Saturday’s basketball rewind: Corvian keeps making progress, chasing NCHSAA title berth

Ron Murphy hung a list of Super Bowl losing teams in the locker room at Corvian Community Charter School before the boys’ basketball season started.

“I wanted them to see that — outside of the Buffalo Bills — it doesn’t happen very often,” said Murphy, who coached Corvian to the 1A state championship game last season. “It’s hard to get back there. It takes a lot of work.”

Like the Bills and a few other teams (most recently, the New England Patriots in 2017 and ‘18), Corvian Community is trying to return to the championship after losing the previous season.

The Cardinals lost a nail-biter in the finals last year to Wilson Prep, and they have all their key players back.

“But that doesn’t guarantee that we’ll get there,” Murphy said.

Corvian Community got off to a slow start (more about that later). But the Cardinals looked the part of a 1A title contender Saturday in edging a good 4A team, Butler, 59-54 in overtime at the Phenom Preps MLK Showcase at Carmel Christian.

“Right now, we’re at the equivalent of November,” Murphy said, comparing the Cardinals’ progress to other teams. “We’re making progress.”

Corvian Community is mostly a team of quick, skilled players who are between 6-1 and 6-5. The Cardinals’ leader is 6-5 sophomore R.J. Moore Jr.

“He is a very talented scorer,” Butler head coach Patrick King said. “He’s the kind of player you have to defend well.”

The Cardinals also can play physical basketball when they want — as can Butler. At times Saturday afternoon, it looked as if a football game had broken out.

Corvian Community started well, building a 10-5 lead by playing solid defense. Then the Cardinals found themselves unable to solve the Butler defense, so they turned the ball over and missed shots. At the other end of the floor, Butler found holes in the Corvian defense and built a lead that reached nine points.

The Cardinals rallied in the third quarter, and the rest of the game was tightly played. Barrington Cook’s dunk with 12 seconds left tied the game at 47-all and forced overtime. In the extra period, Butler made a couple of mistakes on offense, Corvian took advantage, and built a seven-point lead with 50 seconds left.

Murphy expected an uneven road this season. Several of his basketball players were members of the football team that lost in the 1A state championship on Dec. 21. It has taken some time for them to regain their basketball legs.

“We tried to backload the schedule, but we were invited to a couple of events, and the football final wasn’t until late December, so it has taken us a while,” Murphy said.

A week ago, Murphy’s team lost by only seven points to the odds-on 2A state title favorite, Reidsville.

“We’re getting there,” he said.

Something must be said also about Butler, which handed Independence its first Southwestern 4A loss of the season Friday night and played Saturday without injured Terrance Badio, the team’s leading scorer.

“I think our conference race is wide-open again,” King said. “That’s why we enjoy getting a chance to play in a game like this, against a team like Corvian. It will only make us better.”

Murphy felt the same way.

“Butler has a really good program, and this was a chance to face a solid 4A team,” he said. “It will help us get to where we want to go.”

Will Murphy and his Cardinals give Charlotte another 1A state finalist this season?

“We hope so,” he said. “But we have to earn it. It’s tough. Just ask all those teams that lost in the Super Bowl.”

Malachi McCutcheon led Corvian (8-5) with 20 points, and Moore added 11 points and seven rebounds. Caleb Milligan scored a team-high 15 points for Butler (10-8), and Isaiah White added nine points and 11 rebounds.

Quick links

Chambers upsets No. 11 national Christ School Saturday at home

Indian Land (SC) rallies past Queen’s Grant

Friday’s boys’ rewind: Stars, scores from a busy night

Friday’s girls’ rewind: Stars, scores from a busy night

South Meck finally beats Myers Park, sparks big celebration

Saturday’s #BIG5 top performers

Liam Drayton, Providence: Drayton had a team-high 24 points in a win over Fayetteville Westover at a Martin Luther King event at Southern Lee High School in Sanford, North Carolina.

