Jack Sink, East Meck Easter Baseball Tournament Pairings

Jack Sink Invitational, Myers Park High
April 1: Providence High vs. Providence Day, 5 p.m.; South Meck vs. Charlotte Christian, 7:30 p.m.
April 2: Myers Park vs. Charlotte Country Day, 5 p.m.; Ardrey Kell vs. Charlotte Latin, 7:30 p.m.
April 3: South Meck vs. Providence Day, 11 a.m.; Ardrey Kell vs. Charlotte Country Day, 1:30 p.m.; Myers Park vs. Charlotte Latin, 5 p.m.; Providence High vs. Charlotte Christian, 7:30 p.m.
April 4: Ardrey Kell vs. Charlotte Christian, 11 a.m.; Providence High vs. Charlotte Latin, 1:30 p.m.; Myers Park vs. Providence Day, 5 p.m.; South Meck vs. Charlotte Country Day, 7:30 p.m.

East Mecklenburg Spring Break Tournament
April 1: Hickory Ridge vs. Hopewell, 11 a.m.; Independence vs. Marvin Ridge, 1:45 p.m.; Weddington vs. East Meck, 4:30 p.m.; Hough vs. Butler, 7:15 p.m.
April 2: Hickory Ridge vs. Independence, 11 a.m.; Butler vs. Marvin Ridge, 1:45 p.m.; East Meck vs. Hough, 4:30 p.m.; Hopwell vs. Weddington, 7:15 p.m.
April 3: Independence vs. Hough, 11 a.m.; Butler vs. Weddington, 1:45 p.m.; Hopewell vs. Marvin Ridge, 4:30 p.m.; East Meck vs. Hickory Ridge, 7:15 p.m.
April 4: Make up day.

North Meck's Jennifer Baker, Weddington's Steph Watts District 9 coach, player of year

District 9
First Team: Stephanie Watts, Weddington; Milan Quinn, Berry; Destiny Barrino, North Meck; Asha Jordan, Monroe; Mycha Drakeford, Harding
Second Team: Emry Tsitouris, Parkwood; Jasmine Huntley, Porter Ridge; Jasmine Gray, West Meck; Divonnie Powell, Central Cabarrus; Kelsey Dean, Hough
Third Team: Tonjai Everett, Forest Hills; Jada Huntley, Porter Ridge; Sophie Rossitch, Catholic; Kelsi Mahoney, Robinson; Brianna Hamrick, Harding
Player of the year: Watts, Weddington
Coach of the year: Jennifer Baker, North Mecklenburg

Scott Chadwick out as coach at Marvin Ridge, four jobs open in Union Co.

Union County athletics director Doug Jones told the Observer Thursday that Marvin Ridge is now looking for a head football coach.

Scott Chadwick, the former coach, will not return next season.

Chadwick's move comes shortly after Blair Hardin resigned as coach at Porter Ridge this week. Jones said Union County now has four head football openings: Marvin Ridge, Sun Valley, Porter Ridge and Cuthbertson.

In five seasons, Chadwick coached Marvin Ridge to a 41-20 record. Last season, the Mavericks were 6-6, losing four of their final six games. Those losses were by an average of just more than five points.

Porter Ridge football coach Blair Hardin leaves for Freedom

After five years at Porter Ridge High School, football coach Blair Hardin is leaving to take over the open position at Freedom High School, Union County director of athletics Doug Jones told the Observer.

Efforts to reach Hardin were unsuccessful.

Hardin led Porter Ridge to back-to-back N.C. 4A state championship appearances in the past two seasons. In the past three years, his teams were 40-5.

For his five-year career at Porter Ridge, Hardin was 50-18.

Porter Ridge, which had competed in the Southern Carolina 3A/4A conference, a mixture of Union County 3A and 4A teams, is moving into a conference with Charlotte schools: Butler, East Mecklenburg, Garinger, Independence, Myers Park and Rocky River. That new league begins next season.

Butler and Independence have won 10 of the past 13 state championships in the state's largest classification, currently 4AA.

East Mecklenburg and Myers Park have both reached state semifinals in the state's largest classification during that run.

