Yahoo Sports Saturday’s high school basketball rewind: No. 3 Providence Day stops No. 2 Concord Academy
Sometimes, it’s pretty good just to “feel better.”
As in, Providence Day boys basketball coach Ron Johnson feels better about his team.
And for that matter, Johnson simply feels better.
“We’re still coming together, but I like where we could be going,” Johnson said Saturday evening, after his Chargers handed Concord Academy its first loss of the season, 61-58, in the nightcap of the Barefoot Classic at Providence Day.
Johnson has dealt with a few health-related issues recently, and while he didn’t want to elaborate, he said Saturday evening that he “had to take some time to deal with it.”
The good news, he said, is that “I’m doing a lot better now.”
Johnson said he is happy to be taking on the task of turning a group of talented basketball players into a team that could once again contend for a state championship — much like last year, when Providence Day was private school 4A state runner-up.
“Potentially, we could be really good, especially defensively,” Johnson said. “We’ve just got to get consistent.”
The Chargers showed that defensive ability at times Saturday night, in a battle of teams that are likely to be playing basketball well into February this season.
Providence Day (10-3) bolted to a 16-6 lead, held a fairly consistent lead of around five or six points through the second and third quarters, then held off a barrage of Concord Academy 3-point field goals in the closing portion of the game.
“That was a great team we faced,” Johnson said of the Eagles (14-1). “(Head coach Frank Cantadore) always does a great job with his teams. And when they start making those 3’s. …”
Providence Day led 37-24 after a Sean Dunn layup with 6:04 left in the third quarter.
Over the next 12 minutes, Concord Academy hit 8 of 11 from 3-point range. A 3-pointer by Gray Madeira with 1:11 left cut the Chargers’ lead to 59-58.
Jonah Lawrence made a pair of free throws for the Chargers with 8.2 seconds left for a 61-58 lead, then Providence Day played the kind of defense Johnson wanted to see.
The Chargers prevented the Eagles from getting off a clean 3-point attempt, although the Eagles’ bench thought the defense was a bit too intense on Madeira’s shot with two seconds remaining.
“Their offense forces an opponent to go places it doesn’t want to go,” Johnson said of Concord Academy. “We made enough plays, though, to win it.”
The two teams played like state contenders. Despite the rugged defense, Providence Day shot 61 percent from the floor (22 of 36), and Concord Academy hit 50 percent (18 of 36). The Chargers turned the ball over only six times.
Saturday’s #BIG5 top performers
Za’Miya Bynum, Misa Garris, Queens Grant girls: In an 62-36 win over East Rutherford, Bynum had 30 points, seven rebounds, five steals and five assists. Garris, a former star at Garinger, had 20 points, 12 steals, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Kenan Dixon, Cannon School: In a 97-62 win over Corvian Community at the Ish Smith Showcase, Dixon had 34 points, five steals, two rebounds and two assists. Teammates Sean Nix (22 points, six rebounds, four steals, four assists) and Evan Ingram (17 points, 11 rebounds) had strong games. RJ Moore had 29 points, nine rebounds and two assists for Corvian.
Ginny Anne Dumont, Providence Day girls: In a 60-33 win over Charlotte Catholic, Dumont had career highs in points (27) and steals (10).
Zaiyir Phillips, Hunter Huss: In a 61-53 win over East Lincoln, Phillips had 28 points, seven rebounds, a steal and an assist.
KJ Shouse, Carolina International: Shouse led his Concord-based team to a 39-34 win over Greensboro Dudley. He had 22 points, eight rebounds and a steal.
Saturday’s girls’ box scores
NO. 7 CONCORD ACADEMY 35, MYERS PARK 33
Concord Academy 9 11 7 8 — 35
Myers Park 8 5 9 11 — 33
CONCORD ACADEMY 35 — Justice Alexander 13, Taylor Smith 12, Jayla Brower 5, Quinn Hicks 3, Faith Bekich 2
MYERS PARK 33 — Amani Barner 15, Summer Thomason 9, Camille Christian 5, Brielle Hopkins 2, Chayla McDaniel 2
Notable: Concord Academy (11-3); next game Wednesday vs. S3 Academy (Cherokee Invitational); Myers Park
(1-8); next game Tuesday at Ballantyne Ridge
NO. 15 CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 76, CARY ACADEMY 32
CCDS 15 14 31 16 — 76
Cary Academy 10 16 2 6 — 32
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 76 — Margaret Blythe 27, Olive Bigham 15, Sam Vanderhave 13, Crane 8, Turner 8, Starnes 4, Liles 1
CARY ACADEMY 32 — Dematteis 14, Young 12, Lutz 6, Leuchtmann 2
NO. 16 WEDDINGTON 64, MILLBROOK 59
Weddington 18 18 12 16 — 64
Millbrook 10 16 11 22 - 59
WEDDINGTON 64 — KJ Younger 29, Mason Zepp 9, Jefferson 6, Nnaji 6, Cain 5, Vicks 4, Vaughn 3, Ford 1, Muteb 1
MILLBROOK 59 — Bowen 18, Conti 12, Dean 11, Hester 8, Gray 7, Stownpler 2, Nathani 1,
Records: Weddington 7-2 Milbrook 4-4
Notable: Weddington’s KJ Younger (UNCG Commit) led all scorers with 29 points to lead the Warriors past Millbrook and extend the Weddington win streak to four games. Weddington will travel to play a neutral site game vs Covenant Day at the Phenom Hoops’ Mike Gminski Showcase, hosted at Cox Mill High School on Friday Dec 20th at 4:30 p.m.