Ahmari Hicks, East Mecklenburg: East beat Cox Mill 53-49 at the Phenom Hoops’ MLK event at Carmel Christian and won its second game in two nights. Hicks had 18 points, four rebounds Saturday, after East beat conference rival Providence Friday.

Markus Kerr, Chambers: Kerr led an upset over national No. 11 Christ School Saturday with 24 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Alek Kornacki, Concord Academy: In a 59-46 win over Hickory Ridge at the Phenom Hoops event, Kornacki finished with 15 ponts, 10 rebounds and an assist.

Malachi McCutcheon, Corvian Community: In a 59-54 upset of 4A Butler, McCutcheon led the reigning 1A Western regional champions with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Saturday’s girls’ box scores

CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 73, MOUNTAIN VIEW PREP 24

CCDS 14 22 28 9 — 73

Mountain View Prep 0 14 5 5 — 24

CCDS 73 — Blythe 5, Olive Bigham 24, Sam Vanderhave 11, Crane 7, Evelyn Turner 10, Bharti 2, Liles 3, Britton 6, Little 5

MOUNTAIN VIEW 24 — Caldwell 11, Wilder 11, Judd 2

Records: CCDS 16 - 6

Notable: Country Day junior Sam Vanderhave, who hit a buzzer beater Friday night, scored 11 points Saturday and passed 1,000 points for her career.

HOUGH 62, RIVER BLUFF (SC) 24

Hough 20 9 21 12— 62

River Bluff 7 3 10 4 — 24

Hough 62 — Chloe Galombeck 19, Jacquelyn Jakubecy 17, KaLeiya Jones 8, Sophia Zoerb 8, Kate Shryock 4, Kate Breault 3, Sonia Biravanga 3

River Bluff (SC) —24 Jenna Johnson 9, Rilee Bleakley 5, Katie Winegardner 4, Powell Anne Dozier 4, Meghan Tucker 2

Records: Hough 13-4; River Bluff 8-10

PROVIDENCE DAY 78, DARLINGTON (SC) 37

Providence Day 25 20 18 15 — 78

Darlington 5 8 18 6 — 37

PROVIDENCE DAY 78 — Ginny Anne Dumont 13 Jane UpDyke 10 Katelyn Ramsden 11 Clark 9 Stuart 8 Carson 8 Dennison 9 O’Malley 5 Glosson 2 Fyans 3

DARLINGTON 37 — Tatiana Williamson 12 Howie 4 Douglas 6 Mack 8 Ham 2 Woodham 5

Record: PDS 18-7

Saturday’s boys’ box scores

CARMEL CHRISTIAN 60, WEDDINGTON 52

CARMEL CHRISTIAN 60 — Chandler Kennedy 12, Bowman 9, Miles Leaks 10, Griffin 2, Barrett 3, Bryce Slay 22

WEDDINGTON 52 — Zapp 6, Ford 5, Barbier 3, Jefferson 2, Nnaji 4, Vaughn 3, Cain 2, KJ Younger 28

Notable: This was the first time the two schools played. Slay, a Marshall recruit, led Carmel (22 points, four rebounds, four steals, three assists). Weddington got 28 points, nine rebounds from UNC-Greensboro recruit KJ Younger.

CHAMBERS 73, CHRIST SCHOOL 66

Christ School 10 12 21 23 — 66

Chambers 20 18 17 18 — 73

CHAMBERS 73 — Lavonte Jackson 9, Markus Kerr 24, Malik McCotter 12, Tarris Bouie 12, Zyon White 2, Desmond Martin 6, Cameron Thompson 8

Notables: Chambers upset the No. 1-ranked team in North Carolina and MaxPreps’ No. 11-ranked team nationally. Markus Kerr (24 points, three rebounds, three assists), Malik McCotter (12 points, five assists, four rebounds, four steals), Tarris Bouie (12 points, three steals, two rebounds) and Cam Thompson (eight points, 13 rebounds, four assists) had big games for the Cougars.

