Hard to fathom that the NCISAA basketball season is almost at the halfway point as we approach the Christmas holiday. Some questions remain about who’s who & what’s what in the four divisions have been answered but many more remain as we head into holiday tournament play and conference action in the new year.
The leaders in each classification remain the same with Durham Academy (4A), Carmel Christian (3A), Davidson Day (2A) and Greenfield School (1A) still sit at the top of the heap but a turnover, missed basket or bad decision could really rearrange the current top five.
Taking a look at the different divisions, Durham Academy and Greensboro Day are breathing down each other’s neck in the race for top billing in the 4A poll. The main factor there is the Kavaliers 79-60 win over the Bengals back on November 12. Both sport identical 15-2 records against qualiry competition and both lost in the finals of their pre Christmas tournaments, DA dropping a 79-66 decision to Archbishop Alter, Ohio in the finals of the Seahwk Classic at Hilton Head SC while GDS fell in the finals of the Chick Fil A Classic in Columbia SC to nationally ranked Dorman SC 56-52.
Cannon School is third in this week’s poll. The Cougars , in my opinion, have the most talent of any squad in the NCISAA this season led by sophomore point guard Jaden Bradley already one of the nation’s highest recruits. However Cannon has suffered defeat six times in the first half of this year’s campaign which possibly can be attested to their youth as they dress only two seniors.
Keep an eye on Christ School in the second half of the season. The Greenies, always a power in the 4A, started the season at a very uncharacteristic 0-7 but have since won eight of their past nine contests to even their record at 8-8. First year coach and former Greenie player Mat Cioce seems to have rightened a once capsized ship.
Over in 3A Carmel Christian continues to lead the way under second year coach Joe Badgett. Congratulations are in order for Coach Badgett as his daughter, Alexandra, was recently selected as Miss North Carolina. The Cougars’ only two setbacks came back to November to Cannon in their second game of the season and NCHSAA 4A power Holly Springs.
Second ranked Concord 1st Assembly saw their 13 game winning streak snapped last week to Ben Smith HS out of Greensboro. The Eagles had not lost since falling in their opener to undefeated Moravian Prep National Team. CFA’s 6-9 wing Garrett Hein has already received numerous D-I offers.
Village Christian, who has reached the finals three of the past four years and Asheville Christian are three and four in this weeks rankings.
Davidson Day, top’s in 2A, lost its first contest of the season last week to CFA after Coach Ron Johnson’s Patriots had won their first ten straight. However DDS rebounded with wins over fifth ranked Freedom Christian & Hickory Christian. The Patriots will be strongly tested in the Holiday of the Palms Classic in Palm Beach Fla after Christmas.
Second ranked Northside Christian will also be heavily tested as they will participate in the prestigious Hoodies House Classic in Charlotte later this week. The Knights have played well of late despite the loss of highly touted Jaden Seymour, a 6’9 senior wing, who was injured early in the season and has yet to return. Also guard Glynn Hubbard , another D-I, has been missing due to injury.
Last year’s state champ Greenfield School continues to roll. The Knights won their own Christmas tournament swatting away Raleigh Grace Christian, St Davids and late replacement Dash United. The Knights will be playing in the John Wall Tournament the day after Christmas.
Trinity Christian coach Heath Vandever told me before the season started that he had a talented squad but it may take awhile for it to come together. It seems that the merger came sooner than coach Vandever anticipated as the Crusaders are out of the starting gate with a 13-1 record. Versatility may be the best word to describe TCS thus far as several different players have stepped forward so far.
Fifth ranked United Faith started the season like gangbusters rolling to six early season wins. But since the Falcons have dropped six straight but before coming to conclusions one must realize who UFCA has met. Their losses were to Burlington School, Cannon, Greenfield, Trinity Christian, Monsignor Scanlan NY and Westminster Catawba----hardly chopped liver.
