Charlotte Christian, Cade Nicholson, rout North Raleigh.
Charlotte Christian’s lopsided boys’ basketball victory Saturday afternoon over visiting North Raleigh Christian was a learning experience for each team, their coaches said.
For North Raleigh Christian, an 80-50 loser, it showed the Knights that they can compete with a powerhouse like Charlotte Christian, but that the margin for error is small.
“We battled our way into the lead, and then we let it get away,” North Raleigh Christian coach Ronnie Kruger said.
It was a different lesson for Charlotte Christian, coach Shonn Brown said.
“We haven’t played in two weeks,” he said. “We’ve had games canceled. I think we learned a little more to appreciate when we’re able to get out and play.”
Brown’s team (5-0) saw three games wiped out by COVID-related issues.
“We learned how quickly things can change,” Brown said. “Now we approach every game like it could be our last one of the season. We appreciate it more.”
The host Knights (the teams share a common nickname) looked like a team that hadn’t played for a few weeks - in the second quarter, at least.
After bolting to an 11-2 lead in the opening 2½ minutes, they were pressed by North Raleigh Christian (3-3). The visitors gradually battled back and took a 26-25 lead on Will Nepa’s layup with 4:52 left in the half. It was their only lead of the game.
Charlotte Christian went back on top, 27-26, on Bryce Cash’s layup with about 4:10 left in the half and led 35-29 at intermission.
“Then it really got away from us in the third quarter,” Kruger said. “Charlotte Christian is an outstanding team, and we needed to play a lot better to stay with them.”
A 3-pointer by Nepa enabled North Raleigh Christian to cut Charlotte Christian’s lead to 37-32 a minute into the second half, and the visitors trailed only 39-34 a minute later.
But Brown’s team went on a 13-0 run and led 52-34 late in the quarter.
Charlotte Christian’s pressing defense had a lot to do with that surge.
“We went with a 2-2-1 press in the third quarter,” Brown said. “It slowed them down and forced them outside. They missed some shots, and we got going.”
THREE WHO MATTERED
Cade Nicholson, Charlotte Christian: A 6-2 sophomore wing, Nicholson had a spectacular performance. He scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed six rebounds. He also had six steals and a blocked shot.
Ayinde Taylor III, North Raleigh Christian: Taylor, a 6-6 junior forward, was a bright spot for his team. He scored 21 points and had a team-best nine rebounds. He was 9-of-11 from the floor.
David Lash, Charlotte Christian: A 6-4 senior forward, Lash had a game-high 11 rebounds and scored eight points.
WORTH MENTIONING
▪ The final minute of the game carried some drama. Injuries had reduced Charlotte Christian’s lineup to seven players, so the Knights activated team manager Noah Montgomery. Brown talked to the North Raleigh Christian coaches during a time out in the closing minutes and told them Montgomery might be taking a 3-point shot, and that Charlotte Christian was not trying to run up the score. “We wanted him to get a shot,” Brown said. Sure enough, Montgomery connected on a 3-pointer with one second remaining for the final points.
▪ North Raleigh Christian has a deep bench. The Knights got 13 players into the game Saturday, with eight scoring.
▪ Charlotte Christian’s press forced North Raleigh Christian into 25 turnovers.
▪ Charlotte Christian shot 50.9 percent from the floor (26-of-51), to 45.2 percent for North Raleigh Christian (19-of-42). The visitors shot only 36.8 percent in the second half (7-of-19).
THEY SAID IT
“This is a young team, with only two seniors. But I think we have the potential to be very good.” - Charlotte Christian coach Shonn Brown.
WHAT’S NEXT
North Raleigh Christian is off until after Christmas. The Knights resume action Dec. 29 at High Point Christian. Charlotte Christian plays Monday at home against Calvary Day and then on Tuesday against Hickory Grove Christian at the Phenom Hoops Classic in Rock Hill.
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
Charlotte Christian’s lopsided boys’ basketball victory Saturday afternoon over visiting North Raleigh Christian was a learning experience for each team, their coaches said.
For North Raleigh Christian, an 80-50 loser, it showed the Knights that they can compete with a powerhouse like Charlotte Christian, but that the margin for error is small.
“We battled our way into the lead, and then we let it get away,” North Raleigh Christian coach Ronnie Kruger said.
It was a different lesson for Charlotte Christian, coach Shonn Brown said.
“We haven’t played in two weeks,” he said. “We’ve had games canceled. I think we learned a little more to appreciate when we’re able to get out and play.”
Brown’s team (5-0) saw three games wiped out by COVID-related issues.
“We learned how quickly things can change,” Brown said. “Now we approach every game like it could be our last one of the season. We appreciate it more.”
The host Knights (the teams share a common nickname) looked like a team that hadn’t played for a few weeks - in the second quarter, at least.
After bolting to an 11-2 lead in the opening 2½ minutes, they were pressed by North Raleigh Christian (3-3). The visitors gradually battled back and took a 26-25 lead on Will Nepa’s layup with 4:52 left in the half. It was their only lead of the game.
Charlotte Christian went back on top, 27-26, on Bryce Cash’s layup with about 4:10 left in the half and led 35-29 at intermission.
“Then it really got away from us in the third quarter,” Kruger said. “Charlotte Christian is an outstanding team, and we needed to play a lot better to stay with them.”
A 3-pointer by Nepa enabled North Raleigh Christian to cut Charlotte Christian’s lead to 37-32 a minute into the second half, and the visitors trailed only 39-34 a minute later.
But Brown’s team went on a 13-0 run and led 52-34 late in the quarter.
Charlotte Christian’s pressing defense had a lot to do with that surge.
“We went with a 2-2-1 press in the third quarter,” Brown said. “It slowed them down and forced them outside. They missed some shots, and we got going.”
THREE WHO MATTERED
Cade Nicholson, Charlotte Christian: A 6-2 sophomore wing, Nicholson had a spectacular performance. He scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed six rebounds. He also had six steals and a blocked shot.
Ayinde Taylor III, North Raleigh Christian: Taylor, a 6-6 junior forward, was a bright spot for his team. He scored 21 points and had a team-best nine rebounds. He was 9-of-11 from the floor.
David Lash, Charlotte Christian: A 6-4 senior forward, Lash had a game-high 11 rebounds and scored eight points.
WORTH MENTIONING
▪ The final minute of the game carried some drama. Injuries had reduced Charlotte Christian’s lineup to seven players, so the Knights activated team manager Noah Montgomery. Brown talked to the North Raleigh Christian coaches during a time out in the closing minutes and told them Montgomery might be taking a 3-point shot, and that Charlotte Christian was not trying to run up the score. “We wanted him to get a shot,” Brown said. Sure enough, Montgomery connected on a 3-pointer with one second remaining for the final points.
▪ North Raleigh Christian has a deep bench. The Knights got 13 players into the game Saturday, with eight scoring.
▪ Charlotte Christian’s press forced North Raleigh Christian into 25 turnovers.
▪ Charlotte Christian shot 50.9 percent from the floor (26-of-51), to 45.2 percent for North Raleigh Christian (19-of-42). The visitors shot only 36.8 percent in the second half (7-of-19).
THEY SAID IT
“This is a young team, with only two seniors. But I think we have the potential to be very good.” - Charlotte Christian coach Shonn Brown.
WHAT’S NEXT
North Raleigh Christian is off until after Christmas. The Knights resume action Dec. 29 at High Point Christian. Charlotte Christian plays Monday at home against Calvary Day and then on Tuesday against Hickory Grove Christian at the Phenom Hoops Classic in Rock Hill.
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
