Friday’s high school basketball rewind: No. 2 Independence runs past No. 1 Mallard Creek
A year ago, as her team was making a run to the Sweet 16 without its best player, Independence High girls’ basketball coach Lauren Galvani admits she let herself think ahead just a little. She said she thought about how good her team could be this season when Kaylee Carson came back.
Carson was the 2021-22 Southwestern 4A player of the year as a sophomore, but she sustained a torn ACL in her knee just weeks before her junior season.
Carson is back now, and Galvani saw her team makes it case to be ranked No. 1 in the Charlotte metro Friday night.
The Patriots, No. 2 in The Sweet 16, got up by more than 20 points on No. 1 Mallard Creek and then held off a furious Mavericks run to win 76-70 at the Charlotte Hoops Challenge at Harding High.
Carson finished 30 points, six rebounds, six steals and three assists.
“Shes just able to score it so well,” Galvani said. “She gives us another big-time option on offense and she defends. She’s so tough to guard.”
Carson, preseason all-state pick Kam Kitchen (13 points, five assists), Jessica Worthey (12 points, 13 rebounds) and Chloe Moss (13 points) came out cooking. Independence was up 26-15 after the first quarter and 52-30 at halftime.
“We’re lucky we had the first half we did,” Galvani said. “I thought we played really well and really together in the first half, but in the second half, Mallard Creek did what I thought. They trapped and pressed and we struggled.”
Led by Lili Booker (24 points, six assists, four rebounds), a Cannon School transfer, and preseason all-state Elle Stone (12 points, six rebounds), the Mavericks held Independence to just six points in the third quarter. In the fourth, Malllard Creek got as close as five.
But in a championship-type atmosphere, Galvani said she felt her team grew up.
“We were on a high at halftime,” she said. “We told them that both teams will go on runs and you’ve got to be able to handle it. And us pulling this out at the end was big for us because we’ll be in this situation again. For us to have that experience now, of going to the wire and winning, is going to help so much.”
▪ Scroll down for photos from the game, top performers, game recaps and box scores from the Charlotte Hoops Challenge, the Phenom Lakesgiving and other area events:
Friday’s #BIG5 Top Performers
Amare Bethel, Charlotte Country Day: Bethel had 33 points, 11 rebounds and three steals in a 77-56 win over West Charlotte at the Charlotte Hoops Challenge.
Kaylee Carson, Independence girls: Carson put up 30 points, six rebounds, six steals and three assists as the Patriots, No. 2 in the Sweet 16, beat No. 1 Mallard Creek 76-70.
Gracynn Gough, Charlotte Catholic girls: Gough had 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in a 61-42 win over JM Robinson. Catholic is No. 3 in The Sweet 16. Robinson is No. 6.
Austin Swartz, Cannon School: Swartz registered 19 points, six rebounds and five assists in a 76-72 win over Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Kam Taylor, Olympic: Taylor netted 28 points, 12 rebounds in a 81-68 win at Phenom Lakesgiving. Carmel will face No. 3 Central Cabarrus Saturday at Lake Norman High.
Friday’s Charlotte Hoops Challenge roundup
No. 3 Charlotte Catholic girls 61, No. 6 JM Robinson 42: In a game that featured two top national recruits — Catholic’s UNC-bound Blanca Thomas and Robinson’s Ohio State-bound Ella Hobbs — Catholic led from the start. The Cougars were up 19-10 at the end of one quarter and were up 17 points at the end of the third. Robinson shot 26.7 percent for the game. Hobbs had 24 points, 14 rebounds. Thomas finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Catholic’s Gracynn Gough had 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
No. 6 Victory Christian 76, Charlotte Christian 55: Victory Christian outrebounded Charlotte Christian 37-21 in an easy win. Alius Bowswer had 16 points, five assists. Abdulai Fanta Kabba added 14 points and 13 rebounds. Christian’s Daniel Guandolo had 26 points and three rebounds.
No. 7 Northside Christian 56, Independence 33: The reigning NC private schools 1A state champions won a public vs. private matchup Friday, mainly by limiting Independence to 24.4 percent shooting. Kyrell Shaw had 14 points, seven rebounds for Northside. Independence got 11 points, three rebounds from Kaleb Jasper.
West Cabarrus girls 54, No. 10 South Meck 38: West Cabarrus held South Mecklenburg to 26 percent shooting for the game and upset a top 10 Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 team. Kaiya Boyd (10 points, eight rebounds, seven steals) and Rayana Minard (12 points, six assists, six steals, five rebounds) led West Cabarrus. South Meck got 26 points, five rebounds and five steals from Makailah Davis.
