LBI Best of The Carolinas Holiday Classic Event Roundup
MATTHEWS N.C- A bevy of the best girls basketball programs in the south got together for a showcase format event in suburban Charlotte and fans of the sport were treated to some exciting high level basketball at the 4th Annual Best of The Carolinas Holiday Classic on December 7th and 8th.
Hamilton Heights (TN) vs Carolina Prep (NC)
The event kicked off with a Friday night tilt featuring Hamilton Heights (TN), the 4th ranked team in the nation, taking on Carolina Prep Academy. Hamilton Heights raced out to a 21-6 lead to open the game and rolled to an easy 60-38 victory. 6-7 junior center Kamilla Cardoso led a balanced Hamilton Heights attack with 18 points, rebounds and a pair of blocked shots to earn game MVP honors. Demoyia Corprew led Carolina Prep with 13 points.
Hopewell (NC) vs Concord First Assembly (NC)
In the opening clash on Saturday morning CFA Academy (Concord, N.C.) saw their 4 game win streak come to an end as the Eagles were on the short end of a 63-36 verdict against Hopewell (Huntersville, N.C.). Titan standout Aniya Finger deposited 20 of her game high 25 points in the second half to help her squad run away with what had been a nip and tuck affair for almost three quarters. Hopewell outscored the Eagles 16-2 in the third quarter to put the game away. Finger added 10 rebounds and 4 assists to capture BOCHC/Hoopaville MVP honors. Senior forward Nawaza Chambers added 14 points to the winning effort. Senior guard Jada McMillan led CFA Academy with 14 points.
Vance (NC) vs Cardinal Newman (SC)
Charlotte’s Zebulon Vance High wear down Cardinal Newman (S.C.) 46-31. Newman’s dynamic freshman tandem of Ashlyn Watkins and Audrey Meyers combined for 27 of their squads 31 points but that was not enough to stymie a balanced Vance attack. Cougars 6-foot junior guard Kyanna Morgan captured MVP honors after racking up 11 points, 13 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists in the win. Senior lead guard Excellent Greer (10 points) and backcourt mate Leah Barringer (7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) did their share of damage for Vance.
Wilson (SC) vs North Mecklenburg (NC)
Wilson(S.C.) standout Loyal McQueen rallied her team to a rousing 53-47 come from behind win over North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.) in a mid-morning matchup at The Best of The Carolinas Holiday Classic. North Mecklenburg watched a double digit lead evaporate down the stretch as McQueen dropped 16 of her game high 21 points after intermission. McQueen, who shot 55% from the floor and converted 6 of 7 free throw attempts, added 4 steals and 3 assists to secure BOCHC/Hoopaville MVP honors. North Mecklenburg standout Jessica Timmons, (15 points, 10 rebounds), finished with a double-double for the Vikings but was held without a basket for the entire second half by a charged up Wilson defense.
Ridge View (SC) vs Northwood Academy (SC)
South Carolina’s Ridge View High School coasted to an easy 68-48 victory over Northwood Academy in the first game of the afternoon at The Best of The Carolinas Holiday Classic. MVP Laila Acox accounted for 16 points and 8 boards to lead Ridge View. Aliyah Kelley (14 points) and Chloe Murphy (10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) also had productive nights in the win. Senior guard Tyashia Bostick and classmate Carrington Simpson tallied 15 points and 10 points respectively for Northwood Academy.
Carolina Prep (NC) vs Legacy Early College (SC)
Legacy Early College Charter engineered a comeback 63-57 win over Carolina Prep Academy in one of the more intense matchups of the showcase. After watching their squad fall in to a 16 point hole early in the game Legacy seniors Anayah Rice and Madison Tyler seized control of the game over the final two frames. Rice dropped in 16 second half points, after a scoreless first half. Tyler tallied 14 of her game-high 20 points over the final two quarters to win MVP honors. Olvia Hime led CPA with 16 points, teammate Demoyia Corprew finished with 12 points.
South Mecklenburg (NC) vs Hammond School (SC)
South Mecklenburg (N.C) raced to a 63-28 win over The Hammond School (Columbia, S.C.) behind an impressive 22 point, 5 rebound outing by senior Shariah Gaddy. Gaddy converted 75 % of her shot attempts and freshman guard Senali Moss tallied 20 points, 7 assists and 5 steals to help the Sabres roll to the easy win. Hammond junior Lauren Scott finished with 14 points in a losing effort.
