Thursday’s rewind: New West Charlotte transfer debuts, Lions hang on at Chambers
West Charlotte High School apparently picked the right time to add a highly rated player to its already talented boys basketball roster on Thursday night.
The Lions, ranked No. 1 in Class 8A in The Charlotte Observer/News and Observer poll, rallied in the second half, then took control in overtime to win 73-65 at Chambers.
Janon Singh, a 6-foot-7 junior three-star recruit who began the season at Oak Hill, Va., Academy, made his debut Thursday a successful one.
After coming off the bench and making nominal contributions through four quarters, Singh came up huge in the overtime period with six points, three rebounds and one steal in the final 3:22 of action — or after he replaced 6-foot-5 Lions center Jkhai Wade after he was the first of seven players to foul out in a physical, emotional and entertaining Meck Power Six 7A/8A Conference game.
With a sold out, vocal crowd at Chambers reacting to virtually every play, West Charlotte (14-2, 4-0) roared ahead 9-2 just two minutes into the contest.
But the luckless Cougars (10-8, 0-4), whose four league losses are by a combined 32 points, bounced back quickly and would eventually take leads of 21-13 in the second quarter, 33-26 in the third quarter and 51-44 in the fourth quarter before West Charlotte made the rest of the last quarter and overtime period a possession-by-possession struggle.
The Lions’ talented sophomore duo of Chacho Womack (28 points) and Kaharri Coleman (17 points) spearheaded a rally that tied the score at 39 on Womack’s 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer.
In the fourth quarter, Chambers would take its 51-44 lead with 4:08 to play before West Charlotte found a way to force an extra period.
Wade made the first of two free throws with 1:11 to play to give the Lions a 54-53 advantage — their first lead since 9-8 early in the second quarter.
Chambers’ Lavonte “LJ” Jackson Jr., who scored a team-high 23 points, hit the first of two free throws with 32.7 seconds left to tie the score at 54.
West Charlotte’s final possession ended with Amen “AC” Pressley’s contested 3-pointer at the buzzer bounding off the backboard and rim.
In the extra period, the Lions scored first on sophomore Major Cross’ drive to the bucket.
Then after Deontae Pryor hit the first of two free throws after Wade’s fifth foul, Singh entered the game and gave West Charlotte a decisive late spark.
His follow shot with 2:42 to play made it 60-55 Lions — and the Cougars never got any closer.
Chambers girls sprint past West Charlotte
Chambers’ girls basketball continued its season-long improvement with a 54-46 win over visiting West Charlotte on Thursday night.
The Cougars (9-9 overall, 2-2 Meck Power Six 7A/8A) led for all but a few seconds in the middle of the contest.
Coach Jorvewe Gibson’s team, whose program seeks its first winning season since its was three-time state champion from 2020 to 2022, took charge early in the final quarter by scoring the first nine points of the period to take a 52-39 lead with 5:46 to play.
Amyia Martin hit two 3-pointers during that surge for the Cougars, whose balanced offense was led by Cynia Moore’s 13 points, nine each from June Wallace and Kristyn Troutman, eight from Ciaya Moore and seven from Martin.
Chloe Stitt had a game-high 19 points for West Charlotte (10-7, 1-3).
Thursday’s #BIG5 top performers
Za’Miya Bynum, Queen’s Grant girls: In an 84-19 win over Piedmont Community Charter, Bynum had 21 points and nine steals.
Lenise Joseph, North Mecklenburg girls: Joseph had a game-high 19 points in an 80-52 win over South Meck.
Cynia Moore, Chambers girls: Moore had a team-high 13 points in a 54-46 win over West Charlotte.
Chase Nali, Cuthbertson girls: Nali had 22 points, four rebounds, and three steals in an 80-51 win over Porter Ridge. Teammate Grady Webb had 25 points and two rebounds.
Chacho Womack, West Charlotte: Womack had a game-high 28 points in a 73-66 overtime win at Chambers.
Thursday’s roundup
Second-ranked North Mecklenburg broke open a close game in the second quarter Thursday night and trounced 10th-ranked South Mecklenburg 80-52 in a nonconference girls’ basketball game.