No. 11 Cannon School 76, Our Lady of Mount Carmel 72: Cannon used a big second quarter 25-10 push to get a 40-22 halftime lead. Mount Carmel made a push, outscoring the Cougars 33-19 in the fourth quarter, but came up short. Miami recruit Austin Swart led Cannon with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists.
No. 14 United Faith 79, West Cabarrus 49: United Faith led 42-21 at halftime and won easily. The Falcons outrebounded West Cabarrus 79-49 and limited West to 33 percent shooting. Gianni Vines had 11 points, four rebounds and three steals for West Cabarrus. Faith was led by 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists from Dylan Deluca, plus 15 points each from Isaiah Sutherland and JD Bowden.
Charlotte Country Day 77, West Charlotte 56: Country Day trailed by two points after the first quarter, but pulled away from the Lions in the final three quarters. Amare Bethel (33 points, 11 rebounds, three steals) and Nick Diaz (11 points, four rebounds, four assists) led the Bucs. West Charlotte got 29 points from Damani Day and AC Pressley plus nine points, 17 rebounds from Elijah LIttlejohn.
Charlotte Latin 55, Harding 53: Harding made a big fourth quarter push, outscoring Latin 15-7, but came up just short. Latin’s Titus Ivory scored the game-winner with 11 seconds to play to win. The Hawks were led by James Jones (12 points, eight rebounds, three assists) and Alex Dauska (10 points, two rebounds). Harding got 24 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists from Chase Bryson.
JM Robinson 60, Olympic 47: Londen Roseman made 10-of-12 free throws and finished 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals to lead Robinson to the win. Teammates Brian Rowe and David Frazier combined for 22 points. Olympic, which shot just 28 percent for the game, got 17 points, four rebounds and three steals from Maurice Sabb.
Westminster Catawba 76, Rock Hill Northwestern 64: In a battle of a pair of Rock Hill teams, Westminster overcame a 35-27 rebounding deficit, getting big games from Stephen Quinn (23 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals) and Nikayle Hodge (20 points, seven assists). Northwestern was led by 21 points, 11 rebounds from Sir Joseph.
Friday’s Lakesgiving roundup
No. 3 Lake Norman girls 67, Lincoln Charter 16: The Wildcats got 26 points from Samathan Sheehan in an easy win. Lake Norman will face national power NC Good Better Best Saturday.
No. 9 Davidson Day 61, Chapel Hill 53: Isaiah Denis had 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and a block to lead his team to the win. Teammate Mason Smith had 12 points, eight rebounds.
Carmel Christian 81, Rocky River 68: Carmel got a huge performance from its two stars in the win. Bryce Slay, son of coach Tamar Slay, had 32 points, four blocks, four assists and two rebounds. Olympic transfer Kam Taylor had 28 points, 12 rebounds.
Hickory Ridge 53, No. 14 United Faith: Sheree Gidney had 20 points, 12 rebounds and two assists and Miranda Dudley had 16 rebounds at Hickory Ridge (2-1) upset United Faith.
Hopewell 68, Gaston Christian 45: Led by 17 points from Julian Mack and 11 from Quay Watson, Hopewell stunned a Gaston Christian team that was ranked in The Observer’s preseason Sweet 16 and is seen as a state championship contender in the private school division.
Saturday’s key games
(Boys) Carmel Christian vs. Central Cabarrus, in Phenom Hoops Lakesgiving event at Lake Norman, 6 p.m. – This will be the 2023-24 debut for Central Cabarrus, which went unbeaten last season in winning the 3A state title. The Vikings are led by twins Carson and Chase Daniel, with 6-5 Desmond Kent also playing a key role. Their nonstop pressure defense and fast-break offense even tires out spectators. Carmel Christian, one of the state’s top private schools, counters with 6-7 Kam Taylor and 6-7 Bryce Slay, a pair of strong rebounders who also have a scoring touch.
(Boys) Ardrey Kell vs. Gaston Day, in Charlotte Hoops Challenge at Harding, 6 p.m. – Guards Delani Hammonds and Caden Caskey lead Ardrey Kell, whose head coach, Mike Craft, got his 300th career victory last week. The Knights are always a conference title contender. Gaston Day is led by 5-11 guard DeShawn Coulter, an excellent shooter and playmaker.
(Boys) Lake Norman vs. Davidson Day, in Phenom Hoops Lakesgiving event at Lake Norman, 7:30 p.m. – Davidson Day is the big early-season story, as the Patriots have opened with several big victories. Ja Spruill and Anthony Roger lead the Patriots. Lake Norman counters with a tough defense and plenty of size, including 6-9 Trent Steinour.