FORT MILL 58, PROVIDENCE 40
Providence 8 8 9 15 — 40
Maiden 16 13 17 12 — 58
PROVIDENCE 40 — Avery Detenber 9, Julia Skinner 2, Anna Fillnow 4, Emma Fuller 9, Marlee Whitten 4, Rachel Roberts 2, Claire Page 1, Bethany Beigel 3, Elliott Stafford 6
FORT MILL 58 — Colbie Wolf 24, Vivian Bunting 1, Naynay Ford 4, Izze Barber 7, Gianna Demauro 3, Matyia Parker 1, Kate Marker 3, Saylor Bebberling 8, Ava Shave 2, Zoe Williams 5
Records: Providence 3-5
OLYMPIC 59, HARDING 57
Olympic 15 7 15 11 11 — 59
Harding 10 9 16 13 9 — 57
OLYMPIC 59 — Jaden Hardnett 14, Randy Johnson 13, JD Terrell 12, Maurice Sabb 9, Eddie Cota 8, De’Angelo Hall 3
HARDING 57 — Lonnie Walker 15, Kaharri Coleman 11, Dayton Ross 9, JaHeim Young 9, Eli Brewer 5, Bernard George 4, Nate Decker 4
Note: Sophomore guard Jaden Hardnett finished with 14 points making clutch buckets at the end of regulation and in overtime. Olympic improved to 7-0. Harding fell to 1-5.
QUEENS GRANT 62, EAST RUTHERFORD 38
EAST RUTHERFORD 38 — Faith Smith 14, Zilah Dewberry 15, Harris 8, Thompson 1
QUEENS GRANT 62 — Misa Garris 20, Za’Miya Bynum 30, Casey Smith 12
PROVIDENCE DAY 60, CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC 33
Providence Day 16 11 14 19 — 60
Catholic 4 15 11 3 — 39
PROVIDENCE DAY 60 — Ginny Anne Dumont 27 Clark 7 Carson 4 Ramsden 2 O’Malley 4 Glosson 6 Fyans 8
CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC 39 — Kailey Richard 11 Farrell 3 Willams 1 Dumler 2 Tucker 3 Fey 2 Shea 8 Hoefling 3
Record: PDS 7-5
Notable: Providence Day sophomore Ginny Anne Dumont had career highs in points (27) and steals (10).
WATAUGA 83, NO. 12 EAST LINCOLN 56
EAST LINCOLN 56 — Montanari 8, Matz 5, Brooklyn Miller 14, Lane Pethel 10, Taniyah Thomas 19, Ledford 1
WATAUGA 83 — Julie Matheson 11, Thompson 1, Izzy Torgerson 12, Kate Sears 38, Sarah Thompson 10, Blair Haines 10, Katilyn Damer 10
Notable: Kate Sears, the No. 1 ranked girls basketball recruit in North Carolina and a Virginia Tech recruit, had 38 points, 15 rebounds, 14 assists and six steals for Watauga at the Phenom Hoops 828 Showcase in Maiden. She made seven 3-point shots.