The Vikings (15-2) led the visiting Sabres (13-4) 24-21 after one quarter, but North Mecklenburg opened a 41-30 halftime lead and pulled away from there.
Lenise Joseph led the Vikings with 19 points, and Morgan Knox added 13.
KB Brown and Bri-Asja Rowe each scored 12 for South Mecklenburg.
BOYS’ ROUNDUP
Cuthbertson 80, Porter Ridge 51: Grady Webb made seven of his 11 three-point shots, and Chase Nali hit 6 of 8 from long distance as the Cavaliers (12-8, 3-4 Southern Carolina 6A/7A) cruised past the Pirates (1-17, 0-7). Webb finished with 25 points, and Nali had 22. Keenan Sullivan had a team-high 13 for Porter Ridge.
Forest Hills 72, Parkwood 69: This battle for first place in the Rocky River 4A/5A went down to the wire, as Parkwood (11-7, 5-1) outscored the Yellow Jackets (12-6, 5-1) 24-16 in the fourth quarter but came up short. Nehemiah Davis scored a game-high 30 points for Parkwood, while Amari Melton (21) and Truth Rorie (16) paced the Yellow Jackets.
Jay M. Robinson 66, South Rowan 30: The host Bulldogs (13-3, 6-2 South Piedmont 4A/5A) had 12 players in the scoring column, led by Roger Walton Jr. with 11 points. South Rowan fell to 2-14, 0-8.
North Rowan 74, Union Academy 64: Carter Williams’ 23 points carried the Cavaliers (8-8, 4-1) over the Cardinals (3-12, 2-3) in a Yadkin Valley 2A/3A game.
No. 2 Queen’s Grant Charter 77, Piedmont Community Charter 57: The host Stallions (22-3, 11-0) raced to a 49-22 halftime lead and opened a two-game lead in the Catawba River 1A/2A/3A race. The Patriots fell to 18-3, 9-2.
Socrates Academy 44, British International 37 (nonconference)
South Charlotte 83, Charlotte Lab Prep 30: Mason Kern’s 14 points and 11 rebounds led the Thunder (15-5) past the Lions (0-7). Jack Porter also scored 14 points, and Aaron Miller had 11 points and nine rebounds.
Stuart Cramer 63, Bessemer City 62: The host Storm (9-7, 5-4 Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A) rallied from a 52-46 deficit after three quarters. Tahj Whitley had 17 rebounds to go with his 10 points, and Vance Wilkerson scored 20 for Stuart Cramer. Bessemer City fell to 9-8, 7-3.
Sun Valley 78, Gray Stone Day 36: The host Spartans (9-9) jumped out to a 29-4 first-quarter lead and trounced the Knights (1-17) in a nonconference game.
(Wednesday)
Charlotte Country Day 82, Charlotte Christian 78: Emory Roberts’ game-high 29 points helped the Buccaneers (11-11, 1-2) win this CISAA game. Marshall Nicholson led Charlotte Christian (15-8, 0-3) with 22 points.
GIRLS’ ROUNDUP
Burns 51, South Point 35: The visiting Bulldogs built a 30-16 halftime lead and downed the Raiders in a nonconference contest. Jyi’Yanna Watkins scored 11 points, and Claire Frank had 11 rebounds for South Point (5-12).
Chambers 54, West Charlotte 46: The host Cougars (9-9, 2-2) pulled away from the Lions (10-7, 1-3) in the closing minutes of this Meck Power Six 7A/8A game.
Forest Hills 67, Parkwood 35: The visiting Yellow Jackets (14-4, 7-0) led this Rocky River 4A/5A game only 17-14 after the first quarter but went on a 16-0 run and opened a 33-14 lead. Nyaja Wingo scored six points during that decisive stretch. Parkwood is 11-8, 2-5.
No. 2 Queen’s Grant Charter 84, Piedmont Community Charter 19: Za’Miya Bynum scored 21 points and made nine steals, as the host Stallions (20-3, 11-0) remained unbeaten in Catawba River 1A/2A/3A action. Misa Garris had 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and seven steals. And Casey Smith added 12 points, five rebounds and five steals. The Patriots fell to 7-14, 3-7.