(Boys) Chambers vs. Covenant Day, in Charlotte Hoops Challenge at Harding, 8 p.m. – The finale of the Charlotte Hoops Challenge features Chambers, led by 6-6 Maurio Hanson (14.8 points a game), and Covenant Day, keyed by returning starters Elijah Green and Chris Rivens and a couple standout transfers.
Quick links
7 new teams join Charlotte Observer/News & Observer statewide polls
3 new teams in Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 regional poll
Tuesday’s rewind: scores, stars from Monday, Tuesday’s games
Friday’s Charlotte Hoops Challenge box scores
▪ Includes Sweet 16 rankings
NO. 2 INDEPENDENCE GIRLS 76, NO. 1 MALLARD CREEK 70
Mallard Creek 15 15 12 28 — 70
Independence 26 26 6 18 — 76
MALLARD CREEK 70 — My’Asia Young 11, J. Stone 9, Elle Stone 12, Lili Booker 24, Robertson 9, Easterling 3, Blase 2
INDEPENDENCE 76 — Moss 2, Kam Kitchen 13, Kaylee Carson 30, Jessica Worthey 12, Chloe Moss 13, Brown 2, Brimmey 4
NO. 3 CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC 61, NO. 6 JM ROBINSON 42
Charlotte Catholic 19 12 18 12 — 61
JM Robinson 10 11 12 9 — 42
CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC 61 — McArdle 4, Kernodle 5, Harper McClain 15, Blanca Thomas 14, Gracynn Gough 23
JM ROBINSON 42 — Smith 2, Young 2, Batts 3, Ella Hobbs 24, C. Hobbs 9, Lindsey 2
NO. 6 VICTORY CHRISTIAN 76, CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 55
Victory 14 17 21 24 — 76
Charlotte Christian 19 15 10 11 — 55
VICTORY CHRISTIAN 76 — Perry 8, Alius Bowswer 16, Smith 8, Murillo 9, Abdulai Fanta Kabba 14, Whitfield 7, Marshall 4, Abubkar Cham 10
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 55 — Cooper 2, Rosen 4, Daniel Guandolo 26, Guess 6, Marshall Nicholson 15
NO. 7 NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN 56, INDEPENDENCE 33
Northside Christian 15 22 10 9 — 56
Independence 4 11 4 14 — 33
NORTHSIDE 56 — Arael Jones 12, Josi Johnson-Freeman 10, Kyrell Shaw 14, Smit 7, Cowan 3, Reeves 3, Shouse 1, Kirkwood 6
INDEPENDENCE 33 — Alberga 3, Thompson 2, Jasper 2, Davis 4, Lee 3, Kaleb Jasper 11, Barnes 4, Neely 4
NO. 8 UNITED FAITH 79, WEST CABARRUS 49
West Cabarrus 10 11 14 14 —49
United Faith 20 22 19 18 — 79
WEST CABARRUS 49 — Nance 7, Hurley 8, Johnson 3, Gianni Vines 11, Wilson 2, Crosland 6, McCrae 6, Lewis 6
UNITED FAITH 79 — J85, D Bowden 15, DJ Boyce 10, Johnson 9, Isaiah Sutherland 15, Dylan Deluca 18, Brown 9, Little 2, Hayden 1
WEST CABARRUS GIRLS 54, NO. 10 SOUTH MECKLENBURG 38
West Cabarrus 12 13 15 14 — 54
South Meck 6 8 7 17 — 38
WEST CABARRUS 54 — Tyler Collins 10, Kaiya Boyd 10, Neal 4, Brown 2, Rayana Minard 12, Simmons 4, Shairah White 10, Sandidge 2
SOUTH MECKLENBURG 38 — Makailah Davis 26, Hensley 4, Brown 4, Williams 2, Heaslet 2
NO. 11 CANNON SCHOOL 76, OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL 72
Mount Carmel 12 10 17 33 — 72
Cannon School 15 25 17 19 — 76
MOUNT CARMEL 72 — Mario Tatum 13, Tristen Wilson 21, Mancho 7, Dixon 9, Hall 8, Heflin 4, Ralph Rudusans 10
CANNON SCHOOL 76 — Austin Swartz 19, Jaylen Claggett 17, Isaiah Henry 13, Lincoln Vinson 10, Murash 3, Martin 4, King 2, Nix 3, Ingram 5
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 77, WEST CHARLOTTE 56
Country Day 12 17 29 19 — 77
West Charlotte 14 8 23 11 — 56
