Garinger names Carlton "Spanky" Anthony as its new boys basketball coach

Garinger athletics director Tony Huggins said the school has hired Carlton “Spanky” Anthony as its new boys basketball coach. Anthony replaces Joshua Coley, who resigned earlier this season. Huggins said the school also had a girls basketball opening.

Butler hires Myron Lowery as new boys basketball coach; Monroe hires girls coach

Butler High has hired former Providence and Harding coach Myron Lowery as its new boys basketball coach. Lowery replaces Donald Kirby who resigned earlier this spring.

Lowery resigned as Providence coach in June of 2013. Lowery was an assistant at Olympic last season. Lowery has 17 years experience as a head coach.

Monroe has hired Leroy Osborne as its new girls basketball coach. Osborne is a 1993 Monroe High graduate. He played football and ran track for the Redhawks. He has 20 years coaching experience and was 70-10 as Monroe’s boys junior varsity coach.

Hough boys basketball coach Justin Batts resigns; several coaching openings at Cornelius school

Hough athletics director Masanori Toguchi told the Observer Tuesday that Huskies boys basketball coach Justin Batts has resigned.

Batts plans to attend graduate school.

Batts was selected the Observer's coach of the year for its All-Lake Norman area boys team this year. Hough finished the season 22-6 and won the conference championship in the MECKA 4A, perhaps the toughest conference in North Carolina.

In the 2012-13, Batts led the Huskies to perhaps the school's biggest win, a N.C. 4A sectional championship win over heavily favored West Charlotte and then All-American center Kennedy Meeks to reach their first N.C. 4A Western Regional.

Next season, Hough is expected to return 6-8 forward Luke Maye, a high major Division I recruit. Maye made the All-Observer team for the second time this season.

Besides Batts, Toguchi said the school also had openings for girls basketball, softball, track and cross-country.

Big Mecklenburg County baseball games on tap

The high school baseball regular season ends tonight and Friday and the Mecklenburg County conferences have some big games on tap.

-- In the SoMeck 8, nationally ranked Ardrey Kell (21-2, 12-1) has a one-game lead over nationally ranked Providence (19-3, 11-2) and reigning N.C. 4A state champ South Mecklenburg (17-5, 11-2).

Ardrey Kell's Knights will try to win their ninth straight game and lock up a championship Friday at home. Ardrey Kell hosts South Meck at 6:30 p.m.

Providence can get a share of the championship if South Meck beats Ardrey Kell and Providence beats Charlotte Catholic (12-8, 7-6) Friday.

-- In the Southwestern 4A, Independence (14-8, 10-1) leads Porter Ridge (13-7-1, 9-2) by one game. Porter Ridge has won 12 straight, but Independence can lock up the league title by beating arch rival Butler at Butler Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Porter Ridge can earn a tie if Butler (12-9, 6-5) upsets Independence and Porter Ridge beats Rocky River (5-15, 4-7) Friday.

-- In the MECKA, Hough (17-6, 11-2) and North Meck (13-7, 11-2) are tied for first place. Hough finishes regular-season play tonight (Thursday) against Vance (1-13, 1-12) at home. North Meck plays at Mallard Creek (10-10, 7-6) Thursday.

Hough and North Meck split two regular-season meetings.

-- In the CISAA, Charlotte Christian (25-4, 10-1) has won eight straight and has locked up the league title with two conference games remaining next week. Country Day (10-9, 6-4) is in second place.

Area college signees

These area athletes signed with colleges recently:

Charlotte Christian: James Finch (Oglethorpe, soccer); Morgan Franklin (Catawba College, women’s basketball); Jacob Kaplan (Berry, lacrosse); Huston Pashoian (Virginia Military, lacrosse); Kyrie Pennington (Carson-Newman, volleyball); Joe Ruppert (Hampden-Sydney, lacrosse)

Hopewell: Anyla Kryeziu (Montreat, volleyball)

Providence Day: Jonah Edwards (Kenyon College, track); Patrick Ahern (Stonehill College, track); Bailey Robinson (Wheaton, soccer); Evan Gray (Boston College, track); Corey Michocki (Loyola, MD, soccer); Tanner Love (Williams College, wrestling); Hayes Donahue (Hampden-Sydney, football); Blake Henderson (Hampden-Sydney, football)

Victory Christian: Hezekiah McKinnon (Mars Hill, football)

SoMeck 8 all-conference basketball teams

As voted on by SoMeck 8 conference coaches


GIRLS

Ra’Shika White, Berry; Erin Whalen, Ardrey Kell; Brianna Hambrick, Harding; Meghan Fleury, Providence; Jordan Muhammad, Ardrey Kell; Marshae Bradbury, Ardrey Kell; Raven Dean, Ardrey Kell; Ali Fitch, South Meck; Jenesai Mohammad, Olympic; Courtney Sanderson, South Meck

Players of the year: Sophie Rossitch, Charlotte Catholic; Myicha Drakeford, Harding

Coach of the year: Bobby Conrad, Charlotte Catholic

BOYS

Steven Santa Ana, Ardrey Kell; Malik Constantine, Olympic; Joshua Lancaster, Berry; Devin Cooper, Ardrey Kell; Robbie Anderson, Charlotte Catholic; Daryl White, Harding; Devarious Christian, Berry; Grant Hedberg, South Meck; Teyon Henry, Harding; Quindon Cottman, Berry

Player of the year: CJ Jackson, Olympic

Coach of the year: Maurice Jones, Berry

Ardrey Kell to replace girls basketball, wrestling coaches

Ardrey Kell athletics director Cheryl Feeney said the school has openings for a head wrestling coach and a head girls basketball coach.

Feeney said she wasn’t sure if wrestling coach Tim Higgins or girls basketball coach Jennifer McVicker would remain at the school.

McVicker led the Knights to the N.C. 4A Western Regional championship game in March, ending the school’s most successful season. Ardrey Kell beat a nationally ranked team in a Christmas tournament and finished 27-5. In two seasons, McVicker was 52-9.