Moore 3, McDaniel 4, Thomason 3
HICKORY RIDGE 39 — Amya Leathers 14, Powell 9, Gidney 6, Ritter 5, Duley 5
Records: Hickory Ridge 3-0; Myers Park 0-2
NO. 15 PORTER RIDGE 64, LINCOLN CHARTER 38
LCHS 10 8 7 13 — 38
Porter Ridge 21 17 14 12 — 64
LCHS 38 — Claire David 14, Symphanie Stevens 10, Madalyn Westmoreland 08, Martha Guinle 02, Brenna Barbier 2, Abigal Wrenn 2
PORTER RIDGE 64 — Ashanti T. 40, Kali W. 10, Brooklyn G. 09, Molly M. 02, Abigal M. 02
Records: LCHS 0-2 Porter Ridge 2-0
Notes: For the second game in a row, Claire David led Lincoln Charter in scoring. She had 14 points. Lincoln Charter’s next game is Tuesday at LCHS.
NO. 16 PROVIDENCE DAY 47, THE MILLER SCHOOL 37
Providence Day 10 12 13 12 — 47
Miller School 13 8 8 8 — 37
PROVIDENCE DAY 47 — Ginny Anne Dumont 13 Clark 2 Nowlin 7 Stuart 7 Carson 1 Ramsden 6 O’Malley 5 Fyans 6
MILLER SCHOOL 37 — Ella Jackson 11 Braxton 4 Smith 8 Wells 2 Harlow 8 Swanson 4
Record: Miller School 1-3
ASHBROOK 59, WEST MECKLENBURG 20
Ashbrook 16 22 19 2 — 59
West Meck 4 6 6 4 — 20
ASHBROOK 59 — Duraejah Hardin 27, Jakyra Sadler 17, Arianna McDowell 6, Zakiyah Miller 3, Diamond Jackson 3, Chloe Morales 2, Zuri Hayes 1
CHERRYVILLE 50, WEST LINCOLN 44
West Lincoln 5 14 13 12— 44
Cherryville 8 15 14 13 — 50
WEST LINCOLN 44 — Quinlyn Avery 11, Madison Parks 7
Record: West Lincoln 1-1
RABUN GAP 36, CHARLOTTE LATIN 29
Charlotte Latin 8 3 9 9 — 29
Rabun Gap 14 6 7 7 — 36
CHARLOTTE LATIN 29 — Lanie Edwards 17, Tune 8, Archibald 2 , Nadeau 2
RABUN GAP 36 — Blanca Martinez 11, Vanover 7, Arydin 7, Frasz 6, Urich 5
WEST CABARRUS 51, PROVIDENCE 43
West Cabarrus 14 14 12 11 — 51
Providence 8 16 13 6 — 43
WEST CABARRUS 51 — Shar’Riah White 15, Silas 9, Neal 8, Warner 2, Griffin 5, Brown 3 Simmons 5, Sandidge 4
PROVIDENCE 43 — Emma Fulller 11, Avery Detenber 10, Page 5, Skinner 6, Whitten 4 Brooks 6 Fillnow 1
Records: West Cabarrus 2-1; Providence 0-3
Notable: West Cabarrus’ Sha’Riah White led all scorers with 15 points, three steals and two assists.
WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 42, CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 31
Westminster Catawba 7 10 18 7 – 42
Charlotte Christian 6 8 4 10 — 31
WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 42 — Colclough Graham 2, Leah Ross 10, Caidyn Campbell 8, Myana Fore 19, Emery Harding 3
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 28 — S Spang 6, E Manry 10, P Fair 6, S Myers 4, G Ebokoka 2
Notables: Westminster Catawba beat Charlotte Christian for the first time in three seasons
Record: Westminster 3-1
Thursday’s box scores
BESSEMER CITY 62, CHASE 9
Bessemer Ciy 24 25 11 2 — 62
Chase 2 1 4 2 — 9
BESSEMER CITY 62 — Tionna Pettus 46, Escirosa 8,Gibson 4 ,Jeffries 2, Roseboro 2
CHASE 9 — Carly 3, Haynes 2, Jones 2, Tomes 2
Records: Bessemer City 2-0; Chase 0-1
Notable: Bessemer City’s Tionna Pettus had 46 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks.
