A look at some of the top boys’ and girls’ basketball games in the area this weekend.
Area Previews
Friday-Saturday
(Boys) Hickory Tavern-Chick fil A Blakeney Classic, at Ardrey Kell – Host Ardrey Kell and Charlotte Catholic take on a pair of powers, in Asheville’s A.C. Reynolds and Raleigh’s Cardinal Gibbons. Friday’s doubleheader has Charlotte Catholic facing Cardinal Gibbons at 6, followed by Ardrey Kell-A.C. Reynolds at 7:30. On Saturday, Charlotte Catholic plays A.C. Reynolds at 1, followed at 2:30 by Ardrey Kell-Cardinal Gibbons. Reynolds is 0-1 this season but finished 21-5 last season. Cardinal Gibbons feature highly-touted 6-1 point guard Aiden Smalls, who is averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds per game.
(Boys and girls) Cabarrus County Classic, at Cox Mill – Most of the county’s teams compete in this two-day event. Central Cabarrus, a 3A state powerhouse, plays in the nightcap both Friday and Saturday nights. The Vikings face Cox Mill at 9:30 p.m. Friday. Cox Mill swept a pair of games in Asheville last weekend and is expected to challenge for the Greater Metro 4 4A title this season. At 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Central Cabarrus faces Concord Academy, the defending 3A private school state champion. Central Cabarrus is No. 3 in The Observer’s Sweet 16, while Concord Academy is No. 4.
Saturday
(Girls) North Mecklenburg (4-0) at Lake Norman (4-0), 3:30 p.m. – The visiting Vikings have rolled to four straight victories and are expected to challenge for the Queen City 3A-4A title this season. The host Wildcats are led by Kirsten Lewis-Williams, who is averaging 19.3 points a game. These are two teams that could go a long way in the 4A state playoffs next February and March.
The schedule
Friday
Hickory Tavern/Chick fil A Blakeney Classic
(at Ardrey Kell / boys)
Charlotte Catholic vs. Cardinal Gibbons, 6
Ardrey Kell vs. A.C. Reynolds, 7:30
Cabarrus County Classic
(at Cox Mill)
(main gym)
West Cabarrus vs. Concord (girls), 3:30
West Cabarrus vs. Concord (boys), 5
Northwest Cabarrus vs. Hickory Ridge (boys), 6:30
Cox Mill vs. Central Cabarrus (girls), 8
Cox Mill vs. Central Cabarrus (boys), 9:30
(auxiliary gym)
Northwest Cabarrus vs. Hickory Ridge (girls), 5
Tyler Lewis Hoopsfest
(at Forsyth Country Day)
Quality Education vs. N.C. GBB National, 4:30
Lake Norman vs. Mount Tabor, 6
Carmel Christian vs. Dudley, 7:30
Forsyth Country Day vs. Cummings, 9
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Gaston Day at Gaston Christian
Metrolina Christian at Hickory Grove Christian
SouthLake Christian at Northside Christian
Westminster Catawba at Concord Academy
Mecklenburg nonconference
A.C. Reynolds at Myers Park (girls)
Berry Academy at Rocky River
Charlotte Christian at Victory Christian (boys)
Corvian Community at Charlotte Country Day (girls)
Durham Academy at Charlotte Latin
East Mecklenburg at Cuthbertson
Garinger at West Charlotte
Greater Cabarrus Stallions at Queens Grant Charter
Highland Tech at Bradford Prep
Jay M. Robinson at Mallard Creek
Lake Norman at Providence
Lake Norman Charter at Pine Lake Prep, ppd
North Mecklenburg at Catawba Ridge, SC (girls)
North Rowan at Community School of Davidson
Palisades at Fort Mill (SC)
Ravenscroft at Providence Day
South Charlotte Thunder at Forsyth Home Educators
Tabernacle Christian at Davidson Day (boys)
Union Academy at Christ the King
West Mecklenburg at Harding
Area nonconference
Albemarle at West Stanly
Alexander Central at South Iredell
Anson County at Chesterfield (SC)
Ashbrook at North Gaston