CONCORD ACADEMY 59, HICKORY RIDGE 46

HICKORY RIDGE 46 — Hill 4, Daniel 3, Dyer 9, Williams 3, Durant 2, Gidney 8, Travien Williams 16

CONCORD ACADEMY 59 — Austin 2, Lincoln Raper 14, Gray Madeira 12, Benham 6, James Minlend 10, Alek Kornacki 15

Notable: For Hickory Ridge, Travien Williams had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. James Minlend (10 points, four rebounds, four steals) and Gray Madeira (12 points, four rebounds, two steals) were among leaders for Concord Academy.

CORVIAN COMMUNITY 59, BUTLER 54

BUTLER 54 — Caleb Milligan 15, Currence 6, Grier 7, White 9, Keys 6, Starnes 8, Branch 3

CORVIAN COMMUNITY 59 — RJ Moore 11, Malachi McCutcheon 20, Milton 7, Hinnant 4, Quareles 6

EAST MECKLENBURG 53, COX MILL 49

EAST MECK 53 — Rupert 2, Wright 8, Johnson 8, James McIver 15, Ahmari Hicks 18, Caldwell 2

COX MILL 49 — Sherod McCormick 17, Philyah 8, Kirkland 5, Cruz Miller 15, Shipp 2, Hunter 2

Notable: Cox Mill’s Cruz Miller (15 points, five rebounds, three steals) to lead the Chargers. East Meck’s Nixon Wright (eight points, eight rebounds, three blocks), Vance Johnson (eight points, five rebounds) and James McIver (15 points, eight rebounds, steal) had big games in addition to Hicks.

FORSYTH COUNTRY DAY 70, HICKORY 54

HICKORY 54 — Forrest 2, Jordan Powell 13, Jay Powell 10, McRee 7, Hayden Hillman 10, Hall 3, Fisher 8, Medley 1

FORSYTH 70 — Chris Gomez 10, Floyd 4, Adams 3, Q Williams 13, Sancha Germeski 12, Adam Horobey 14, Dalton 8, Anicic 6

Notable: Q Williams (13 points, six assists, three steals) and Adam Horbey (14 points, four rebounds) led Forsyth to the win at the Phenom Hoops MLK event at Carmel Christian.

PROVIDENCE DAY 63, ST. JOHN’S (DC) 53

Providence Day 14 9 24 16 — 63

St. John’s 11 13 15 14 — 53

PROVIDENCE DAY 63 — Nick Hailey 10, Julian Johnson 10, Thompson 8, Dunn 7, Haynes 7, Lawrence 7, Battier 6, Scruitsky 6, Winston 2

ST. JOHN’S 53 - Toatley 9, Chase 8, Clark 8, Witherspoon 8, Barton 7, Viney 7, Billy 4, Boney 2

Records: Providence Day 19-4

Notable: Providence Day traveled to Garner High School to participate in the Hoop State MLK showcase and upset the MaxPreps No. 25 ranked team in the country, St John’s Collegiate, out of DC. The Chargers will be back in action Tuesday with a game at rival Charlotte Latin.

SOUTH MECKLENBURG 65, JACKSONVILLE WHITE OAK 56

S. Meck 10 13 18 24 — 65

W. Oak 15 13 6 22 — 56

SOUTH MECKLENBURG 65 — Gatehouse 16, Houpt 15, Yett 14, Howard 13

WHITE OAK 56 — Hobbs 21,Highsmith 16, Avila 13

Records: South Meck 10-7

Notable: South Meck has won six of its last seven games.

WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN 55, THE BURLINGTON SCHOOL 52

TBS 52 — Miles 6, Coleman 3, Cam Flippen 13, Drew Johnson 14, Kaden Hammond 16

WESLEYAN 55 — Hancock 9, Young 2, Nick Keith 15, Augunas 2, Jasean Williams 10, Dobyns 2, Zacch Wiggins 13, Morning 2

Notable: Nick Keith (15 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals) and Jasean Williams (10 points, seven rebounds, five steals and four assists) led Wesleyan to a close win at the Phenom Hoops MLK event at Carmel Christian.

Saturday’s scores, upcoming schedule

(unless otherwise listed, all matchups are girls-boys doubleheaders, with girls’ games at 6 p.m.)

