Friday’s prep boys’ basketball rewind: No. 6 Cannon School dunks Country Day – Charlotte Observer
CONCORD
The Cannon School starters didn’t play the fourth quarter against CISAA conference rival Charlotte Country Day on Friday night.
They weren’t needed.
The Cougars, No. 6 in the Observer’s Sweet 16, didn’t waste much time putting away the Buccaneers, ultimately winning 103-68.
Thanks to solid shooting and high-intensity defense, Cannon ran out to a big lead and didn’t look back.
“I thought the kids played great,” Cougars coach Che Roth said. “Anytime you play in (our) league there is nothing easy about it. (Bucs’) coach David Carrier is a good friend, and I think he is a heck of a coach. They are a talented team, and they play so scrappy and so tough.”
Cannon was led by 4-star Miami recruit Austin Swartz’s 18-point performance.
“I was just picking my spots,” Swartz said. “I draw most of the defensive attention, which is perfectly fine. It makes my teammates’ jobs easier. When I can do that, and get the ball moving around, it makes the team so much better.”
Cannon has played one of the toughest schedules in North Carolina, based on MaxPreps’ computer metrics. Roth feels like that tough schedule has prepared his team for the rest of the season.
“If you’re a high-level dude, you want to play other high-level dudes,” Roth said. “Our goal in building this thing is every year building one of the toughest schedules we can play. That way, by the time we hit January and conference play, even into a state championship run, we’ve seen just about everything.”
THREE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE
Austin Swartz, Cannon: Swartz led the Cougars in scoring. He also dished out a few assists off of dribble-drive penetration that got his teammates a lot of open looks due to Country Day double-teaming him.
Jaylen Claggett, Cannon: He finished with 13 points and hit three 3-point shots in three quarters of play. He was on the receiving end of a few of Swartz’s assists. In the third quarter, Claggett also converted some tough finishes around the basket.
Isaiah Henry, Cannon: He may only stand at 6-foot-5, but Henry plays like a hard-nosed center for the Cougars. He matched his teammate Claggett in scoring with 13 points.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Cannon School plays Chambers on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. in the Phenom Hoops Martin Luther King Jr. event at Carmel Christian. Charlotte Country Day gets a few days off before it has to travel to Charlotte Latin School on Jan. 17. That game is at 7 p.m.
#BIG5 top performers
Jaylen Claggett, Cannon School: Claggett scored 13 points and hit three 3-point shots in a blowout win over Charlotte Country Day on Friday..
Shamari Johnson, Rocky River: In a 63-54 win over Providence on Friday, Johnson had a team-high 20 points.
Chase Owens, Gaston Day: In Friday’s 65-44 win over Westminster Catawba, Owens had 10 points, six rebounds and five steals. He also helped the Spartans hold Westminster to 15 points in the second and third quarters combined.
Sincere Rasul, Indian Land (SC): Rasul had a team-high 15 points in a 49-48 win over Rock Hill Northwestern Thursday.
Braden Wilkie, Lake Norman Charter: Wilkie had a team-high 20 points in Thursday’s 76-51 victory over South Rowan.
Friday’s box scores
NO. 6 CANNON SCHOOL 103, CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY 68
Cannon 26 30 28 19 — 103
Char Country Day 11 19 23 15 —68
CANNON SCHOOL 103 — Austin Swartz 18, Jay Claggett 13, Isaish Henry 13, Kenan Dixon 12, Evan Ingran 11, Lincoln Vinson 10, King 9, Martin 8, Murash 5, Elnagger 2, Equan 2
COUNTRY DAY 68 — Amare Bethel 29, Scott 9, Diaz 6, Laney 4, Horton 4, Murphy 4, Bates 4, Smith 2, Shulaze 2, Jones 2, Betten 2
Records: Cannon 17-6; Charlotte Country Day 15-5
CHERRYVILLE 65, BESSEMER CITY 60
Cherryville 12 14 18 21 — 65
Bessemer City 21 6 18 15 — 60
CHERRYVILLE 65 — Bookout 20, Hunt 16, Champion 11, Sewell 8, Floyd 8, Pullen 2
BESSEMER CITY 60 — Gordon 23, Elliot, 13, Miller 12, Sellers 4, Friday 3, Davis 3, Brown 2
EAST LINCOLN 61, FRED T FOARD 41
East Lincoln 11 13 14 23 — 61
Fred T. Foard 13 10 13 5 — 41
EAST LINCOLN 61 — Davis Hill 16, Riley Shropshire 2, Christian Atkins 4, Hampton Good 2, Houston Hartsell 4, Landon Aungst 7, Grant Lawless 4, LJ Forney 0,Jamison Frye 0, Jaxon Dollar 0, Jackson Fannon 20, Kingsley Huntley 0, Keyven Lamb 2
FRED T FOARD 41 — Aiden Ollis 3, Carson Bess 8, Malachi McKnight 5, Austin Stillwell 2, Graham Orndoff 19, David Hartsoe 4
Records: East Lincoln 7-6, 1-2, Fred T. Foard 4-10, 1-3
Notable: The Mustangs have won six in a row versus the Tigers. The Mustangs will next be in action on Tuesday night as they host the St. Stephens Indians, while Fred T. Foard will host the North Lincoln Knights.
