How did this squad become Charlotte’s high school team of the Year? Relying on each other
BY STEVE LYTTLE
It’s as if nobody connected with the Carmel Christian boys’ basketball program ever doubted whether the Cougars had enough talent to win a state championship.
“The questions always was, ‘Can we hold each other accountable?’ ” head coach Joe Badgett said.
In the end, they did.
The Cougars learned to play defense together, learned to rely on one another, and capped a 26-3 season by beating nationally ranked Greensboro Day for the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association’s 4A championship in February.
Carmel Christian has been named Team of the Year for the 2021-22 academic year by The Charlotte Observer. Several national polls ranked the Cougars among the nation’s top 20 teams at the end of the season.
They topped a stellar field of team-of-the-year finalists in Mecklenburg County, including baseball state champions Providence and Charlotte Christian; Chambers in girls’ basketball; Charlotte Catholic in boys’ golf; and Charlotte Christian in softball.
Badgett, who coached three state championship teams at Northside Christian and now has three at Carmel Christian, said this year’s squad essentially coached itself, by the time the Cougars reached the state finals.
“Three times during that state championship game, I was going to call a time out,” Badgett recalled. “I looked out on the floor, and they were already huddled. They knew what to do.”
Guard Logan Threatt says the team was trained by Badgett and his staff for moments like that.
“We just dug in and played hard,” he said. “It’s what we had been training for all season.”
In midseason, Badgett wasn’t sure about his team. He’d seen the 2020-21 Cougar squad reach the state finals, then lose to Cannon School.
“We still have work to do,” Badgett said after one mid-January game. “It’s not a matter of talent — it’s a matter of working together.”
Cade Tyson, the team’s leading scorer and a Belmont commit, said Badgett stresses working together and relying on one another.
“We have to be ready to do whatever it takes, without having to be told,” he said after that same mid-January game.
Badgett said the Carmel Christian system allows offensive freedom but demands hard work on defense.
“We coach defense,” he said. “On offense, we put you in a situation, and you’re responsible for what happens after that. But we coach defense, and we want our players to hold each other accountable.
“In this generation of kids, it’s sometimes hard to find a group willing to hold each other responsible. This group did it.”
That accountability goes beyond the basketball court. He requires players to have a grade-point average of 3.0 or better — a tougher standard than is required for most other high school basketball programs. And that, he said, helps Carmel Christian players land college scholarships.
In addition to Tyson, fellow seniors Luke Krawczyk (Navy), Nyles Howard (Navy) and Logan Threatt (Queens) are college-bound.
Another part of the Carmel Christian program is a demanding schedule. The Cougars played in several out-of-state tournaments and faced powers from South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Virginia, in addition to home-state competition. They scheduled a mid-January game with Chambers, which was ranked among North Carolina’s top 4A teams and reached the playoff quarterfinals.
“We believe that a tough schedule is the best way to develop a team,” he said.
Despite the loss of the team’s top four scorers, including Tyson’s 23 points a game, Badgett promises another fun season for Carmel Christian fans in 2022-23.
“I’m really excited about our next team,” he said. “We have players who can really shoot. Once again, it will come down to playing defense and holding each other accountable. But I think we could have another big season ahead.”
He said that team will face a tough schedule, just like those before it. “We’re going to do it the right way,” Badgett said. “That’s the way we require it to be at Carmel Christian
BY STEVE LYTTLE
It’s as if nobody connected with the Carmel Christian boys’ basketball program ever doubted whether the Cougars had enough talent to win a state championship.
“The questions always was, ‘Can we hold each other accountable?’ ” head coach Joe Badgett said.
In the end, they did.
The Cougars learned to play defense together, learned to rely on one another, and capped a 26-3 season by beating nationally ranked Greensboro Day for the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association’s 4A championship in February.
Carmel Christian has been named Team of the Year for the 2021-22 academic year by The Charlotte Observer. Several national polls ranked the Cougars among the nation’s top 20 teams at the end of the season.
They topped a stellar field of team-of-the-year finalists in Mecklenburg County, including baseball state champions Providence and Charlotte Christian; Chambers in girls’ basketball; Charlotte Catholic in boys’ golf; and Charlotte Christian in softball.
Badgett, who coached three state championship teams at Northside Christian and now has three at Carmel Christian, said this year’s squad essentially coached itself, by the time the Cougars reached the state finals.
“Three times during that state championship game, I was going to call a time out,” Badgett recalled. “I looked out on the floor, and they were already huddled. They knew what to do.”
Guard Logan Threatt says the team was trained by Badgett and his staff for moments like that.
“We just dug in and played hard,” he said. “It’s what we had been training for all season.”
In midseason, Badgett wasn’t sure about his team. He’d seen the 2020-21 Cougar squad reach the state finals, then lose to Cannon School.
“We still have work to do,” Badgett said after one mid-January game. “It’s not a matter of talent — it’s a matter of working together.”
Cade Tyson, the team’s leading scorer and a Belmont commit, said Badgett stresses working together and relying on one another.
“We have to be ready to do whatever it takes, without having to be told,” he said after that same mid-January game.
Badgett said the Carmel Christian system allows offensive freedom but demands hard work on defense.
“We coach defense,” he said. “On offense, we put you in a situation, and you’re responsible for what happens after that. But we coach defense, and we want our players to hold each other accountable.
“In this generation of kids, it’s sometimes hard to find a group willing to hold each other responsible. This group did it.”
That accountability goes beyond the basketball court. He requires players to have a grade-point average of 3.0 or better — a tougher standard than is required for most other high school basketball programs. And that, he said, helps Carmel Christian players land college scholarships.
In addition to Tyson, fellow seniors Luke Krawczyk (Navy), Nyles Howard (Navy) and Logan Threatt (Queens) are college-bound.
Another part of the Carmel Christian program is a demanding schedule. The Cougars played in several out-of-state tournaments and faced powers from South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Virginia, in addition to home-state competition. They scheduled a mid-January game with Chambers, which was ranked among North Carolina’s top 4A teams and reached the playoff quarterfinals.
“We believe that a tough schedule is the best way to develop a team,” he said.
Despite the loss of the team’s top four scorers, including Tyson’s 23 points a game, Badgett promises another fun season for Carmel Christian fans in 2022-23.
“I’m really excited about our next team,” he said. “We have players who can really shoot. Once again, it will come down to playing defense and holding each other accountable. But I think we could have another big season ahead.”
He said that team will face a tough schedule, just like those before it. “We’re going to do it the right way,” Badgett said. “That’s the way we require it to be at Carmel Christian