SATURDAY

Phenom Hoops MLK Showcase (boys)

(at Carmel Christian)

Concord Academy 59, Hickory Ridge 46

Corvian 59, Butler 54

Forsyth Country Day 70, Hickory 54

East Mecklenburg 53, Cox Mill 49

Carmel Christian 60, Weddington 52

Wesleyan Christian 55, The Burlington School 52

MLK Peace Showcase

(at West Charlotte)

(boys) Harding vs. Queen City Prep

(girls) Olympic vs. Morrow (GA)

(boys) Ambassador Christian 75, Morrow (GA) 31

(girls) West Charlotte 59, Seventy-First 55

(boys) West Charlotte 49, Seventy-First 42

(boys) Indian Land (SC) 57, Queen’s Grant 51

Craze Sports Classic

(at Indian Land High)

(girls) Garinger vs. Indian Land

(girls) Charlotte Country Day 73, Mountain View Prep (SC) 24

(girls) Providence Day 78, Darlington (SC) 37

(girls) Hough 62, River Bluff (SC) 24

(girls) Butler vs. Lancaster

(boys) Northside Christian 82, South Charlotte Thunder 48

(boys) Carolina International School vs. Mountain View Prep (SC)

(boys) Victory Christian vs. Gaston Christian

Hoopsville MLK Classic

(at Chambers High)

(girls) Charlotte Catholic 54, Chambers 36

(boys) Nation Ford 46, Sugar Creek Charter 43

(boys) Chambers 73, Christ School 66

MLK Showcase at Southern Lee (boys)

(games involving area teams)

Providence d. Westover, score NA

Southern Lee 55, West Cabarrus 42

Nonconference

Asheville Christian 78, SouthLake Christian 44

Charlotte Christian 78, Ben Lippen (SC) 70

Covenant Day d. Rabun Gap (GA) School, score NA

Jackson Day 57, Greensboro Day 43 (girls)

Providence Day 63,Washington (DC) St. John’s 53

South Mecklenburg 65, White Oak 56

Victory Christian d. Rabun Gap (GA), score NA

SUNDAY

The Grind Session (boys)

(at Harding High)

(main gym)

Orlando Downey Christian vs. MN Prep, 10 a.m.

1 of 1 Academy vs. Phoenix Skyline Prep, 11:45 a.m.

Winston-Salem Christian vs. Clearwater (FL) Balboa School, 1:30 p.m.

Westminster (CO) Colorado Prep vs. Chicago Chi Prep, 3:15 p.m.

Orlando Academy of Central Florida vs. Daytona Beach (FL) DME Academy, 5 p.m.

Orlando West Oaks Academy vs. Union (NJ) Patrick School, 6:45 p.m.

(auxiliary gym)

Quality Education vs. Dover (FL) SFA Academy, 10:15 a.m.

Fort Walton Beach (FL) Florida Coastal vs. Allen (KY) Wesley Christian, noon

Maitland (FL) Southeastern Prep vs. Pawling (NY) SFBA Trinity Prep, 1:45 p.m.

Hamilton Heights (TN) vs. Orlando Southern Coast Academy, 3:30 p.m.

Urbana (OH) PDI Prep vs. Conyers (GA) Wilson Academy, 5:15 p.m.

MONDAY

The Grind Session (boys)

(at Harding High)

(main gym)

Urbana (OH) PDI Prep vs. Phoenix Skyline Prep, 10 a.m.

Winston-Salem Christian vs. Orlando Academy of Southern Florida, 11:45 a.m.

Chicago Chi Prep vs. 1 of 1 Academy, 1:30 p.m.

(auxiliary gym)

Allen (KY) Wesley Christian vs. TBA, 10:15 a.m.

Quality Education vs. Orlando Southern Coast Academy, noon

Hamilton Heights (TN) vs. Dover (FL) SFA Academy, 1:45 p.m.

MONDAY

The Grind Session (boys)

(at Harding High)

(main gym)

Urbana (OH) PDI Prep vs. Phoenix Skyline Prep, 10 a.m.