GASTON DAY 65, ROCK HILL WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 44
Gaston Day 5 20 26 14 — 65
Westminster 13 7 8 16 — 44
GASTON DAY 65 — Braylen Todd 16, Chase Owens 10, Gavin Fields 10, Hunter 9, Coulter 6
WESTMINSTER CATAWBA 45 — Stephen Quinn 13, Kenyon Addie 13, Brycen Redmon 10, Hodge 3, Littlejohn 3, Rushin
Notable: Westminster Catawba dropped its first game after a 10-game win streak. Gaston Day beat Westminster for the second time this season. Westminster plays next at home on Monday against Concord Academy. Gaston Day plays next on Tuesday at home against Northside Christian
Record: Westminster Catawba 16-5, Gaston Day 12-8
KINGS MOUNTAIN 80, NORTH GASTON 54
KINGS MOUNTAIN 80 — Bradley Floyd 23, Caleb Nixon 18, Kee’donn Linney 14, Cole 7, Lindsay 5, Foster 4, J. Floyd 4, Robinette 3, Huskey 2
NORTH GASTON 54 — Carothers 16, Lattimore 15, Howard 10, Hill 7, Burris 2, Guerrero 2, Huggins 2
Notable: Kings Mountain moves to 9-3 on the season and is now 3-1 in Big South 3A play. The Mountaineers play Home vs. Forestview next Tuesday 1/16.
LINCOLNTON 79, WEST CALDWELL 65
Lincolnton 17 18 21 23 — 79
West Caldwell 17 20 17 11 — 65
LINCOLNTON 79 — Junior “LJ” Smith 36, Landen Lyerly 18, Tyler McClain 16, Nehemiah Thompson 3, Khamoni Heath 6
Notable: For Lincolnton, Landen Lyerly had 18 points and 11 rebounds, four blocks. Khamoni Heath finished the game with 5 steals.
Record: Lincolnton 12-2. West Caldwell 11-3
Thursday’s box scores
NO. 2 NORTH MECK 75, HOPEWELL 56
HOPEWELL 56 — Mack 9, Watson 20, Eley 13, Hines 5, Gibbs 5, Rice 4
NORTH MECKLENBURG 75 — Evans 24, Traylor 17, Maxwell 21, Pierce 8, Young 6
Record: Hopewell 11-3 (2-3), NM 13-2 (6-0)
NO. 14 PROVIDENCE DAY 67, CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 47
Charlotte Christian 11 8 7 21 — 47
Providence Day 18 15 16 18 — 67
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN 47 — Matty Carroll 14, Daniel Guandolo 14 Terence Guess 13, Marshall Nicholson 4, Nick Rosen 2
PROVIDENCE DAY 67 — N. Hailey 28, J. Lawrence 14, T. Thompson 11, D.Haynes 6, B. Winston 4, J. Johnson 4
Records: Charlotte Christian 5-14 Providence Day 16-5
INDIAN LAND 49, NORTHWESTERN 48
Indian Land 16 9 13 11 — 49
Northwestern 13 9 12 14 — 48
INDIAN LAND 49 — Sincere Rasul 15, Mike Jones 11, Patterson 9, Drakeford 6, Johnson 6, Morris 2
NORTHWESTERN 48 — Mason Mitchell 16, Joseph 6, Nico McKinnon 12, Young 4, Broughton 4, Wingate 2, Wilson 2
Records: Indian Land 12-4, 1-0; Northwestern 9-9, 0-2
LAKE NORMAN CHARTER 76, SOUTH ROWAN 51
Lake Norman Charter 9 32 21 14 — 76
South Rowan 13 12 13 13 — 51
LAKE NORMAN CHARTER 76 — Braden Wilkie 20, Collin McConneyhead 11, Jay Morgan 8, Tripp Augier 7, Major Leak 6, Isaiah Smith 6, Braylon Irelan 4, Owen Kuhn 4, Levi Church 3, Dean Ruthstrom 2, Kaison Propst 2, Christian Virgilio 2, Drew Johnson 1
SOUTH ROWAN 51 — D. Young 22, J. Moore 9, Z. Jackson 5, C. Carey 4, A. Jones 4, C. Roketter 3, D. Blackwell 3, B. Overcash 1
ROCKY RIVER 63, PROVIDENCE 54
Providence 17 10 11 16 — 54
Rocky River 18 19 10 16 — 63
PROVIDENCE 54 — Johnson 6, Singletary 4, Taylor 5, Gaiter 20, Siegel 15, Carde 4
ROCKY RIVER 63 — Johnson 20, Walton 4, Brantley 3, Houston 10, Davies 3, Ross 16, Carr 4, Little 3
SATURDAY’S KEY GAMES
(Girls) Butler (9-4) vs. Olympic (9-4), in MLK Peace Classic at West Charlotte High, 11:30 a.m. — The Bulldogs and Trojans open a seven-game slate at West Charlotte. Butler junior Brooklyn Saunders is averaging 21 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. Olympic’s defense is allowing an average of only 31 points a contest.
