Boys’ rewind: Hopewell upsets Charlotte Catholic in first round of NCHSAA 4A playoffs
Hopewell senior guard Mike Brown scored 17 of his 28 points in the first half, propelling the Titans to a 53-52 upset win over Charlotte Catholic in the first round of the NCHSAA 4A basketball playoffs.
Hopewell had gone just 8-7 since January, but won 19 games overall and finished third in its league.
Despite a loss to Butler in the semifinals of its conference tournament semifinals, the Cougars entered 10-3 during the same stretch and finished tied for first place in the Southwestern 4A conference in the regular season.
But in the first-round matchup, Hopewell never trailed, and the stout Titans’ defense proved problematic for Charlotte Catholic all evening.
“We talked about coming out, playing fast and letting them know we came to play,” said Hopewell coach JaRon Goodson. “We have been battle-tested, and we know we can hang with anyone in the state that comes next.”
Charlotte Catholic went on an 18-10 fourth-quarter run to tie the game at 52-52, but Hopewell senior Messiah Cage made 1 of 2 free throws to secure the win.
THEY SAID IT
“Mike has been our leader all season,” Goodson said of Brown. “He leads us in points, rebounds and assists and he doesn’t start. It takes a certain level of maturity to be able to handle that and buy into what we’re doing.”
THREE WHO MATTERED
Mike Brown, Hopewell: The senior guard scored 28 points and kept his team in the game.
“For me, I’m just grateful to be able to get on the court and play,” Brown said. “Coming off the bench or starting, I’m always ready.”
Areal Jones, Hopewell: The senior scored 16 points and came up with huge buckets in the second half.
Ben Eagan, Charlotte Catholic: The Cougars 6-foot, 8-inch big man had a good all-around game and scored 11 of his 20 points in the second half.
Quick links
NCHSAA scoreboard: Girls’ first round scores, Friday’s second round pairings
NCHSAA scoreboard: Boys’ first round scores, Friday’s second round pairings
Butler High’s Hannah Moss enjoying breakout year, as is her team
Tuesday’s #BIG5 top performers
Mike Brown, Hopewell: Team-high 28 points in first round upset of Charlotte Catholic.
Dylan Clark, Mooresville: In a 61-50 win over Ardrey Kell, Clark had 26 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.
Lusemo Macharia, Independence: Macharia had a team-high 14 points in a 54-34 victory over Palisades.
Cameron Thompson, Chambers: In a 73-72 win over Hickory Ridge, Thompson made 9 of 10 field goals and was 5 of 5 from the free-throw line for a career-high 23 points. He also had 12 rebounds, three steals, three assists and three blocks.
Chadlyn Traylor, North Mecklenburg: Traylor, a College of Charleston signee, had a team-high 22 points in a 68-51 victory over Mallard Creek.
Just noting
▪ The biggest upset among the 256 first-round games across North Carolina on Tuesday night? How about No. 31 seed Forest Hills knocking off No. 2 seed Randleman? The Yellow Jackets (13-14) stunned the Tigers (23-2) 70-62. They’ll travel to Bandys for a second-round game Friday.
▪ Austin Moran (35 points) and Dermot Lowry (25) accounted for a big chunk of Community School of Davidson’s scoring in the Spartans’ 75-60 victory over Surry Central. The Spartans continue with the Surry County theme in Round 2, traveling to North Surry on Friday.
▪ East Lincoln reached 20 victories for the 15th time in the past 19 seasons, knocking off fellow Foothills 3A Conference member Hickory 72-70. The Mustangs (20-8), seeded 19th, will be in Greensboro for a second-round game Friday against third seed Dudley (18-7).
▪ A year ago, Corvian Community burst on the sports scene by surging to the 1A championship game, where the Cardinals lost a nail-biter to Wilson Prep. Corvian opened a bid for another trip to the finals Tuesday by trouncing Bessemer City 80-32. Ricky Moore Jr. scored 26 points, passing the 1,000-point career mark. It gets tougher in Round 2, with Corvian Community facing College Prep and Leadership (22-6), out of Jamestown.
Tuesday’s boys’ box scores
CHAMBERS 73, HICKORY RIDGE 72
Hickory Ridge 14 13 17 28 — 72
Chambers 12 22 22 17 — 73
CHAMBERS 73 — Lavonte Jackson 5, Markus Kerr 22, Malik McCotter 4, Tarris Bouie 16, Zyon White 3, Cameron Thompson 23
HICKORY RIDGE 72 — Parker Watkins 14, Braylen Hill 10, Tyzhir Dyer 4, Chico Williams 9, Tyson Durant 6, Rodney Gidney 7, Travien Williams 22
Notables: Chambers was outscored 28-17 in the fourth quarter but held on for the win. Markus Kerr (22 points, four rebounds, three assists) and Tarris Bouie (16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two blocks) had big games for the Cougars.
