High School Sports Reschedule dates

Inclement weather forced most area schools to close Friday and forced major changes to athletic schedules. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had early dismissal and CMS athletics director Sue Doran said all CMS sporting events for Friday and Saturday were off, including the Southwestern 4A swimming.

Here are postponements and reschedule dates. Keep checking back for more.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Berry at East Gaston, Monday, 6 p.m.
Bunker Hill at East Burke, Wed, 6 p.m.
Central Academy at Forest Hills, Feb. 6
Central Cabarrus at Hickory Ridge, Sat, 5 p.m
Charlotte Catholic at Garinger, Wed, 6 p.m.
Charlotte Country Day at Charlotte Christian, date TBD
Charlotte Latin at Cannon, date TBD
Comm. School Davidson at Lincoln Charter, ppd, Feb 6
Crossroads Charter at Queens Grant, Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m.
Draughn at Bandys, Wed, 6 p.m.
East Lincoln at Bessemer City, Monday, 6 p.m.
Fort Mill at York, Monday, 6 p.m.
Fred T. Foard at Watauga, date TBD
Franklin Heights at Charlotte United Christian, date TBD
Gaston Christian at Hickory Grove,  date TBD
Harding at Hopewell, canceled (was scheduled for Wed)
Hickory Christian at Statesville Christian, Monday, 4:30 p.m.
Hopewell at Hough, Monday, 6 p.m.

Hopewell at West Charlotte, Wed, 6 p.m.
Hunter Huss at North Gaston, Monday, 6 p.m.
Independence at East Mecklenburg, Monday, 6 p.m.
Indian Land at Cheraw, Feb. 2, 6 p.m.
Kings Mountain at South Point, Monday, 6 pm.
Maiden at Newton-Conover, Monday, 6 p.m.
Mallard Creek at Mooresville, Wed, 6 p.m.
Myers Park at Butler, Wed, 6 p.m.
Monroe at West Stanly, Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Monroe at Parkwood, Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m
Nation Ford at Clover, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
North Meck at Lake Norman, Wed, 6:30 p.m.
North Stanly at Piedmont, Thurs, 6 p.m.
Olympic vs. Greater Atlanta Christian at Norcross (GA), Sat, canceled
Quality Education at Kennedy Charter, date TBD
Robinson at A.L. Brown, date TBD
Rocky River at Providence, Wed, 6 p.m.
Salisbury at Thomasville, Wed, 6 p.m.
Salisbury at North Rowan, Sat, 6 p.m.
SouthLake Christian at Covenant Day, Thurs, 6 p.m.
Statesville at West Rowan, Feb. 6
South Mecklenburg at Ardrey Kell, Monday, 6 p.m.

United Faith at Gaston Day, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
Union Academy at Cuthbertson, Feb. 6
Vance at Hough, Wednesday, 6 pm
West Caldwell at South Iredell, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
West Lincoln at Highland Tech, Wednesday, 6 pm..

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Alexander Central at St. Stephens, Sat, 3 p.m.
Draughn at Bandys, ppd, Wed
Newton-Conover at Maiden, Monday, time TBD
Patriots Duals at Independence, canceled, no reschedule date
Region III 4A wrestling, Tuesday, 5 p.m. at Rock Hill High
South Point at Kings Mountain, Monday, 6 p.m.


HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING
Hickory Grove meet, ppd, no date
I-Meck swimming, scheduled Friday, ppd, canceled, will not be rescheduled
SouthLake Winter Invitational, scheduled Friday, canceled, will not be rescheduled
Southwestern 4A swimming, scheduled Sat, canceled will not be rescheduled

Weather forces changes to high school athletics schedule

With a wintry mix of snow and rain forecast for the Charlotte-area Friday, several area high schools have made changes to their athletic schedules.

At least five area schools moved Friday games to Thursday night, including a big Big South 3A doubleheader betwen Ashbrook and Crest.

