Carmel Christian falls in semis of Queen City Classic
By Keith Cannon CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
With 19 games already in the books before the new year, Carmel Christian boys’ basketball coach Joshua Coley hopes that the rigorous scheduling will lead to long-term success.
In the short-term the result has been a couple of games like Tuesday’s 65-49 loss to Columbia (S.C.) Keenan in the Queen City Classic tournament at Vance. But the Cougars have already rolled to a 6-0 record in their NCISAA Class AA conference.
“We’re young, but we’re gaining some confidence by playing some good teams,” Coley said. “We did some good things today, but we couldn’t quite overcome the start we got off to.”
Freshman guard Myles Pierre, who already has recruiting interest from schools such as Virginia and Tennessee, scored 20 points for the Cougars (12-7) and sophomore forward Brett Swilling added 10.
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But Carmel Christian didn’t get its first field goal until five minutes into the game on the way to a 16-5 deficit at the end of the first quarter. A 9-4 run to close the first half brought the Cougars to within 30-20 at the break.
And a floater in the lane by Swilling in the first minute of the second half got Carmel Christian as close as they would get at 30-24.
But the Raiders (5-6), led by Majerle Poole’s game-high 24 points, pulled away with a 9-2 run and ended the third quarter with a 43-34 lead. Keenan expanded its lead to a high of 18 points on three occasions in the final period.
“We had hoped to use our size to our advantage, but they’re an aggressive team and they attack the rim too,” said Coley. “They executed well down the stretch and we didn’t.”
Tariq Simmons scored 18 points and Jaquan Osborne added 13 for Keenan.
Quote: “We’ve had our share of growing pains with just two seniors on the roster, but playing two or three games a week against good competition has forced us to mature some.” — Carmel Christian coach Joshua Coley.
Records: Keenan 5-6; Carmel Christian 12-7
Worth mentioning: The tournament is a benefit for Coaches vs. Cancer and the American Cancer Society…In other tournament games Tuesday, Columbia Ridge View edged Vance 68-66; Hopewell topped Fayetteville Northwood Temple Academy 52-51 on Mark Sherrill’s late putback; and Raleigh Millbrook beat Christ School of Asheville 61-44.
What’s next: Carmel Christian faces Christ School at 12 noon today. Keenan plays the winner of Tuesday’s last game between Washington, D.C., Coolidge High and Virginia Beach (Va.) Cape Henry School in the 4:30 championship. In other games today, tournament host Vance plays Northwood Temple at 10:30 a.m.; Millbrook plays the Coolidge-Cape Henry loser at 1:30 p.m. and Hopewell plays Ridge View at 3.
By Keith Cannon CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
With 19 games already in the books before the new year, Carmel Christian boys’ basketball coach Joshua Coley hopes that the rigorous scheduling will lead to long-term success.
In the short-term the result has been a couple of games like Tuesday’s 65-49 loss to Columbia (S.C.) Keenan in the Queen City Classic tournament at Vance. But the Cougars have already rolled to a 6-0 record in their NCISAA Class AA conference.
“We’re young, but we’re gaining some confidence by playing some good teams,” Coley said. “We did some good things today, but we couldn’t quite overcome the start we got off to.”
Freshman guard Myles Pierre, who already has recruiting interest from schools such as Virginia and Tennessee, scored 20 points for the Cougars (12-7) and sophomore forward Brett Swilling added 10.
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But Carmel Christian didn’t get its first field goal until five minutes into the game on the way to a 16-5 deficit at the end of the first quarter. A 9-4 run to close the first half brought the Cougars to within 30-20 at the break.
And a floater in the lane by Swilling in the first minute of the second half got Carmel Christian as close as they would get at 30-24.
But the Raiders (5-6), led by Majerle Poole’s game-high 24 points, pulled away with a 9-2 run and ended the third quarter with a 43-34 lead. Keenan expanded its lead to a high of 18 points on three occasions in the final period.
“We had hoped to use our size to our advantage, but they’re an aggressive team and they attack the rim too,” said Coley. “They executed well down the stretch and we didn’t.”
Tariq Simmons scored 18 points and Jaquan Osborne added 13 for Keenan.
Quote: “We’ve had our share of growing pains with just two seniors on the roster, but playing two or three games a week against good competition has forced us to mature some.” — Carmel Christian coach Joshua Coley.
Records: Keenan 5-6; Carmel Christian 12-7
Worth mentioning: The tournament is a benefit for Coaches vs. Cancer and the American Cancer Society…In other tournament games Tuesday, Columbia Ridge View edged Vance 68-66; Hopewell topped Fayetteville Northwood Temple Academy 52-51 on Mark Sherrill’s late putback; and Raleigh Millbrook beat Christ School of Asheville 61-44.
What’s next: Carmel Christian faces Christ School at 12 noon today. Keenan plays the winner of Tuesday’s last game between Washington, D.C., Coolidge High and Virginia Beach (Va.) Cape Henry School in the 4:30 championship. In other games today, tournament host Vance plays Northwood Temple at 10:30 a.m.; Millbrook plays the Coolidge-Cape Henry loser at 1:30 p.m. and Hopewell plays Ridge View at 3.
