Three points. One rebound. And a ton of praise from the coach.
Carmel Christian senior forward Glenn Bynum Jr.’s box score totals won’t jump out at you. But the job he did defending a standout opponent is what coach Joe Badgett was talking about Tuesday night.
The host Cougars beat Concord Academy 95-74 in a nonconference game. Carmel Christian is No. 4 in the Charlotte Observer/News & Observer N.C. statewide ranking. Concord Academy is No. 10.
“We needed No. 15, Glenn Bynum Jr., to play defense against the opponent’s best player,” Badgett said. “He had one of the best defensive games I’ve seen in my 20 years of head coaching.”
Bynum was assigned to defend Concord Academy’s Trae Benham, a 6-3 senior who entered the game averaging 22.8 points and 8.3 rebounds a game.
Benham finished with 19 points, but it was on 6-of-16 shooting, and he got only two rebounds.
“Those were 19 hard-earned points,” Badgett said of Benham’s total. “He’s an outstanding player, but our guy played defense against him tonight.”
While Bynum was doing his thing on defense, teammates Justin Taylor and Ben Burnham were making sure the rest of the job got covered.
Taylor scored 33 points, 23 of those in the first half; and Burnham finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Burnham, a 6-8 senior averaging 19.4 points and 9.8 rebounds a contest, hit 11-of-12 shots from the floor.
Concord Academy (3-2), the defending 3A private school state champion, started strong. The visitors hit four of their first five shots, including three 3-pointers, and took an 11-8 lead. The Eagles led 15-12 with 1:43 left in the first quarter, but the Cougars went on a 13-2 run into the early part of the second period and never trailed again.
Carmel Christian (6-0) led 48-31 at the half, but Concord Academy closed the gap to 60-52 with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter. The Cougars’ Cade Tyson then made two free throws and hit a 3-pointer. That made it 65-52, and Carmel Christian pulled away from there.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Justin Taylor, Carmel Christian: Taylor, a 6-3 senior guard, scored 33 points, hitting 14-of-20 from the floor. He connected on four 3-pointers
Logan Threatt, Concord Academy: With Trae Benham well-defended, Threatt led the Eagles offensively. He made 8-of-17 from the floor and finished with a team-high 21 points.
Glenn Bynum Jr., Carmel Christian: Bynum’s defense forced Concord Academy’s Trae Benham into an off shooting night. He also kept Benham away from the boards, holding him to a pair of rebounds.
WORTH MENTIONING
▪ Carmel Christian has a pair of outstanding big players. Ben Burnham, a 6-8 senior, had 25 points and 12 rebounds. Cade Tyson, a 6-7 junior, added 22 points and five rebounds. Tyson can score with either hand around the basket.
▪ The Eagles had a hot shooting night. They connected on 39-of-60 from the floor for 65 percent. Concord Academy made 28-of-58 for 48 percent.
▪ Carmel Christian handled the ball well, committing only six turnovers.
▪ In the girls’ game, Concord Academy (2-0) rolled to a 75-42 victory over the Eagles. Jael Hall, a senior point guard, and Zoey Ward, a junior forward, each scored 19 points. The Eagles led by 20 points at the half. Olivia Boyce led Carmel Christian (0-3) with 15 points.
THEY SAID IT
“This is a unique team. These players are willing to share the ball and do whatever it takes to win. It’s a special group.” - Carmel Christian coach Joe Badgett.
WHAT’S NEXT
Carmel Christian spends Thanksgiving weekend in Atlanta, competing in the Hoopsgiving Tournament. The Cougars play Friday afternoon against Mableton (Ga.) Pebblebrook. Concord Academy resumes play next Tuesday, hosting Gaston Day.
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
Carmel Christian senior forward Glenn Bynum Jr.’s box score totals won’t jump out at you. But the job he did defending a standout opponent is what coach Joe Badgett was talking about Tuesday night.
The host Cougars beat Concord Academy 95-74 in a nonconference game. Carmel Christian is No. 4 in the Charlotte Observer/News & Observer N.C. statewide ranking. Concord Academy is No. 10.
“We needed No. 15, Glenn Bynum Jr., to play defense against the opponent’s best player,” Badgett said. “He had one of the best defensive games I’ve seen in my 20 years of head coaching.”
Bynum was assigned to defend Concord Academy’s Trae Benham, a 6-3 senior who entered the game averaging 22.8 points and 8.3 rebounds a game.
Benham finished with 19 points, but it was on 6-of-16 shooting, and he got only two rebounds.
“Those were 19 hard-earned points,” Badgett said of Benham’s total. “He’s an outstanding player, but our guy played defense against him tonight.”
While Bynum was doing his thing on defense, teammates Justin Taylor and Ben Burnham were making sure the rest of the job got covered.
Taylor scored 33 points, 23 of those in the first half; and Burnham finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Burnham, a 6-8 senior averaging 19.4 points and 9.8 rebounds a contest, hit 11-of-12 shots from the floor.
Concord Academy (3-2), the defending 3A private school state champion, started strong. The visitors hit four of their first five shots, including three 3-pointers, and took an 11-8 lead. The Eagles led 15-12 with 1:43 left in the first quarter, but the Cougars went on a 13-2 run into the early part of the second period and never trailed again.
Carmel Christian (6-0) led 48-31 at the half, but Concord Academy closed the gap to 60-52 with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter. The Cougars’ Cade Tyson then made two free throws and hit a 3-pointer. That made it 65-52, and Carmel Christian pulled away from there.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Justin Taylor, Carmel Christian: Taylor, a 6-3 senior guard, scored 33 points, hitting 14-of-20 from the floor. He connected on four 3-pointers
Logan Threatt, Concord Academy: With Trae Benham well-defended, Threatt led the Eagles offensively. He made 8-of-17 from the floor and finished with a team-high 21 points.
Glenn Bynum Jr., Carmel Christian: Bynum’s defense forced Concord Academy’s Trae Benham into an off shooting night. He also kept Benham away from the boards, holding him to a pair of rebounds.
WORTH MENTIONING
▪ Carmel Christian has a pair of outstanding big players. Ben Burnham, a 6-8 senior, had 25 points and 12 rebounds. Cade Tyson, a 6-7 junior, added 22 points and five rebounds. Tyson can score with either hand around the basket.
▪ The Eagles had a hot shooting night. They connected on 39-of-60 from the floor for 65 percent. Concord Academy made 28-of-58 for 48 percent.
▪ Carmel Christian handled the ball well, committing only six turnovers.
▪ In the girls’ game, Concord Academy (2-0) rolled to a 75-42 victory over the Eagles. Jael Hall, a senior point guard, and Zoey Ward, a junior forward, each scored 19 points. The Eagles led by 20 points at the half. Olivia Boyce led Carmel Christian (0-3) with 15 points.
THEY SAID IT
“This is a unique team. These players are willing to share the ball and do whatever it takes to win. It’s a special group.” - Carmel Christian coach Joe Badgett.
WHAT’S NEXT
Carmel Christian spends Thanksgiving weekend in Atlanta, competing in the Hoopsgiving Tournament. The Cougars play Friday afternoon against Mableton (Ga.) Pebblebrook. Concord Academy resumes play next Tuesday, hosting Gaston Day.
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