COUNTRY DAY 77 — Smith 3, Nick Diaz 11, Amare Bethel 33, Lowery 3, Yoseph Youakim 14, Scott 5, Schuize 5, Bates 3
WEST CHARLOTTE 56 — Damani Day 15, AC Pressy 14, Blakeney 2, Faison 2, Kane 2, Littlejohn 9, Pressley 6, Coleman 2, Cherry 4
CHARLOTTE LATIN 55, HARDING 53
Charlotte Latin 15 16 17 7 — 55
Harding 9 15 14 1 — 53
CHARLOTTE LATIN 55 — Miles 2, James Jones 12, Levy 9, Alex Dauska 10, Pence 7, Ivory 5,King 8, McGirt 2
HARDING 53 — Jenkins 2, Wendall McGill 13, Chase Bryson 24, CJ Caldwell 10, Hector 4
JM ROBINSON 60, OLYMPIC 47
Olympic 14 9 14 10 — 47
Robinson 16 12 16 16 — 60
OLYMPIC 47 — Maurice Sabb 17, Lyon Jr., 2, Hall 6, Johnson 9, Hardnett 3, tomlinson 1, Jackson 5, Nicholson 2, McAdams 2
ROBINSON 60 — Brian Rowe 11, David Frazier 11, Londen Roseman 18,, White 2, Harlee 7, Jamell Reid 7, Jarell Reid 2, Butler 2
WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 76, ROCK HILL NORTHWESTERN 64
Westminster 18 19 20 19 — 76
Northwestern 15 10 14 25 — 64
WESTMINSTER 76 — Stephen Quinn 23, Addie 5,Nikayle Hodge 20, Brycen Redmon 11, Rushiin 8, Gates 4, Littlejohn 5
NORTHWESTERN 64 — Reid 2, Theron Young 13,Sir Joseph 21, Mason Mitchell 10,Meszaros 1, Jaylan Moore 12, Burris 2, Jordan 3
Friday’s Phenom Lakesgiving box scores
NO. 3 LAKE NORMAN GIRLS 67, LINCOLN CHARTER 16
LAKE NORMAN 67 — Ashley Rhyne 14, Alexis Shehan 10, Samantha Shehan 26, Broniconti 3, North 8
LINCOLN CHARTER 16 — Steven 8, Gunter 3, Barer 3, King 2
NO. 4 LAKE NORMAN 63, CALDWELL ACADEMY 56
LAKE NORMAN 63 — Yates 5, Santana Lynch 19, Tre McKinnon 10, Arnold 9, Trent Steinour 18, McMahan 4
CALDWELL ACADEMY 56 — Ayden Johnson 16, Jaylen Cross 20, JB Swindell 14, Jerod 6
NO. 9 DAVIDSON DAY 61, CHAPEL HILL 53
DAVIDSON DAY 61 — Isaiah Denis 16, Spruill 1, Mason Smith 12, Stevens 6, Kistin 7, Jacobs 9, Perry 5, Gisler 5
CHAPEL HILL 53 — David Mirikwe 26, Vogel 5, Andrew Herring 10, Smollen 2, McIwane 2
NO. 15 PROVIDENCE DAY 58, MALLARD CREEK 52
Providence Day 13 10 21 14 — 58
Mallard Creek 16 11 12 13 — 52
PROVIDENCE DAY 58 — Osvaldo Haynes II 10, Jordan Appling 13, Hailey 6, Jonah Lawrence 17, Julian Johnson 16, Winston 2
MALLARD CREEK 52 — Connor 5, Caddle 8, Gary Davis 16, Langston Boyd 23
HICKORY RIDGE GIRLS 53, NO. 14 UNITED FAITH 36
United Faith 5 13 13 5 — 36
Hickory Ridge 15 18 4 16 — 53
UNITED FAITH 36 — S. Gidney 20, Leathers 9, M. Gidney 8, Woodward 6, Duley 4, Watkins 3, Johnson 3
Records: United Faith 3-1, Hickory Ridge 2-1
HOPEWELL 68, GASTON CHRISTIAN 45
GASTON CHRISTIAN 45 — Brett Freeman 11, Newman 8, Ryan 5, Maka Mabor 16, Milner 5, Adam 1
HOPEWELL 68 — Julian Mack 17, Quay Watson 11, Ethan Gibbs 11, Tajon Hines 12, Derrick Eley 1
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 81, ROCKY RIVER 68
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 81 — Bryce Slay 32, Kennedy 9, Kam Taylor 28, C. Pek 4, L Peck 6, Montgomery 2, Bernum 2
ROCKY RIVER 68 — Shamari Johnson 24, Markiest Houston 19, Jayden Ross 10, Noble 9, Orr 2, Bradley 4
Friday’s Leroy Holden tournament box scores
MOORESVILLE 68, EAST MECK 52
Mooresville 19 16 14 19 — 68
East Meck 12 16 11 13 — 52
MOORESVILLE 68 -- Jalen Chambers 17, Bryson Demby 11, Dylan Clark 8, AJ Parsley 8, Kyri Wilson 6, Kaleb Oloyede 4, Eian Bailey 4, Dylan Leuthardt 4, Christian Wilson 2, Nolan Ericson 2, Carson Schaen 2.