(Boys) Cannon School (16-6) vs. Chambers (9-5), in MLK Classic at Carmel Christian, 6 p.m. — Cannon School will be playing its second tough game in as many nights, and the Cougars lost their last meeting with Chambers, 83-71 in December 2022. Maurio Hanson II (15.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg) is among four Chambers players averaging in double figures.
(Girls) Charlotte Catholic (12-2) vs. Petersburg (VA) Shining Star Prep (11-2), in MLK Showcase at Northeast Guilford High, 4:30 p.m. — This game will feature two outstanding big players. UNC commit Blanca Thomas (20.4 ppg, 11.3 rpg) leads Charlotte Catholic. Ole Miss commit Sira Thienou, a 6-3 center, leads Shining Star Prep with 23.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Shining Star Prep plays a schedule composed mostly of athletic academies.
(Girls) Myers Park (13-0) vs. Eastside, SC (8-2), in She Got Next MLK Classic at J.L. Mann High in Greenville, SC, 5 p.m. — Guards Ginny Anne Dumont and Miracle Cheeks each average about 12 points a game for Eastside. Jerin Truesdale (12.8 ppg) leads Myers Park, which has five players averaging between 6.5 and 8.5 points a game. South Mecklenburg faces South Carolina’s Wade Hampton High in the 6:30 p.m. game following this.
(Boys) Myers Park (12-2) at Northwood (11-2), 6 p.m. — Defending 4A state champion Myers Park faces a Northwood team favored to take this year’s 2A state crown. The host Chargers are led by 6-6 senior Drake Powell (18.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg), a North Carolina commit. Sadiq White Jr. leads Myers Park with 17.6 ppg, and Jacob Paraison is shooting 37 percent from 3-point range.
(Boys) North Mecklenburg (11-2) vs. Camden, NJ (10-1), in Hoopshall Classic at Springfield, MA, 10:30 a.m. — The Vikings travel to Massachusetts for a meeting with one of the nation’s pre-eminent high school programs. Teron Murray and Emmanuel Joe-Samuel lead Camden. Duke commit Isaiah Evans had 36 points and 10 rebounds for North Mecklenburg in its Wednesday victory over Chambers.
(Boys) Northside Christian (17-7) vs. The Burlington School (16-7), in MLK Classic at Carmel Christian, 4:30 p.m. — Northside is the defending 1A private school state champion; The Burlington School is reigning 2A champ. Kyrell Shaw (20.5 ppg) has been on a surge recently and leads Northside Christian. Zion Walker is averaging 21.4 points for The Burlington School.
The picks
PHOTOS: Country Day at Cannon
Friday’s results
BOYS
Queen City 3A-4A
Chambers at West Charlotte, ppd
Harding at Hough, ppd, Sat.