Winston-Salem Christian vs. Orlando Academy of Southern Florida, 11:45 a.m.

Chicago Chi Prep vs. 1 of 1 Academy, 1:30 p.m.

(auxiliary gym)

Allen (KY) Wesley Christian vs. TBA, 10:15 a.m.

Quality Education vs. Orlando Southern Coast Academy, noon

Hamilton Heights (TN) vs. Dover (FL) SFA Academy, 1:45 p.m.

Metrolina Athletic Conference

Metrolina Christian at Westminster Catawba, 1:30 p.m.

Nonconference

Arborbrook Christian at NorthPoint Christian (boys), 5 p.m.

Ardrey Kell at Legion Collegiate (SC) (boys), 2:15 p.m.

Davidson Day vs. Charlottesville (VA) Miller School (boys), at Raleigh Garner High, 4:30 p.m.

Hickory Grove Christian at Liberty Prep (boys), 7 p.m.

Jackson Day vs. Ridge View (SC) (girls), at Winston-Salem Christian, 2:30 p.m.

Montverde Academy (FL) at Cannon School (girls), 2 p.m.

South Charlotte Thunder at Charlotte Elite (boys), 6:45 p.m.

TUESDAY

CISAA

Cannon School at Charlotte Christian, 7 p.m.

Providence Day at Charlotte Latin, 7 p.m.

Southern Carolina 4A

Sun Valley at Marvin Ridge

Weddington at Cuthbertson

Big South 3A

Forestview at Stuart Cramer

Hunter Huss at Ashbrook

Kings Mountain at Crest

South Point at North Gaston

South Piedmont 3A

East Rowan at Northwest Cabarrus

Jay M. Robinson at South Rowan

Jesse Carson at Central Cabarrus

West Rowan at Lake Norman Charter

Western Foothills 3A

Fred T. Foard at St. Stephens

Hickory at Statesville

North Lincoln at East Lincoln

West Iredell at North Iredell

Rocky River 2A-3A

Monroe at Forest Hills

Parkwood at Central Academy

Piedmont at West Stanly

Catawba Valley 2A

Bunker Hill at Bandys

East Burke at West Caldwell

Maiden at Newton-Conover

West Lincoln at Lincolnton

Catawba Shores 1A-2A

Bradford Prep at Corvian Community

Langtree Charter at Christ the King

Lincoln Charter at Mountain Island Charter

Pine Lake Prep at Community School of Davidson

Southern Piedmont 1A-2A

Bessemer City at Shelby

East Gaston at Cherryville

Metro 1A

Jackson Day at Valor Prep

Queen’s Grant Charter at Carolina International

Metrolina Athletic

Concord Academy at Gaston Day

Gaston Christian at Metrolina Christian

SouthLake Christian at Hickory Grove Christian

Foothills Athletic

University Christian at Statesville Christian

Nonconference

Arborbrook Christian at North Hills Christian (girls), 6 p.m.

Cabarrus Stallions at Albemarle

Carmel Christian at Porter Ridge (boys)

Combine Academy at Bonnie Cone Leadership (boys), 6:30 p.m.

Lab Univ. Prep at Shining Light Academy (boys), 7 p.m.

Legion Collegiate (SC) at Ambassador Christian (boys), 7 p.m.

South Charlotte Thunder at Lee Park Prep, 5 p.m.

Southwestern Randolph at Mount Pleasant

Westminster Catawba at Sugar Creek Charter, 5:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

SoMeck 4A

Ardrey Kell at South Mecklenburg

CISAA

Covenant Day at Charlotte Country Day

Greater Metro 4 4A

Cox Mill at South Iredell

Hickory Ridge at West Cabarrus

Mooresville at Lake Norman

Rocky River 2A-3A

Monroe at Parkwood

Southern Piedmont 1A-2A

Burns at Thomas Jefferson Academy

Yadkin Valley 1A-2A

North Stanly at Gray Stone Day

Nonconference

Central Davidson at Northwest Cabarrus

East Rowan at A.L. Brown

Elevation Prep at Oak Hill (VA) Academy (boys), 6 p.m.

