Basketball Roundup: JJ Schacht’s shot helps Myers Park upset No. 15 Independence

Elevator

↑Providence Day girls: Vanderbilt signee Erin Whalen was nominated for the McDonald’s All-America game this week, junior Janelle Bailey was honored for scoring her 1,000th point Friday and the Chargers moved up to No. 15 in USA Today’s national poll. That’s the Chargers’ highest ranking in 10 years.

↑J.J. Schacht, Myers Park boys: Layup with 12 seconds left lifted Mustangs to 57-56 upset of No. 15 Independence.

↑Concord First Assembly boys defense: Beat Mount Mission (Va.) 57-41 and held West Virginia recruit Maciej Bender scoreless. Nenad Milenkovic led First Assembly with 28.

↑Crowds: Sell-out crowds throughout the Observer’s coverage area on a cold Friday night. Fans are ready for the heart of hoops season.

Girls’ Roundup

No. 1 Providence Day 45, Carolina Day 25: Erin Whalen had 20 points to lead the Chargers (15-1) to an easy win over the 2015 N.C. Independent Schools 2A champion. Carolina Day scored just eight points in the second and third quarters. Senior Emile Smith was 3-for-3 for Providence Day and Celine Ives had a career-high five assists.

No. 3 Davidson Day 55, Wesleyan Christian 53: Parker Tompkins and Maya Caldwell combined for 28 points in a close win. Shaniya Jones had 24 for Wesleyan.

No. 4 Myers Park 74, Independence 30: Kentucky recruit Chanin Scott had 16 points and McKenna Haire 15 for the Mustangs, who also got 11 from Jada Reid and 10 from Ari Brown. Camille Small led Independence with 14.

No. 5 Ardrey Kell 38, Charlotte Catholic 22: Catholic scored four points in the first quarter and two in the third. Ardrey Kell (12-4, 6-0 SoMeck 8 4A) got 10 points, eight rebounds and five blocks from Danielle Griffin.

West Rowan 73, No. 6 Hickory Ridge 62: Khaila Hall had 21 points to help lead her team to a come-from-behind win. West (11-2, 8-0 South Piedmont) trailed by 10 after the first quarter. Laura McManimen had 14 for Hickory Ridge (12-2, 8-1).

No. 13 Butler 46, Porter Ridge 36: Fairen Sutton had 17 points and Rinnah Green 10. Butler won the first quarter 19-8, then lost the second 5-1 and the third 11-4 before a 22-12 push in the fourth. Sarah Welch led Porter Ridge with 14.

Hough 51, No. 14 North Mecklenburg 48: Hough (10-6, 3-2 MECKA) snapped North Meck’s two-game win streak and handed the Vikings (13-3, 5-1) their first conference loss. Gabby Gianikos had 14 points, Kaila Thompson 13 and Hailey Gipson 11 for Hough. North Meck which outscored the Huskies 14-7 in the fourth quarter, got 14 from ShiNaya Lester and 14 from Monell Dunlap.

Christ The King 54, University Christian 8: Marie Strickland had 21 and Catherine Strickland 12 in an easy win.

Country Day 33, Cary Academy 25: Country Day held Cary to nine points in the second and third quarters. Julia Loesch led the Bucs with 10.

South Meck 51, Providence 12: A’Lea Gilbert had 19 points, nine rebounds and Aja Stevens had 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists in the easy win. South Mecklenburg improved to 10-4.

Raleigh Ravenscroft 49, Charlotte Christian 30: Demi Washington had 15 points to pace the Ravens (9-4), who led 17-4 after the first quarter. Kerstie Phills had 13 for Charlotte Christian (9-5).

West Charlotte 55, AL Brown 43: The Lions won the second quarter 22-10 and cruised behind 14 from O’Marri Holland and 11 from Tykema Nesbit.

Top Performers

Erin Addison, Weddington: 20 points, 12 rebounds, five steals in 61-31 victory over Marvin Ridge.

Kiera Dowell, Claudia Dickey, Charlotte Latin: Dowell had 15 points, eight steals, six assists, four steals in a 61-27 win against Metrolina Christian. Dickey had 15 points, seven steals, five rebounds and four assists for the Hawks (11-4), No. 11 in the Sweet 16.

Mahaley Holit, Justice Wallace, Central Cabarrus: Holit had 22 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 61-33 victory over Northwest Cabarrus. Wallace had 24 points and seven rebounds.

Destiny Johnson, East Lincoln: 24 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, five assists in a 44-41 loss to West Caldwell.

Shareka and Shameka McNeill, Harding: Shareka (25 points, six steals) and Shameka (23 points, six steals, five assists) led the Rams to a 60-50 win over Olympic.

Destiny Wallace, Monroe: 14 points, 11 steals in 58-20 victory over Central Academy.

Boys’ Roundup

No. 1 Providence Day 55, Arden Christ School 54: The Chargers (17-3) led by about 10 points for much of the game. Christ School rallied behind Matt Halvorson (15 points) and took a one-point lead on his fifth 3-pointer of the second half with 14 seconds left. But Providence Day’s Grant Williams made two free throws with 7.1 seconds left to prevent the upset.

Sophomore Trey Wertz had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Chargers, No. 15 in the Fab 50 national poll. Senior Isaac Johnson had 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and senior Josh Howard had 10 points and 16 rebounds. The game was played in front of a standing room only crowd and the students rushed the floor after the win.

No. 3 Charlotte Catholic 49, Ardrey Kell 47: Ardrey Kell coach Mike Craft called it one of the best games he has coached in. Ardrey Kell had a shot to tie and a shot to win just before the buzzer. BJ Mack and Josh Brodowicz had 12 each for Catholic (15-0, 6-0 SoMeck 8 4A). Nathan Wilson had 10 for the Knights (7-9, 3-3), who had a 21-game, regular-season home conference win streak snapped.

