Prep Spotlight

Big shakeup in Observer's Sweet 16 polls, Carson girls rise to top 10

2012-01-30T13:08:00.002-05:00

Friday night, the Carson High girls basketball team beat Statesville 71-16 won its sixth straight game. Carson, from China Grove, improved to 18-1 and set a school-record for wins.

Today, the Cougars have moved into the top 10 of the Observer Sweet 16 poll for the first time. In a turbulent week in the girls poll, Carson rose three spots from No. 12.

Providence Day’s girls lost to 2A Independent School champ Carolina Day, which is not in the Observer’s coverage area, but bounced back with a 59-32 win Friday at Charlotte Christian, then No. 5 in the poll.

New to the girls poll this week is Anson Senior, which beat former Sweet 16 Porter Ridge last week.

In the boys poll, Olympic remains NO. 1, but Concord, Harding and West Charlotte each moved up a spot to round out the top four. No. 2 North Meck fell to fifth after losing a close game at West Charlotte last week.

New to the poll is Lincolnton after Hickory dropped out.

Boys

Rk.	School	Rec.	Prvs.
1.	Olympic (4A)	20-0	1
2.	Concord (3A)	18-0	3
3.	Harding (3A)	16-3	4
4.	West Charlotte (4A)	16-5	5
5.	North Mecklenburg (4A)	17-3	2
6.	Lancaster S.C. (4A)	19-2	6
7.	Berry (3A)	16-4	7
8.	Freedom (3A)	18-2	8
9.	Cuthbertson (2A)	18-1	9
10.	North Rowan (1A)	16-2	10
11.	East Rutherford (2A)	17-2	11
12.	Charlotte Christian (IND)	17-6	14
13,	South Mecklenburg (4A)	16-4	15
14.	Charlotte Catholic (3A)	17-3	16
15.	Robinson (3A)	14-4	12
16.	Lincolnton (2A)	15-2	NR

Dropped out: Hickory (3A, 17-3). On the bubble: Alexander Central (4A, 18-2); Statesville (3A, 14-3); Rock Hill, S.C. (4A, 15-5); Shelby (2A, 13-4); Sun Valley (4A, 16-4). Records are through Friday’s games.

Girls

Rk.	School	Rec.	Prvs.
1.	Myers Park (4A)	20-0	1
2.	Berry (3A)	17-1	2
3.	Hickory (3A)	18-1	3
4.	Providence Day (IND)	18-4	6
5.	Ardrey Kell (4A)	16-4	5
6.	Salisbury (2A)	16-2	6
7.	Mallard Creek (4A)	16-3	9
8.	R-S Central (3A)	16-1	11
9.	Carson (3A)	18-1	12
10.	Charlotte Christian (IND)	15-4	5
11.	Newton-Conover (2A)	16-3	13
12.	Forestview (3A)	16-2	14
13.	Harding (3A)	14-2	15
14.	North Stanly (2A)	19-0	16
15.	Bandys (2A)	17-1	8
16.	Anson Senior	16-4	NR

Dropped out: Porter Ridge (4A, 17-2). On the bubble: Alexander Central (4A, 14-4/15-5); Clover, S.C. (4A, 15-4); Hough (4A, 13-6); North Iredell (3A, 13-5); Rock Hill Northwestern (4A, 15-4). Records are through Friday’s games.

Note: To be ranked in the Observer’s Sweet 16, a team must be in the newspaper’s coverage area, must field football and basketball teams and not allow a student-athlete to re-class once they’ve started ninth grade. For a detailed look inside the poll, including the criteria used to compile it, visit this link: http://bit.ly/prNoYM

A.L. Brown basketball coach Shelwyn Klutz gets his 200th win

2012-01-27T19:25:00.000-05:00

A.L. Brown boys basketball coach Shelwyn Klutz got his 200th win against rival Northwest Cabarrus Jan. 10. He was honored by the school Wednesday night in a special ceremony.

Klutz has been Brown's boys coach for 14 years and has taught health and PE in Kannapolis CIty Schools for 20 years.

Hough girls star Anna Diggs pushes her team to first place

2012-01-26T14:56:00.001-05:00

There were a lot of expectations for Anna Diggs before she ever played a game for the Hough girls' basketball team in their inaugural season last year.

Diggs lived up to the hype, leading her team to a 17-10 record and a third-place finish in the I-Meck while averaging 17 points per game as a freshman. This season, she's helped push Hough (12-6, 8-1) into sole possession of first place in the I-Meck 4A. Hough plays at rival North Meck Friday.

In the program's short history, Diggs has been the catalyst for Hough, with Huskies' coach Sonja Tate always close behind her, pushing the point guard to play up to her potential and help her team to do the same.