Davidson Day (NC) vs Hamilton Heights (TN)
Davidson Day (Davidson, N.C.) appeared poised to pull off a monumental upset when they jumped out to an early 11-9 lead over nationally ranked Hamilton Heights. The Patriots had neutralized the Hawks 6-7 center Kamilla Cardoso for the entire first stanza and were firing on all cylinders offensively with Wake Forest commit Nevaeh Brown 9 first quarter points sparking the locals to an early lead.
Hamilton Heights junior Treasure Hunt exploded for 14 second quarter points to shake her squad out of the doldrums. Defensively the Hawks limited Davidson Day to just two baskets in the quarter and headed into the locker room with a comfortable 27-16 lead. Hamilton Heights held Davidson Day to just two rebounds and expanded their lead to 41-24 at the end of the third period.
Davidson Day standout Mallorie Haines struggled to find her rhythm offensively early in this one. The sophomore sharpshooter was held to just 6 points entering the final period of play. Haddon Heights junior forward Ruth Balogun tallied 7 fourth quarter points and combined with BOCHC/Hoopaville MVP Hunt to squash any hopes of a Davidson Day comeback. Hunt finished with 22 points, 7 rebounds and a pair of assists. Balogun added 14 points on the night. Nevaeh Brown led Davidson Day with 20, Haines finished with 17 for the Patriots.
Ardrey Kell (NC) vs Carolina Prep (NC)
Ardrey Kell (Charlotte, N.C) junior Evan Miller quietly put together one of the most impressive performances of The LBI Best of The Carolinas Holiday Classic. Miller was credited with 30 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals to lead Ardrey Kell to a 80-61 win over Carolina Prep Academy. Ardrey Kell dominated CPA on the glass 35-20 and led wire to wire in this matchup. 10 different Knights reached the scoring column. Miller earned MVP honors but senior guard Kennedy Cash also came up with an impressive performance, finishing with 14 points and 8 rebounds on the night. Rhian Lawrence led Carolina Prep with 21 points.
Butler (NC) vs Providence Day (NC)
Host Butler High closed out The Best of The Carolinas Holiday Classic with a solid 67-39 win over Providence Day School (Charlotte, N.C.). The Bulldogs used a 16-2 to open the contest, effectively ending any doubt about the outcome. Butler maintained a 20 point lead for most of the contest and placed 4 players in double figures with 2 others tallying 8 on the evening. Michaela Lane earned BOCHC/Hoopaville MVP honors. The 6-1 junior forward finished with 12 points,6 rebounds, 3 blocks and a pair of steals. Ashlyn Dotson and Hailey Nance each dropped 12 points. Junior point guard Payton Sutton recorded 10 points, 5 assists and 4 steals for Butler. Kailey Smith and Morgan Kelson finished with 9 points each for Providence Day.
4th Annual LBI Best of The Carolinas Holiday Classic All Tournament Team
Kamilla Cardoso 6-7 Junior C Hamilton Heights (TN)
Aniya Finger 6-0 Junior G/F Hopewell H.S. (NC)
Kyanna Morgan 6-0 Junior G Zebulon Vance H.S (NC)
Loyal McQueen 5-10 Junior G Wison (SC)
Laila Acox 6-0 Soph. F Ridge View (SC)
Anayah Rice 6-0 Senior G/F Legacy Early College (SC)
Shariah Gaddy 5-11 Senior G/F South Mecklenburg (NC)
Treasure Hunt 6-1 Junior G/F Hamilton Heights (TN)
Evan Miller 5-11 Junior G/F Ardrey Kell (NC)
Michaela Lane 6-1 Junior F Butler (NC)
Jessica Timmons 5-9 Soph G North Mecklenburg (NC)
Madison Tyler 5-6 Senior G Legacy Early College (SC)
Honorable Mention: Jada McMillan (cfa Academy), Nawaza Chambers(Hopewell), Leah Barringer (Vance), Excellent Greer (Vance), Audrey Myers (Cardinal Newman), Tineya Hylton (Hamilton Heights), Senali Moss ( South Mecklenburg), Nevaeh Brown(Davidson Day),Demoyia Corprew (Carolina Prep), Kenedy Cash (Ardrey Kell), Morgan Kelson (Providence Day), Ashlyn Dotson (Butler), Ruth Balogun (Hamilton Heights)
