Girls’ prep rewind: Star player returns after NCHSAA investigation; Mallard Creek rolls
Friday night, Mallard Creek’s girls’ basketball team gave its fans a glimpse of what the Mavericks are capable of when they are at full strength.
A week after losing a highly anticipated showdown with Sweet 16 No. 2 Lake Norman, No 3 Mallard Creek routed Watauga, 66-43, at the Charlotte Hoops Challenge at Harding High School.
Watauga, an N.C. 4A state semifinalist last season, is led by Virginia Tech signee Kate Sears, the No. 1 high school player in the state.
But unlike the Lake Norman loss, the Mavericks had point guard Kiara Anderson back in the lineup. Anderson missed last week’s game because the N.C. High School Athletic Association was investigating an eligibility claim.
Sources tell The Observer that a rival school reported to the NCHSAA that Anderson had never moved from Lincoln County, where she played at East Lincoln High School last season.
Mallard Creek was notified a week ago and Anderson — an All-Observer pick as a sophomore and a preseason top 5 regional player this year — missed Saturday’s 60-52 loss to Lake Norman at the George Lynch Invitational at Myers Park.
As a result, Mallard Creek (3-1) dropped one spot in The Observer’s Sweet 16 rankings, falling to No. 3. Lake Norman (3-0) moved up one spot to No. 2.
But this week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokesperson Jessica Saunders told The Observer that the NCHSAA’s investigation had concluded and that Anderson was cleared to play.
So Anderson was back for the Charlotte Hoops Challenge and the Mavericks looked like a different team.
After suffering through more than 20 turnovers against Lake Norman, Mallard Creek had nine Thursday. Anderson had 17 ponts, nine rebounds, five steals and four assists. Delaware commit Elle Stone, one of the state’s top five senior recruits, had 18 points and four rebounds. My’Ashia Young had 13 points and 13 rebounds; Jazmeen Stone, Elle Stone’s sister, had 13 points and three rebounds.
Defensively, Mallard Creek limited Watauga to 26 percent shooting, forced 17 turnovers and only allowed two Pioneers players to score more than four points: Julie Matheson had 11 points, three assists and Sears had 18 points, 16 rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Friday’s #BIG5 top performers
Kiara Anderson, Mallard Creek: In a 66-43 win over Watauga, Anderson had 17 points, nine rebounds, five steals and four assists.
Ashlyn Black, North Lincoln: Reagan Karr hit the winning buzzer beater in a 58-55 upset of Hickory Ridge, but Black got her team in position with 22 points, six rebounds, five steals and an assist.
Margaret Blythe, Charlotte Country Day: Blythe tied teammate Sam Vanderhave for a game-high 18 points in a 57-39 win over East Mecklenburg.
Chloe Grant, South Mecklenburg: The Sabres, No. 4 in The Observer’s Sweet 16, held off an upset attempt by Providence Day to win 51-50 at the Charlotte Hoops Challenge. Grant had 15 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, including a game-winning block before the buzzer. South Meck played without junior NyKira Arrington, who is averaging 14 points, 15 rebounds, eight steals and three assists. Arrington has a broken hand and is out for several weeks.
Lenise Joseph, North Mecklenburg: In a 83-35 win over Porter Ridge at the Leroy Holden Invitational, Joseph had 28 points and 12 rebounds.
Friday’s girls’ box scores
NO. 2 LAKE NORMAN 70, NO. 6 CONCORD ACADEMY 42
LAKE NORMAN 70 — Buoniconti 2, Bond 6, Rhyne 8, Rayana Minard 14, Sherrilll 5, Alexis Shehan 14, Samantha Shehan 14, Ellis 1, Sirianni 6
CONCORD ACADEMY 42 — McDermot 7, Brower 6, Hicks 4, Smith 8, Alexander 6, Bekich 9
NO. 4 SOUTH MECKLENBURG 51, PROVIDENCE DAY 50
South Mecklenburg 10 13 20 8 — 51
Providence Day 15 7 15 13 — 50
SOUTH MECKLENBURG 51 — Hensley 8, Farrah 3, Wallace 9, Coleman 3, Chloe Grant 15, Kendrick 4, Kluttz 5, Cleophat 2, Miller 2
PROVIDENCE DAY 50 — Ginny Anne-Dumont 20, Layla Clark 12, Nawlin 4, Stuart 6, O’Malley 2, Glosson 2, Fyans 4
Notable: South Meck stayed undefeated after a game-winning block from Chloe Grant, who had four of them for the game. South Meck goes on the road Tuesday night to play Charlotte Catholic.
NO. 5 NORTH MECKLENBURG 83, NO. 14 PORTER RIDGE 35
North Meck 26 18 27 12 — 83
Porter Ridge 7 8 16 4 — 35
NORTH MECKLENBURG 83 — Lenise Joesph 28, Shanon Hoover 23, Leach 5, Smith 5, Knox, 5, Coyour 4, Johnson 4, Pimentel 3 Mobley 2, Davis 2, Blake 2
PORTER RIDGE 35 — Ashanti Taylor 22, Willams 6, Giarta 4, Malcolm 3
Notable: For North Meck, Lenise Joseph had 28 points, 12 rebounds. Shannon Hoover had 23 points, nine rebounds. Morgan Knox had 10 assists and Stephanie Mobley had six. The Vikings will play JM Robinson in the championship game of the Leroy Holden Classic at 3 p.m. Saturday at North Meck.
