Charlotte Latin uses 2nd half push to get past Charlotte Christian
BY STEVE LYTTLE AND LANGSTON WERTZ JR.
Charlotte Christian’s young boys’ basketball team did everything coach Shonn Brown has asked of them Thursday night -- for one half.
Then a senior-laden Charlotte Latin squad took advantage of the Knights’ mistakes in the second half and raced to a 60-49 CISAA victory.
The visiting Hawks (12-3, 4-0) outscored Charlotte Christian (8-7, 2-4) 41-22 in the second half after trailing by eight points at intermission.
“Once we made a defensive adjustment at halftime, we were able to get some momentum,” Charlotte Latin coach Chris Berger said. “I messed them up. I was trying to be too crafty in the first half.”
Berger had the Hawks using a variety of defenses in the first two quarters. Then he switched his team to a man-to-man defense in the third quarter.
“I was very pleased with the second half-defense,” Berger said. “To hold a team like that in check is quite an accomplishment.”
Brown, whose normal eight-player rotation includes a freshman and four sophomores, saw the game as a learning experience.
“What we did in the first half -- that’s what we want to build our team around,” Brown said. “We stuck to fundamentals. We pushed the tempo. We did it well.
“And then? We just got out of sync.”
Sophomore Bryce Cash and senior David Lash each scored six points in the first half, as Charlotte Christian built a lead that stretched to 12 points (25-13) midway in the second quarter. The Knights led 27-19 at the half.
But the Hawks’ Jaylen Jones scored a basket and a free throw to start the second half, and teammate Graham Calton hit a 3-pointer, and suddenly Charlotte Christian’s lead had shrunk to 27-25. The Knights steadied themselves and led 32-29 with 3:21 left in the quarter.
That’s when Charlotte Latin went on a 18-2 run, stretching into the fourth quarter. By the time Calton hit another 3-pointer with 5:31 left in the game, the Hawks were up 47-34.
The rest was academic.
“It all starts on the defensive end for us,” Berger said. “We’re not the kind of team that will go out there and be the first to score 100 points. Coach Brown has a nice team. I really love that lineup. But our defense played well in the second half, and that set up our offense.”
Brown said his team allowed the Hawks to get a few uncontested 3-point shots in the second half.
“And a team like that will make those shots,” he said.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Graham Calton, Charlotte Latin: Calton, a 6-5 senior forward, scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds. He connected on four 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the decisive fourth quarter.
Bryce Cash, Charlotte Christian: A 6-4 sophomore, Cash scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Jaylen Jones, Charlotte Latin: Jones, a 5-10 junior guard, scored 11 points and had five assists. He scored all but two of his points in the second half.
Worth mentioning
▪ Both coaches said their teams are behind in their development, because of COVID-related postponements this season. And both said they have added nonconference games Saturday to their schedules, to help prepare for the state tournament that begins in two weeks.
▪ That added Saturday game, plus a makeup contest next week, means Charlotte Latin will play five times in 10 days. “It’s kind of an NBA schedule,” Berger said. “But in a season like this, our guys are excited to play.” Two of those games next week will be against the CISAA’s other unbeaten team, Cannon School.
▪ Charlotte Christian had a cold shooting night. The Knights hit 17-of-44 from the floor for 38.6 percent. Even in the first half, when they piled up a big lead, the Knights shot only 36 percent (9-of-25).
▪ Charlotte Latin shot 55 percent from the floor, hitting 22-of-40. The Hawks made 9-of-13 in the fourth quarter.
THEY SAID IT
“We’re very excited about where we’re at. We have a very tough schedule for the next week and a half, but we’re excited to play those games.” -- Charlotte Latin coach Chris Berger.
WHAT’S NEXT
Both teams host Asheville-area schools in Saturday matinees. Charlotte Latin entertains Asheville School at 1:30 p.m., and Charlotte Christian hosts Christ School, also at 1:30 p.m.
BY STEVE LYTTLE AND LANGSTON WERTZ JR.
Charlotte Christian’s young boys’ basketball team did everything coach Shonn Brown has asked of them Thursday night -- for one half.
Then a senior-laden Charlotte Latin squad took advantage of the Knights’ mistakes in the second half and raced to a 60-49 CISAA victory.
The visiting Hawks (12-3, 4-0) outscored Charlotte Christian (8-7, 2-4) 41-22 in the second half after trailing by eight points at intermission.
“Once we made a defensive adjustment at halftime, we were able to get some momentum,” Charlotte Latin coach Chris Berger said. “I messed them up. I was trying to be too crafty in the first half.”
Berger had the Hawks using a variety of defenses in the first two quarters. Then he switched his team to a man-to-man defense in the third quarter.
“I was very pleased with the second half-defense,” Berger said. “To hold a team like that in check is quite an accomplishment.”
Brown, whose normal eight-player rotation includes a freshman and four sophomores, saw the game as a learning experience.
“What we did in the first half -- that’s what we want to build our team around,” Brown said. “We stuck to fundamentals. We pushed the tempo. We did it well.
“And then? We just got out of sync.”
Sophomore Bryce Cash and senior David Lash each scored six points in the first half, as Charlotte Christian built a lead that stretched to 12 points (25-13) midway in the second quarter. The Knights led 27-19 at the half.
But the Hawks’ Jaylen Jones scored a basket and a free throw to start the second half, and teammate Graham Calton hit a 3-pointer, and suddenly Charlotte Christian’s lead had shrunk to 27-25. The Knights steadied themselves and led 32-29 with 3:21 left in the quarter.
That’s when Charlotte Latin went on a 18-2 run, stretching into the fourth quarter. By the time Calton hit another 3-pointer with 5:31 left in the game, the Hawks were up 47-34.
The rest was academic.
“It all starts on the defensive end for us,” Berger said. “We’re not the kind of team that will go out there and be the first to score 100 points. Coach Brown has a nice team. I really love that lineup. But our defense played well in the second half, and that set up our offense.”
Brown said his team allowed the Hawks to get a few uncontested 3-point shots in the second half.
“And a team like that will make those shots,” he said.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Graham Calton, Charlotte Latin: Calton, a 6-5 senior forward, scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds. He connected on four 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the decisive fourth quarter.
Bryce Cash, Charlotte Christian: A 6-4 sophomore, Cash scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Jaylen Jones, Charlotte Latin: Jones, a 5-10 junior guard, scored 11 points and had five assists. He scored all but two of his points in the second half.
Worth mentioning
▪ Both coaches said their teams are behind in their development, because of COVID-related postponements this season. And both said they have added nonconference games Saturday to their schedules, to help prepare for the state tournament that begins in two weeks.
▪ That added Saturday game, plus a makeup contest next week, means Charlotte Latin will play five times in 10 days. “It’s kind of an NBA schedule,” Berger said. “But in a season like this, our guys are excited to play.” Two of those games next week will be against the CISAA’s other unbeaten team, Cannon School.
▪ Charlotte Christian had a cold shooting night. The Knights hit 17-of-44 from the floor for 38.6 percent. Even in the first half, when they piled up a big lead, the Knights shot only 36 percent (9-of-25).
▪ Charlotte Latin shot 55 percent from the floor, hitting 22-of-40. The Hawks made 9-of-13 in the fourth quarter.
THEY SAID IT
“We’re very excited about where we’re at. We have a very tough schedule for the next week and a half, but we’re excited to play those games.” -- Charlotte Latin coach Chris Berger.
WHAT’S NEXT
Both teams host Asheville-area schools in Saturday matinees. Charlotte Latin entertains Asheville School at 1:30 p.m., and Charlotte Christian hosts Christ School, also at 1:30 p.m.