At Freedom, Hardin will coach in a 3A conference that includes Fred T. Foard, Hibriten, Hickory, Patton, St. Stephens, South Caldwell and Watauga.


At Freedom, Hardin replaces Mike Helms, who once coached at West Charlotte. Helms was at Freedom for four seasons and produced three straight winning seasons. Freedom was 12-3 last season. Helms resigned in late February.

Freedom principal Mike Swan said he appreciated Hardin's winning attitude.

"Coach Hardin comes to us with a range of experience and his toughness and togetherness mentality shows that he is dedicated to helping student-athletes reach their full potential," Swan said in a statement. "Coach Hardin brings the whole package to our program. He has a win-everywhere attitude, in the classroom, on the field, and in the community, which is something we at Freedom strive for. I am confident in our decision and feel that coach Hardin has the experience and skills to help us accomplish our goals."

Crest's Adiyah Ussery is All-District Region 10 girls basketball player of the year

Region 10 All-District Girls Basketball Team
First Team: Adiyah Ussery, Crest; Bre Armstrong, Forestview; Lauren Arney, East Burke; Yazmen Hannah, Hickory; Taylor Petty, Newton-Conover
Second Team: Imani Williams, Freedom; Danasia Witherspoon, Hickory; Ashley Mull, South Point; Syndey Haas, East Burke; Chelsea Turner, Foard
Third Team: Alyssia Watkins, R-S Central; Treasure Avery, Lincolnton; Bailey Gragg, East Burke; Te’ja Twitty, R-S Central; Bridge Derr, Lincolnton
Coach of the year: Shane Compton, Crest
Player of the year: Ussery, Crest

UNC recruit Isaiah Hicks named NC Gatorade player of the year

CHICAGO (March 21, 2013) — In its 28^th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Isaiah Hicks of J.F. Webb High School as its 2012-13 Gatorade North Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year.  Hicks is the first Gatorade North Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from J.F. Webb High School.

Hicks had 34 points and 30 rebounds in the N.C. 3A state championship Saturday, sparking debate over whether he had turned in the best-ever state championship performance in any sport. (click here for a list of the top state finals performances by Mecklenburg Co. athletes)

The Gatorade award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Hicks as North Carolina’s best high school boys basketball player.  Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award to be announced in March, Hicks joins an elite alumni association of past state boys basketball award winners, including Dwight Howard (2003-04, SW Atlanta Christian Academy, Ga.), Chauncey Billups (1993-94 & 1994-95, George Washington HS, Colo.), Jason Kidd (1991-92, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS, Calif.), Paul Pierce (1994-95, Inglewood HS, Calif.) and Chris Bosh (2001-02, Lincoln HS, Texas).

The 6-foot-8, 210-pound senior power forward led the Warriors to a 27-5 record and the Class 3A state championship this past season. Hicks averaged 22.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.6 blocks, 1.8 steals and 1.3 assists per game. A McDonald’s High School All-American Game selection, he shot 58 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3-point range and 66 percent from the free throw line. Hicks amassed 34 points, a tournament-record 30 rebounds and seven blocks in a 73-70, title-clinching overtime victory against Statesville, capturing Class 3A championship game Most Valuable Player honors. He also participated in the adidas Nations Global Championships and NBPA Top 100 Camp this past summer.

Hicks has maintained a B average in the classroom. In addition to volunteering on behalf of community service initiatives in association with his church, he has donated his time to “Team Meghan,” a fundraising effort to benefit 11-year-old Oxford native Meghan Bunn’s battle against brain cancer.

“Coaching against him is a nightmare,” said Wilton Baskett, head coach of rival Northern Vance High. “He’s 6-foot-9, but moves as gracefully as a point guard. A lot of times bigs are more stationary, but he’s shooting 3’s, getting assists, making mid-range jumpers and dunking off the rim without bringing it down. He’s phenomenal. I was just telling people, ‘Graduation isJune 8, and June 9 will be one of the happiest days of my career, because Isaiah will be gone, and now we’ll have a chance.’”

Hicks has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at the University of North Carolina this fall.

And the best point guards I've seen this year are...