South Rowan 58, Jay M. Robinson 52 (South Piedmont 4A/5A)
Union Academy 53, North Rowan 41 (Yadkin Valley 2A/3A)
Thursday’s girls’ box scores
CHAMBERS 54, WEST CHARLOTTE 46
West Charlotte 11 13 15 7 — 46
Chambers 16 10 17 11 — 54
WEST CHARLOTTE 46 — Chloe Stitt 19, Kenya Grier 10, McCleod 3, Gooch 1, Paris Reeves 10, Gray 1, Grimes 2.
CHAMBERS 54 — Dillard 2, Wallace 9, Martin 7, Cynia Moore 13, Ciara Moore 8, Rhodes 3, Troutman 9, Roberts-Brown 3.
Records: West Charlotte 10-7, 1-3 Meck Power Six 7A/8A; Chambers 9-9, 2-2.
NORTH MECKLENBURG 80, SOUTH MECKLENBURG 52
North Meck: 24 17 21 18 — 80
South Meck: 21 9 14 8 — 52
NORTH MECKLENBURG 80 — Lenise Joseph 19, Morgan Knox 13, Autumn Lacy 11, Stephanie Mobley 10, Blake 9, Newton 8, Trotter 7, Jones 3
SOUTH MECK 52 — B. Rowe 12, KB Brown 12, Arrington 9, Cerant 8, Hensley 5, Kendrick 3, Coleman 3
Record: North Meck 15-2
QUEEN’S GRANT 84, PIEDMONT COMMUNITY CHARTER 19
Queen’s Grant 29 8 35 12 — 84
Piedmont Community 4 10 3 2 — 19
QUEEN’S GRANT 84 — Za’Miya Bynum 21, Misa Garris 19, Casey Smith 12, Malone Hicks 12, Kendall Chisholm 10, Wilson 8, Haywood 2
Records: Queen’s Grant 20-3, 11-0; Piedmont 7-14, 3-7
BURNS 51, SOUTH POINT 35
South Point 7 9 8 11 — 35
Burns 13 17 11 10 — 51
SOUTH POINT 35 — J. Watkins 11, R. Trexler 7, C. Frank 6, T. Booker 6, T. Waters 2, E. Boyd 2, J. Bittle 1
BURNS 51 — E. Wallace 14, G. Hodge 9, L. Williams 9, A. Gales 7, M. Beam 6, A. Cook 4, T. Wood 2
Notable: South Point’s Claire Frank had 11 rebounds and teammate Rowen Trexler had six assists.
Record: South Point 5-12 (4-2)
Thursday’s boys’ box scores
CUTHBERTSON 80, PORTER RIDGE 51
Porter Ridge 13 15 9 14 — 51
Cuthbertson 25 18 16 21 — 80
PORTER RIDGE 51 — C. Johnson 11 points, K. Sullivan 13 points, J. McClain 10 points, C. Dotson 7 points.
CUTHBERTSON 80 — Chase Nali 22, Grady Webb 25, Braylen Cheek 10, Jayden Gunby 8
Records: Porter Ridge 1-16; Cuthbertson 12-8
FOREST HILLS 72, PARKWOOD 69
Forest Hills 24 13 19 16 – 72
Parkwood 8 15 22 24 – 69
FOREST HILLS 72 — T.J Parker 9, Truth Rorie 16, Amari Melton 21, Makhi Massey 6, Landon Blakeney 15 Simeon Parker 1, K.J Chambers 4
PARKWOOD 69 — Nahemiah Davis 30, Micah Davis 4,Camryn Witted 2, Anwar Bit 11, Braylon Curenton 14, Daylan Pierce 8
QUEEN’S GRANT 77, PIEDMONT COMMUNITY CHARTER 57
Queen’s Grant 26 23 17 11 — 77
Piedmont 12 10 15 20 — 57
QUEEN’S GRANT 77 — Bobby Montgomery 15, Mekhi Allen 17, Chase Smith 17, DeBerry 6, Preston Scott 13, McSweeney 3, Jackson 4, Mustaf 2
PIEDMONT 57 — Henry Peprah 16, Johnathan Austin 12, Aiden Turner 10, Phillips 1, Grant 6, Cammer 3, Grove 5, Bailey 3
WEST CHARLOTTE 73, CHAMBERS 66 (OT)
West Charlotte 13 8 18 15 19 — 73
Chambers 17 9 13 15 12 — 66
WEST CHARLOTTE 73 — Kaharri Coleman 17, Chacho Womack 28, Pressley 4, Wade 4, Cross 7, Sullivan 2, Janon Singh 11
CHAMBERS 66 — Lavonte “LJ” Jackson, Jr. 23, Rico Jackson 10, Quentel “QJ” Young 12, Grier 5, Deontae Pryor 10, White 4, Curtis 2
Records: West Charlotte 14-2, 4-0 Meck Power Six 7A/8A; Chambers 10-8, 0-4.