CONCORD 59, LEDFORD 56
Concord 12 10 23 14 — 59
Ledford 15 17 15 9 — 56
CONCORD 59 — Jayden Beyan 20, Kyzen Coleman 15, Jaden Reid 8, Jabari Byrd 6, Gabe Stafford 4, Ty Rushmeyer 3, Josiah Treadwell 3
LEDFORD 56 — I. Peele 17, B. Allred 16, K. Wade-Phillips 7, S. Taylor 6, A. Grier 5, C. Rumley 3, E. Lawson 2
Records: Concord 19-9
Notable: With the win, No. 25 seed Concord moves onto the second round of the 3A West State Playoffs and will travel to Davidson County to face No. 24 seed Central Davidson Friday
CORVIAN COMMUNITY 80, BESSEMER CITY 32
Bessemer City 7 12 8 5 — 32
Corvian Community 21 24 31 4 — 80
BESSEMER CITY 32 — Gordon 6, Miller 6, McClure 2, Guyton 8, McCallister 4, Starr 2, Black 4
CORVIAN COMMUNITY 80 — Adrian Scott 10, Ricky Moore Jr 36, Malachi McCutcheon 10, Milton 7, Kirkwood 4, Cook 2, Rucks 2, Andre Jackson Jr 4, Garvin 2, Olsen 2
Notable: Ricky Moore Jr. had 36 points and 10 rebounds for Corvian and scored his 1,000th career point. Teammate Adrian Scott had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Corvian PG Andre Jackson Jr. had 11 assists.
EAST LINCOLN 72, HICKORY 70
East Lincoln 72, Hickory 70
East Lincoln 20 14 21 17 — 72
Hickory 17 14 12 27 — 70
EAST LINCOLN 72 — Davis Hill 14, Landon Aungst 0, Jaxon Dollar 12, Christian Atkins 7, Grant Lawless 12, Gaige Ikard 14, Jackson Fannon 13
HICKORY 70 — Jordan Powell 11, Jay Powell 22, Maddox McRee 6, Hayden Hillman 9, Mark Hall 6, Hunter Fisher 4, Darius Medley 12, Landon Forrest 0
Records: East Lincoln 20-8, 10-4; Hickory 16-6, 11-3
Notable: East Lincoln won its 20th game of the season and has accomplished this feat 15 of the last 19 seasons. It also won a first-round playoff game for the first time since the 2021-2022 season. The Mustangs will play in the second round of the NCHSAA playoffs against the Dudley Panthers on Friday.
HOPEWELL 53, CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC 52
Catholic 11 12 11 18 — 52
Hopewell 16 13 14 10 — 53
CATHOLIC 52 — Chris Eagan 14, Mack Jordan 14, Jack Siegel 11, Bergren 5, Rhodes 4, Noch 2, Brady 2
HOPEWELL 53 — Mike Brown 22, Areal Jones 16, Rice 8, Cunningham 3, Cage 3, Cooke 1
Notable: Catholic’s Chris Eagan scored his 1,000th point.
INDEPENDENCE 54, PALISADES 34
Palisades 6 4 17 7 — 34
Independence 11 17 10 16 — 54
PALISADES 34 — Henry 7, Fenn 7, Simpkins 5, Dillard 5, Harris 4, VanFossen 3, Lester 2, Reeves 1
INDEPENDENCE 54 — Lusemo Macharia 14, Jaxson Neely 11, Dylan McFarland 11, Burgess 5, Waritay 5, Jasper 3, Smith 3, Barnes 2
Records: Palisades 13-13; Indy 22-5
LAKE NORMAN 89, CUTHBERTSON 74
Cuthbertson 16 12 22 24— 74
Lake Norman 24 24 21 20— 89
LAKE NORMAN 89 — Josh Yates 20, Tre McKinnon 21, Noah Wilson 4, Kyle Gruber 2, Taurean McKinnon 8, Nick Arnold 16, Braden Miller 6, Trent Steinour 12
MOORESVILLE 61, ARDREY KELL 50
Mooresville 19 10 11 21 — 61
Ardrey Kell 8 8 14 20 — 50
MOORESVILLE 61 — Dylan Clark 26, Nolan Ericson 10, Eian Bailey 9, Bryson Demby 6, Kyri Wilson 4, Carson Schaen 3, Kaleb Oloyede 3.
ARDREY KELL 50 — Brett Freeman 19, Dylan Suggs 11, Matthew Craft 6, Bryce Thomas 6, Braden Suggs 5, Owen Wacker 3
Notables: Dylan Clark had 13 rebounds and three blocks. Nolan Ericson had five rebounds and two steals. Bryson Demby had 10 rebounds. Kyri Wilson had 10 assists and six rebounds.
Record: Mooresville 22-5; Ardrey Kell 18-8
NORTH MECKLENBURG 68, MALLARD CREEK 51
Mallard Creek 13 9 12 15 — 51
North Mecklenburg 17 13 21 17 — 68
MALLARD CREEK 51 — Chris Johnson 12, Ahmad Savage 10, Washington 9, Overton 8, Griffin 6
NORTH MECKLENBURG 68 — Chadlyn Traylor 22, Carson Evans 16, Exzavier Young 12, Greg Murray 10, Lewandowski 3, Estwick 2, Pierce 1
WEDDINGTON 68, COX MILL 55
Cox Mill 10 18 14 13— 55
Weddington 14 23 13 18 — 68
COX MILL 55 — Cruz Miller 22, Sherod McCormick 11, Carsholl 10, Hunter 5, Philyan 3, Ibide 2, Shipp 2,
WEDDINGTON 68 — Mason Zepp 24, KJ Younger 21, Myles Vicks 12, Jefferson 9, Nnaji 2
Records: Cox Mill 12-14; Weddington 22-5
Notable: Weddington senior guard Mason Zepp had a career-high 24 points and 11 rebounds as Weddington moves on to the Round of 32. The Warriors will host 11 seed East Forsyth Friday.
This story was originally published February 25, 2025 at 10:28 PM.