Asheville Trailblazers at Thomas Jefferson Academy
Avery County at Watauga
Burns at Crest
Cabarrus Charter at Covenant Classical
Carolina Day at University Christian
Carolina International at North Stanly
Central Academy at Piedmont
Draughn at Patton
East Burke at Freedom
Forsyth Country Day at Statesville Christian
Franklin Prep at North Hills Christian (boys)
Fred T. Foard at Bandys
Gray Stone Day at South Davidson
Greensboro Day at Cannon School (boys)
Hibriten at South Point
Hickory at Newton-Conover
Jesse Carson at Statesville
Langtree Charter at Lake Norman Christian (boys)
Lincoln Charter at Porter Ridge
Moravian Prep vs. The Burlington School, in Good Guys Vs. Cancer Classic, at First Flight High
North Gaston at Bessemer City
Parkwood at Marvin Ridge
Salisbury at Forest Hills
South Rowan at Stuart Cramer
South Stanly at Southwestern Randolph
St. Stephens at Bunker Hill
Sun Valley at Monroe
Trinity at East Rowan
Uwharrie Charter at Richmond Senior
West Caldwell at South Caldwell
West Iredell at Maiden
West Lincoln at Cherryville
West Wilkes at Ashe County
West Rowan at North Iredell
Saturday
Hickory Tavern/Chick fil A Blakeney Classic
(at Ardrey Kell / boys)
Charlotte Catholic vs. A.C. Reynolds, 1
Ardrey Kell vs. Cardinal Gibbons, 2:30
Cabarrus County Classic
(at Cox Mill High)
Concord vs. Mount Pleasant (girls), noon
Central Cabarrus vs. West Cabarrus (girls), 1:30
Cox Mill vs. Northwest Cabarrus (girls), 4
Northwest Cabarrus vs. Mount Pleasant (boys), 5:30
Cox Mill vs. Concord (boys), 7
Central Cabarrus vs. Concord Academy (boys), 8:30
Tyler Lewis Hoopsfest
(at Forsyth Country Day)
Walkertown vs. Mount Tabor, noon
Northwest Guilford vs. Chatham Charter, 1:30
United Faith vs. Winston-Salem Christian, 3
Salisbury vs. Calvary Day, 4:30
Raleigh Christian vs. Quality Education, 6
John Marshall (VA) vs. Holly Springs, 7:30
Forsyth Country Day vs. East Forsyth, 9
Diamonds Classic
(at Legion Collegiate, in Rock Hill / girls)
Carmel Christian vs. Westminster Catawba, noon
Butler vs. Chambers, 1:30
Victory Christian vs. Northside Christian, 3
Olympic vs. The Burlington School, 4:30
Hickory Ridge vs. Quality Education, 6
South Mecklenburg vs. Legion Collegiate (SC), 7:30
Battle at the Rock
(Rock Hill Events and Sports Center)
Clover (SC) vs. South Florence (SC), 11 a.m. (boys)
Victory Christian vs. Hillcrest (SC), 12:30 (boys)
Gaston Day vs. Augusta (GA) Christian, 2 (boys)
Lancaster (SC) vs. T.L. Hanna (SC), 3:30 (boys)
Dorman (SC) vs. Christ School, 5 (boys)
Cannon School vs. Lexington (SC), 6:30 (boys)
South Pointe (SC) vs. Southside Christian (SC), 8 (girls)
South Pointe (SC) vs. Andrew Jackson (SC), 9:30 (boys)
Mecklenburg nonconference
Carolina International at Charlotte Country Day (boys, 2:30)
Catawba Ridge (SC) at Myers Park (girls, 5)
Corvian Community at Covenant Day (boys, 1:30)
Cuthbertson at Hough (girls, 2; boys, 4)
Durham Academy at Covenant Day (girls, noon)
Durham Academy at Providence Day (boys, noon)
Indian Land at South Charlotte Thunder (girls, 3)
Oak Hill Academy (VA) Regional at South Charlotte Thunder (boys, 4:15)
Providence at A.C. Reynolds (girls, 2)
Ravenscroft at Charlotte Latin (girls, noon; boys, 2)
Winston-Salem Christian at United Faith Christian (boys, 3)
Area nonconference
Combine Academy vs. Branson (MO) Link Academy, in Marshall County Hoopsfest, in Benton, KY, 7
Forest Hills vs. Weddington (at Wingate Univ.)
East Lincoln at Lincolnton, (girls, 1; boys, 2:30)
Moravian Prep vs. Word of God, in Good Guys vs. Cancer Classic, at First Flight High
West Lincoln at Avery County (girls, 2; boys, 3:45)