Ardrey Kell, Durham Academy advance to Urban Building tournament finals

- The Ardrey Kell Knights used a 28-6 run from early in the second quarter to the final minute of the third to get past Myers Park 59-48 in a semifinal game of the Urban Building Group Invitational at Charlotte Latin Tuesday afternoon.

Myers Park jumped to an early 11-point lead and led 18-8 early in the second. But Ardrey Kell controlled the game from there, scoring the next 13 points and shutting the Mustang offense down. Ardrey Kell drew six charges in the game and held Myers Park to 12 points in the second and third quarters to avenge a 57-55 loss to the Mustangs on November 19th.

Wes Morgan scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half to lead Ardrey Kell (6-7) while Nathan Willson added 14. Davrion Grier led Myers Park (4-7) with 15 and Isaac Suffren scored 14.

Ardrey Kell will face Durham Academy in the finals at 4 p.m. Wednesday after Durham Academy (10-5) drained five three-pointers in the second quarter to help defeat Providence (3-10) 60-49. Durham Academy’s Jorden Davis scored a game-high 20 to lead the Cavaliers while Providence was led by Luiz Machado with 15 points while Grady Moore added 11.

Quote: “I feel like we’re getting better every day,” Ardrey Kell coach Michael Craft said. “Having lost to Myers Park already and to fall behind we could’ve folded but the kids fought and I’m really proud of their effort.”

Worth mentioning: Ardrey Kell only had three field goals in the fourth quarter and none in the final 3:49, with their final nine points coming from the free throw line. The Knights struggled from the line though, shooting just 20-for-32 (62 percent) but did hit their last seven of the game.

In the first semi Providence stayed in the game despite the struggles of their leading scorer Drake Deluliis, who scored only four points and was in foul trouble for much of the game. Moore and Machado combined for five three-pointers and the Panthers shot 10-of-12 from the line but it wasn’t enough.

Wednesday’s schedule will be: Charlotte Country Day against Harding in the seventh-place game at 1:30; Charlotte Latin vs East Meck for fifth-place at 3; Myers Park against Providence for third-place at 2:30 and Ardrey Kell taking on Durham Academy in the championship game at 4. Two gyms at Latin are being used for the games.

East Meck 91, Charlotte Country Day 63- Charvis Jones scored a game-high 20 to lead East Meck (5-8) past Country Day (6-8) in the consolation bracket. Tireq Morrow and Jordan Richard each had 14 as East Meck, who led by just five at half, outscored Country Day 28-12 in the third to pull away. Christien Williams and Gordon Cory each scored 11 points to lead Country Day.

Charlotte Latin 61, Harding 40- Parker Julian scored a game-high 17 points for Latin (5-7) past Harding (1-11). Latin’s defense stifled Harding, as the Rams scored just 16 first-half points and Latin outscored Harding 19-9 in the final quarter to pull away. Jackson Farr added 10 points for Latin while Karl Hankton scored 12 to lead Harding.

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 8:06 PM with the headline "Ardrey Kell, Durham Academy advance to Urban Building tournament finals."