Notable: Chambers had 7 steals. Parsley had 8 assists. Clark had 5 rebounds. Leuthardt had 5 rebounds.
Record: 2-1
Other box scores
HOUGH 50, WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN 43
Hough 13 13 10 14 — 50
WCA 15 4 15 9 — 43
Hough 50 — Alexis Otto 13, Kate Breault 11, Sophia Zoerb 8, Jacquelyn Jakubecy 7, Bella James 5, Abby Law 4, Chloe Galombeck 2
Wesleyan 43 — Taylor Hawley 16, Sarah Kate Carr 7, Kennedy Jackson 7, Adaobi Nwobu 6, Blythe Cunningham 4, Ashley Browne 3
Records: Hough 2-0 Wesleyan Christian 3-1
This weekend’s scores/schedule
Friday
Charlotte Hoops Challenge
(at Harding High)
(main gym)
Cannon School 76, Our Lady of Mount Carmel 72
Charlotte Latin 55, Harding 53
Charlotte Catholic girls 61, JM Robinson 42
Charlotte Country Day 77, West Charlotte 56
Independence girls 76, Mallard Creek 70
Northside Christian 56, Independence 33
Providence Day 58, Mallard Creek 52
(auxiliary gym)
JM Robinson 60, Olympic 47
United Faith Christian 79, West Cabarrus 49
Victory Christian 76, Charlotte Christian 55
West Cabarrus girls 54, South Mecklenburg 38
Westminster Catawba 76, Northwestern 64
Phenom Hoops Lakesgiving Classic
(at Lake Norman High)
Hickory Ridge girls 53, United Faith 36
Northwest Cabarrus 56, Lincoln Charter 55
Davidson Day 61, Chapel Hill 53
Hopewell 68, Gaston Christian 45
Lake Norman 64, Lincoln Charter 16
Carmel Christian 81, Rocky River 68
Lake Norman vs. Caldwell Academy, 7
Leroy Holden Thanksgiving Classic
(at North Mecklenburg High)
Mooresville vs. East Mecklenburg, late
Mooresville 53, East Mecklenburg 38
North Mecklenburg 85, Porter Ridge 77
North Mecklenburg vs. Porter Ridge, late
Saturday
Charlotte Hoops Challenge
(at Harding High)
(main gym)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel vs. Northside Christian, 12:30
Fayetteville Academy vs. Cannon School, 2
Christ School vs. Concord Academy, 3:30
Westminster Catawba vs. Victory Christian, 5
Watauga vs. Cannon School, 6:30 (girls)
Chambers vs. Covenant Day, 8
(auxiliary gym)
Providence Day vs. Ardrey Kell, 12 (girls)
Providence Day vs. Charlotte Catholic, 1:30
Northwestern vs. Charlotte Christian, 3
Butler vs. United Faith Christian, 4:30
Ardrey Kell vs. Gaston Day, 6
Phenom Hoops Lakesgiving Classic
(at Lake Norman High)
Pine Lake Prep vs. South Mecklenburg, 12
Hough vs. Hickory Ridge, 1:30
Rocky River vs. Gaston Christian, 3
Lake Norman vs. N.C. GBB, 4:30 (girls)
Carmel Christian vs. Central Cabarrus, 6
Lake Norman vs. Davidson Day, 7:30
Leroy Holden Thanksgiving Classic
(at North Mecklenburg High)
Girls’ third-place game: Friday’s losers meet, 12
Boys’ third-place game: Friday’s losers meet, 1:30
Girls’ championship: North Meck girls vs. TBD, 3
Boys’ championship: Mooresville vs. TBD, 4:30
Mallard Creek Thanksgiving Classic (girls)
Chambers vs. United Faith Christian
Charlotte Country Day vs. Mallard Creek
Other nonconference
Combine Academy/Regional in Hoops & Dreams Classic, in Raleigh
Myers Park vs. Millbrook, at Southeast Raleigh, 2 (girls)
Northside Christian at Greensboro Day, 11:30 a.m. (girls)
Victory Faith Christian vs. Norcross (GA), in Hoops4Hunter Classic in Atlanta (boys)
S.C. nonconference
Indian Land and South Pointe in She Got Next Classic at White Knoll High (girls)