Saturday’s boys’ box scores
NO. 3 PROVIDENCE DAY 61, NO. 2 CONCORD ACADEMY 58
Concord Academy 9 15 18 16 — 58
Providence Day 16 15 18 13 — 61
CONCORD ACADEMY 58 — James Minlend 16, Lincoln Raper 13, Jake Benham 12, Alek Kornack 6, Brylee Austin 3, Gray Madeira 3, Romain Boyer 3, Icare Bakadisula 2
PROVIDENCE DAY 61 — Jonah Lawrence 15, Julian Johnson 13, Deuce Haynes 12, Sean Dunn 7, Nick Hailey 6, Aidan Scruitsky 4, Braxton Winston 2, Zeke Battier 2
Notable: Concord Academy (14-1); next game Friday vs. Bull City Prep; Providence Day (10-3); next game Saturday vs. Daniel Boone
NO. 10 INDEPENDENCE 75, WAKEFIELD 34
Independence 20 25 18 12 — 75
Wakefield: 11 9 10 4 — 34
INDEPENDENCE 75 — Jaxson Neely 13, Nicholas Barnes 11, Omarion Burgess 11, Dylan McFarland 11, Davis 6, Jasper 6, Fike 5, Macharia 5, Lee 3, Fisher 2, Smith 2
WAKEFIELD 34 — Hicks 8, Goodknecht 6, Sizer 6, Dudley 5, Wisler 4, Taylor 2, Pugh 2, Blackburn 1
Records: Independence 7-1; Wakefield 3-3
NO. 14 MOORESVILLE 86, CENTRAL CABARRUS 72
Mooresville 26 18 24 18 — 86
Central Cabarrus 13 14 20 25 — 72
CENTRAL CABARRUS 72 — Kevonta’ Martin 15, Cook 1, Montague 7, LarQuise Burse-Jones 18, Smith 9, Infinite Morrow 22
MOORESVILLE 86 — White 2, K. Wilson 8, Bryson Demby 10, Qua Bailey 10, Bost 5, Nolan Ericson 17, C. Wilson 4, Eian Bailey 12, Kaleb Oloyede 11, Schaen 4, Clark 5
BEREAN BAPTIST 60, QUEENS GRANT 57
Queens Grant 17 7 21 12 — 57
Berean Baptist 11 14 11 24 — 60
QGHS 57 — Ian Howard 18, Chase Smith 13, Montgomery 6, DeBerry 6, Allen 6, Clark 4, White 2, Smith 2
BEREAN BAPTIST 60 — Justin Caldwell 18, Jadyn Cooper 13, Jossiah Johnson 15, Sanders 6, Goggins 6, Harper 2
CANNON SCHOOL 97, CORVIAN COMMUNITY 62
CANNON SCHOOL 97 — Baker 5, Kenan Dixon 34, Underwood 2, Sancho 7, Steinour 5, Smith 2, Sean Nix 22, Evan Ingram 17
CORVIAN COMMUNITY 62 — RJ Moore 29, McCutheon 8, Milton 1, Cook 2, Maxwell Garvin 11, Frey 1, Olsen 4
CAROLINA INTERNATIONAL 39, DUDLEY 34
DUDLEY 34 — Zion Nichols 10, Rogers 1, LiShawn Speller 13, Foxx 6, Barnett 4
CAROLINA INTERNATIONAL 39 — Salter 7, Griffin 5, KJ Shouse 22, Gerringer 6
CARY ACADEMY 71, CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 62
Cary Academy 18 13 21 19 — 71
Country Day 13 14 13 22— 62
CARY ACADEMY 72 — Rousseau 31, Twedy 13, Lando 11, Williams 10, Newman 4, Harrell 2
COUNTRY DAY 62 — DJ Lindsey 13, Jerome Lowery 13, Joseph Youakim 12, Diaz 7, Clark 7, Roberts 4, Schulze 4, Batten 2
Records: Charlotte Country Day 7-6; Cary Academy 4-7
HUNTER HUSS 61, EAST LINCOLN 53
EAST LINCOLN 53 — Hill 6, Jaxon Dollar 17, Atkins 4, Grant Lawless 11, Ikard 3, Jackson Fannon 12
HUNTER HUSS 61 — Antonio Worthy 16, Gladden 4, Davis 2, Smith 8, Zaiyir Phillips 28
LINCOLNTON 91, EAST RUTHERFORD 65
LINCOLNTON 91 — Tyler McClain 19, Tucker Robinette 14, LJ Smith 39, Charlie Foster 10, Cam Smith 2, Jefferies 4
EAST RUTHERFORD 65 — Matthew Pinkerton 18, Roof 7, Baker 5, Suttle 8, Andre Staley 14, Arrowood 8
Friday’s late box scores
DME ACADEMY NATIONAL 73, NO. 1 CANNON SCHOOL GIRLS
Cannon School 8 13 13 18— 52
#22 DME Academy 25 17 15 16 — 73
CANNON SCHOOL 52 — JaKaila Gaskin 10, Maya Mccorkle 3, Khloe Thompson 8, Madison Drayton 12, Brooke Busby 10, J. Thompson 5, Nakamura 2
#22 DME 72 — Gigi Battle 24, Minor 2, Desdunes 12, Duraute 1, Hickey 3, Brown 2, Ubaka 1, Barnes 11, Gladiuex 6, Zellous 10
Records: Cannon School 10-3 DME Academy 10-3
LAKE NORMAN CHARTER 68, CONCORD 40
Lake Norman Charter 12 18 22 16 — 68
Concord 2 9 14 15 — 40
LNC 68 – Reece Long 29, Abby Courtney 19, Sam Colantonio 7, Grace Hart 5, Caroline Mercuri 4, Maggie Kurz 2, Sarah Negrete 2
CHS 40 – Kalyin Williams 12, Taryn Blue 11, Natalie Nebrick 8, Khloe Taylor 7, Rah’Ionna Glascoe 2
LINCOLNTON 79, BUNKER HILL 64
Lincolnton 17 21 20 21 — 79
Bunker Hill 15 16 18 15 — 64
LINCOLNTON 79 — LJ Smith 29, Tucker Robinette 14, Cameron Smith 12, Charlie Foster 10, Tyler McClain 6, Nehemiah Thompson 6, Evan Jefferies 2
Records: Lincolnton (5-1); Bunker Hill (0-8)
