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.