Saturday’s basketball rewind: No. 1 Myers Park handles Northwood, UNC recruit Drake Powell
It’s not often that you get a public school basketball game in North Carolina that features four national top 100 recruits. But fans in Pittsboro got a treat when Myers Park played at Northwood High on Saturday in a battle of state championship contenders.
Myers Park won its ninth game in a row, beating Northwood, 63-47, and for the most part, the Mustangs looked like a team ranked as high as No. 3 nationally, No. 1 in the N.C. 4A statewide rankings and No. 1 in The Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 regional poll.
“It was fun,” Myers Park coach Scott Taylor said. “We got there at 4 p.m. and they already had students lined up to try to get in the gym. It was good to be able to go on the road and play a really good team that doesn’t lose at home. We still haven’t found our rhythm offensively but we’re starting to find a place defensively where we understand how much we can set the tone and affect the game by defending the way we’re capable of.”
To Taylor’s point, the Mustangs (13-2) used their defense to handle an overflow crowd in Pittsboro and a first-rate effort from Northwood (12-3), which had a four-game win streak snapped. Northwood is No. 2 in the N.C. 2A statewide poll.
Early on, Myers Park looked like it might win easily, working out to a seven-point, first-quarter lead. But led by UNC signee Drake Powell, a top five national recruit in the class of 2024, Northwood grabbed a 19-16 lead early in the second quarter.
Northwood, ranked as high as No. 77 nationally, also grabbed Myers Park’s attention. The Mustangs went on a 14-2 run to end the first half and quiet the crowd.
Myers Park held Northwood to just 34 points in the first three quarters before Taylor eased up on the lineup and the Mustangs eased up on their focus, but when the game was being decided, Myers Park junior Sadiq White was dominant for his team.
He blocked Powell’s first shot and helped keep his scoring down until Powell got loose in the fourth for the bulk of his 23 points. White finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
“He had the challenge of guarding Drake Powell to start and he was excited about it,” Taylor said of White. “He understood the significance of it. Early on, he was intent on getting his catches in and around the rim. He’s getting really hard to handle down there because he’s added a lot to his game.
“He poses a lot of problems because he can guard everybody on the court and offensively, not many people can match up with his length and athleticism. He’s a winner, too, and doesn’t care about anything but winning. I’m not sure he gets enough credit for that.”
Notes
▪ The game featured three of the state’s top 10 senior boys’ players: Northwood’s Powell is No. 1. Myers Park’s Sir Mohammed, signed to Notre Dame, is No. 6, and teammate Bishop Boswell, signed to Tennessee, is No. 8.
▪ Myers Park junior power forward Sadiq White is ranked No. 1 in the state among juniors.
▪ Coaches from Syracuse were at the game to scout White and UNC sent coaches to watch Powell....Former Myers Park star Elijah Strong got his first start Saturday for Boston College at Clemson. He finished with 14 points and four rebounds.
Three who made a difference
Sadiq White, Myers Park: The 6-8 junior got an early block on Powell to help set a defensive tone. He finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Sir Mohammed, Myers Park: The 6-6 senior wing got off to a slow start, but had a run of 3-point shots in the second half to get going. He finished with a team-high 18 points, six rebounds, making five 3-point shots. Backcourt mate Bishop Boswell had eight points, struggling from the field, but he had 11 assists and six rebounds.
Drake Powell, Northwood: A lot of Powell’s 23 points came in the fourth quarter after Myers Park led 55-34 before the final eight minutes. But he also had five rebounds and four blocks and showed off a much improved jump shot. He made four 3-point shots.
They said it
“Our shooting shirts say, ‘Stay Present.’ We realize there’s a lot of things pulling kids in different directions, and this group has been together for awhile and they could listen to different things and get complacent or get bored. But they know we’ve still got to win the league to be a No. 1 seed (for the playoffs), and you’ve got Olympic at home Tuesday and then you got South Meck (14-1 before Saturday) and I’m sure it will be packed. So Olympic will have our full attention Tuesday and we’ll turn it to South Friday and that’ll be one more week down.” — Myers Park’s Taylor on keeping his team motivated.