Olympic’s Ty Baumgardner thinks Appalachian State coach Jason Capel is getting a steal in Devonte’ Graham, a 6-foot-1 senior from Raleigh Broughton High.

Baumgardner said he’s the best point guard Olympic has faced all year.

Graham had 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals against Olympic in the state finals Saturday, and Graham’s one of the best point guards I’ve seen, too, along with Cuthbertson’s Shelton Mitchell, a Wake Forest recruit; United Faith’s Alec Wintering, a Portland recruit; Raleigh Word of God point guard Josh Newkirk, a Pitt recruit; and High Point Wesleyan Christian’s JaQuel Richmond.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/03/17/3921431/an-emotional-journey-for-olympics.html#storylink=cpy

Time Warner Cable to broadcast Saturday's NCHSAA basketball finals live

From news release:

RALEIGH – Time Warner Cable customers can watch exclusive coverage of the 2013 North Carolina High School Athletic Association state basketball championships four different ways.

  The championships will be available on News 14 Carolina, News14.com, Time Warner Cable Special Events channels and Carolina On Demand.

All of the championship games will air live on Time Warner Cable Special Events Channels 520 or 521 with the exception of the 4A Men’s and Women’s games, that can be seen live on News 14 Carolina. Time Warner Cable customers can catch the action online as well, with live streaming of the games on News 14 Carolina’s award winning website, www.news14.com.

March 16, 2013 NCHSAA State Basketball Championship Schedule:

NCHSAA 1A Women – Noon – Channel 520

Graham River Mill Academy vs. Kernersville Bishop McGuinness

NCHSAA 2A Women – Noon – Channel 521

Kinston vs. Canton Pisgah

NCHSAA 1A Men – 2:30 p.m. – Channel 520

Rocky Mount Prep vs. Winston-Salem Prep

NCHSAA 2A Men – 2:30 p.m. – Channel 521

Kinston vs. Waxhaw Cuthbertson

NCHSAA 4A Women – 5:00 p.m. – Channels 14, 114, 414, 1114, 1414 Raleigh Millbrook vs. Greensboro Page

NCHSAA 3A Women – 5:00 p.m. – Channel 520 Chapel Hill vs. Charlotte Harding University

NCHSAA 3A Men – 7:30 p.m. – Channel 520

Oxford Webb vs. Statesville

NCHSAA 4A Men – 7:30p.m. – Channels 14, 114, 414, 1114, 1414 Raleigh Broughton vs. Charlotte Olympic

Additionally, for the first time ever, all games will be replayed on channel 520 beginning at 10:00 p.m.on March 16 and shown in succession through March 19. The games will also be available the week of March 18 on Carolina On Demand, channels 199 and 1047.

Time Warner Cable Special Events channels 520, 521, 522 and 1522 are available to all Time Warner Cable digital cable subscribers at no additional charge.

Rocky River All-Conference Winter Sports Teams

BOYS BASKETBALL
All-Conference
Shelton Mitchell        Cuthbertson
Emmitt Afam            Cuthbertson
Isiah Cureton            Cuthbertson
Lucius McMillan        Cuthbertson
Qualen Blakney        Piedmont
Brady Meggs            Piedmont
Cameron Tripp        Piedmont
Quashaun Chambers        Monroe
Brandon Roddy        Monroe
Kalief Harrison        Forest Hills
Ryan Grigston            Central Academy
B.J. Hill            West Stanly


Honorable Mention
Justin Austin – Cuthbertson                Jeremy Anthony - Piedmont
Jorden Hardrick-Givens – Cuthbertson        Eli Hyatt - Piedmont
Tre’shun Wynn – Monroe                Jordan Blakeney – Forest Hills
Dikembe White – Monroe                Zaccheus Rorie – Forest Hills
Charlie Eudy – West Stanly                Deshawn Morrison - CATA
Ron McCormick – West Stanly            Quay Threatt - CATA
Elijah Green – North Stanly                Jake Beeson – Union Academy
T.J. Smith – North Stanly                Ben Killion – Union Academy


Player of the Year – Brandon Roddy - Cuthbertson
Coach of the Year – Rudi Heath – Piedmont