North Mecklenburg's basketball doubleheader at Lake Norman, originally scheduled for Friday, has been postponed and moved to Wednesday night.

Sue Doran, athletics director for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, said CMS was monitoring the weather but was not currently planning any schedule changes. If school is not in session Friday or students are released early, Doran said all scheduled basketball games. All Saturday CMS events, including the Southwestern 4A swim meet, would also be postponed if school is postponed or students released early, Doran said.

Friday's I-Meck 4A conference swim meet has been postponed and may not be rescheduled. Lake Norman and Mooresville, two Iredell County schools in the conference, will not participate in any athletic events Friday. That move forced the swim meet to be called off.

Here are reported rescheduled basketball games.


Anson Sr. at Sun Valley ppd, date TBD
North Mecklenburg at Lake Norman, Wed.
Union Co. at Cuthbertson, ppd, Jan. 25

West Charlotte-Vance game moved to Saturday

The big I-Meck 4A conference showdown between West Charlotte and Vance has been moved to Saturday at Waddell.

The girls game will start at 6, followed by the boys.

West Charlotte, which has been nationally ranked this season, is No. 2 in the Observer's Sweet 16. Vance jumped six spots to No. 8 this week.

Postponed high school basketball games

Here is a list of Friday's postponed high school basketball games. Keep checking back for latest updates.

Albemarle at North Rowan, ppd, Jan. 31
Charlotte Country Day at Forsyth Country Day, ppd, date TBD
Concord at A.L. Brown (scheduled for 1/22), Jan. 23
Cox Mill at Central Cabarrus, ppd, Jan. 30
East Burke at Bandys, ppd, Jan. 24
Gaston Day at Westchester Country Day, ppd, date TBD
Hickory Ridge at Concord, ppd, Jan. 30
Kannapolis Brown at NW Cabarrus, ppd, Feb. 4
Piedmont at Union Academy, ppd, Jan. 24
Robinson at Mt. Pleasant, ppd, date TBD
Salisbury at Lexington, ppd, Jan. 22
Watauga at Hibriten, ppd, TBD
West Rowan at Carson, ppd, Jan. 30

Providence Day, Charlotte Latin warm up for their big showdown Friday

Providence Day, No. 16 in the Observer’s high school basketball Sweet 16 poll, and rival Charlotte Latin, each had successful conference play openers Tuesday.

The teams meet in a big showdown at Providence Day Friday.

Charlotte Latin (15-2, 1-0 CISAA) won its seventh straight game with an easy 65-45 win over Charlotte Country Day.

The Hawks, ranked No. 5 in the N.C. 3A private school poll, are winning by more than 14 points per game for coach Chris Berger, a former Hawks player.

Latin trailed 10-9 after the first quarter and led only 24-23 at halftime, but the blew the game open in the third quarter. Hawks star Jacob Nabatoff had 22 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. Rusty Reigel had 15 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Providence Day (16-4, 1-0) is in the midst of one of its best seasons in years. The Chargers beat Concord’s Cannon School 74-58 Tuesday. Junior guard Jordan Watkins, a Davidson recruit, didn’t play due a back injury, but the Chargers got 17 points and six rebounds from 6-6 freshman center Grant Williams and 19 points, four rebounds and four assists from Duke football recruit Bryon Fields.

The Chargers hope to have Watkins back Friday.

Mallard Creek climbs Observer Sweet 16 basketball poll

Mallard Creek is climbing in the Observer’s Sweet boys basketball poll.

The Mavericks (13-2) rose four spots to No. 12. Mallard Creek has won its last two games against I-Meck 4A conference rivals Hopewell and North Mecklenburg to pull into a tie for second place in the league standings.

Mallard Creek is off Tuesday and resumes play Friday at Sweet 16 No. 1 West Charlotte in what is the Observer’s overall high school game of the week.

In the girls poll, Myers Park is holding steady at No. 1 under new coach Barbara Nelson. The Mustangs have moved to No. 18 in USA Today’s national poll.