Saturday’s #BIG5 top performers
Isaiah Henry, Cannon School boys: In a 91-85 win over Chambers, in a battle of top 10 Observer Sweet 16 teams, Henry had 28 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Jaida McClure, Providence Day girls: In a 39-37 win over Rabun Gap, in a battle of two of the top NCISAA girls’ teams, McClure had a game-high 15 points and six steals as the Chargers beat the reigning state champs.
Tionna Pettus, Bessemer City girls: In a 69-27 win over Bessemer City, Pettus had 31 points, eight rebounds, four steals and scored her 1,000th point. Teammate Kionna Pettus had a triple-double (24 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, six steals, five blocks).
Tyler Showalter, Butler boys: In a 67-54 win over Butler at the Phenom Hoops’ Carmel Christian MLK Showcase, Showalter had 25 points and eight rebounds.
Kam Taylor, Carmel Christian: In a 78-64 win over Cox Mill at the Carmel Christian MLK Classic, Taylor had 39 points and eight rebounds.
Saturday’s roundup
Carmel Christian 78, Cox Mill 64: The top individual performance of Saturday’s MLK Classic came in the final Saturday evening, as Kameron Taylor poured in 39 points and led the host Cougars.
Taylor, a senior, added eight rebounds while scoring half his team’s points. Bryce Slay added 17 points and eight rebounds for Carmel Christian.
Teeshon Smith and Tyler Brown each scored 14 points for Cox Mill.
Cannon School 91, Chambers 85: Isaiah Henry, a 6-5 junior forward, scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Cougars held off Chambers.
The game was played at a torrid pace, with neither team able to pull away.
Senior Austin Swartz had 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists for Cannon School, and freshman Lincoln Vinson added 14 points.
Chambers senior Mario Hanson II totaled 25 points and eight assists, Markus Kerr added 20 points, and Jordan Patton had 13 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.
The Burlington School 56, Northside Christian 46: In a meeting of defending private school state champions, King Gibson scored 18 points and Zion Walker added 13 for The Burlington School, last season’s 2A champion.
Jaleel Smith totaled 17 points for defending 1A champ Northside Christian, which kept the game close until the fourth quarter.
Hickory 51, High Point Wesleyan 49: Hickory improved to 12-0 on the season, winning despite the absence of 6-8 standout John Holbrook, who was suffering from an apparent virus. Izaiah Littlejohn stepped up with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Zach Wiggins scored 16 for Wesleyan.
Butler 67, Hunter Huss 54: The Bulldogs won the opening contest of the day, as Reece Starnes pulled down 22 rebounds. Tyler Showalter scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds. and Starnes scored 16 points.
Zamarius Gladden (22 points, seven rebounds) and Satchelle Pettis (15 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals) led Hunter Huss.
Saturday’s boys box scores
▪ Includes Observer Sweet 16 rankings
NO. 1 MYERS PARK 63, NORTHWOOD 47
Myers Park 14 16 25 8 — 63
Northwood 7 14 13 13 — 47
MYERS PARK 63 — Sir Mohammed 18, Sadiq White 16, Ashton King 13, Boswell 8
NORTHWOOD 47 — Drake Powell 23
NO. 6 CANNON SCHOOL 91, NO. 7 CHAMBERS 85
Cannon School 26 28 21 16 — 91
Chambers 25 14 22 24 — 85
CANNON SCHOOL 91 — Austin Swartz 25, Martin 2, King 3, Jaylen Claggett 12, Isaiah Henry 28, Vinson 14, Dixon 3, Ingram 4
