Friday’s girls’ high school basketball rewind: Mallard Creek, North Meck warm up for showdown
The girls’ basketball teams from Mallard Creek and North Mecklenburg flexed their muscle in Queen City conference games Friday.
Both teams are getting ready for their big showdown next week.
Mallard Creek, No. 3 in The Observer’s Sweet 16, beat West Charlotte 47-30. The Mavericks (16-2, 8-0) played their fifth game without N.C. Ms. Basketball finalist Elle Stone (foot, knee), who is expected to return to practice Monday.
The Mavericks play Hopewell on Tuesday and then face North Mecklenburg, likely for the conference title, next Friday at home. If Mallard Creek wins, it’ll have a two-game lead and the inside track to the championship. If North Meck wins, it’s a tie for the top.
“It’s definitely a huge deal,” Mallard Creek coach Karlyn Dixon said. “It’s a conference rival and it’ll be a packed house, so it’ll be a nice environment and it’s super important for us to take care of business. We’re looking forward to it.”
North Mecklenburg, No. 4 in The Sweet 16, won its seventh straight game Friday, beating Hough 83-49.
The Vikings (14-2, 6-1) lost 54-52 to Mallard Creek at home Jan. 3, but will look for a win to potentially even the league title race next week.
First, however, the Vikings will have to win at Harding on Tuesday. The Rams were 2-8 overall, 1-5 in league play before Friday’s game at Hopewell.
Quick links
Former Panthers starter Captain Munnerlyn vows to bring swagger back to Chambers High
Ardrey Kell’s boys get wild win over South Meck, move into share of first place
Thursday’s rewind: boys, girls results; Layla Mapp gets Ardrey Kell over the top
Olympic girls win first CMS city wrestling championship
Lake Norman boys, girls roll Mooresville in ‘Showdown in Mo-town’
Lincolnton girls blow past Bunker Hill
Lincolnton beat Bunker Hill 66-34 Friday, winning for the fifth time in its last eight meetings by completing a Catawba Valley 2A Conference sweep of the visiting Bears. Curmiya Tillman had 18 points, Nyla Johnson 16 and Sarah Rhyne 10 to lead Lincolnton.
Eliana McClain had 10 points to lead Bunker Hill.
Lincolnton improved to 10-7, 4-4. Bunker Hill is now 4-14, 2-6
— Richard Walker
Friday’s girls’ #BIG5 top performers
Amya Graham, South Point: In a 63-23 win over Kings Mountain, Graham finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Morgan Knox, North Mecklenburg: In an 83-49 win over Hough, Knox had 16 points, five assists and three steals.
Kailey Richard, Charlotte Catholic: In a 61-23 win over Providence, Richard had 31 points and made all nine of her 3-point attempts.
Curmiya Tillman, Lincolnton: Tillman had a team-high 18 points in a 66-34 win over Bunker Hill, Lincolnton’s fifth in the teams’ last eight meetings.
My’Asia Young, Mallard Creek: In a 47-30 win over West Charlotte, Young had 14 points, 10 rebounds and two steals.
Friday’s capsules
No. 1 Cannon School 76, Charlotte Country Day 47: The host Buccaneers (17-7, 3-2) led 8-7 after one quarter, but the top-ranked Cougars (19-6, 5-0) roared back for a CISAA victory. Khloe Thompson led Cannon School with 21 points, and Jakaila Gaskin added 19. Olive Bigham scored 17 for Charlotte Country Day.
No. 5 South Mecklenburg 55, Olympic 30: The Sabres bounced back from Thursday’s loss to Ardrey Kell with a solid effort against the Trojans. Hope Kluttz hit 5-of-8 shots from 3-point range and totaled 19 points for the Sabres (16-3, 6-1). Olympic surprised South Meck by taking a 10-9 lead after one quarter, but the Sabres outscored the Trojans 18-3 in the second period.
No. 7 Butler 70, Garinger 18: The Bulldogs (15-1, 7-0) remained a game ahead of Charlotte Catholic in the Southwestern 4A race, as Brooklyn Saunders and Joy Park each scored 12 points. They were among four Butler players scoring in double figures.
