Independence High’s boys’ basketball team, shown celebrating during last week’s state semifinal win over Rocky River, will play on Saturday for its first state championship since 1997.
A look ahead a busy week of high school basketball
A look at some of the top basketball games in the area this week. Records are as of Monday.
Tuesday
(Boys) Anthony Morrow Shootout, at Charlotte Latin – This is a stellar Phenom Hoops-sponsored event that features an eight-team bracketed tournament, plus several games each day featuring teams not playing in a bracket. The bracketed event opens with Jay M. Robinson (6-2, N.C.’s No. 4 team in 2A) facing Charlotte Latin (6-3), 1:30 p.m.; Concord Academy (14-2, No. 3 private school) vs. Ardrey Kell (6-5), 3 p.m.; Carmel Christian (12-2, No. 2 private school) vs. The Burlington School (12-3, No. 6 private school), 4:30 p.m.; and Cannon School (13-2, No. 5 private school) vs. West Charlotte (7-3, No. 10 in 3A), 6 p.m.
Jay M. Robinson is a 2A state power, led by 6-foot-6 senior F Daevin Hobbs (13.8 points a game). The nightcap features a Concord Academy team on a seven-game win streak against a West Charlotte team featuring PG Chadlyn Traylor (15.0 points) and F Donovan Raymond (13.2 points, 63 percent field goal shooting).
The non-bracketed games also are attractive, with Charlotte Country Day (11-3) facing defending 4A champ Weddington (5-3) and Chambers meeting Providence Day.
(Boys) Bessemer City (6-2) at East Gaston (6-1), 7:30 p.m. – This Southern Piedmont 1A Conference game features Bessemer City standout Randall Pettus (23.8 points a game). Teammate Keyshawn Adams is averaging 16.6 points and 13.9 rebounds.
(Girls) Cherokee Invitational, at Harrah’s Casino Resort in Cherokee – North Carolina powers Charlotte Catholic, Lake Norman, Watauga and T.C. Roberson are in the field for this three-day bracketed event, along with Ardrey Kell and teams from Georgia and Alabama.
No. 4-ranked 4A team Charlotte Catholic (5-2) faces T.C. Roberson (7-2) at 11:30 a.m., and No. 2 Lake Norman (10-0) meets Alabama power Guntersville (5-1) at 1 p.m.
Wednesday
(Boys) Anthony Morrow Shootout Day 2, at Charlotte Latin – The Wednesday schedule looks even better than Tuesday. Try on these non-bracketed games: United Faith Christian (12-1, No. 4 private school) vs. Charlotte Catholic (8-1) at noon; and Central Cabarrus (9-0, No. 1 in 3A) vs. Gaston Day (8-2) at 4:30 p.m. Central Cabarrus, with its frenetic style of defense and an offense which frequently tops 100 points, is worth the price of admission by itself.
Then there are the bracketed semifinals, with games potentially matching Concord Academy against Cannon School or West Charlotte, and Carmel Christian against Jay M. Robinson. It depends on the outcome of Tuesday’s contests, but Wednesday evening’s semifinals could be spectacular.
(Girls) Cherokee Invitational Day 2 , at Harrah’s Casino Resort in Cherokee – It’ll be semifinal day, with the possibility of a Charlotte Catholic-Watauga game at 2:15 p.m.. But with powerhouses from Alabama and Georgia also in the field, it’s tough to predict the semifinal matchups.
Thursday
(Boys) Anthony Morrow Shootout finals, at Charlotte Latin – The two evening games should be stellar. At 6 p.m., there’s a non-bracketed game between Central Cabarrus, the state’s No. 1 3A team, and United Faith Christian, ranked No. 4 among the private schools. When that one’s finished, it’ll be time for the championship game in the bracketed tournament. Potential finals matchups include Jay M. Robinson or Concord Academy against Carmel Christian, The Burlington School, Cannon School or West Charlotte.
And the tournament third-place game, set for 4:30 p.m., should also be highly entertaining.
(Boys) Battle of the Border, at Independence High – Teams from North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia compete in a non-bracketed event Thursday and Friday. Thursday’s schedule includes Independence against Varina, the No. 1 3A team in Virginia, at 5 p.m.; and Chambers against Landstown, a top-10 Virginia school, at 6:30 p.m.
