Carmel Christian defense shuts down Davidson Day in Phenom Hoops tipoff
BY LANGSTON WERTZ JR.
Last February, Carmel Christian lost its first game in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association playoffs. It was the first time in 10 years that Joe Badgett didn’t coach in a state championship game.
In the previous nine years, whether as an assistant at Northside Christian with Byron Dinkins or as a head coach at Carmel Christian, Badgett had always worked the last game of the season.
That upset loss, which ruined a chance at a 3-peat, fueled the Cougars’ off-season. It also led to Friday’s 53-38 win over reigning NCISAA 2A state champion Davidson Day at the Phenom Hoops Tip Off at the Rock HIll Sports & Events Center.
“The kids who played in that game really understand what happened,” Carmel Christian coach Joe Badgett said of last year’s 60-47 home playoff loss to Cape Fear Academy. “They kind of harp on it and know what you can’t do if you want to be successful and win states. And those pieces that hadn’t bought into it aren’t with them now, through graduation or transfer. This is a real solid group. I’ve got kids who are not playing much and the bench is active, and we didn’t have that last year “They learned a lot from last year.”
With just 10 days of practice before Friday’s game, Badgett said he worked really hard on defense, and it showed. Davidson Day scored just 13 points after halftime. Besides Blane St. Clair, who had 20 points for Davidson Day, no Patriots player had more than Donovan Atwell’s 8.
Carmel Christian got 16 points from senior guard Justin Taylor and 16 from senior forward Ben Burnham.
“Getting them to comprehend how effective the defense was, that was key,” Badgett said. “(Davidson Day) got a little fatigued and we got them a little rattled in the second half. They’re a lot smaller than we are, we were working the ball in the paint and got some separation, and if you get separation on a team that wants to control possession of the ball, you can speed them up and get some mistakes out of them. It was a great win to start the year.”
Friday’s results:
Carmel Christian 53, Davidson Day 38;
Concord Academy 101, Carolina Basketball Academy 69;
Gaston Christian 43, Asheville Christian 34;
Northside Christian 67, Bull City Prep National 53
BY LANGSTON WERTZ JR.
Last February, Carmel Christian lost its first game in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association playoffs. It was the first time in 10 years that Joe Badgett didn’t coach in a state championship game.
In the previous nine years, whether as an assistant at Northside Christian with Byron Dinkins or as a head coach at Carmel Christian, Badgett had always worked the last game of the season.
That upset loss, which ruined a chance at a 3-peat, fueled the Cougars’ off-season. It also led to Friday’s 53-38 win over reigning NCISAA 2A state champion Davidson Day at the Phenom Hoops Tip Off at the Rock HIll Sports & Events Center.
“The kids who played in that game really understand what happened,” Carmel Christian coach Joe Badgett said of last year’s 60-47 home playoff loss to Cape Fear Academy. “They kind of harp on it and know what you can’t do if you want to be successful and win states. And those pieces that hadn’t bought into it aren’t with them now, through graduation or transfer. This is a real solid group. I’ve got kids who are not playing much and the bench is active, and we didn’t have that last year “They learned a lot from last year.”
With just 10 days of practice before Friday’s game, Badgett said he worked really hard on defense, and it showed. Davidson Day scored just 13 points after halftime. Besides Blane St. Clair, who had 20 points for Davidson Day, no Patriots player had more than Donovan Atwell’s 8.
Carmel Christian got 16 points from senior guard Justin Taylor and 16 from senior forward Ben Burnham.
“Getting them to comprehend how effective the defense was, that was key,” Badgett said. “(Davidson Day) got a little fatigued and we got them a little rattled in the second half. They’re a lot smaller than we are, we were working the ball in the paint and got some separation, and if you get separation on a team that wants to control possession of the ball, you can speed them up and get some mistakes out of them. It was a great win to start the year.”
Friday’s results:
Carmel Christian 53, Davidson Day 38;
Concord Academy 101, Carolina Basketball Academy 69;
Gaston Christian 43, Asheville Christian 34;
Northside Christian 67, Bull City Prep National 53