No. 10 Providence Day 50, Covenant Day 23: Ellie Fyans scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, as the Chargers (20-7, 5-1) scored a CISAA victory and remained one game behind Cannon School in the conference race. It marked the 20th time in the past 21 seasons that the Chargers have won 20 or more games.
No. 11 Hickory Ridge 64, A.L. Brown 12: Ma’Kaela Gidney scored 20 points and had six of her team’s 19 steals in a Greater Metro 4 4A rout. The Ragin’ Bulls (12-5, 5-1) remained a game behind Lake Norman in the conference race.
No. 12 East Lincoln 70, Hickory 56: The Mustangs bounced back from Tuesday’s loss to North Lincoln by building a 25-15 first-quarter lead and cruising to a Western Foothills 3A triumph. Emma Montanari led the effort with 20 points, 10 assists and eight steals. Maddie Matz added 14 points for East Lincoln, which had several players battling illness.
No. 13 Charlotte Catholic 61, Providence 23: The Panthers had no answer for the Cougars’ Kailey Richard, who hit all nine of her 3-point shots and finished with 31 points. Charlotte Catholic is now 6-1 in Southwestern 4A play.
No. 16 Jay M. Robinson 75, Lake Norman Charter 60: Camri Hobbs poured in 40 points, hitting 16-of-19 shots from the floor, and added eight rebounds for the Bulldogs in their South Piedmont 3A victory. As a team, Robinson shot 57.4 percent from the floor. Destiny Chambers added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Charlotte Latin 62, Charlotte Christian 2: Lanie Edwards scored 12 points, and three teammates added 10 points each in the Hawks’ CISAA triumph.
East Rowan 63, Central Cabarrus 48: Felecity Arevalo scored 18 points for the Vikings in their South Piedmont 3A setback.
Hunter Huss 84, Forestview 32: The Huskies improved to 8-0 in Big South 3A play, as freshman Shemiah McCoy scored 20 points and sophomore Jaleila Littlejohn added 19 points and 11 rebounds. Brooklyn Swain had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Jackson Day 73, Sugar Creek Charter 5: The host Mariners rolled to a Metro 1A victory, as Tralyn Phillips totaled 21 points, eight assists and six steals. She was among four players scoring in double figures.
Lincoln Charter 60, Corvian Community 21: The visiting Eagles improved to 8-0 in Catawba Shores 1A-2A action, led by Taylor Riggenbach’s 22 points.
Myers Park 60, Ballantyne Ridge 18: The Mustangs improved to 6-1 in the SoMeck 4A and remained tied with South Mecklenburg for the lead, As Amani Barner totaled 22 points.
South Point 63, Kings Mountain 23: The Raiders (6-2, third in Big South 3A) cruised to victory behind Amya Graham’s 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. South Point built a 40-15 halftime lead and cruised.
Stuart Cramer 64, Ashbrook 32: Hadley Womack poured in 23 points, and Oshauna Holland added 19, as the Storm (15-2, 7-1 Big South 3A) held on to second place. Lauren Humphrey added 16 points, hitting 7-of-9 from the floor.
Union Academy 72, Mount Pleasant 45: Mount Pleasant surprised the Cardinals by taking a 13-10 first-quarter lead, but Union Academy outscored the Tigers 36-8 in the second quarter for a 46-21 halftime lead. The Cardinals improved to 14-0 overall and 5-0 in the Yadkin Valley 1A-2A.
Friday’s girls’ box scores
NO. 1 CANNON SCHOOL 76, CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 47
Cannon School 7 27 23 19 — 76
Charlotte Country Day 8 13 14 10 — 47
CANNON SCHOOL 76 — Jakaila Gaskin 19, Larkins 3, Mccorkle 7, Khloe Thompson 21, Madison Drayton 14, Jaiden Thompson 12
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 47 — Blythe 9, Vanderhave 13, Crane 2, Little 1, Turner 3, Bigham 17
Records: Cannon School 19-6, 5-0; Charlotte Country Day 17-7, 3-2
NO. 3 MALLARD CREEK 47, WEST CHARLOTTE 30
Mallard Creek 13 6 13 15 — 47
West Charlotte 10 0 12 12 — 30
MALLARD CREEK 47 — My’Asia Young 14, Anderson 8, Easterling 2, Jazmeen Stone 13, McGuire 2, Robertson 4, Tendall 4
WEST CHARLOTTE 30 — Chakira 6, Joaane B. 14, Kenya 4, Berasia 6
Notable: Mallard Creek junior Jazmeen Stone finished with 13 points, one steal. Junior My’Asia Young finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, two steals. And junior Kiara Anderson finished with eight points, seven assists, five rebounds, two steals.