Mallard Creek at West Mecklenburg, ppd, Jan. 31
SoMeck 4A
Myers Park at Berry Academy, ppd, Jan. 23
Olympic at Ardrey Kell, ppd, Jan. 30
Southwestern 4A
Charlotte Catholic at East Mecklenburg, ppd
Garinger at Providence, ppd, Jan. 23
Independence at Rocky River, ppd
CISAA
Cannon School 103, Charlotte Country Day 68
Charlotte Latin at Covenant Day, ppd, Feb. 3
Providence Day 67, Charlotte Christian 47
Greater Metro 4 4A
A.L. Brown at West Cabarrus, ppd, Jan. 22
Lake Norman at Hickory Ridge, ppd, Jan. 25
Mooresville at South Iredell, ppd, Jan. 18
Southern Carolina 4A
Cuthbertson at Porter Ridge, ppd, Jan. 24
Sun Valley at Weddington, ppd, Jan. 23
Big South 3A
Ashbrook 85, Forestview 78
Kings Mountain 80, North Gaston 54
South Point at Hunter Huss
Crest 82, Stuart Cramer 51
South Piedmont 3A
Central Cabarrus at Lake Norman Charter, ppd, Jan. 17
Concord at Jay M. Robinson, ppd, Jan. 25
Western Foothills 3A
East Lincoln 60, Fred T. Foard 41
North Iredell at Hickory
North Lincoln 81, St. Stephens 62
West Iredell at Statesville
Rocky River 2A-3A
Central Academy at Piedmont, ppd
Forest Hills at West Stanly, ppd
Monroe at Anson County, ppd
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Gaston Christian at Northside Christian
Concord Academy 83, Hickory Grove Christian 39
SouthLake Christian 65, Metrolina Christian 49
Gaston Day 65, Westminster Catawba 44
Foothills Athletic Association
Davidson Day 73, Hickory Christian 48
University Christian at Salem Baptist
Piedmont Athletic Association
United Faith Christian 64, Victory Christian 59
Catawba Valley 2A
East Burke at Bunker Hill
Maiden at Bandys
Newton-Conover 72, West Lincoln 62
Lincolnton 79, West Caldwell 65
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Christ the King at Community School of Davidson
Pine Lake Prep 80, Langtree Charter 56
Lincoln Charter at Bradford Prep
Mountain Island Charter at Corvian Community
Southern Piedmont 1A-2A
Cherryville at Bessemer City
Shelby 90, Highland Tech 61
Thomas Jefferson Academy at East Gaston
Yadkin Valley 1A-2A
Albemarle at Mount Pleasant, ppd.
North Stanly at South Stanly, ppd.
Union Academy at Gray Stone Day, ppd.
Metro 1A
Apprentice Academy at Queen’s Grant Charter, ppd.
Carolina International at Sugar Creek Charter
Nonconference
Forsyth Home Educators at South Charlotte Thunder
Piedmont Community Charter 74, Jackson Day 34
Valor Prep 70, Lake Norman Christian 62
Palisades at Marvin Ridge, ppd. to Jan. 16
S.C. Region 3 5A
Clover at Spring Valley
Nation Ford at Blythewood
Fort Mill 69, Rock Hill 36
S.C. Region 3 4A
Catawba Ridge 87, York 43
Lancaster at South Pointe, ppd, Jan. 27
S.C. Region 4 3A
Clinton at Woodruff
Emerald at Chester
S.C. Region 5 2A
Buford at York Prep
Central Pageland at Andrew Jackson
Chesterfield at North Central
S.C. Region 4 1A
Great Falls at McBee
S.C. nonconference
Legion Collegiate at Legacy Early College
Friday / GIRLS
Queen City 3A-4A
Chambers at West Charlotte, ppd
Harding at Hough, ppd, Sat.
Mallard Creek at West Mecklenburg, ppd, Jan. 31
SoMeck 4A
Myers Park at Berry Academy, ppd, Jan. 23
Olympic at Ardrey Kell, ppd, Jan. 30
Southwestern 4A
Charlotte Catholic at East Mecklenburg, ppd to Jan. 16
Garinger at Providence, ppd, Jan. 23
Independence at Rocky River, ppd
CISAA
Cannon School 65, Charlotte Country Day 45
Charlotte Latin at Covenant Day, ppd, Feb. 3
Providence Day 51, Charlotte Christian 25
Greater Metro 4 4A
A.L. Brown at West Cabarrus, ppd, Jan. 22
Lake Norman at Hickory Ridge, ppd, Jan. 25
Mooresville at South Iredell, ppd, Jan. 18
Southern Carolina 4A
Cuthbertson at Porter Ridge, ppd, Jan. 24
Sun Valley at Weddington, ppd, Jan. 23
Big South 3A
Forestview 60, Ashbrook 38
Kings Mountain at North Gaston
South Point 63, Hunter Huss 49
Stuart Cramer 59, Crest 53
South Piedmont 3A
Central Cabarrus at Lake Norman Charter, ppd, Jan. 17
Concord at Jay M. Robinson, ppd, Jan. 25
Western Foothills 3A
East Lincoln 77, Fred T. Foard 51
North Iredell at Hickory
St. Stephens 63, North Lincoln 55
West Iredell at Statesville
Rocky River 2A-3A
Central Academy at Piedmont, ppd
Forest Hills at West Stanly, ppd
Monroe at Anson County, ppd
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Northside Christian 79, Gaston Christian 16
Concord Academy 67, Hickory Grove Christian 16
Metrolina Christian at SouthLake Christian
Westminster Catawba at Gaston Day
Foothills Athletic Association
University Christian at Salem Baptist
Piedmont Athletic Association
Victory Christian 49, United Faith Christian 36
Catawba Valley 2A
East Burke 81, Bunker Hill 20
Maiden 59, Bandys 44
West Lincoln 40, Newton-Conover 28
West Caldwell at Lincolnton
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Christ the King at Community School of Davidson
Langtree Charter at Pine Lake Prep
Lincoln Charter at Bradford Prep
Mountain Island Charter at Corvian Community
Southern Piedmont 1A-2A
Bessemer City 69, Cherryville 27
Highland Tech 48, Shelby 33
Thomas Jefferson Academy 63, East Gaston 9
Yadkin Valley 1A-2A
Albemarle at Mount Pleasant, ppd.