CHAMBERS 85 — Marcus Kerr 20, McCutter 2, Tarris Bouie 10, Jordan Patton 13, Terrell 5, Thompson 8, Maurio Hanson 25
NO. 8 SOUTH MECKLENBURG 78, COASTAL CHRISTIAN 33
Coastal Christian 12 7 9 5 — 33
South Mecklenburg 24 14 22 18 — 78
COASTAL CHRISTIAN 33 — Davenport 3, Forrester 4, Robertson 9, Adgent 6, Barnett 2, Davies 9
SOUTH MECKLENBURG 78 — Andrew Skelton 21, Houpt 9, Chadgar 7, Howard 2, Rothacker 3, Paige 6, Turk 3, Sanchez 2, Porter 2, Peter Moye 19, Caesar 2, Yett 4
THE BURLINGTON SCHOOL 56, NO. 9 NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN 46
BURLINGTON SCHOOL 56 — Outlaw 2, Zion Walker 13, King Gibson 18, Flippen 5, Devin Sims 11, Durham 3, Randolph 3
NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN 46 — Jones 2, Johnson-Freeman 5, Shaw 6, Jaleel Smith 17, Shouse 8, Bullock 6, Cowan 2
BUTLER 67, HUNTER HUSS 54
Hunter Huss 8 18 12 16 — 54
Butler 17 151 23 12 — 67
HUNTER HUSS 54 — Zamarius Gladen 22, Satchelle Pettis 15, Duff 4, Dunlap 6, Barnette 4, Phillips 3
BUTLER 67 — Milligan 4, Currence 7, Grier 8, Tyler Showalter 25, Badio 7, Reece Starnes 16
HICKORY 51, WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN 49
Hickory 17 12 9 13 — 51
Wesleyan 16 13 11 11 — 49
HICKORY 51 — Jordan Lineberger 11, Jordan Powell 5, Jay Powell 5, Wilfong 3, Little 9, Izaiah Littlejohn 14, Neal 4
WESLEYAN 49 — Fullwood 4, Quamir Ingram 11, Augunas 7, Williams 3, Dancy 4, Zacch Wiggins 16, Morgan 4
Saturday’s girls’ box scores
LEGACY EARLY COLLEGE (SC) 60, NO. 3 CANNON SCHOOL 59
Records: Cannon 11-7, Legacy 9-6
NO. 6 MYERS PARK 44, EAST RUTHERFORD 37
East Rutherford 7 12 11 7 — 37
Myers Park 10 11 12 11 — 44
EAST RUTHERFORD 37 — Jada Whitesides 11, Taniyah Cash 10, Harris 7, Vanover 6, Dewberry 3
MYERS PARK 44 — Laura Lassiter 13, Amani Barner 12, Jerin Truesdale 11, Thomason 4, McDaniel 4
Records: East Rutherford - 14-2; Myers Park HS - 14-0
BESSEMER CITY 69, CHERRYVILLE 27
Bessemer City 20 18 18 13 — 69
Cherryville 4 8 10 5 — 27
BESSEMER CITY 69 — Tionna Pettus 31, Kionna Pettus 24, Imani Rhodes 10, Jeffries 2, Roseboro 2
CHERRYVIILLE 27 — Laila Davis 14, Raylei Grideny 6, Taylor 3, Allen 2, Davis 1
Notable: For Bessemer City, Tionna Pettus had 31 points, eight rebounds and four steals and scored her 1,000th point. Kionna Pettus had 24 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, six steals and five blocks. Imani Rhodes had 10 points, 10 rebounds....Tionna Pettus is the seventh 1,000-point scorer under head coach Danny McDowell at Bessemer City.
CENTRAL CABARRUS 45, INDIAN LAND (SC) 39
Central: 6 19 14 6 — 45
Indian: 4 12 9 4 — 39
CENTRAL CABARRUS 45 — Daniyah Burton 18, Jahnae Duncan 11, Lewis 8, Arévalo 4, Blanchard 2, Cruz 2
INDIAN LAND 39 — Skylar Young 19, Knoll 8, Pensula 6
NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN 73, ST. GERTRUDE 32
Northside Christian 18 20 20 15 — 73
St Gertrude 11 7 4 10 — 32
NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN 73 — Courtney Ashford 25, Jakaila Gaskin 21, Laylah Toscano 13, Womack 7, Carelock 4, Fields 2, Chambers 1
Notable: For Northside, Courtney Ashford had 25 points, four rebounds, three steals and three assists. Jakaila Gaskin had 21 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, two assists and a block. Finally, Laylah Toscano had 13 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three assists.