Records: Mallard Creek 16-2, 8-0
NO. 4 NORTH MECKLENBURG 83, HOUGH 49
N. Meck 19 18 19 27 — 83
Hough 10 14 7 18 — 49
NORTH MECK 83 — Lenise Joseph 28, Morgan Knox 16, Shanon Hoover 14, Coyour 7, Pimentel 5, Johnson 5, Mobley 4, Davis 2, Smith 2,
HOUGH 49 — Ka’Leiya Jones 17, Galombeck 9, Zoerb 9, Otto 4,Shryock 4, Breault 2, James 2, Birayauga 2
Notable: North Meck’s Lenise Joseph (28 points, eight rebounds, eight steals, two blocks); Morgan Knox (16 points, five assists, three steals) and Stephanie Mobley (eight assists, three steals) led the Vikings in the Queen City conference win.
NO. 5 SOUTH MECKLENBURG 55, OLYMPIC 30
South Meck 9 18 14 14 — 55
Olympic 10 3 9 8— 30
SOUTH MECK 55— Hope Kluttz 19, Hensley 7, Arrington 7
OLYMPIC 30 —Shaw 7
Records: South Meck 16-3, 6-1; Olympic 7-12
Notes: Hope Kluttz goes 5 for 8 from the 3-point line and 70 percent from the field to lead all scorers with 19. South Meck remains tied for first place in the SoMeck conference.
NO. 7 BUTLER 70, GARINGER 18
Butler 25 14 20 11 — 70
Garinger 6 4 3 5 — 18
BUTLER 70 — Brooklyn Saunders 12, Hannah Moss 10, Eshe Muhammad 10, Joy Park 12, Ross 7, Hanson 6, Henderson 5, Brabson 4, Campbell 2, Wesley 2
GARINGER 18 — McGill 9, Lynchburg 5, Myers 6
NO. 10 PROVIDENCE DAY 50, COVENANT DAY 23
Providence Day 12 11 11 16 — 50
Covenant Day 4 5 10 4 — 23
PROVIDENCE DAY 50 — Ellie Fyans 16 Layla Clark 13 Dumont 9 UpDyke 6 Stuart 4 Glosson 2
COVENANT DAY 23 — Dix 8 Hall 8 Allen 3 Houseton 4
Record: PDS 20-7, CISAA 5-1
Notable: Providence Day senior Ellie Fyans, a Western Carolina signee, had 16 points and seven rebounds in the win that gave the Chargers a 20-win season for the 21st time in the past 22 seasons.
NO. 11 HICKORY RIDGE 68, AL BROWN 12
Hickory Ridge 22 11 23 13 — 68
AL Brown 5 2 5 0 — 12
HICKORY RIDGE 68 — Gidney 20, Powell 14, Leathers 12 Johnson 6, Duley 5, Watkins 5, Ritter 2, Hamilton 2, Juarez 2
AL BROWN 12 — L. Gray 4, Buster 3, Massey 3, Z. Gray 2
Notable: Ma-Kaela Gidney led the Ragin Bullls with 20 points and six steals. Amya Leathers added 12 points and six steals.