NO. 11 CHARLOTE COUNTRY DAY 57, EAST MECKLENBURG 39
CCDS 13 18 16 7 — 57
East Meck 4 7 14 14 — 39
CCDS 57 — Sam Vanderhave 18, Margaret Blythe 18, Liles 6, Crane 6, Starnes 6, Nelson 3
EAST MECKLENBURG 39 — Stallings 10, Weidner 7, Darling 7, Davis 6, Willis 4, Roberto-Brown 4
Records: CCDS 5 - 1
NORTH LINCOLN 58, NO. 13 HICKORY RIDGE 55
North Lincoln 5 15 12 26 — 58
Hickory Ridge. 9 19 15 12 — 55
NORTH LINCOLN 58 — Ashlyn Black 23, Ally Smith 16, Hailey Hagler 12, Grice 4, Reagan Karr 3
HICKORY RIDGE 55 — Gidney 19, Ritter 9, Powell 8, Leathers 8, Watkins 6, Duley 3, Hamilton 2
Records: North Lincoln 2-1, Hickory Ridge 4-1.
Notable: Ma-Kaela Gidney led Hickory Ridge with 19 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Ritter added nine points, five rebounds and three assists. Miranda Duley grabbed 10 rebounds.
Saturday’s game previews
SATURDAY
(boys) Ambassador Christian (4-1) vs. Concord Academy (8-0), in Charlotte Hoops Challenge at Harding, 2:30 p.m. in Ward Gym — The Charlotte area’s new private school power, Ambassador Christian, makes its debut appearance in the annual Charlotte Hoops Challenge. The team is coached by former Myers Park bench boss Scott Taylor. Concord Academy sophomore James Minlend has led the Eagles in their fast start, averaging 15 points a game.
(boys) South Mecklenburg (3-1) vs. Gaston Christian (5-3), in Phenom Hoops Lakesgiving Classic at Lake Norman, 2 p.m. — The Sabres are a fast-rising Charlotte-area power, coming off a 21-victory season and off to a strong start. Ben Houpt (15.3 ppg) is leading the Sabres so far. Cameron Newman (18 ppg) leads Gaston Christian, which is coached by former Duke standout Chris Duhon.
Saturday’s schedule
Charlotte Hoops Challenge
(at Harding High)
(Ward Gym)
(girls) Ardrey Kell vs. Concord Academy, 1
(boys) Ambassador Christian vs. Concord Academy, 2:30
(boys) Providence Day vs. Greensboro Day, 4
(girls) Cannon School vs. Greensboro Day, 5:30
(boys) West Charlotte vs. Butler, 7
(Ram Gym)
(girls) Myers Park vs. Charlotte Country Day, noon
(boys) Myers Park vs. Covenant Day, 1:30
(boys, Buckets Brand consolation) Westminster Catawba vs. Victory Christian, 3
(boys, Buckets Brand championship) Charlotte Country Day vs. Stuart Hall, 4:30
(boys) East Mecklenburg vs. Hopewell, 6
Phenom Hoops Lakesgiving Classic
(at Lake Norman High)
(boys) Statesville vs Cannon School, 11 am
(girls) Lake Norman vs Queens Grant Charter, 12:30
(boys) South Mecklenburg vs Gaston Christian, 2
(boys) Marvin Ridge vs Carmel Christian, 3:30
(boys) Weddington vs Queens Grant Charter, 5
(boys) North Lincoln vs Ardrey Kell, 6:30
(boys) Lake Norman vs High Point Christian, 8
Leroy Holden Thanksgiving Classic
(at North Mecklenburg High)
Girls’ third place: Mooresville vs. Porter Ridge, noon
Boys’ third place: Jay M. Robinson vs. Porter Ridge, 1:30
Girls’ championship: Jay M. Robinson vs. North Mecklenburg, 3
Boys’ championship: Mooresville vs. North Mecklenburg, 4:30
KR3 Thanksgiving Invitational
(at West Charlotte High)
(girls) Hickory vs. Butler, 3
(boys) Seventy-First vs. Jordan, 4:30
(boys) Rock Hill vs. Walkertown, 6
(boys) Lab Univ. Prep vs. Carver, 7:30
Craze Sports Classic (girls)
(at Indian Land)
Ballantyne Ridge vs. Concord, 10 a.m.
Charlotte Christian vs. North Central (SC), 11:30 a.m.
Marvin Ridge vs. Grovetown (GA), 1
Northwestern vs. Northwest Cabarrus, 2:30
TBA, 4
West Charlotte vs. 1 of 1 Academy, 5:30
Winston-Salem Christian vs. Legion Collegiate, 7
Headliners Classic (girls)
(at High Point Wesleyan)
Providence Day vs. Western Alamance, 1:30
Statesville vs. Lexington, 4
Jackson Day vs. South Caldwell, 5:30
A1 She Got Next Classic (girls)
(at White Knoll, SC, High)
Third place: South Pointe/Andrew Jackson vs. Spring Valley/Ashley Ridge, 4 (auxiliary gym)
Championship: South Pointe/Andrew Jackson vs. Spring Valley/Ashley Ridge, 4 (main gym)
Other nonconference
Carolina International vs. Hamilton Heights (TN) Christian, in Chattanooga tournament (boys), 1
Davidson Day vs. Mount Pleasant (UT) Wasatch Academy, in Atlanta Holiday Hoopsgiving (boys), 5:30
S.C. nonconference
Indian Land in Hoops on the Hill Classic at Keenan High (boys)
This story was originally published November 29, 2024 at 5:00 AM.