Boys’ Sweet 16
Rk.    School (Class)    Rec.    Prev.
1.    Olympic (4A)    14-0    1
2.    West Charlotte (4A)    13-1    2
3.    Hough (4A)    11-3    3
4.     Cuthbertson (2A)    14-1    4
5.    Concord (3A)    13-1    5
6.    Hunter Huss (3A)    12-2    6
7.    Hickory (3A)    12-2    7
8.    Rock Hill (4A)    10-3    8
9.    RH ock Hill South Pointe (4A)    10-1    9
10.    Shelby (2A)    14-2    13
11.    East Rutherford (2A)    11-3    14
12.     Mallard Creek (4A)    13-2    16
13.    Freedom (3A)    11-3    11
14.    Vance (4A)    11-3    NR
15.    Independence (4A)    11-4    NR
16.     Providence Day (IND)    15-4    12
Dropped out: Ardrey Kell (4A, 12-3), East Burke (2A, 9-4). Also receiving consideration: Lake Norman (4A, 10-4); Charlotte Latin (IND, 14-2); Piedmont (2A, 13-1); West Caldwell (2A, 10-3); Foard (3A, 13-2); Statesville (3A, 10-2); North Rowan (1A, 11-3)

Girls’ Sweet 16
Rk.    School (Class)    Rec.    Prev.
1.    Myers Park (4A)    15-0    1
2.    Ardrey Kell (4A)    14-1    2
3.    Providence Day (IND)    13-3    4
4.    West Rowan (3A)    14-0    5
5.    North Mecklenburg (4A)    14-1    6
6.    Hickory (3A)    13-1    3
7.    Bandys (2A)    12-1    7
8.    Porter Ridge (4A)    11-3    8
9.    Freedom (3A)    13-2    9
10.    Weddington (3A)    12-3    10
11.    Hough (4A)    9-3    11
12.    East Burke (2A)    11-2    12
13.    Crest (3A)    11-2    14
14.    RH Northwestern (4A)    11-2    15
15.    Alexander Central (4A)    14-2    NR
16.    Carson (3A)    13-3    NR
Dropped out: Clover, S.C. (4A, 13-3); Mallard Creek (4A, 11-4). Also receiving consideration: Berry (3A, 11-4); Harding (3A, 8-4); South Point (3A, 11-2)

Mallard Creek WR Marquez North to announce college choice Feb. 6

Mallard Creek All-American receiver Marquez North will announce his college decision on national college signing day next month, his father told the Observer.

North, the top recruit in the Carolinas, will announce his choice during a Feb. 6 news conference at the school, when all of Mallard Creek’s football players will be signing their letters of intent.

North, 6-3 and 215 pounds, plans to visit Clemson this weekend, his father, Ramondo, said, and will visit North Carolina on Jan. 18.

Ramondo North said his son will choose from among Clemson, North Carolina and Tennessee. Ramondo North said the family ruled out Florida after a recent visit there.

The elder North said his son is fully recovered from shoulder surgery during October, which forced him to miss the playoffs. Ramondo North said Marquez was injured during a 7-on-7 scrimmage last summer.

“He played all season with it,” Ramondo North said, “but as the season went on, it got weaker and weaker. When we were on a visit to Tennessee, (the shoulder) popped out (of its socket) while he was asleep. I pulled him right there. I just thought it was best to not play anymore.”

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/01/07/3770826/meck-players-make-maxpreps-junior.html#storylink=cpy

Tuesday's top games (W. Charlotte-Hough; Victory-United Faith) & full schedule

Tuesday’s feature games

No. 2 West Charlotte will play No. 3 Hough (10-2, 3-0) at home. The Huskies have won seven straight games behind forward Luke Maye (19.2 ppg, 14.2 rpg) and is winning by 14 points per game.