Records: Hickory Ridge 12-5. A.L. Brown 4-13
CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC 61, PROVIDENCE 23
Charlotte Catholic 19 15 21 6— 61
Providence 8 6 7 2 — 23
CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC 61 — Kailey Richard 31 (9-9 3PT), Pisacano 9, Shea 6, Kernodle 5, Hoefling 4, Maino 3, Lupinski 3
PROVIDENCE 23 — Fuller 8, Bridges 4, Fillnow 4, Hartnett 2, Whitten 2, Brooks 2, Detenber 2
Records: Catholic 11-8; Providence 7-12
CHARLOTTE LATIN 62, CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 2
Charlotte Christian 0 0 1 1 — 2
Charlotte Latin 22 15 16 9 — 62
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 2 — Maxwell-Wright 1, Myers 1
CHARLOTTE LATIN 62 — Edwards 12, Archibald 10, Roberts 10, Tune 10, Burns 6, Nadean 4, McLaughlin 4, Bean 3, Webb 2, Amin 1,
Records: Charlotte Christian 2-15; Charlotte Latin 14-6
EAST LINCOLN 70, HICKORY 56
ELHS 25 14 16 15 — 70
HHS: 15 16 13 12 — 56
EAST LINCOLN 70 — Emma Montanari 20, Maddie Matz 14, Taniyah Thomas 12, B. Miller 9, L. Pethel 7, H. Ledford 4, R. Farr 2, S. Dann 2
HICKORY 56 — Aubrey Gibbs 16, Aji Bryant 13, Havyn Dula 10, G. Bryant 9, J. garner 4, E. Gambill 2, T. Parker 2
Notable: East Lincoln’s Emma Montanari had a double-double (20 points, 10 assists, eight steals, seven rebounds, four blocks). Madie Matz was 4 of 6 from the 3-point line, finishing with 14 points, two rebounds and two steals.
Records: ELHS: (14-4, 7-1) Next Game vs Statesville 1/28/25; HHS: (3-10, 2-6) Next Game @ North Lincoln 1/28/25
EAST ROWAN 63, CENTRAL CABARRUS 48
Central Cabarrus 15 8 12 16 — 48
East rowan 12 20 15 16 — 63
CENTRAL CABARRUS 48 — Felecity Arévalo 18, Daniyah Burton 16, Nix 8, Blanchard 2, Duckett 2, Pickett 1
EAST ROWAN 63 — Mary Church 23, Kady Collins 16, Wise 6, Klutz 6 Featherstone 4, Smith 5
LINCOLN CHARTER 60, CORVIAN COMMUNITY 21
Lincoln Charter 25 14 21 0 — 60
Corvian 12 5 2 2 — 21
LINCOLN CHARTER 60 — Taylor Riggenbach 22, Martha Guinle 12, Brenna Barbier 12, Symphani Stevens 11, Kaylyn Cherry 3
CORVIAN COMMUNITY 21 — Wheatley 6, E. Johnson 5, Chaney 4, Figueroa 2, Kimble 2, Sandford 2
Records: Lincoln Charter 10-6, 8-0; Corvian 7-8, 2-6
LCHS 10-6 (8-0 conf) CCS 7-8 (2-6 conf)
Notable: Lincoln Charter’s Taylor Riggensbach led all scorers with 22 points. Martha Guinle added 12 points, 6 assists and 5 steals. Brenna Barbier broke into the double digit scoring with 12 points.
LINCOLNTON 66, BUNKER HILL 34
Bunker Hill 5 13 9 7 — 34
Lincolnton 15 6 22 23 — 66
BUNKER HILL 34 — Carswell 4, Eliana McClain 10, Shupe 2, Parson-St. Clair 2, Thurman 2, Anderson 5, Spriggle 5, Beck 4.
LINCOLNTON 66 — Elmore 5, Smith 1, Nyla Johnson 16, Curmiya Tillman 18, Bynum 4, Lykins 2, Yanez 2, De Los Santos 4, Sarah Rhyne 10, Bryant 4.
