7 straight state titles for Carolina Day girls
CHARLOTTE – Every team has a unique personality, Joe Carrington likes to say.
The coach’s last seven girls basketball teams at Carolina Day all have one very important thing in common – they are state champions.
The Wildcats (28-1) extended their Western North Carolina-record streak Saturday at Charlotte Latin. Forham (N.Y.) signees Ralene Kwiatkowski (13 points) and Halei Gillis (10) were double-figure scorers in their final high school game – a 59-49 win over Davidson Day. Kasey Kidwell supplemented things with 11 points. Annabelle Schultz and Maleeah Langstaff each had 10 points.
Gillis, Kidwell and Kwiatkowski were named to the NCISAA 2-A all-state team. The Carolina Day girls won their final 26 games. The only blemish on their record came to First Assembly of Concord which Davidson Day (24-4) beat handily, 66-37, in Friday’s NCISAA 2-A semifinals.
“We continued a legacy and I’m so excited about that,” said Kwiatkowski, who is a 5-foot-8 guard.
“Nothing is ever going to be the same for me after this. I’m going to miss our coaches and all the players here at Carolina Day so much. Free throws really felt like the key to this game. Everyone did what they were supposed to do.”
Indeed, the Wildcats were 20-for-24 from the foul in Saturday’s state finals.
Carolina Day was in front 23-20 at halftime, but didn’t put some separation between itself and Davidson Day until late. The game was tied 32-32 with 11 minutes remaining.
"Davidson Day is a class act. There is no doubt that they are one of the best teams in the state," Carrington said.
"We're a young team, but we're experienced. When you are fortunate enough to play in so many state-championship games, everyone gets that experience. Kidwell and Langstaff really played some outstanding defense when we needed it. This group really developed an identity this season. They really turned into a team as the season went on."
Four out of five starters for Carolina Day have been dealing with flu-like symptoms recently which created an extra hardship Saturday.
"Our legs were kind of gone," Carrington said.
"The game was really back-and-forth. (Nautica) Smiley, Gillis and Kidwell all had two fouls at halftime and we really weren't shooting the ball well."
Gillis was proud to see such perseverance out of her team.
"During the game, we fell apart a little bit but we pulled it together when it was critical," she said.
"That was the most exciting part, seeing everyone come together. I'm so happy that I got to be a part of this legacy and carry it on. I think about all the older girls I got to play and all the younger ones, too."
Carolina Day 59, Davidson Day 49
Davidson Day 9 11 13 16 — 49
Carolina Day 12 11 15 21 — 59
Davidson Day
Caldwell 17, Thompkins 13, Reilly 13.
Carolina Day
Kasey Kidwell 11, Annabelle Schultz 10, Ralene Kwiatkowski 13, Maleeah Langstaff 10, Halei Gillis 10, Dani Sweeney 6.
CHARLOTTE – Every team has a unique personality, Joe Carrington likes to say.
The coach’s last seven girls basketball teams at Carolina Day all have one very important thing in common – they are state champions.
The Wildcats (28-1) extended their Western North Carolina-record streak Saturday at Charlotte Latin. Forham (N.Y.) signees Ralene Kwiatkowski (13 points) and Halei Gillis (10) were double-figure scorers in their final high school game – a 59-49 win over Davidson Day. Kasey Kidwell supplemented things with 11 points. Annabelle Schultz and Maleeah Langstaff each had 10 points.
Gillis, Kidwell and Kwiatkowski were named to the NCISAA 2-A all-state team. The Carolina Day girls won their final 26 games. The only blemish on their record came to First Assembly of Concord which Davidson Day (24-4) beat handily, 66-37, in Friday’s NCISAA 2-A semifinals.
“We continued a legacy and I’m so excited about that,” said Kwiatkowski, who is a 5-foot-8 guard.
“Nothing is ever going to be the same for me after this. I’m going to miss our coaches and all the players here at Carolina Day so much. Free throws really felt like the key to this game. Everyone did what they were supposed to do.”
Indeed, the Wildcats were 20-for-24 from the foul in Saturday’s state finals.
Carolina Day was in front 23-20 at halftime, but didn’t put some separation between itself and Davidson Day until late. The game was tied 32-32 with 11 minutes remaining.
"Davidson Day is a class act. There is no doubt that they are one of the best teams in the state," Carrington said.
"We're a young team, but we're experienced. When you are fortunate enough to play in so many state-championship games, everyone gets that experience. Kidwell and Langstaff really played some outstanding defense when we needed it. This group really developed an identity this season. They really turned into a team as the season went on."
Four out of five starters for Carolina Day have been dealing with flu-like symptoms recently which created an extra hardship Saturday.
"Our legs were kind of gone," Carrington said.
"The game was really back-and-forth. (Nautica) Smiley, Gillis and Kidwell all had two fouls at halftime and we really weren't shooting the ball well."
Gillis was proud to see such perseverance out of her team.
"During the game, we fell apart a little bit but we pulled it together when it was critical," she said.
"That was the most exciting part, seeing everyone come together. I'm so happy that I got to be a part of this legacy and carry it on. I think about all the older girls I got to play and all the younger ones, too."
Carolina Day 59, Davidson Day 49
Davidson Day 9 11 13 16 — 49
Carolina Day 12 11 15 21 — 59
Davidson Day
Caldwell 17, Thompkins 13, Reilly 13.
Carolina Day
Kasey Kidwell 11, Annabelle Schultz 10, Ralene Kwiatkowski 13, Maleeah Langstaff 10, Halei Gillis 10, Dani Sweeney 6.
