Cannon School coach not fan of playoff format, even in ‘fun year’
BY LANGSTON WERTZ JR.
Cannon School boys basketball coach Che’ Roth is not a fan of the new N.C. Independent Schools playoff system.
The NCISAA split up the state into eastern and western sections. Roth, whose team beat Charlotte Latin 75-61 in the quarterfinals Saturday, doesn’t feel the new format is fair to his conference, the CISAA.
In the second round Thursday, for example, Providence Day played Charlotte Christian for the second time in a week. The teams ended their regular-seasons playing each other the Thursday before.
Also Thursday, Cannon played Covenant Day for the third time, and then on Saturday, Cannon and Latin hooked up for the third time in 12 days.
“I think it kind of shortchanges the only 4A league in the state (with all 4A teams),” Roth said. “You’re basically playing a conference tournament, and it doesn’t feel like a state tournament. I’m excited we’re having a state tournament, but it’s kind of disappointing (with this format) and it ruins the kids’ experience a little bit to not have a true state tournament.”
What Roth wasn’t disappointed about was watching his team win a rematch of the 2020 state championship game, which was also played at Charlotte Latin.
The Cougars (25-5) jumped out to a 13-5 lead and never gave it up.
Jarvis Moss, a Stanford recruit, had 25 points and seven rebounds. Elijah Ormiston, committed to Concordia University, had 14 points, four rebounds and junior DJ Nix had 14 points., four rebounds and three assists.
Charlotte Latin senior Graham Calton, playing his final game, had 35 points and seven rebounds for the Hawks (16-5).
Cannon won despite playing much of the second half with Ormiston, Nix and 7-1 junior center Christian Reeves (12 points, four rebounds, four blocks) sitting out with four fouls. Junior Karon Boyd, a 6-5 forward, picked up the slack with five points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Roth said he likes his teams’ chances.
“We have such a tight group and they are so connected,” Roth said. “We’ve got some big-time players, like Deuce Rolle, who played his tail off today. And a kid off the bench, who is always prepared when his number is called is Ben Childress. He stepped up and guarded. I love our team. We’re having a ton of fun and that’s been our focus all year, with this being, really, the only form of social interaction these kids have. We’ve been using that as our rallying cry, and it’s been a really fun year.”
▪ Also advancing to the semifinals is Cannon School, which beat Charlotte Christian 44-29. Reigan Richardson had 28 points in the win. Charlotte Christian scored 13 points in the first quarter and 16 in the final three.
Cannon will play at Greensboro Day (16-5) in Tuesday’s semifinals.
CANNON SCHOOL 75, CHARLOTTE LATIN 61
CS 13 22 20 20--75
CL 5 18 16 22--61
Cannon--Jarvis Moss 25, Elijah Ormiston 14, DJ Nix 14, Christian Reeves 12, Rolle 5, Boyd 5
Latin--Graham Calton 35, Daniel Haughton 11, Hull 6, Hirsch 3, Jones 3, Hendley 3
Game Notes: Cannon won in the quarterfinals of the state tournament at Latin. The Cougars were led by Jarvis Moss 25 pts, Elijah Ormiston 14 pts. and DJ Nix added 14 pts. Latin was led by Graham Calton’ 35 pts./7 reb. Cannon advances to the semifinals next Tuesday.
Records: Cannon 25-5, Latin 16-5
BY LANGSTON WERTZ JR.
Cannon School boys basketball coach Che’ Roth is not a fan of the new N.C. Independent Schools playoff system.
The NCISAA split up the state into eastern and western sections. Roth, whose team beat Charlotte Latin 75-61 in the quarterfinals Saturday, doesn’t feel the new format is fair to his conference, the CISAA.
In the second round Thursday, for example, Providence Day played Charlotte Christian for the second time in a week. The teams ended their regular-seasons playing each other the Thursday before.
Also Thursday, Cannon played Covenant Day for the third time, and then on Saturday, Cannon and Latin hooked up for the third time in 12 days.
“I think it kind of shortchanges the only 4A league in the state (with all 4A teams),” Roth said. “You’re basically playing a conference tournament, and it doesn’t feel like a state tournament. I’m excited we’re having a state tournament, but it’s kind of disappointing (with this format) and it ruins the kids’ experience a little bit to not have a true state tournament.”
What Roth wasn’t disappointed about was watching his team win a rematch of the 2020 state championship game, which was also played at Charlotte Latin.
The Cougars (25-5) jumped out to a 13-5 lead and never gave it up.
Jarvis Moss, a Stanford recruit, had 25 points and seven rebounds. Elijah Ormiston, committed to Concordia University, had 14 points, four rebounds and junior DJ Nix had 14 points., four rebounds and three assists.
Charlotte Latin senior Graham Calton, playing his final game, had 35 points and seven rebounds for the Hawks (16-5).
Cannon won despite playing much of the second half with Ormiston, Nix and 7-1 junior center Christian Reeves (12 points, four rebounds, four blocks) sitting out with four fouls. Junior Karon Boyd, a 6-5 forward, picked up the slack with five points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
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Cannon will advance to play Greensboro Day in Tuesday’s semifinal. Carmel Christian (22-1) beat Charlotte Christian 75-45 in its quarterfinal to advance. Carmel Christian will play Ravenscroft (13-4) at home Tuesday.Roth said he likes his teams’ chances.
“We have such a tight group and they are so connected,” Roth said. “We’ve got some big-time players, like Deuce Rolle, who played his tail off today. And a kid off the bench, who is always prepared when his number is called is Ben Childress. He stepped up and guarded. I love our team. We’re having a ton of fun and that’s been our focus all year, with this being, really, the only form of social interaction these kids have. We’ve been using that as our rallying cry, and it’s been a really fun year.”
▪ Also advancing to the semifinals is Cannon School, which beat Charlotte Christian 44-29. Reigan Richardson had 28 points in the win. Charlotte Christian scored 13 points in the first quarter and 16 in the final three.
Cannon will play at Greensboro Day (16-5) in Tuesday’s semifinals.
CANNON SCHOOL 75, CHARLOTTE LATIN 61
CS 13 22 20 20--75
CL 5 18 16 22--61
Cannon--Jarvis Moss 25, Elijah Ormiston 14, DJ Nix 14, Christian Reeves 12, Rolle 5, Boyd 5
Latin--Graham Calton 35, Daniel Haughton 11, Hull 6, Hirsch 3, Jones 3, Hendley 3
Game Notes: Cannon won in the quarterfinals of the state tournament at Latin. The Cougars were led by Jarvis Moss 25 pts, Elijah Ormiston 14 pts. and DJ Nix added 14 pts. Latin was led by Graham Calton’ 35 pts./7 reb. Cannon advances to the semifinals next Tuesday.
Records: Cannon 25-5, Latin 16-5