4A BOYS
1.DURHAM ACADEMY..15-2..Defeated Chapel HS, Providence Day, Cape Fear Academy, Ferguson Fla, Greenbrier East WVa—lost to Archbishop Alter, Oh—This week—John Wall Invitational
2.GREENSBORO DAY..15-2..Defeated Providence Day, Ravenscroft, Gray Collegiate SC, Immaculate Conception NJ—lost to Dorman SC —This week—Haeco Invitational
3.CANNON..10-6..Defeated United Faith, Rock Hill SC, Travelers Rest SC—lost to Dream City Christian Az, Dorman SC & Immaculate Conception NJ—This week—Southeast Shootout Atlanta Ga
4.CHARLOTTE LATIN..9-3..Defeated Christ the King, Northwestern SC & Virginia Episcopal—lost to Ardrey Kell—This week—St Pius X Tournament, Atlanta Ga
5.WESLEYAN..8-3..Defeated North Raleigh & Ravenscroft—This week—Sheetz Holiday Classic
On the bubble..Charlotte Christian 6-3 Christ School 8-8
3A BOYS
1.CARMEL CHRISTIAN..13-2..Defeated Anson Co, Combine Academy HS Team & Harding HS—This week—Hoodies House Tournament
2.CONCORD 1ST ASSEMBLY..13-2..Defeated Hickory Grove & Davidson Day—lost to Smith HS—This week—Arby’s Classic @ Bristol Tenn
3.VILLAGE CHRISTIAN 8-3..Defeated Fayetteville Academy & Fayetteville Christian—This week--OPEN
4.ASHEVILLE CHRISTIAN..7-3..Defeated Christ School, East Rutherford, Northside & Hickory Grove—This week—Freedom HS Tourney
5.CAPE FEAR ACADEMY..8-6..Defeated Carolina Forest SC & Wayne Country Day—lost to Durham Academy—This week—Rotary Roundball Classic Charleston SC
On the bubble Hickory Grove 7-5 Calvary Day 9-7
2A BOYS
1.DAVIDSON DAY..12-1…Defeated Mountain Island Charter, Hickory Christian & Freedom Christian—lost to Concord 1st Assembly—This week—Holiday Classic @ Palm Beach, Fla
2.NORTHSIDE..13-4..Defeated Metrolina, Gaston Christian, Fort Mill SC, North Charleston SC & North Augusta SC—lost to Legacy Early College & Asheville Christian—This week—Hoodies House Invitational
3.WAYNE COUNTRY DAY..12-2..Defeated Broughton HS & Rocky Mount—lost to Cape Fear Academy—This week—FCA Classic @ Mount Olive University
4.WESTMINSTER CATAWBA..12-1..Defeated Statesville Christian, University Christian & Gaston Day—This week—Craze Sports Christmas Challenge
5.FREEDOM CHRISTIAN..12-3..Defeated Fayetteville Academy, New Life Christian & Hickory Christian—lost to Davidson Day—This week—Blue Star Invitational
On the bubble Trinity Academy 10-1 Salem Baptist 14-2
1A BOYS
1.GREENFIELD..15-2..Defeated Cape Fear Christian, United Faith, South Pointe SC, DASH United, St Davids & Raleigh Grace Christian—This week—John Wall Invitational
2.TRINITY CHRISTIAN..13-1..Defeated East Carteret, Pender Co, Mount Zion & United Faith—This week--OPEN
3.BURLINGTON SCHOOL..10-5..Defeated Victory Christian, Grace Christian & Amherst Central NY—lost to Moravian Prep & West Mecklenberg—This week—John Wall Invitational
4.CAPE FEAR CHRISTIAN..9-3..Defeated Northwood Temple—lost to Greenfield—This week—South Granville Invitational
5.UNITED FAITH..6-6..Lost to Greenfield, Cannon & Greenfield—This week—Hoodie House Tournament
On the bubble Victory Christian 7-7 Northwood Temple 9-8
