Friday’s high school rewind: Conference champions, CMS all-conference teams, NCISAA preview
Friday was a big night for Charlotte-area high school basketball teams. We’ve got complete coverage below, a preview for Saturday’s NCISAA state finals plus a look at the Talking Preps picks for CMS all-conference teams.
Quick links
Meet the finalists for Mr. and Ms. Basketball, the state’s players of the year
It’s ladies’ night: Mallard Creek, Butler, South Meck win CMS conference tournament titles
Chambers finally beats North Meck in Queen City championship game
South Meck rallies past Myers Park in SoMECK final
Butler routs Independence in Southwestern 4A final
Friday’s #BIG5 top performers
Nick Barnes, Independence: Barnes had 15 points, a game high, in the Patriots’ 70-32 blowout of Butler in the Southwestern 4A championship game.
KB Brown, South Mecklenburg girls: Brown scored 12 of her game- and career-high 24 points in a decisive third quarter during the Sabres’ 66-52 win over Ardrey Kell in the SoMECK 4A tournament championship game. Brown also had four rebounds.
Martha Guinle, Lincoln Charter girls: Guinle had 19 points in the Catawba Shores 1A/2A championship game, leading her team to a 55-34 win over Christ The King. She made all eight of her fourth-quarter free-throw attempts.
Markus Kerr, Tarris Bouie, Chambers: In a 75-70 win over North Meck in the Queen City 3A/4A final, Kerr had 23 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Bouie had 24 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
KJ Younger, Weddington: Younger, a UNC-Greensboro recruit, had a game-high 28 points in a 60-48 win over Cuthbertson in the Southern Carolinas 4A champonship game.
NCISAA to decide state finals in Charlotte Saturday
Six Charlotte-area teams will play for N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state titles on Championship Saturday.
All of the title games will be played at either Providence Day or Charlotte Latin.
The group includes Cannon School, playing for a second straight 4A girls’ championship; Carmel Christian, trying to win its second 4A boys’ championship in four years; and Concord Academy and Victory Christian, each aiming at a sweep of state titles in their size classification.
Carmel Christian (18-8), which seems to be peaking in the playoffs, will face two-time defending state champion Christ School at 7 p.m. at Providence Day. Christ School beat Carmel Christian in the 2023 finals and then downed Providence Day in the championship game last season.
The Cannon School girls (25-7) face High Point Wesleyan (25-6) at 3 p.m. at Charlotte Latin. Cannon School beat Providence Day for the 4A title last season.
In 3A, Concord Academy’s boys (31-3) face Greensboro Day (30-5) at 4 p.m. at Providence Day, and the Eagles’ girls play top-seeded Sanford Grace Christian (21-4), which won the 2A championship last year. That game is set for noon at Charlotte Latin.
In 1A, Victory Christian’s boys (20-13) face Crossroads Christian (19-10) at 1 p.m. at Providence Day, and the Victory Christian girls play for the state title against Crossroads Christian (152-2) at 6 p.m. at Charlotte Latin.
Lake Norman’s boys, girls win Greater Metro 4A
Lake Norman’s girls haven’t had many close games or many close moments this season, but found themselves leading Greater Metro 4A rival Hickory Ridge by one point after the first quarter.
Lake Norman got a 13-point lead at halftime, but Hickory Ridge was down only six going into the fourth before Lake Norman won 68-56 in the conference tournament championship game. Junior forward Rayana Minard led the Wildcats with 24 points and Alexis and Samantha Shehan combined for 29. Ma-Kaela Gidney had 25 points and five steals for Hickory Ridge, which had lost by 33 and 26 points to Lake Norman in the regular season.
▪ The Wildcats’ boys didn’t have much trouble in their championship final, blitzing Hickory Ridge 83-47. Nick Arnold had 22 points and Clemson recruit Trent Steinour had 20.
Lake Norman led 18-11 after the first quarter and 36-19 at halftime.
Lincoln Charter rolls to Catawba Shores girls’ crown
Lincoln Charter started the season 3-6, but after that, the Eagles have gotten rolling.
Lincoln Charter won its 16th straight game Friday, improving to 19-6, and beat Christ The King, 55-34, in the Catawba Shores 1A/2A conference tournament championship game.
Lincoln Charter beat Christ The King for the third time in three meetings this season, led by 19 points from Martha Guinle and a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double from tournament MVP Brenna Barbier.
CMS all-conference picks
The hosts of The Observer’s streaming high school show, “Talking Preps,” have named their picks for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ all-conference teams.