Tuesday’s other feature game is at United Faith, where the Falcons -- coached by former NBA star Muggsy Bogues -- play arch rival Victory Christian. Both teams are favorites to win the Southern Piedmont conference championship. The game will feature at least six Division I recruits and match up teams that have won multiple state titles.

Victory Christian won 2A championships in 2007, 2008 and 2010. The Kings won five straight 1A state titles from 1995-99 as well as the 2003 1A championship. United Faith won the 2009 and 2010 1A championships and lost in the 2011 final.

Tuesday’s High School Basketball Schedule
Albermarle at Graystone Day School
A.L. Brown at Mount Pleasant
Ashbrook at Forestview
Bessemer City at North Lincoln
Bunker Hill at Draughn
Burns at East Rutherford
Carmel Christian at Cannon
Challenger at Lincoln Charter
Charlotte Catholic at Harding
Chase at Shelby
Cheraw (SC) at Indian Land (SC)
Cherryville at East Lincoln
Clover (SC) at Northwestern (SC)
Concord at Cox Mill
Crest at Hunter Huss
Crossroads Charter at Grace Academy
Cuthbertson at Central Academy
East Burke at Newton Conover
East Gaston at Garinger
East Rowan at North Iredell
Evelyn Mack at Hargrave Academy
First Assembly at Gaston Christian
Fred T. Foard at South Caldwell
Gaston Day at Charlotte Latin
Hibriten at St. Stephens
Hickory at Alexander Central
Hickory Grove at Northside Christian
Hough at West Charlotte
Jay M. Robinson at Central Cabarrus
Kings Mountain at North Gaston
Lancaster (SC) at Fort Mill (SC)
Lincolnton at Highland Tech
Maiden at South Iredell
Monroe at North Stanly
Mooresville Senior at Hopewell
Mount Zion at Kennedy Charter
North Mecklenburg at Mallard Creek
Northwest Cabarrus at Hickory Ridge
Olympic at West Mecklenburg
Patton at R.S. Central
Piedmont at Forest Hills
Porter Ridge at Marvin Ridge
Rocky River at East Mecklenburg
Salisbury at West Rowan
SouthLake Christian at Metrolina Christian
South Pointe (SC) at Nations Ford (SC)
South Rowan at Carson
Statesville at West Iredell
Sun Valley at Anson
Union Academy at West Stanly
Vance at Lake Norman
Victory Christian at United Faith
Walnut Grove at Providence Day
Watauga at Wilkes Central
Weddington at Parkwood
West Caldwell at Bandys
Westminster Catawba (SC) at Covenant Day
West Lincoln at Lake Norman Charter
York (SC) at Rock Hill (SC)

Butler High's Brian Hales named nat'l HS football coach of the year

From Observer reports

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee has announced Brian Hales from Butler High School in Matthews, N.C. as the 2013 Xenith National Coach of the Year. The award honors the Nation’s top high school football coach, recognizing exceptional coaching abilities and leadership skills as well as serving as a positive influence to the youth of America on and off the field.

“The Army is strong because of the incredible leaders it recruits and develops,” said Mark Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Marketing and Director of the Army Marketing and Research Group. “Coach Hales exemplifies similar leadership strengths and provides invaluable guidance to his players both on and off the field. We congratulate Coach Hales on his achievements and for being recognized as the Coach of the Year.”

Coach Hales will receive the Yoast Award, named after the legendary Coach Bill Yoast, who along with Coach Herman Boone was immortalized in the movie “Remember the Titans.”

Coaches are nominated and selected by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee. Bob Beatty of Trinity High School, Louisville, Ky., was the winner of the 2012 National Coach of the Year award. Other nominees this year included: Claude Mathis from DeSoto High School in DeSoto Texas, J.T. Curtis from Curtis High School in River Ridge La., Butch Goncharoff from Bellevue High School in Bellevue Wash., Mike Jinks from Steele High School in Cibolo, Texas and Joe Kinnan from Manatee High School in Bradenton, Fla.