No. 7 Weddington 61, Marvin Ridge 40: Tucker Synder had 14 points in an easy win for the Warriors (11-4, 2-0 Southern Carolina). Jackson Helms and Cam Jones had 11 for the Mavericks (10-6, 1-1).

No. 8 Berry 75, West Meck 46: Jeff Graham had 15 points to lead Berry (12-4, 4-2 SoMeck 8) to an easy win. Berry outscored West 49-29 in the second and third quarters.

No. 10 Fort Mill 59, Clover 52: Brandon Joseph had 17, Tanner Mitchell 14 and AJ Foti 10 to lead Fort Mill (12-2, 3-0). Quise Robbins and Aaron Milner had 14 each for Clover.

No. 12 Butler 108, Porter Ridge 71: Butler (13-4, 5-0) had four players score in double digits: Orlando Robinson (17), Gerrale Gates (15), RaeQuan Scott (14) and DJ Little (13). Noah Taylor had 14 for Porter Ridge.

Northside Christian 75, Gaston Day 57: Junior Chris Martin had 27 points and senior James Lewis 22 as Northside Christian (10-5, 4-0) won easily to remain unbeaten in the Metrolina Athletic. Gaston Day (8-7, 2-2) got 20 from Quan McCluney and 12 from Hugh Crump.

Charlotte Latin 65, Metrolina Christian 55: Parker Julian had 18 points and six rebounds and Caleb Jordan 11 points and eight assists for Latin (8-7). Metrolina Christian (5-13) got 15 from Emeka Nwankwo.

Christ The King 67, University Christian 22: Mike Grigg had 20 points, five assists and three rebounds in an easy win. Logan Thayer added seven points, seven steals, four assists and two rebounds.

Country Day 56, Cary Academy 43: Bucs senior Gordon Cory had 15 points and eight rebounds. Country Day (7-10) won the fourth quarter 12-3 to get the win.

Harding 65, Olympic 52: TJ Talley had 22 and Yakim Jenkins and Ed Chambers had 11 each for the Rams, who trailed 19-5 after the first quarter but rallied.

South Mecklenburg 66, Providence 49: Jalen Blakeney had 14 points to lead the Sabres, who led 40-17 at halftime. Luiz Machado led Providence with 11.

Alexander Central 48, Mooresville 39: Alexander Central (11-4, 4-1) got a much-needed win to stay in the North Piedmont 3A/4A championship race, getting 12 points, nine rebounds from Bryant Wicker. Mooresville (9-5, 4-1) got 15 from TJ Daniels but shot just 27 percent. North Iredell beat Lake Norman Friday and there is a four-way tie for first between those two and Alexander and Mooresville in the league.

Cannon 92, Hickory Grove 63: Jairus Hamilton, a 6-8 sophomore who started getting recruiting interest from Kansas this week, had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Cannon. Alex Cox and Philip McKenzie had 16 each for the Cougars (13-5).

Hickory Ridge 66, West Rowan 49: Avery Metcalf had 22 points for Hickory Ridge (11-3, 7-2 South Piedmont) in a comfortable win. Javon Smith added 14 and Andrew Metcalf 12.

Lake Norman Charter 72, South Point 52: Nick Worthy had his second straight double-double (13 points, 10 assists) and Connor Reed had 21 poitns in the win. Worthy has 21 assists in his last two games. Lake Norman Charter is 9-5, 5-0 Big South 2A/3A.

Queens Grant 62, Gray Stone Day 40: Terron Dixon had 18 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three assists in the easy win. Frankie Rivell had 11 for Gray Stone Day.

Lincolnton 75, Newton-Conover 50: Former Garinger star Raekwon Long, a 7-foot senior, had 21 points and Jordan Easter 13 to pace Lincolnton, which opened the game up with a 28-12 advantage in the second quarter. Cam Stanley had 20 for Newton.

Sun Valley 61, Piedmont 59: Hughston Finklea had 25 points and his defense helped Sun Valley (10-5, 2-0 Southern Carolina 3A) limit Piedmont (9-4, 0-2) to nine points in the fourth quarter. Hunter Tyson had 22 for Piedmont.

Top Performers

Davrion Grier, Myers Park: 20 points, seven rebounds, two steals in an upset win over Independence.

Bates Jones, Charlotte Latin: 13 points, 14 rebounds in 65-55 win against Metrolina Christian.

Desmond Lindsey, Forest Hills: 22 points, 16 rebounds in an 81-60 win over Mount Pleasant. Forest Hills (12-2, 1-0) is No. 14 in the Sweet 16.

Jaylen McManus, North Meck: 21 points, 10 rebounds in 68-63 win over Hough.

Shawn Morrison Jr., Grace Academy: 26 points, six steals, three assists in a 69-35 victory over Covenant Classical.

Marcus Neal, Vance: 27 points, seven assists, five steals in a 86-74 win over Hopewell. Hopewell’s Mark Sherrill had 25 points, six assists and five steals.

Rayshawn Neal, Garinger: 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists in a 60-50 loss to East Meck.

Sage Surratt, Hayden Duggins, East Lincoln: 31 points, 17 rebounds for Surratt and 30 points for Duggins in a 74-70 win over West Caldwell.

Marcus Thomas, Independence: 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a block in a 57-56 loss to Myers Park.

Grant Williams, Providence Day: 16 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, plus winning free throws in a 55-54 win against Christ School. Williams, the reigning Observer Player of the Year, has scored the winning points in two of his team’s past four games.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 10:36 PM with the headline "Basketball Roundup: JJ Schacht’s shot helps Myers Park upset No. 15 Independence."