SOUTHWESTERN 4A GIRLS
First Team
Maggie Kernodle, Charlotte Catholic
Brooklyn Saunders, Butler
Hannah Moss, Butler
Emma Fuller, Providence
Jade Bell, Rocky River
Second Team
Mackenna Weisner, East Mecklenburg
Megan Shea, Charlotte Catholic
Kameyah Brown, East Meck
Camille Montgomery, Rocky River
Chloe Ross, Butler
POY: Hannah Moss, Butler
COY: Mark Sanders, Butler
SoMECK GIRLS
First Team
Amani Barner, Myers Park
Layla Mapp, Ardrey Kell
Tynilla Simpkins, Palisades
Karly Glahn, Ardrey Kell
KB Brown, South Meck
Second Team
Nykira Arrington, South Meck
Chloe Grant, South Meck
Imani Shelton, Ardrey Kell
Chaya James, Olympic
Kaiya Dodson, Ballantyne Ridge
COY: Justin Clarke, South Mecklenbug
POY: KB Brown, South Meck
QUEEN CITY 3A/4A GIRLS
First Team
Lenise Joseph, North Meck
Elle Stone, Mallard Creek
Kiara Anderson, Mallard Creek
Chloe Galombeck, Hough
Stephanie Mobley, North Meck
Second Team
Sophia Zoerb, Hough
My’Asia Young, Mallard Creek
Bri’Asia Rowe, West Charlotte
Morgan Knox, North Meck
Molly Howe, Hopewell
POY: Lenise Joseph, North Meck
COY: Jennifer Baker, North Meck
SOMECK BOYS
First Team
Bram Early, Myers Park
Ben Houpt, South Mecklenburg
Jim Gatehouse, South Mecklenburg
JD Terrell, Olympic
Jayen Reeves, Palisades
Second Team
Josh Hines, Myers Park
Randy Johnson, Olympic
Matthew Craft, Ardrey Kell
Myles Howard, South Mecklenburg
Jkhai McManus-Wade, Berry
COY: Andrew Glover, Myers Park
POY: Brett Freeman, Ardrey Kell
SOUTHWESTERN 4A BOYS
First Team
Jack Siegel, Charlotte Catholic
Jaxson Neely, Independence
Terrance Badio, Butler
Ahmari Hicks, East Mecklenburg
Jayden Ross, Rocky River
Second Team
Lusemo Macharia, Independence
Caleb Milligan, Butler
Jordan Buzzard, East Mecklenburg
Aaron Lawler, Garinger
Jordan Walton, Rocky River
POY: Chris Eagan, Charlotte Catholic
COY: Preston Davis, Independence
QUEEN CITY 3A/4A BOYS
First Team
Ashton Pierce, North Meck
Markus Kerr, Chambers
Tarris Bouie, Chambers
Mike Brown, Hopewell
Kaharrie Coleman, Harding
Second Team
Carson Evans, North Meck
Arael Jones, Hopewell
Judah Freeman, Hough
AC Pressley, West Charlotte
Jordyn Washington, Mallard Creek
POY: Chadlyn Traylor
COY: Duane Lewis
Friday’s girls’ box scores
NO. 1 LAKE NORMAN 68, NO. 11 HICKORY RIDGE 56
Hickory Ridge 13 7 20 16 — 56
Lake Norman 14 19 12 23 — 68
HICKORY RIDGE 56 — Gidney 22, Leathers 10, Powell 9, Duley 6, Ritter 6, Johnson 3
LAKE NORMAN 68 — Minard 24, A Shehan 16, S Shehan 13, Bond 7, Rhyne 4, Sirianni 2, Buoniconti 2
Notable: Ma-Kaela Gidney led Hickory Ridge with 25 points and five steals. Amya Leathers added 10 points and four rebounds
Records: Hickory Ridge 19-8 Lake Norman 24-1
NO. 6 BUTLER 64, CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC 44
Butler 19 12 15 18 — 64
Catholic 8 10 15 11 — 44
BUTLER 64 — Brooklyn Saunders 19, Charlotte Hasson 13, Chloe Ross 12, Hannah Moss 11, Muhammad 5, Campbell 4
CATHOLIC 44 — Kernodle 18, Richard 9, Dumbler 4, Hoefing 4, Shea 6, Farrel 3
Notable: Brooklyn Saunders had 19 points, six assist and three steals to lead Butler.
