Thursday’s high school rewind: Layla Mapp, Ardrey Kell beat South Meck, tie for first
There have been a few bumps along the way, Ardrey Kell girls basketball coach La’Tavia Dixon said.
“But I like where we’re going now,” Dixon said Thursday night after her team squeaked past host South Mecklenburg 55-51.
“We’re better than we were earlier in the season, and we’re getting better every game,” said Dixon, whose team created a three-way tie for first place in the SoMeck 4A.
Halfway through conference play, Ardrey Kell, South Mecklenburg and Myers Park are tied for first with 5-1 records.
The hero for Ardrey Kell on Thursday was junior guard Layla Mapp. She hit two clinching free throws with one second left. She also led the Knights with 16 points and repeatedly drove through the Sabres’ big inside defense for baskets.
“She is fearless,” Dixon said.
A steal and layup by Chloe Grant brought South Mecklenburg within 52-51 with 1:42 left. But Grant and KD Brown each fouled out around the one-minute mark, depriving the Sabres of their leading rebounder and their top scorer.
South Mecklenburg’s final chance ended when a Sabre dribbled out of bounds with 20 seconds left and South Meck down 53-51. Brown had a game-high 17 points, while Mapp led Ardrey Kell with 16.
Thursday’s top performers
Justice Alexander, Concord Academy girls: Alexander had a game-high 29 points in a 79-21 win over Westminster Catawba.
Brett Freeman, Ardrey Kell: Freeman had a game-high 24 points in a big 72-69 win over SoMeck conference rival South Mecklenburg.
Layla Mapp, Ardrey Kell girls: Mapp hit the game-clinching free throws in a 55-51 win over South Mecklenburg. She also had a team-high 16 points.
Malachi McCutcheon, Corvian Community: In a 77-63 win over Bradford Prep, McCutcheon had 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Thursday’s girls’ box scores
NO. 6 CONCORD ACADEMY 79, WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 21
Westminster Catawba 6 4 9 2 — 21
Concord Academy 22 22 17 18 — 79
WESMINSTER CATAWBA 21 — Bella Sherer 6, Caidyn Campbell 2, Myana Fore 13
CONCORD ACADEMY 79 — Justice Alexander 29, Jayla Brower 19, Ava McDermott 10, Faith Crowell 8, Quinn Hicks 8, Faith Bekich 5
Records: Westminster7-9
Notable: Westminster’s Leah Ross needs 97 points to reach 1,000 in her career. Myana Fore had 13 points, her ninth straight game in double figures.
CENTRAL CABARRUS 45, CARSON 40
CCHS: 10 6 12 17 — 45
Carson 8 12 9 11 — 40
CENTRAL CABARRUS 45 — Myajah Nix 13, Louella Blanchard 13, Daniyah Burton 10, Duckett 4, Pickett 2, Estrada Hiil 2, Fofana 1
CARSON 40 — Hendrick 15, Martin 9, Burlerson 7, Guiton 3, Sheets 4, Guiton 3
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 60, COVENANT DAY 43
CCDS 16 15 13 16 — 60
Covenant Day 10 13 5 15 — 43
COUNTRY DAY 60 — Olive Bigham 17, Sam Vanderhave 16, Margaret Blythe 13, Evelyn Turner 10, Starnes 4
COVENANT DAY 43 — Houseton 11, Dix 9, Shcoff 8, Hall 6, Allen 4, Jones 3
Records: CCDS 17-6
Notable: Country Day junior Sam Vanderhave scored her 1,000th career point Jan. 18 against Mountain View Prep. The school honored her achievement at home Thursday after the win over Covenant Day.
SOUTH POINT 58, NORTH GASTON 30
South Point 16 9 24 9 — 58
North Gaston 4 11 3 12 — 30
SOUTH POINT 58 — Sally Risk 10, Amya Graham 9, Stella Absher 7, Toney Milton 6, Rowen Trexler 6, Jyi Watkins 6, Dajshia Foust 5, Claire Frank 4, Micah Brown 2, Annie Risk 2, Tayler Culbertson 1
NORTH GASTON 30 — H. Holmes 12, S. White 11, L. Carter 3, A. Robinson 2, R. Watkins 1
Notable: Jossilyn Wallace had 10 rebounds for South Point.