PROVIDENCE DAY 39, RABUN GAP (GA) 37
Providence Day 7 10 13 9 — 39
Rabun Gap 9 10 10 6 — 37
PROVIDENCE DAY 39 — Jaida McClure 15 Updyke 3 Clark 4 Swinson 2 Fyans 8 Levine 6 Ramsden 1
RABUN GAP 37 — McNabb 9 Isnerska 3 Cabello 5 Julkunen 9 Lutrich 2 Moore 5 Norworol 4
Record 14-5
PHOTOS: Myers Park at Northwood
PHOTOS: MLK Classic at Carmel Christian
Next week’s schedule
all matchups are girls-boys doubleheaders, unless otherwise noted; most girls’ games begin around 6 p.m., with boys’ games following
Monday
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Concord Academy at Westminster Catawba
Nonconference
Charlotte Elite Academy at Central Carolina Prep (boys)
Hough vs. Williams, in Tony P Classic at Southern Alamance, 4 p.m. (boys)
Piedmont at Uwharrie Charter (girls)
S.C. nonconference
Lancaster vs. Florence Wilson, in MLK Bash at Eau Claire High, 6:15 (boys)
Tuesday
SoMeck 4A
Olympic at Myers Park
CISAA
Cannon School at Charlotte Christian
Providence Day at Covenant Day
Greater Metro 4 4A
A.L. Brown at South Iredell
Cox Mill at Lake Norman
West Cabarrus at Mooresville
Big South 3A
Crest at South Point
Forestview at Kings Mountain
Hunter Huss at Stuart Cramer
North Gaston at Ashbrook
South Piedmont 3A
East Rowan at Concord
Jay M. Robinson at Central Cabarrus
Northwest Cabarrus at West Rowan
South Rowan at Jesse Carson
Western Foothills 3A
Hickory at West Iredell
North Lincoln at Fred T. Foard
Statesville at North Iredell
St. Stephens at East Lincoln
Rocky River 2A-3A
Anson County at West Stanly
Forest Hills at Central Academy
Monroe at Parkwood
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Concord Academy at SouthLake Christian
Hickory Grove Christian at Gaston Christian
Northside Christian at Gaston Day
Westminster Catawba at Metrolina Christian
Foothills Athletic Association
Hickory Christian at University Christian
Salem Baptist at Statesville Christian
Southern Piedmont Athletic Assn.
Lake Norman Christian at Victory Christian (boys)
North Hills Christian at United Faith Christian
Catawba Valley 2A
Lincolnton at East Burke
Maiden at Bunker Hill
Newton-Conover at Bandys
West Caldwell at West Lincoln
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Christ the King at Lincoln Charter
Community School of Davidson at Langtree Charter
Corvian Community at Pine Lake Prep
Mountain Island Charter at Bradford Prep
Southern Piedmont 1A-2A
Bessemer City at Burns
East Gaston at Shelby
Highland Tech at Cherryville
Yadkin Valley 1A-2A
South Stanly at Mount Pleasant
Metro 1A
Apprentice Academy at Piedmont Community Charter (boys)
Nonconference
Butler at Sun Valley
Charlotte Catholic at South Mecklenburg (girls, 3:30; boys, 5)
Charlotte Latin at Union Academy
Cuthbertson at Providence
Garinger at West Mecklenburg
Porter Ridge at Legion Collegiate
Queen’s Grant Charter at South Charlotte Thunder
South Guilford Homeschool at Greater Cabarrus Stallions
S.C. Region 3 5A
Blythewood at Clover
Fort Mill at Spring Valley
Nation Ford at Rock Hill
S.C. Region 3 4A
Catawba Ridge at Lancaster
Northwestern at York
South Pointe at Indian Land
S.C. Region 4 3A
Chester at Clinton
Emerald at Union County
S.C. Region 5 2A
Andrew Jackson at Cheraw
Buford at North Central
York Prep at Central Pageland
S.C. Region 4 1A
Lewisville at McBee
S.C. nonconference
Porter Ridge at Legion Collegiate
Wednesday
CISAA
Charlotte Country Day at Charlotte Latin
Greater Metro 4 4A
Cox Mill at Albemarle
South Piedmont 3A
Statesville at Jesse Carson
Western Foothills 3A
Hickory at St. Stephens
West Iredell at East Lincoln
Southern Piedmont 1A-2A
Burns at Thomas Jefferson Academy
Metro 1A
Sugar Creek Charter at Valor Prep
Nonconference
Comenius School at Charlotte Elite Academy (boys)
Statesville at Jesse Carson
S.C. Region 3 5A
Clover at Spring Valley