Highland Tech at R-S Central

Piedmont Community Charter at Christ the King, 5:30 p.m.

Southwestern Randolph at Mount Pleasant

West Mecklenburg at Rocky River

THURSDAY

Metrolina Athletic

Concord Academy at Westminster Catawba

Nonconference

Cabarrus Stallions at South Guilford Homeschool

Central Carolina Prep at Charlotte Elite (boys)

Covenant Classical at SouthLake Christian

Lee Park Prep at Gospel Light Christian, 5 p.m.

North Hills Christian at Carmel Christian (boys)

Victory Christian at Davidson Day (boys)

West Mecklenburg at Rocky River

FRIDAY

Queen City 3A-4A

Hopewell at Harding

Hough at North Mecklenburg

West Charlotte at Mallard Creek

West Mecklenburg at Chambers

SoMeck 4A

Ballantyne Ridge at Myers Park

Berry Academy at Palisades

Olympic at South Mecklenburg

Southwestern 4A

Butler at Garinger

East Mecklenburg at Rocky River

Providence at Charlotte Catholic

CISAA

Charlotte Latin at Charlotte Christian, 5:30 p.m.

Charlotte Country Day at Cannon School, 5:30 p.m.

Providence Day at Covenant Day, 5:30 p.m.

Metro 4 4A

Hickory Ridge at A.L. Brown

Mooresville at Cox Mill

West Cabarrus at South Iredell

Southern Carolina 4A

Marvin Ridge at Weddington

Sun Valley at Porter Ridge

Big South 3A

Crest at North Gaston

Hunter Huss at Forestview

Kings Mountain at South Point

Stuart Cramer at Ashbrook

South Piedmont 3A

East Rowan at Central Cabarrus

Jay M. Robinson at Lake Norman Charter

South Rowan at Concord

West Rowan at Jesse Carson

Western Foothills 3A

East Lincoln at Hickory

Fred T. Foard at North Iredell

North Lincoln at Statesville

West Iredell at St. Stephens

Rocky River 2A-3A

Central Academy at West Stanly

Parkwood at Forest Hills

Piedmont at Anson County

Catawba Valley 2A

Bandys at West Lincoln

Bunker Hill at Lincolnton

Maiden at East Burke

West Caldwell at Newton-Conover

Catawba Shores 1A-2A

Bradford Prep at Langtree Charter

Lincoln Charter at Corvian Community

Pine Lake Prep at Christ the King

Mountain Island Charter at Community School of Davidson

Southern Piedmont 1A-2A

East Gaston at Highland Tech

Shelby at Burns

Thomas Jefferson Academy at Cherryville

Yadkin Valley 1A-2A

Albemarle at North Stanly

South Stanly at Gray Stone Day

Union Academy at Mount Pleasant

Metro 1A

Queen’s Grant Charter at Piedmont Community Charter

Sugar Creek charter at Jackson Day

Metrolina Athletic

Gaston Christian at Gaston Day

Hickory Grove Christian at Metrolina Christian

Foothills Athletic

Hickory Christian at Salem Baptist, 6:30 p.m.

Nonconference

Independence at Ambassador Christian (boys)

Lake Norman Christian at Victory Christian

Lee Park Prep at Fletcher School, 6 p.m.

Saturday

Well Invitational (boys)

(at Hopewell)

Lab Univ. Prep vs. Elevation Prep, 10 a.m.

Carolina International vs. Rock Hill, 11:30 a.m.

Grimsley vs. Rocky River, 1 p.m.

1 of 1 Academy vs. Charlotte Performance Institute, 2:30 p.m.

Corvian Community vs. Seventy-First, 4 p.m.

West Charlotte vs. Victory Christian, 5:30 p.m.

Hopewell vs. Ambassador Christian, 7 p.m.

Nonconference

Chatham Homeschool at Cabarrus Stallions

Sunday

No games scheduled