NO. 7 NORTH LINCOLN 67, NO. 16 EAST LINCOLN 53
East Lincoln 14 15 17 7 — 53
North Lincoln 18 10 21 18 — 67
EAST LINCOLN 53 — Emma Montanari 22, Taniyah Thomas 14, Lane Pethel 11, M. Matz 3, S. Dann 3
NORTH LINCOLN 67 — Ally Smith 19, Hailey Hagler 17, A. Grice 8, L. Cipriano 8, A. Pruitt 8, A. Black 7
Notable: East Lincoln’s Emma Montanari and Taniyah Thomas were named all-tournament. For North Lincoln, Ally Smith and Hailey Hagler were named to the team along with tournament MVP Ashlyn Black.
Records: East Lincoln 21-6; North Lincoln 25-1
NO. 10 MARVIN RIDGE 67, WEDDINGTON 47
WEDDINGTON 67 — Caroline Clark 19, Bailey Page 12, Natalie Poole 8
NO. 16 CHAMBERS 75, NO. 3 NORTH MECKLENBURG 70
Chambers 13 14 25 23 — 75
North Meck 17 15 16 22 — 70
CHAMBERS 75 — Lavonte Jackson 5, Markus Kerr 23, Malik McCotter 15, Tarris Bouie 24, Cameron Thompson 8
NORTH MECK 70 — Chadlyn Traylor 19, Carson Evans 12, Ashton Pierce 13, Greg Murray 6, Exzavier Young 17
Notables: Chambers got big games from Tarris Bouie (24 points, 10 rebounds, three assists), Markus Kerr (23 points, 12 rebounds, three assist, two blocks) and Malik McCotter (15 points, five assists).
SOUTH MECKLENBURG 66, NO. 14 ARDREY KELL 52
South Mecklenburg 17 9 25 15 - 66
Ardrey Kell 15 7 7 23 - 52
SOUTH MECKLENBURG 66 — Hensley 4, Wallace 5, Nykira Arrington 16, K.B. Brown 24, Coleman 1, Grant 8, Cleophat 2, Miller 6
ARDREY KELL 52 — Ararkwah 4, Layla Mapp 15, Veal 9, Shelton 9, Glahn 8, McCoy 7
Records: South Meck 23-4; Ardrey Kell 17-9
Notable: K.B. Brown scored a career high 24 points to go along with four rebounds. NyKira Arrington and Chloe Grant finished with double-doubles to lead South Meck to their second SoMeck conference tournament championship in three years.
LINCOLN CHARTER 55, CHRIST THE KING 34
Christ The King 9 8 10 7 — 34
LCHS 17 9 15 14 — 55
CTK 34 — Haynes 11, Broda 08, L. Gorman 05, R. Gorman 05, A. Gorman 05
LCHS 55 — Martha Guinle 19, Brenna Barbier 12, Taylor Riggenbach 09, Claire David 08, Symphani Stevens 07
Records LCHS 19-6; CTK 20-6
Notes: LCHS wins the conference tournament championship, led by Martha Guinle’s 19 points, including making all eight free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter. Tournament MVP Brenna Barbier had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Friday’s boys’ box scores
NO. 1 LAKE NORMAN 83, HICKORY RIDGE 47
Hickory Ridge 11 8 9 19 — 47
Lake Norman 18 18 30 21 — 83
LAKE NORMAN 83 — Myles Crumes 2, Josh Yates 7, Tre McKinnon 16, Taurean McKinnon 8, Nick Arnold 22, Braden Miller 8, Trent Steinour 20
Notables: Lake Norman won its third tournament championship in a row
NO. 7 INDEPENDENCE 70, BUTLER 32
Butler 7 8 6 11 — 32
Independence 18 11 18 23 — 70
BUTLER 32 — Starnes 8, Badio 8, Branch 6, Milligan 5, Keys 3, White 2
INDEPENDENCE 70 — Nick Barnes 15, Jaxson Neely 13, Lusemo Macharia 10, Jasper 9, Burgess 6, Waritay 5, McFarland 4, Miller 4, Fike 3, Lee 1
Records: Butler 15-12; Indy 21-5
CUTHBERTSON 60, WEDDINGTON 48
Cuthbertson 8 9 10 21— 48
Weddington 16 13 11 20 — 60
CUTHBERTSON 48 — C. Heyward 13, Williams 9, Nali 8, Webb 6, Gunby 6, Nelson 4, Malone 2
WEDDINGTON 60 — KJ Younger 28, Zepp 9, Nnaji 9, Vicks 5, Jefferson 4, Ford 3, Cain 2