S.C. nonconference
Atlantic Collegiate at Legion Collegiate
Comenius School at Charlotte Elite Academy (boys)
Thursday
Greater Metro 4 4A
Lake Norman at West Cabarrus
South Piedmont 3A
Jay M. Robinson at West Cabarrus
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Hickory Grove Christian at Northside Christian
Metrolina Christian at Gaston Christian
Metro 1A
Apprentice Academy at Sugar Creek Charter (boys)
Nonconference
Arborbrook Christian at Hickory Grove Christian (girls)
Charlotte Lab Prep at Jackson Day (boys)
Cherryville at N.C. School of Science & Math/Morganton
Davidson Day at Carmel Christian (boys)
Elevation Prep at Oak Hill (VA) (boys)
South Charlotte Thunder at Grace Academy (girls)
S.C. Region 5 2A
York Prep at Andrew Jackson
S.C. nonconference
1 of 1 Academy at Legion Collegiate
Chester at Fairfield Central
Friday
Queen City 3A-4A
Harding at West Mecklenburg
Hopewell at Hough
Mallard Creek at Chambers
North Mecklenburg at West Charlotte
SoMeck 4A
Ardrey Kell at Palisades
Berry Academy at Olympic
Myers Park at South Mecklenburg
Southwestern 4A
Butler at Independence
East Mecklenburg at Providence
Rocky River at Garinger
CISAA
Charlotte Latin at Charlotte Christian
Covenant Day at Charlotte Country Day
Providence Day at Cannon School
Greater Metro 4 4A
Hickory Ridge at Cox Mill
Mooresville at A.L. Brown
South Iredell at Lake Norman
Southern Carolina 4A
Cuthbertson at Weddington
Marvin Ridge at Sun Valley
Big South 3A
Forestview at Hunter Huss
Kings Mountain at South Point
North Gaston at Crest
Stuart Cramer at Ashbrook
South Piedmont 3A
East Rowan at Central Cabarrus
Jesse Carson at Concord
South Rowan at Northwest Cabarrus
West Rowan at Lake Norman Charter
Western Foothills 3A
East Lincoln at North Iredell
Hickory at Fred T. Foard
North Lincoln at West Iredell
Statesville at St. Stephens
Rocky River 2A-3A
Central Academy at Monroe
Forest Hills at Anson County
Piedmont at Parkwood
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Gaston Christian at Concord Academy
Gaston Day at Hickory Grove Christian
Metrolina Christian at Northside Christian
SouthLake Christian at Westminster Catawba
Foothills Athletic Association
Salem Baptist at Davidson Day (boys)
Statesville Christian at University Christian
Southern Piedmont Athletic Association
Lake Norman Christian at United Faith Christian (boys)
Catawba Valley 2A
Bandys at West Caldwell
Bunker Hill at Newton-Conover
East Burke at West Lincoln
Lincolnton at Maiden
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
East Gaston at Burns
Highland Tech at Bessemer City
Shelby at Thomas Jefferson Academy
Yadkin Valley 1A-2A
Gray Stone Day at Albemarle
Mount Pleasant at North Stanly
South Stanly at Union Academy
Metro 1A
Queen’s Grant Charter at Carolina International
Nonconference
Greater Cabarrus Stallions at South Charlotte Thunder
Jackson Day at Valor Prep
Porter Ridge at Carmel Christian (boys)
S.C. Region 3 5A
Fort Mill at Clover
Rock Hill at Blythewood
Spring Valley at Nation Ford
S.C. Region 3 4A
Catawba Ridge at Indian Land
Lancaster at York
South Pointe at Northwestern
S.C. Region 4 3A
Clinton at Emerald
Woodruff at Union
S.C. Region 5 2A
Cheraw at York Prep
Chesterfield at Buford
North Central at Central Pageland
S.C. Region 4 1A
Lewisville at Great Falls
McBee at C.A. Johnson
Saturday
Well Invitational (boys)
(at Hopewell)
West Charlotte vs. Kings Mountain, 12:30
Jay M. Robinson vs. Combine Academy, 2
Charlotte Catholic vs. United Faith Christian, 3:30
Hopewell vs. Lexington (SC), 5
Nonconference
Asheville School at Providence Day (girls, 2:30; boys, 4)
Cannon School at Winston-Salem Christian (girls), 1
Christ School at Covenant Day (boys), 2 p.m.
Myers Park vs. Spring Valley (SC), at South Pointe High, 1:30 (girls)
Sunday
No games scheduled