                   
Boy's    W      L        W    L
Cuthbertson    13      1        22    2
Piedmont    11      3        19     4
Monroe    11      3        18     4
Forest Hills      8      6        13               10
West Stanly      5      9        8    15
CATA      5      9        9    14
North Stanly      3    11        7    11
Union Academy      0    14         0    17

GIRLS BASKETBALL

All-Conference
Asha Jordan            Monroe
Daya Jordan            Monroe
Zasha Barrett            Monroe
Taylor Helms            Cuthbertson
Megan Carlson        Cuthbertson
Tonjai Everett            Forest Hills
Sha Bivens            Forest Hills
Gentry Grubb            North Stanly
Jenni Speight            North Stanly
Abbey Mills            Piedmont
Jessica Prince            Piedmont
Amber Isley            Central Academy


Honorable Mention
Kendall Cox – Monroe                Brianna Ingram – Cuthbertson
Yasmine Thomas – Monroe                Deja Burks – Cuthbertson
Shuntel Kirkland – Forest Hills            Rae Moore – Central Academy
Onyx Burns – Forest Hills                Hunter Maness – Central Academy
Devan Fincher – West Stanly                Savannah Fox – Union Academy
Sara Tilley - West Stanly                Cara McNulty – Central Academy
Jesse Purser – Piedmont                Jenna Huff – North Stanly
Jacquelyn Price - Piedmont


Player of the Year – Asha Jordan - Monroe
Coach of the Year – Chanda Wright - Monroe

                   
Girl’s    W      L        W    L
Monroe    14      0        21    1
Cuthbertson    11      3        15    9
Forest Hills    10      4        16               7
North Stanly      7      7            14    10
Piedmont      6      8        10    13
CATA      4     10        6    17
West Stanly      4     10        9    14
Union Academy      0    14         1    16




SWIMMING
Women’s All Conference
Cuthbertson: Kristin Everhart, Allie Everhart, Kimberly Parnell, Kristin Pounds, Summer Abrunza
Piedmont: Miranda Seegars, Cori Burdette, Katy Griffin, Hannah Teague
Union Academy:  Hannah Hill, Delani Hartung, Katherine Guillot
North Stanly: Jenna Huff, Whitney Throneburg
CATA: Hannah Humphrey
Forest Hills: Nikki Witt

Honorable Mention
Allyn Rowles                        West Stanly
 Hannah Presley                    West Stanly
Elizabeth Hudson                    North Stanly
Lauren MacKenzie                    Cuthbertson
Megan Pounds                        Cuthbertson
Jessica Lloyd                        Union Academy
Sophie Pierannunzi                    Union Academy
Evie Jarvis                        Forest Hills
Nichole Glenn                        Piedmont
Jennifer Cope                        Piedmont
Cassie Mussen                        CATA
Layne Johnson                    CATA

RRC Swimmer of the Year: Kimberly Parnell, Cuthbertson
RRC Coach of the Year: Remona Griffin, Piedmont

Women's Standings
Cuthbertson        358
Piedmont            353
Union Academy        314
CATA                183
North Stanly        158
Forest Hills            114
West Stanly              88

Men’s All Conference
Cuthbertson: Seamus Kearney, Justin Laramee, Cain Poling, Brandon Lofton, Mark Goodson, Nick Robison, Vedaant Arora
Union Academy: Sam Urh
Piedmont: Austin Joyner, Patrick Webber, Carson Rollins, Vincent Berardelli
CATA: Shane Reich, Sam Souther
West Stanly: Collin Hartmann, James Hathcock
Forest Hills: Conner Farmer

Honorable Mention
AJ Wild                        West Stanly
Matt Ginsberg                        Cuthbertson
Tristan Boivin                        Union Academy
John Demeraski                    Union Academy
Chandler Williams                    Piedmont
Harrison Frye                        Piedmont
Bradley Price                        CATA
AJ Pjura                        CATA


RRC Swimmer of the Year: Sam Urh, Union Academy
RRC Coach of the Year: Jennifer Love, Union Academy

Men's Standings
Cuthbertson        380
Union Academy        309
Piedmont            302
CATA                216
West Stanly            161
Forest Hills              42

WRESTLING