Cannon School head basketball coach Che Roth, center, and the team’s bench celebrate a 10-second call against Greensboro Day during second half action on Friday, December 4, 2020. Canon pressured the ball upon inbounds by Greensboro Day.
jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Prep basketball preview, schedule
A look at some of the top boys’ and girls’ basketball games in the area this weekend. Records are as of Wednesday.
Friday
(Girls) Mallard Creek (8-0) at North Mecklenburg (7-1), 6 p.m. – It’s a meeting of the giants in the Queen City 3A-4A girls’ race. Sophomore Elle Stone is averaging 21.0 points and 5.2 steals for the visiting Mavericks, ranked fifth this week among N.C.’s 4A teams. The sixth-ranked Vikings feature the strong backcourt of Nevaeh Farmer and Dearia Page.
(Boys) Mallard Creek (3-5) at North Mecklenburg (7-0), 7:30 p.m. – Mallard Creek got off to a good start but has lost three in a row. Freshman Rassell Young (11.3 points) has been a bright spot. The host Vikings are the state’s No. 1-ranked 4A team this week.
(Boys) Concord (5-3) at Central Cabarrus (8-0), 7:30 p.m. – The visiting Spiders take a three-game win streak into this South Piedmont 3A game and have a genuine standout in senior G James Smith (19.6 points). The Vikings, ranked No. 1 in 3A this week, have the makings of a special team. They have hit the 100-point mark four times, and all five starters are averaging in double figures. The Vikings are averaging 93 points a game.
(Boys) Hickory (5-1) at East Lincoln (7-0), 7 p.m. – The Red Tornadoes figure to be East Lincoln’s key challenger in the Western Foothills 3A race. PF John Holbrook leads the offense (14.3 points). Jackson Farmer, a 6-6 sophomore, is leading the Mustangs with 16.8 points and 6.0 rebounds a game, and Mason Simmons (9.2 rebounds) is the key player on the inside.
By the way, East Lincoln’s girls are 7-0, with Hailey McFadden averaging 11.0 points and 7.8 rebounds. Hickory is 1-4.
(Boys) Chambers (4-2) at Cannon School (11-2), 9 p.m. – This is the nightcap of the three-game schedule in Day 1 of the Phenom Hoops Holiday Classic at Cannon School. Chambers is ranked sixth in 4A this week and owns a victory this season over powerhouse Myers Park. The host Cougars, ranked seventh among private schools, have won five in a row.
(Girls) Watauga (6-1) at Lake Norman (9-0), 5:30 p.m. – PG Kate Sears (21.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 steals) leads attack for Watauga, the No. 9 4A team this week. The host Wildcats, ranked third, are getting 16.9 points and 6.3 rebounds from senior G Kirsten Lewis-Williams. Supporting her are sophomore twins Samantha (15.4 points) and Alexis (6.6 rebounds) Shehan.
(Girls) Ardrey Kell (5-2) at Cuthbertson (5-2), 5:30 p.m. – To beat the Cavaliers, Ardrey Kell will have to find a way of stopping senior Amanda Sacoto (17.3 points, 11.7 rebounds). This will be the second tough game in two nights for Ardrey Kell, which faces Myers Park on Thursday.
Saturday
(Boys) Phenom Hoops Holiday Classic, at Cannon School – Seven games are on the schedule, beginning at noon. The final four games feature ranked private schools – No. 4 United Faith Christian (vs. Forsyth Country Day, 4:30 p.m.); No. 3 Concord Academy (vs. Providence Day, 6 p.m.); No. 2 Carmel Christian (vs. Mallard Creek, 7:30); and No. 7 Cannon School (vs. Freedom, 9).
(Boys and Girls) Kings Christmas Classic, at Victory Christian – There’s a five-game schedule, starting at 1 p.m. The field includes Victory Christian, ranked No. 6 among girls’ private school teams.