Records: Bunker Hill 4-14, 2-6; Lincolnton 10-7, 4-4
MYERS PARK 60, BALLANTYNE RIDGE 10
Ballantyne Ridge 2 2 4 2 — 10
Myers Park 7 22 19 12 — 60
BALLANTYNE RIDGE 10 — Dotson 2, Holgorsen 2, Chando 6,
MYERS PARK 60 — Amani Barner 22, Reich 9, Hopkins 6, Moore 4, Evers 4, Beekman 4, Pope 4, Thomason 3, Hemingway 4
Myers Park 8-11 (6-1)
SOUTH IREDELL 62, WEST CABARRUS 58
South Iredell 15 11 19 17 — 62
West Cabarrus 9 9 8 32 — 58
SOUTH IREDELL 62 — Destiny Bradford 17, Destyni Wilder 16 Madison Schram 15, Anguto 2, Waring 9, Johnson 2, Sells 1
WEST CABARRUS 58 — Jillian Simmons18, Zoey Neal 12, Shariah White 11, Wagner 2, Griffin 9, Brown 4, Sandidge 2
Notable: Jillian Simmons led West Cabarrus with 18 points, six assists and five steals.
SOUTH POINT 63, KINGS MOUNTAIN 23
South Point 18 22 15 8 - 63
Kings Mountain 9 6 0 8 - 23
SOUTH POINT 63 - Amya Graham 17, Toney Milton 13, Stella Absher 9, Claire Frank 6, Sally Risk 4, Jyi Watkins 4, Annie Risk 3, Tayler Culbertson 3, Jossilyn Wallace 2, Dajshia Foust 2
KINGS MOUNTAIN 23 - A. Miller 8, F. Martin 4, A. Pettis 3, B. Byrd 3, C. Williams 3, H. Dixon-Valez 2
Notable: South Point’s Amya Graham had a double-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Records: South Point 13-4, 6-2; Kings Mountain 1-15, 1-7
Results, schedule
FRIDAY
Queen City 3A-4A
Chambers 47, West Mecklenburg 16
Hopewell at Harding
Mallard Creek 47, West Charlotte 30
North Mecklenburg 83, Hough 49
SoMeck 4A
Myers Park 60, Ballantyne Ridge 10
Palisades 50, Berry Academy 38
South Mecklenburg 55, Olympic 30
Southwestern 4A
Butler 70, Garinger 18
Charlotte Catholic 61, Providence 23
East Mecklenburg at Rocky River
CISAA
Charlotte Latin 62, Charlotte Christian 2
Cannon School 76, Charlotte Country Day 47
Providence Day 50, Covenant Day 23
Metro 4 4A
Hickory Ridge 68, A.L. Brown 12
Mooresville at Cox Mill
South Iredell 62, West Cabarrus 58
Southern Carolina 4A
Marvin Ridge 66, Weddington 52
Sun Valley at Porter Ridge
Big South 3A
Crest 66, North Gaston 32
Hunter Huss 84, Forestview 32
South Point 63, Kings Mountain 23
Stuart Cramer 64, Ashbrook 32
South Piedmont 3A
East Rowan 63, Central Cabarrus 48
Jay M. Robinson 75, Lake Norman Charter 60
Jesse Carson 62, West Rowan 53
South Rowan 42, Concord 37
Western Foothills 3A
East Lincoln 70, Hickory 56
North Iredell 56, Fred T. Foard 43
North Lincoln 74, Statesville 27
St. Stephens 60, West Iredell 16
Rocky River 2A-3A
Parkwood at Forest Hills
West Stanly 56, Central Academy 4
Catawba Valley 2A
Bandys 56, West Lincoln 18
Lincolnton 66, Bunker Hill 34
Maiden at East Burke
Newton-Conover 72, West Caldwell 12
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Bradford Prep at Langtree Charter
Christ the King 65, Pine Lake Prep 8
Lincoln Charter 60, Corvian Community 21
Mountain Island Charter at Community School of Davidson
Southern Piedmont 1A-2A
East Gaston at Highland Tech
Shelby 41, Burns 31
Thomas Jefferson Academy 81, Cherryville 11
Yadkin Valley 1A-2A
Albemarle 80, North Stanly 15
South Stanly at Gray Stone Day
Union Academy 72, Mount Pleasant 45
Metro 1A
Jackson Day 73, Sugar Creek Charter 5
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 63, Cuthbertson 29
Lee Park Prep at Fletcher School, 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, 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.
This story was originally published January 24, 2025 at 5:30 AM.