BUTLER 79, CENTRAL CABARRUS 30
Central Cabarrus 3 9 10 8 — 30
Butler 19 27 15 18 — 79
CENTRAL CABARRUS 30 — Daniyah Burton 11, Pickett 6, Blanchard 6, Nix 3, Arévalo 2, Duckett 2
BUTLER 79 — Brooklyn Saunders 20, Hannah Moss 18, Eshe Muhammad 13, Joy Park 13, Ross 9
HOUGH 64, BALLANTYNE RIDGE 15
Hough 22 14 22 6 — 64
Ballantyne Ridge 2 7 4 2 — 15
HOUGH 64 — Kenedie Mobley 12, Olivia Puskarich 10, Chloe Galombeck 10, Bella James 10, Sophia Zoerb 6, Kate Shryock 6, Ka’Leiya Jones 6, Alexis Otto 4
BALLANTYNE RIDGE 15 — Kaiya Dodson 6, Natanya Chando 6, Savannah Brown 3
Records: Hough 2-0; Ballantyne Ridge 0-3
PORTER RIDGE 68, INDEPENDENCE 31
Porter Ridge: 15 19 18 16 — 68
Independence: 2 7 9 13 — 31
PORTER RIDGE 68 — Taylor 38, Williams 15, Lamont 6, Malcolm 9
INDEPENDENCE 31 — Brown 16, Bailey 6, Nepay 4, Robles 3, Brandon 2
WEST CHARLOTTE 56, PALISADES 48
Palisades 15 10 14 9 — 48
West Charlotte 13 20 12 11 — 56
PALISADES 48 — C.Macho 8, K. Morris 5, M. Bown 8 , T. Simpkins 15, C. Hightower 12.
WEST CHARLOTTE 56 — C. Generette 9 , Jonnae Bennett 13 , K. Grier 8, B. Rowe 4 , Paris Reaves 11, Briana Moultrie 10, J. Crawford 1.
Record: West Charlotte 1- 0
Weekend schedule
(Unless otherwise noted, all matchups are girls-boys doubleheaders, with girls’ games at 6 p.m. and boys’ games following)
SATURDAY
George Lynch Invitational (boys)
(at Myers Park High)
(main gym)
Watauga vs. Concord Academy (girls), noon
Lake Norman vs. Mallard Creek (girls), 1:30
Caldwell Academy vs. Christ School (boys), 3
Chambers vs. The Burlington School (boys), 4:30
Providence Day vs. Combine Academy (boys), 6
Davidson Day vs. Myers Park (boys), 7:30
(auxiliary gym)
Hunter Huss vs. Queen’s Grant Charter (boys), 12:30
Weddington vs. Mooresville (boys), 2
Concord Academy vs. Greensboro Day (boys), 3:30
Kings Mountain vs. Grace Christian (boys), 5
Quality Education vs. Berean Baptist (boys), 6:30
Carmel Christian vs. Ashbrook (boys), 8
Cabarrus County Classic
(at Cox Mill)
Concord vs. Mount Pleasant (girls), 9 a.m.
Northwest Cabarrus vs. Mount Pleasant (boys), 10:30 a.m.
Northwest Cabarrus vs. Hickory Ridge (girls), noon
Concord vs. R.J. Reynolds (boys), 1:30
Jay M. Robinson vs. Cox Mill (girls), 3
Jay M. Robinson vs. Cox Mill (boys), 4:30
Central Cabarrus vs. West Cabarrus (girls), 6
Central Cabarrus vs. Hickory Ridge (boys), 7:30
Mecklenburg nonconference
Cary Academy at Charlotte Christian (boys), 1
Charlotte Catholic at Cannon School, 1
Forsyth Country Day at Covenant Day (boys), 1:30
High Point Wesleyan at Charlotte Country Day, 1
Providence Day at E.E. Smith (girls), noon
S.C. tournaments
Ville Turkey Tip-Off (boys)
(at Powdersville High)
(Louie Golden Bracket)
(semifinals)
Northwestern vs. Cardinal Newman, noon
McCormick vs. Greenwood, 3
(Bill Johnson Bracket)
(semifinals)
South Pointe vs. Gaffney, 1:30
J.L. Mann vs. Powdersville, 4:30
S.C. nonconference
Andrew Jackson at Ridge View (girls)
Nation Ford at Blacksburg (girls)
SUNDAY
S.C. tournaments
Ville Turkey Tip-Off
(at Powdersville High)
(Louie Golden Bracket)
Third place: Saturday’s losers, 1:30
Championship: Saturday’s winners, 4:30
(Bill Johnson Bracket)
Third place: Saturday’s losers, 3
Championship: Saturday’s winners, 6
This story was originally published November 22, 2024 at 5:30 AM.