(Boys) City of Palms Classic, in Fort Myers, FL – Myers Park will be playing on Florida’s Gulf Coast, with an 8:45 p.m. tipoff Saturday against the winner of Friday’s game between Charlotte (FL) and London (KY) North Laurel. Should the Mustangs win, and they’ll play again Monday.
(Boys) The Bash, at Ridge View High, Columbia – The six-game schedule includes North Mecklenburg (facing Keenan at 1:30 p.m.) and Combine Academy (facing defending S.C. 5A state champion Ridge View at 9 p.m.).
Talking Preps picks
The schedule
Wednesday
Metro 8 1A
Corvian Community at Apprentice Academy (boys)
Nonconference
Albemarle at Anson County
A.L. Brown at Red Springs
Catawba Ridge at South Point (girls)
Crest at Burns
Draughn at Patton
East Henderson at Chase
East Wilkes at West Iredell
Hibriten at Newton-Conover
North Lincoln at Lincolnton
North Stanly at West Stanly
Parkwood at Mount Pleasant
Queens Grant Charter at Cuthbertson
Richmond Senior at Pine Forest
R-S Central at West Henderson
South Iredell at Statesville
Union Academy at Community School of Davidson
Westminster Catawba at Arborbrook Christian (girls)
Thursday
SoMeck 4A
Ardrey Kell at Myers Park
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Bradford Prep at Christ the King
Metro 8 1A
Cabarrus Charter at Sugar Creek Charter
Nonconference
1 of 1 Academy at United Faith Christian (girls)
Carolina International at Combine Academy Regional (boys)
Central Academy at Langtree Charter
Charlotte Latin at Indian Land (SC) (girls)
Covenant Day at Arborbrook Christian (girls)
East Rutherford at Chesnee (SC)
Elevation Prep at Winston-Salem Christian National (boys)Forest Hills at Porter Ridge
Lake Norman Christian at Mountain Island Charter (boys)
North Iredell at Pine Lake Prep
Richmond Senior vs. Knoxville (TN) Catholic, in Five Star Hoops Classic in Knoxville (boys)
South Caldwell at McDowell
Weddington at Providence
The Bash (boys)
(at Ridge View High, Columbia)
Combine Academy vs. Gray Collegiate (SC), 6:30
Oak Hill (VA) Academy vs. Ridge View (SC), 8
Friday
Queen City 3A-4A
Hopewell at West Charlotte
Mallard Creek at North Mecklenburg
West Mecklenburg at Hough
SoMeck 4A
Harding at Berry Academy
Olympic at Palisades
Southwestern 4A
Butler at East Mecklenburg
Charlotte Catholic at Rocky River
Garinger at Independence
Greater Metro 4 4A
Hickory Ridge at West Cabarrus
South Iredell at Cox Mill
Sandhills 3A-4A
Lee County at Hoke County
Southern Lee at Scotland County
Big South 3A
Ashbrook at Crest
Hunter Huss at Kings Mountain
North Gaston at Forestview
South Point at Stuart Cramer
South Piedmont 3A
Concord at Central Cabarrus
East Rowan at Northwest Cabarrus
Lake Norman Charter at Jesse Carson
South Rowan at West Rowan
Western Foothills 3A
Hickory at East Lincoln
North Iredell at Fred T. Foard
Statesville at North Lincoln
West Iredell at St. Stephens
Catawba Valley 2A
Lincolnton at Bunker Hill
Maiden at East Burke
Newton-Conover at West Caldwell
West Lincoln at Bandys
Mountain Foothills 2A
Brevard at East Rutherford
Hendersonville at R-S Central
Patton at Polk County
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Community School of Davidson at Bradford Prep
Central Carolina 1A-2A
East Davidson at North Rowan