(Boys) Bam Winter Classic, at Olympic High – A five-game schedule Thursday opens this two-day event. The feature game should be the 7 p.m. finale, when unbeaten Olympic meets 2A state power Salisbury. Olympic is ranked fifth among 4A schools, and Salisbury is eighth in 2A.
(Girls) Cherokee Invitational finals, at Harrah’s Cherokee Resort, Cherokee – Imagine a game between Charlotte Catholic, No. 1 in 4A in North Carolina, against No. 3 Lake Norman. It could happen, possibly in the third-place game or maybe in the championship. Watauga and Ardrey Kell also are in the field.
(Boys) Crest (4-0) at Shelby (1-1), 7:30 p.m. – This will be a rematch of the teams’ game on Monday night. Crest is the state’s No. 7-ranked 3A team. Drew Hollifield (16 points a game) leads the Shelby offense.
Friday
(Boys and girls) Battle of the Border, at Independence High – A seven-game schedule finishes with a boys’ game between Chambers, North Carolina’s No. 6-ranked 4A team, and S.C. 5A powerhouse Irmo (7-1). Yellowjackets’ head coach Tim Whipple has more than 800 career victories and guided Irmo to a second-place finish in the 5A playoffs last season.
(Boys and girls) Bam Winter Classic, at Olympic – In the 7 p.m. finale, the Olympic boys, ranked No. 5 in the state, face New Rochelle (N.Y.) High. The visiting Huguenots are a strong defensive club that could provide a tough test for Olympic’s offense, led by Kameron Taylor (19.0 points, 11.4 rebounds per game).
Talking Preps picks
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The schedule
(all matchups are girls/boys doubleheaders, unless otherwise noted)
Tuesday
Greater Metro 4 4A
Cox Mill at Mooresville
West Cabarrus at South Iredell
Big South 3A
Ashbrook at Forestview
Crest at Stuart Cramer
Hunter Huss at South Point
Kings Mountain at North Gaston
Western Foothills 3A
Fred T. Foard at West Iredell
North Lincoln at Hickory
St. Stephens at North Iredell
Catawba Valley 2A
East Burke at Bandys
Mountain Foothills 2A
Polk County at Hendersonville
R-S Central at Brevard
Southern Piedmont 1A-2A
Bessemer City at East Gaston
Cherryville at Burns
Highland Tech at Thomas Jefferson Academy
Western Highlands 1A-2A
Draughn at Mitchell County
Metro 8 1A
Carolina International at Corvian Community
Queens Grant Charter at Cabarrus Charter
Sugar Creek Charter at Piedmont Community Charter
Nonconference
A.C. Reynolds at Freedom
Christ the King at Albemarle
Covenant Day at Metrolina Christian
Hough at Pinecrest (boys)
Lake Norman Chargers at A.L. Brown (girls)
Langtree Charter at Lake Norman Charter (boys)
Lincoln Charter at SouthLake Christian (boys)
McDowell at Avery County
Mount Pleasant at West Stanly
North Davidson at East Rowan
North Rowan at Jesse Carson
North Stanly at Montgomery Central
Parkwood at Sun Valley
Patton at Hibriten (girls)
South Caldwell at Maiden
South Charlotte Thunder at Greater Cabarrus Stallions
Union Academy at Lake Norman Charter (girls)
West Caldwell at Patton (boys)
Anthony Morrow Shootout (boys)
(at Charlotte Latin)
(non-bracketed games)
Charlotte Country Day vs. Weddington, noon
Chambers vs. Providence Day, 7:30
(bracketed tournament)
Charlotte Latin vs. Jay M. Robinson, 1:30
Concord Academy vs. Ardrey Kell, 3
Carmel Christian vs. The Burlington School, 4:30
Cannon School vs. West Charlotte, 6
Holiday Hoopsfest (girls)
(at United Faith Christian)
Central Cabarrus vs. Garinger, 3:30
Charlotte Country Day vs. North Mecklenburg, 5
United Faith Christian vs. Trinity Christian, 6:30
Providence vs. Christ Church (SC), 8
Cherokee Invitational (girls)
(at Harrahs Casino Resort, Cherokee)
Charlotte Catholic vs. T.C. Roberson, 11:30 a.m., Court 1
