SPORTS South Charlotte Weekly • Nov. 8, 2019 • Page 1B
2019
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GUIDE
I can’t wait for the roars by Andrew Stark
andrew@cmgweekly.com
For me, there is no fan like the basketball fan. Sure, football and soccer have the jersey wearers, the face painters, the horned shoulder pad dudes, the costumes and camaraderie, but most fans sit so far away from the action that the players and coaches can’t hear what they’re saying. In high school sports a lot of times, the football and soccer games are more like social gatherings than they are about cheering their team on every play. I don’t find that to be as true of the basketball fan, and they have so much more to offer. The choreographed cheers, theme nights and the underlying roar of a basketball game over the dribbling of the ball and squeaking of the shoes is something that can’t be duplicated. I prefer that cheering fan base as close to the court as possible. A little gamesmanship between players, fans and even coaches can go a long way, in my opinion. And this year, with the 2019-20 basketball season upon us, there should be plenty to cheer about. In the Southwestern 4A, is Independence good enough to win its third straight boys title or does someone like Myers Park, Butler or Rocky River take control? Butler looks like the top dog on the girls side of things, but Hickory Ridge, Myers Park and Independence look particularly strong, too. How about in the So. Meck 7?
Senior-heavy Hawks lean on experience by Andrew Stark andrew@cmgweekly.com
CHARLOTTE – Charlotte Latin hasn’t won a boys basketball conference title since the 2007-08 season, two years before former Hawk point guard Chris Berger rose from an assistant to become the head coach. Berger has had some really good teams in the decade since, but there have been dominant runs from Charlotte Christian (2007-08 through 2011-12 and again in 2018-19) and Providence Day (2012-13 through 2017-18) during his time as the coach. But this season, more than ever since
the Hawks last stood atop the CISAA, the league seems there for the taking after Christian lost four of five starters and Providence Day has to absorb the loss of point guard and leading scorer Cyncier Harrison, who transferred just before the season. So who’s the league favorite this year? You may have to look no further than the Hawks, who return four starters including all-state point guard Randy “RJ” Johnson to lead the charge. After opening last season with a 6-5 record, you could almost feel the momentum shift as the Hawks seemed to catch fire over their Christmas tournament where they won their final two games.
That sparked a 10-4 run the rest of the way before the Hawks added to their loss total with a defeat in the NCISAA semifinals. “We didn’t finish games early in the year last season,” Johnson said. “I feel like later in the season we learned how to win. Each year we’ve gotten better and I think we like the way winning feels.” The Hawks finished 16-10 last season, but their late-season run is promising with six seniors, including four starters, back. Johnson was terrific last season, earning all-state honors after averaging 18 points and 5.5 assists. see HAWKS, Page 2B
see STARK, Page 2B
HIGH SCHOOL
ATHLETE Waxhaw 1315 N. Broome St. 704-243-2024
Matthews 11100 Monroe Rd. 704-841-2025
OF THE
WEEK
ELLA MAINWARING FOSTER
PROVIDENCE RUNNING The Panther senior 400-meter specialist recently announced she committed to run track and field at Yale next season. Mainwaring Foster is one of the top runners in the state. Are you a coach and know an incredible athlete you’d like us to feature? email us at Andrew@cmgweekly.com