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Page 18 | Nov. 25, 2016 | South Charlotte Weekly
Sports
What to expect for 2016-17 girls basketball in greater Charlotte girls to be focused on being their best in everything they do, individually and collectively. Nelson certainly likes her team this year. She has a quality nucleus to build with in seniors Kianna FunIt’s hard to believe football season is finishing up, derburk and McKenna Haire. Funderburk, who plays but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited for basketball small forward, is committed to Vermont, and Hair, season. Next week, we’ll feature our annual basketball who plays shooting guard, is committed to Princeton. preview with in-depth looks at each team in our area, What’s exciting is the talent pool extends far beyond but first, let’s take a look at what to expect for girls basProvidence Day and Myers Park. ketball this coming season. Charlotte Latin coach Charisse Mapp has the It’s no secret Charlotte is a city of champions, esHawks soaring in the right direction. She welcomes pecially when it comes to girls’ basketball. Take Proviback a dynamite inside out combo in sophomore fordence Day for example. Chargers’ coach Josh Springer ward/center Kathryn Vandiver (10.6 ppg and 6.9 rpg) has won the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Asand junior point Claudia Dickey (10.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, sociation 3A state championship for the last seven years 4.9 apg and 4.7 spg). – as long as his oldest son has been alive. Ardrey Kell got a taste of success last season when it Or go just a few minutes away to Myers Park, which finished with a 24-7 (12-2 So. Meck 8) record, won a won back-to-back N.C. High School Athletic Associashare of the conference championship, and advanced tion 4A state championships in 2014 and 2015 under to the fourth round of the state playoffs. Junior guard coach Barbara Nelson’s watch. Journey Muhammad returns to lead the Knights. Those programs are perennially the cream of the South Meck should continue to make strides under crop in the Queen City. coach Cristie Mitchell, who Providence Day is led by has built the Sabres into a solid arguably the best player in the Players to Watch competitor that has gotten state in senior forward/center Janelle Bailey (16.8 ppg and Janelle Bailey Providence Day better every year under. Mitchell’s primary option, 8.8 rpg), who is committed Kennedy Boyd Providence Day A’Lea Gilbert (15.9 ppg and to North Carolina. However, Kianna Funderburk Myers Park 9.4 rpg), is back. She was althe Chargers are going to most a sure double-double on Journey Muhammad Ardrey Kell look a little different this year a nightly basis as a sophomore, following the mass exodus A’Lea Gilbert South Meck and should continue this seaof a strong senior class that Sarah Billiard Covenant Day son. included North Carolina Rinnah Green Butler Covenant Day senior forGatorade Player of the Year ward Sarah Billiard (16.4 ppg, Ariana Nance Rocky River Erin Whalen, who is now a 14.4 rpg and 4.5 bpg), who is forward at Vanderbilt. a Virginia volleyball commit, Springer certainly plans to is one of the most polished multi-sport athletes in the employ an offense that starts with looking to pound greater Charlotte area. Like Gilbert, Covenant Day also the inside to Bailey first and working it out from there, can depend on her for a double-double performance. but at the same time, Providence Day needs junior Butler junior point guard Rinnah Green (14.2 ppg, point guard Kennedy Boyd’s role to increase. 3.7, 3.5 apg, 2.8 spg and 1.4 bpg) proved herself as a She was more of a facilitator and distributor her scorer and passer last season. She has tremendous upfirst couple of years at Providence Day, but showed side, and her role should increase following the deparher mettle on the biggest of stages as a freshman when ture of combo guard Fairen Sutton. Butler will go as far she scored a team-high 13 points and grabbed seven as Green can take it. rebounds to lead the Charges to a state title. Donnie Taylor replaces Epiphany Woodson as the Boyd, who has a collegiate caliber talent, must connext coach at Rocky River. The Ravens were up and tinue to facilitate and distribute, but she is someone down at times last season, but one of their true constant who can make a major jump in her game this year as a sources of offense is back in senior guard/forward Ariscorer and leader. Providence Day will depend on her ana Nance (14.6 ppg). significantly. What’s apparent is Charlotte is full of quality talent For Myers Park, it isn’t necessarily about state chamin girls basketball, which should make this season an pionships. The Mustangs certainly enjoy hanging banexciting one. ners, though. More than anything, Nelson wants the by Ben Doster
ben@cmgweekly.com
(From left) Kianna Funderburk and McKenna Haire
Kennedy Boyd
Claudia Dickey (left) and A’Lea Gilbert (right)