Watauga vs. Huntsville (AL), 11:30 a.m., Court 2
Lake Norman vs. Guntersville (AL), 1, Court 1
Ardrey Kell vs. Westminster (GA), 1, Court 2
Alpha Invitational (boys)
(at Kingsport, TN)
Jonesboro (GA) vs. Daniel Boone (TN), 4
Church Hill (TN) Volunteer vs. Lexington, 5:30
Dobyns-Bennett (TN) vs. Breathitt County (KY), 7
Hopewell vs. Morgantown (WV), 8:30
Wednesday
Western Foothills 3A
East Lincoln at Statesville
Nonconference
Anson County at North Stanly
Central Davidson at East Rowan
Concord at A.L. Brown (girls)
Draughn at Ashe County
North Gaston at Alexander Central
Queens Grant Charter at Piedmont
Shelby at Kings Mountain
South Caldwell at Hickory
South Stanly at West Davidson (boys)
T.C. Roberson at Watauga (boys)
Holiday Hoopsfest (girls)
(at United Faith Christian)
Corvian Community vs. Christ Classical, noon
Garinger vs. United Faith Christian, 1:30
T.W. Andrews vs. Christ Church (SC), 3
Cabarrus Charter vs. Central Cabarrus, 4:30
Providence vs. Charlotte Country Day, 6
Anthony Morrow Shootout (boys)
(at Charlotte Latin)
(non-bracketed games)
United Faith Christian vs. Charlotte Catholic, noon
Gaston Christian vs. Weddington, 1:30
Central Cabarrus vs. Gaston Day, 4:30
(bracketed games)
(consolation semifinals)
Concord Academy-Ardrey Kell loser vs. Cannon School-West Charlotte loser, 3 (auxiliary gym)
Carmel Christian-Burlington School loser vs. Charlotte Latin-Jay M. Robinson loser, 4:30 (auxiliary gym)
(championship semifinals)
Concord Academy-Ardrey Kell winner vs. Cannon School-West Charlotte winner, 6
Carmel Christian-Burlington School winner vs. Charlotte Latin-Jay M. Robinson winner, 7:30
Cherokee Invitational (girls)
(at Harrahs Casino Resort, Cherokee)
(consolation semifinals)
Charlotte Catholic-T.C. Roberson loser vs. Watauga-Huntsville loser, 3:30, Court 2
Lake Norman-Guntersville loser vs. Ardrey Kell-Westminster loser, 5, Court 2
(championship semifinals)
Charlotte Catholic-T.C. Roberson winner vs. Watauga-Huntsville winner, 2:15, Court 1
Lake Norman-Guntersville winner vs. Ardrey Kell-Westminster winner, 12:45, Court 1
Y.C. Winborn Showcase (girls)
(at Rock Hill High)
(main gym)
Butler vs. River Bluff (SC), 2
White Knoll (SC) vs. Greenville (SC), 3:30
Rock Hill vs. Boiling Springs (SC), 5
Marvin Ridge vs. A.C. Flora (SC), 6:30
Chambers vs. Blythewood (SC), 8
(auxiliary gym)
York (SC) vs. Airport (SC), 2:30
Hunter Huss vs. Chesterfield (SC), 4
Indian Land (SC) vs. Bethune-Bowman (SC), 5:30
Fort Mill vs. Timberland (SC), 7
Alpha Invitational (boys)
(at Kingsport, TN)
Daniel Boone-Jonesboro loser vs. Lexington-Volunteer loser, noon
Dobyns Bennett-Breathitt County loser vs. Hopewell-Morgantown loser, 1:30
Daniel Boone-Jonesboro winner vs. Lexington-Volunteer winner, 3
Dobyns Bennett-Breathitt County winner vs. Hopewell-Morgantown winner, 7
Thursday
Catawba Valley 2A
Lincolnton at Newton-Conover
Maiden at West Lincoln
Bunker Hill at West Caldwell
Western Highlands 1A-2A
Avery County at Rosman
Nonconference
Christ the King at Charlotte Catholic
Covenant Day at Piedmont (girls)
Crest at Shelby
Hibriten at South Point
Metrolina Christian vs. Mill Creek (GA), at Hoschton, GA, 12:30 (boys)
Mitchell County at Patton
Montgomery Central at Anson County
South Charlotte Thunder at Asheville Trailblazers (boys)
Thomas Jefferson Academy at Asheville
Anthony Morrow Shootout (boys)
(at Charlotte Latin)
(non-bracketed game)
Central Cabarrus vs. United Faith Christian, 6
(bracketed games)
Seventh-place game, 1:30
Fifth-place game, 3
Third-place game, 4:30
First-place game, 7:30
Battle of the Border (boys)
(at Independence)
Highland Tech vs. Andrews (SC), 11 a.m.