Records: Cuthbertson 14-10 (5-5); Weddington 21-5 (10-0)
QUEEN’S GRANT 96, PIEDMONT COMMUNITY CHARTER 63
QUEEN’S GRANT 96 — Chase Smith 18, Bobby Montgomery 18, Ian Howard 23, Preston Scott 10, Cannon DeBerry 14, White 4, Richardson 2, Smith 5, Shamberger 2
PIEDMONT COMMUNITY CHARTER 63 — John Carmichael 12, McElhaney 5, Henry Peprah 14, Grant 7, Grove 9, TJ Biggers 10, Mackins 2, Greeman 2, Lindgren 2
Records: Queens Grant 22-7
SOUTH MECKLENBURG 57, MYERS PARK 49
South Meck 8 15 16 18 — 57
Myers Park 12 18 10 9 — 49
SOUTH MECK 57 — J. Gatehouse 18, B. Houpt 14, C.Y ett 10, M. Howard 6, M. Williams 6, A. Sanner 3
MYERS PARK 49 — Jamison 23, Awosanya 16, Hines 5, Early 2
Records: South Meck 17-10; Myers Park 14-11
Friday’s boys’ championship scores
(Includes conference seeding)
Queen City 3A-4A
No. 2 Chambers 75, No. 1 North Meck 70
SoMeck 4A
No. 2 South Mecklenburg 57, No. 1 Myers Park 46
Southwestern 4A
No. 1 Independence 70, No. 3 Butler 32
Greater Metro 4A
No. 1 Lake Norman 83, No. 3 Hickory Ridge 47
Southern Carolina 4A
No. 1 Weddington 60, No. 3 Cuthbertson 48
Big South 3A
No. 1 Ashbrook 69, No. 3 Hunter Huss 55
South Piedmont 3A
No. 1 Jay M. Robinson 68, No. 3 Concord 61
Western Foothills 3A
No. 1 North Lincoln 84, No. 3 East Lincoln 52
Rocky River 2A-3A
(semifinals)
No. 1 Monroe 72, No. 4 Parkwood 46
No. 3 Piedmont 55, No. 2 Forest Hills 48
(Saturday’s championship)
No. 1 Monroe (14-2) vs. No. 3 Piedmont (13-13)
Catawba Valley 2A
No. 2 Lincolnton 70, No. 1 Maiden 69
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
No. 4 Pine Lake Prep 60, No. 1 Corvian Community 53
Southern Piedmont 1A-2A
No. 1 Shelby 69, No. 2 Burns 61
Yadkin Valley 1A-2A
No. 1 Mount Pleasant 59, No. 3 North Stanly 31
Metro 1A
(Friday’s semifinals)
No. 1 Queen’s Grant Charter 96, No. 5 Piedmont Community Charter 63
No. 2 Carolina International 75, No. 6 Valor Prep 68
Saturday’s championship
(at Jackson Day)
No. 1 Queen’s Grant Charter (22-7) vs. No. 2 Carolina International (20-7), 7:30 p.m.
Friday’s girls’ championship scores
(Includes conference seeding)
Queen City 3A-4A
Mallard Creek 44, North Mecklenburg 40
SoMeck 4A
South Mecklenburg 66, Ardrey Kell 52
Southwestern 4A
Butler 64, Charlotte Catholic 44
Greater Metro 4A
Lake Norman 68, Hickory Ridge 56
Southern Carolina 4A
Marvin Ridge 67, Weddington 47
Big South 3A
No. 1 Stuart Cramer 65, No. 3 South Point 64
South Piedmont 3A
No. 1 Jay M. Robinson 57, No. 3 East Rowan 33
Western Foothills 3A
No. 1 North Lincoln 67, No. 2 East Lincoln 53
Catawba Valley 2A
No. 1 East Burke (25-1) vs. No. 2 Maiden (22-4), 6 p.m.
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
No. 1 Lincoln Charter 55, No. 2 Christ The King 34
Southern Piedmont 1A-2A
No. 1 Thomas Jefferson Academy 63, No. 2 Shelby 47
Yadkin Valley 1A-2A
No. 1 Albemarle 61, No. 2 Union Academy 54
Metro 1A
(semifinals)
No. 1 Queen’s Grant Charter (18-4) vs. No. 4 Sugar Creek Charter (10-13), at Carole Heafner Center, 5:30 p.m.
No. 2 Jackson Day 62, No. 3 Piedmont Community Charter 35
Saturday’s championship
(at Jackson Day)
Queen’s Grant Charter/Sugar Creek Charter winner vs. Jackson Day (19-9), 6 p.m.