Salisbury at South Davidson
Thomasville at West Davidson
Southern Piedmont 1A-2A
Burns at Highland Tech
Shelby at Cherryville
Thomas Jefferson Academy at Bessemer City
Western Highlands 1A-2A
Draughn at Avery County
Mitchell County at C.D. Owen
Mountain Heritage at Rosman
Yadkin Valley 1A-2A
Albemarle at Mount Pleasant
North Stanly at South Stanly (boys)
Metro 8 1A
Corvian Community at Queens Grant Charter
Piedmont Community Charter at Apprentice Academy (boys)
Phenom Hoops Holiday Classic (boys)
(at Cannon School)
Charlotte Country Day vs. Virginia Episcopal, 6
Concord Academy vs. Forsyth Country Day, 7:30
Cannon School vs. Chambers, 9
Kings Christmas Classic (boys/girls)
(at Victory Christian)
Charlotte Country Day vs. Lincoln Charter (girls), 4:30
Victory Christian vs. 1 of 1 Academy (girls), 6
Lincoln Charter vs. Victory Christian (boys), 7:30
Nonconference
Alexander Central at Central Davidson
Ardrey Kell at Cuthbertson
Caldwell Academy at Hickory Christian
Cannon School at 1 of 1 Academy (girls)
Chase at East Henderson
Comenius School at South Charlotte Thunder
Freedom at Enka (girls)
Gaston Day at Westchester Country Day
Greater Cabarrus Stallions at Surry Homeschool
Hickory Grove Christian at Coastal Christian
Marvin Ridge at Parkwood
Monroe at Sun Valley
North Davidson at Central Academy
Northside Christian at Covenant Day (boys)
Rabun Gap (GA) School at Carmel Christian
Richmond Senior vs. Lebanon (TN), in Five Star Hoops Classic, in Knoxville (TN) (boys)
Tabernacle Christian at University Christian
Watauga at Lake Norman
West Stanly at Piedmont
Saturday
Nonconference
Central Carolina Prep at Elevation Prep (boys), 3
Davie County at Watauga (girls, 2:30; boys, 4)
Greensboro Day at Providence Day (girls), 2
Hopewell at Winston-Salem Christian (girls), 2
Jay M. Robinson at North Rowan (girls, 4:30; boys, 6)
Rabun Gap (GA) School at Charlotte Christian (girls, 1; boys, 2:30)
Salisbury at Ben Smith (girls, 4; boys, 6)
SouthLake Christian at Asheville School (girls, 1; boys, 2:30)
West Caldwell at Hibriten (girls, 2:30; boys, 4)
York (SC) at South Point (girls, 2; boys, 3:30)
Phenom Hoops Holiday Classic (boys)
(at Cannon School)
Calvary Day vs. Indian Land (SC), noon
Metrolina Christian vs. The Burlington School, 1:30
Gaston Christian vs. Virginia Episcopal, 3
United Faith Christian vs. Forsyth Country Day, 4:30
Concord Academy vs. Providence Day, 6
Carmel Christian vs. Mallard Creek, 7:30
Cannon School vs. Freedom, 9
Kings Christmas Classic (boys/girls)
(at Victory Christian)
Covenant Day vs. Lincoln Charter (girls), 1
Covenant Day vs. Lincoln Charter (boys), 2:30
Mount Zion vs. Quality Education (boys), 4
Victory Christian vs. Westminster Catawba (girls), 5:30
Victory Christian vs. Westminster Catawba (boys), 7
City of Palms Classic (boys)
(at Fort Myers, Fla.)
Myers Park vs. winner of Friday’s Charlotte (FL)-London (KY) North Laurel game, 8:45
The Bash (boys)
(at Ridge View High, Columbia)
Augusta (GA) Cross Creek vs. Byrnes (SC), noon
North Mecklenburg vs. Keenan (SC), 1:30
Augusta (GA) Christian vs. Westwood (SC), 3
Huntington Prep (WV) vs. Lexington (SC), 6
Oak Hill (VA) vs. Gray Collegiate (SC), 7:30
Combine Academy vs. Ridge View (SC), 9