Records: South Point 12-4, 5-2, North Gaston 3-14, 0-7
Thursday’s boys’ box scores
NO. 4 CONCORD ACADEMY 79, WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 50
Concord Academy 13 15 32 19 — 79
Westminster Catawba 11 9 13 17 — 50
CONCORD ACADEMY 79 — Lincoln Raper 19, Jake Benham 16, Gray Madeira 12, James Minlend 10, Romain Boyer 7, Alek Kornacki 6, Icare Bakadisula 4, Brylee Austin 3, MJ Lewis 2
WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 50 — Santos 6, Nikayle Hodge 11, Reeves 4, Andrews 3, Henderson 6, Hayes 4, Littlejohn 3, Brycen Redmon 13
Notable: Concord Academy (25-3) plays its next game Jan. 28 at Southlake Christian; Westminster Catawba (8-14) plays its next game Friday vs. University Christian.
NO. 12 ARDREY KELL 72, SOUTH MECKLENBURG 69
Ardrey Kell 19 13 20 29 — 72
South Meck 16 13 21 19 — 69
ARDREY KELL 72 — Brett Freeman 24, Matthew Craft 15, Bryceton Thomas 14, Dylan Morrison 10, Braden Suggs 9
SOUTH MECK 69 — Williams 13, Houpt 21, Yett 15, Howard 6, Gathings 4, Gatehouse 8, Hunter 2
Ardrey Kell 14-3, 4-2; South Meck 10-8, 4-2
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 64, COVENANT DAY 48
Country Day 10 23 19 12 — 64
Covenant Day 6 8 15 19 — 48
COUNTRY DAY 64 — Joseph Youakim 12, Nick Diaz 11, Moe Davis 11, Lindsey 8, Lowery 4, Parker 4, Batten 4, Vanfield 2, Schulze 2, Lowery 2, Clark 2, Roberts 2
COVENANT DAY 48 — Chris Rivens 23, White 6, Krouse 6, Haggarty 6, Thompson 4, Montgomery 3
Notable: Charlotte Country Day held Covenant Day to 14 points at the half with a great team effort. Country Day (13-10, 2-2) plays at Cannon on Friday. Covenant Day falls to 12-11, 1-3.
CORVIAN COMMUNITY 77, BRADFORD PREP 63
Corvian Community 8 13 24 32 — 77
Bradford 7 14 26 16 — 63
CORVIAN 77 — Scott 2, Ricky Moore Jr 20, Malachi McCutcheon 18, Doug Quarles III 12, DeMarkus Milton 10, Kirkwood 2, Rucks 5, Jackson 8
BRADFORD PREP 63 — Kaden Bradley 23 , Esaias Caves 12, Jones 6, Poston 6, Hanson 8, Johnson 6
Notable: For Corvian, AJ Jackson had seven assists; Doug Quarles had 12 points, 10 rebounds; and Malachi McCutcheon had 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Thursday’s results, schedule
Thursday
SoMeck 4A
GIRLS: Ardrey Kell 55, South Mecklenburg 51
BOYS: Ardrey Kell 72, South Mecklenburg 69
CISAA
BOYS: Cannon School 82, Charlotte Christian 62
GIRLS: Charlotte Country Day 60, Covenant Day 43
BOYS: Charlotte Country Day 64, Covenant Day 48
Big South 3A
GIRLS: Hunter Huss 61, Ashbrook 30
BOYS: Ashbrook 73, Hunter Huss 60
GIRLS: South Point 58, North Gaston 30
BOYS: South Point 70, North Gaston 48
South Piedmont 3A
GIRLS: Northwest Cabarrus 54, East Rowan 50
BOYS: Northwest Cabarrus 68, East Rowan 25
GIRLS: Central Cabarrus 45, Jesse Carson 40
GIRLS: Jay M. Robinson 65, South Rowan 35
Rocky River 2A-3A
BOYS: Forest Hills 49, Monroe 48
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Corvian Community 77, Bradford Prep 63
Metrolina Athletic
GIRLS: Concord Academy 79, Westminster Catawba 21
BOYS: Concord Academy 79, Westminster Catawba 50
Nonconference
Cabarrus Stallions at South Guilford Homeschool
Central Carolina Prep at Charlotte Elite (boys)
Covenant Classical at SouthLake Christian
GIRLS: Christ The King 62, Piedmont Community Charter 25
Lee Park Prep at Gospel Light Christian
Lincoln Charter at Valor Prep (girls)
North Hills Christian at Carmel Christian (boys)
North Hills Christian at Victory Christian (girls)
Southwestern Randolph at Mount Pleasant
Statesville Christian at Cornerstone Christian (boys)
Victory Christian at Davidson Day (boys)
Walnut Grove Christian at Grace Academy (boys)
Friday
Queen City 3A-4A
Hopewell at Harding
Hough at North Mecklenburg
West Charlotte at Mallard Creek
West Mecklenburg at Chambers
SoMeck 4A
Ballantyne Ridge at Myers Park
Berry Academy at Palisades
Olympic at South Mecklenburg
Southwestern 4A
Butler at Garinger
East Mecklenburg at Rocky River
Providence at Charlotte Catholic
CISAA
Charlotte Latin at Charlotte Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Charlotte Country Day at Cannon School, 5:30 p.m.