"Anna has always been known as a great shooter, but that is not all she can do," said Tate. "She has worked hard to expand her game, where she can drive to the basket and be effective as a creator and passer."

Diggs has learned not only to be more patient in working for her shots, but also to take only good shots. In that process, she is also able to distribute the ball, creating more opportunities for her teammates.

In turn, Diggs has had some big games recently - from her 27-point outburst against Anson County, shooting 6-of-8 from behind the 3-point line, to her 19-point effort in a critical 64-54 road win over Lake Norman.

While their first year was a success, Hough created even bigger expectations for year two of the program.

"The expectations on me and this team have been high since we got here," said Diggs. "But we feel like we can live up to all that and be the best team in this conference. But to do that, we have to play with the intensity like every game is the conference championship."

Hough has lived up to its expectations this year.

Diggs, 16, who averages 13 points per game this season, has led a more balanced attack from the point with sophomore Olivia DeMarcus and junior Brandi Arey on the wings and sophomores Julia Brown and Kelsey Dean leading the interior unit.

"It's been interesting to see this group of young players grow together," said Tate. "I've been very tough on Anna at times, but it's because I expect a lot out of her. She has a lot of God-given talent."

Like Diggs, Tate grew up a shooting guard who also played the point as she moved through the ranks from high school to college basketball at Arkansas State to the professional ranks, where she played two seasons for the Minnesota Lynx.

Diggs is glad to be able to have her coach's experience to look up to.

"I definitely trust Coach Tate to help me get better because I know she knows what she is talking about," said Diggs.

Diggs also work on her game in the offseason with her Lake Norman Magic AAU team, which also features Hough teammates Arey, Brown, Dean and DeMarcus as well as Bandys' standout Madi Story and Lake Norman Charter center Ezzine Mbamalu.

Diggs hopes all of her work will play off as the Huskies come down the stretch in the I-Meck regular season and into the postseason.

Hough has a few more big weeks remaining, with a trip to rival North Meck on Friday, followed by an important homestand against Mooresville and Lake Norman before the regular season finale at Mallard Creek, which the Huskies beat for the first time earlier this month.

"Last year, we came out with nothing to lose because we were new," said Diggs. "This year, we are looking to start a winning tradition at Hough. We are always going to be the first varsity team at Hough, but we want people to remember us for being winners as well."

-- Correspondent Jay Edwards for newsoflakenorman.com

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/01/25/2943470/hough-relies-on-diggs-to-lead.html#storylink=cpy

Tuesday's Top Performers

2012-01-24T23:46:00.000-05:00

Oceania Anderson, Christelle Shembo, Ardrey Kell girls: Knights, No. 4 in the Sweet 16, warmed up for their big game with No. 1 Myers Park Friday with an easy 71-46 win over Independence. Anderson had 18 points, four assists and three rebounds. Shembo had 14 points, nine rebounds and two assists in win over Independence.
Mike Brown, West Charlotte: 24 points and 8 rebounds for Western Carolina signee in 70-64 win over North Meck.
Connor Burchfield and Darren Black, Concord: Each had 21 points each for the No. 3 Spiders (16-0), No. 3 in the Sweet 16, in a 76-73 win over No. 12 Robinson, ranked No. 12.
Clay Byrd, East Burke: hit the game-winning 3-point shot at the buzzer to beat rival Draughn 69-66.
Kaitlin Cash, South Meck girls: 13 points, five rebounds in 51-28 win over Providence. Teammate Jazmyn Saunders had 12 points and three assists, helping South end a five-game losing streak.
Javonte’ Douglas, Kennedy Charter: 16 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two assists in 74-52 win over Grace Academy. Kennedy Charter was held 20 points below its average and trailed 31-25 at halftime. Kennedy’s Donte Clark had 17 points, six assists and four rebounds. Point guard Jalen White had 12 assists.
Onya Edwards, Charlotte Catholic girls: 18 points and 17 rebounds in a 52-41 win over West Mecklenburg.
Diamond Foggie, Vance girls: 27 points and six rebounds in 46-41 win over Mooresville.
Jordan Henry, Marvin Ridge girls: 22 points, 21 rebounds, five steals and four assists in 56-52 win over Parkwood.
Gabrielle McClain, West Charlotte girls: 13 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two assists in win over North Meck. Teammates Rachel Porter (15 points, three assists, three steals) and Jessica Gaston (11 points, 13 rebounds) also had big games.
Jacob Nabatoff, Charlotte Latin: 21 points, 10 rebounds in 75-71 win over Cannon. Teammate Joe Baynard had 17 points and eight assists.
Stephanie Watts, Weddington girls: Freshman went for 19 points, 14 rebounds, five steals and five assists in 54-38 win over Sun Valley.