North Stanly at South Stanly, ppd.
Union Academy at Gray Stone Day, ppd.
Metro 1A
Carolina International at Sugar Creek Charter
Nonconference
Covenant Classical at Valor Prep
Forsyth Home Educators at South Charlotte Thunder
Jackson Day at Piedmont Community Charter
Palisades at Marvin Ridge, ppd. to Jan. 16
S.C. Region 3 5A
Clover at Spring Valley
Nation Ford at Blythewood
Rock Hill 52, Fort Mill 30
S.C. Region 3 4A
Catawba Ridge at York
Lancaster at South Pointe, ppd, Jan. 27
Northwestern at Indian Land
S.C. Region 4 3A
Clinton at Woodruff
Emerald at Chester
S.C. Region 5 2A
Buford at York Prep
Central Pageland at Andrew Jackson
Chesterfield at North Central
S.C. Region 4 1A
Great Falls at McBee
S.C. nonconference
Legion Collegiate at Legacy Early College
Saturday’s schedule
Phenom Hoops MLK Classic (boys)
(at Carmel Christian)
Butler vs. Hunter Huss, 1:30
Hickory vs. High Point Wesleyan, 3
Northside Christian vs. The Burlington School, 4:30
Cannon School vs. Chambers, 6
Cox Mill vs. Carmel Christian, 7:30
PEM Sports MLK Queens Challenge (girls)
(at United Faith Christian)
Central Cabarrus vs. Indian Land, 11 a.m.
Cox Mill vs. Northwest Cabarrus, 12:30
Providence Day vs. Rabun Gap School, 2
Cannon School vs. Legacy Early College, 3:30
United Faith Christian vs. Concord Academy, 5
MLK Peace Showcase (boys/girls)
(at West Charlotte High)
(girls) Butler vs. Olympic, 11:30 a.m
(boys) Moravian Prep Regional vs. CBA Prep, 1
(girls) East Rutherford vs. Mount Zion Prep, 2:30
(boys) East Rutherford vs. Indian Land, 4
(boys) 1 of 1 Prep vs. Mount Zion Prep, 5:30
(girls) West Charlotte vs. Morrow (GA), 7
(boys) West Charlotte vs. Morrow (GA), 8:30
Nonconference
Charlotte Catholic vs. Petersburg (VA) Shining Star Prep, in MLK Showcase at Northeast Guilford, 4:30 (girls)
Combine Academy National in Flyin’ to the Hoop Classic in Dayton, OH (boys)
Myers Park at Northwood, 6 (boys)
Myers Park at Eastside (SC), 5 (girls)
North Mecklenburg vs. Camden (NJ), in Hoophall Classic in Springfield, MA, 10:30 a.m. (boys)
South Charlotte Thunder at Surry Home School
South Mecklenburg vs. Coastal Christian, in Brandon Ingram Classic in Kinston, 4:30 (boys)
South Mecklenburg in MLK Showcase at Westside (SC) High (girls)
United Faith Christian vs. Clayton, in MLK Showcase at Southeast Raleigh High, 3:30 (boys)
Victory Christian in Georgia Interstate Classic at Athens, GA (boys)
S.C. nonconference
Andrew Jackson vs. Marlboro County, in MLK Showcase at Marion (SC) High (boys)
Comenius School at Durham HA Prep, 2
Nation Ford vs. Timberland (SC), in MLK Showcase at Bethune-Bowman High, 5:30 (boys)
Sunday
No games scheduled
This story was originally published January 12, 2024, 9:59 PM.