Providence Day at Covenant Day, 5:30 p.m.
Metro 4 4A
Hickory Ridge at A.L. Brown
Mooresville at Cox Mill
West Cabarrus at South Iredell
Southern Carolina 4A
Marvin Ridge at Weddington
Sun Valley at Porter Ridge
Big South 3A
Crest at North Gaston
Hunter Huss at Forestview
Kings Mountain at South Point
Stuart Cramer at Ashbrook
South Piedmont 3A
East Rowan at Central Cabarrus
Jay M. Robinson at Lake Norman Charter
South Rowan at Concord
West Rowan at Jesse Carson
Western Foothills 3A
East Lincoln at Hickory
Fred T. Foard at North Iredell
North Lincoln at Statesville
West Iredell at St. Stephens
Rocky River 2A-3A
Central Academy at West Stanly
Parkwood at Forest Hills
Piedmont at Anson County
Catawba Valley 2A
Bandys at West Lincoln
Bunker Hill at Lincolnton
Maiden at East Burke
West Caldwell at Newton-Conover
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Bradford Prep at Langtree Charter
Lincoln Charter at Corvian Community
Pine Lake Prep at Christ the King
Mountain Island Charter at Community School of Davidson
Southern Piedmont 1A-2A
East Gaston at Highland Tech
Shelby at Burns
Thomas Jefferson Academy at Cherryville
Yadkin Valley 1A-2A
Albemarle at North Stanly
South Stanly at Gray Stone Day
Union Academy at Mount Pleasant
Metro 1A
Queen’s Grant Charter at Piedmont Community Charter
Sugar Creek charter at Jackson Day
Metrolina Athletic
Gaston Christian at Gaston Day, 5:30 p.m.
Hickory Grove Christian at Metrolina Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Foothills Athletic
Hickory Christian at Salem Baptist, 5 p.m.
Nonconference
Ardrey Kell at Cuthbertson
Independence at Ambassador Christian (boys), 7 p.m.
Lab Univ. Prep at Winston-Salem Christian (boys),m 7 p.m.
Lake Norman Christian at Victory Christian (boys), 7 p.m.
Lee Park Prep at Fletcher School (girls), 6 p.m.
Statesville Christian at Liberty Prep, 5:30 p.m.
University Christian at Westminster Catawba, 5:30 p.m.
Winston-Salem Christian at Bonnie Cone Leadership (girls), 5:30 p.m.
Saturday
Well Invitational (boys)
(at Hopewell)
Lab Univ. Prep vs. Elevation Prep, 10 a.m.
Carolina International vs. Rock Hill, 11:30 a.m.
Grimsley vs. Rocky River, 1 p.m.
1 of 1 Academy vs. Charlotte Performance Institute, 2:30 p.m.
Corvian Community vs. Seventy-First, 4 p.m.
West Charlotte vs. Victory Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Hopewell vs. Ambassador Christian, 7 p.m.
Nonconference
Chatham Homeschool at Cabarrus Stallions, 4 p.m.
Sunday
No games scheduled
This story was originally published January 23, 2025 at 10:21 PM.