Friday’s schedule
Greater Charlotte 7A/8A
Hopewell at West Mecklenburg
Hough at Myers Park
South Mecklenburg at Garinger
Meck Power Six 7A/8A
Butler at Mallard Creek
Independence at North Mecklenburg
Southwestern 7A/8A
Ballantyne Ridge at Providence
East Mecklenburg at Ardrey Kell
Palisades at Rocky River
CISAA
Cannon School at Covenant Day (girls, 5:30 p.m.; boys, 7 p.m.)
Charlotte Country Day at Charlotte Latin (girls, 5:30 p.m.; boys, 7 p.m.)
Providence Day at Charlotte Christian (girls, 5:30 p.m.; boys, 7 p.m.)
Greater Metro 6A/7A
Berry Academy at West Cabarrus
Cox Mill at Olympic
Harding at A.L. Brown
Hickory Ridge at Central Cabarrus
North Piedmont 6A/7A
Davie County at Lake Norman
North Iredell at South Iredell
Statesville at Mooresville
Southern Carolina 6A/7A
Charlotte Catholic at Weddington
Piedmont at Marvin Ridge
Big South 5A/6A
Crest at Kings Mountain
Forestview at North Gaston
Hunter Huss at Ashbrook
Rocky River 4A/5A
Anson County at Mount Pleasant
Forest Hills at Parkwood
West Stanly at Central Academy
South Piedmont 4A/5A
Concord at Jesse Carson
East Rowan at West Rowan
Salisbury at Northwest Cabarrus
Western Foothills 4A/5A
Bandys at Bunker Hill
Hickory at Fred T. Foard
Maiden at West Iredell
North Lincoln at East Lincoln
Metrolina Athletic
Gaston Christian at Hickory Grove Christian (girls, 5:30 p.m.; boys, 7 p.m.)
SouthLake Christian at Concord Academy (girls, 5:30 p.m.; boys, 7 p.m.)
Westminster Catawba at Metrolina Christian (girls, 5:30 p.m.; boys, 7 p.m.)
Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A
Lake Norman Charter at Community School of Davidson
Langtree Charter at Bradford Prep
Lincoln Charter at Corvian Community
Pine Lake Prep at Christ the King
Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A
East Gaston at Cherryville
Highland Tech at Bessemer City
Shelby at Lincolnton
Stuart Cramer at West Lincoln
Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
Gray Stone Day at South Stanly
North Rowan at Union Academy
North Stanly at Albemarle
Catawba River 1A/2A/3A
Carolina International at N.C. School of Science & Math/Morganton
Jackson Day at Bonnie Cone Academy
Sugar Creek Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Foothills Athletic
North Hills Christian at University Christian
Salem Christian at Statesville Christian
Nonconference
Ambassador Christian at Davidson Day (boys), 7 p.m.
Carolina Day at Gaston Day (girls, 5:30 p.m.; boys, 7 p.m.)
Forsyth Home Educators at Cabarrus Stallions
Lee Park Prep at NorthPoint Christian (boys), 6 p.m.
Providence Classical at Arborbrook Christian (boys), 6:30 p.m.
Providence Classical at Carmel Christian (girls), 6 p.m.
This story was originally published January 22, 2026 at 11:25 PM.