Carolina International vs. White Knoll (SC), 12:30
South Mecklenburg vs. Indian Land (SC), 2
Sun Valley vs. Science Hill (TN), 3:30
Independence vs. Varina (VA), 5
Chambers vs. Landstown (VA) 6:30
Panther Creek vs. Irmo (SC), 8
Bam Winter Classic (boys/girls)
(at Olympic)
(girls) Palisades vs. Salisbury, 1
(boys) West Mecklenburg vs. Garinger, 2:30
(boys) New Rochelle (NY) vs. Northside Christian, 4
(boys) Providence vs. 1 of 1 Prep, 5:30
(boys) Olympic vs. Salisbury, 7
Holiday Hoopsfest (girls)
(at United Faith Christian)
United Faith Christian vs. Christ Church (SC), 1:30
T.W. Andrews vs. Trinity Christian, 3
Garinger vs. Cabarrus Charter, 4:30
Cherokee Invitational (girls)
(at Harrahs Casino Resort, Cherokee)
Seventh-place game, 12:30, Court 2
Fifth-place game, 3:30, Court 1
Third-place game, 3:30, Court 2
First-place game, 12:30, Court 1
Y.C. Winborn Classic (girls)
(at Rock Hill High)
(main gym)
Airport (SC) vs. Indian Land (SC), noon
Fort Mill vs. A.C. Flora (SC), 1:30
York (SC) vs. Bethune-Bowman (SC), 3
White Knoll (SC) vs. Timberland (SC), 4:30
Chambers vs. Rock Hill, 6
(auxiliary gym)
Butler vs. Chesterfield (SC), 1
Boiling Springs (SC) vs. River Bluff (SC), 2:30
Marvin Ridge vs. Blythewood (SC), 4
Hunter Huss vs. Greenville (SC), 5:30
Alpha Invitational (boys)
(at Kingsport, TN)
Hopewell competing; Seventh-place game, noon; Fifth-place game, 1:30; Third-place game, 3; First-place game, 7
Friday
Nonconference
Metrolina Christian vs. Morrow (GA), at Hoschton, GA, 12:30 (boys)
West Mecklenburg at Providence
Battle of the Border (boys)
(at Independence)
Carolina International vs. Andrews (SC), 11 a.m.
Highland Tech vs. White Knoll (SC), 12:30
South Mecklenburg vs. Varina (VA), 2
Panther Creek vs. Landstown (VA), 3:30
Independence vs. Science Hill (TN), 5
Sun Valley vs. Indian Land (SC), 6:30
Chambers vs. Irmo (SC), 8
Bam Winter Classic (boys/girls)
(at Olympic)
(girls) Olympic vs. West Charlotte, 1
(boys) West Mecklenburg vs. Providence, 2:30
(boys) Garinger vs. Salisbury, 4
(boys) 1 of 1 Prep vs. Northside Christian, 5:30
(boys) Olympic vs. New Rochelle (NY), 7
Y.C. Winborn Classic (girls)
(at Rock Hill High)
Indian Land (SC) vs. River Bluff (SC), 9 a.m.
Fort Mill vs. Airport (SC), 10:30 a.m.
Chesterfield (SC) vs. Bethune-Bowman (SC), noon
Marvin Ridge vs. Greenville (SC), 1:30
York (SC) vs. White Knoll (SC), 3
Hunter Huss vs. Timberland (SC), 4:30
Butler vs. Blythewood (SC), 6
Chambers vs. A.C. Flora (SC), 7:30
Saturday
No games scheduled
Sunday
No games scheduled