There were extended periods Thursday night when the outcome was in doubt, when it looked as if Cannon School might grab “king of the mountain” honors from Carmel Christian. Cannon, No. 6 in The Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 poll, had outscored No. 2 Carmel 36-24 over the middle two periods in the championship game of the Anthony Morrow Shootout at Charlotte Latin, erasing a big first-quarter deficit.
Carmel Christian, the defending 4A state private school champion, looked mortal. But in the end, it was status quo, and as we head into the final week of 2022, the bottom line remains the same: Everyone is chasing Carmel Christian, which beat Cannon 75-58.
Carmel (15-2) outscored Cannon School (15-3) 23-4 in the final period and didn’t allow a field goal. The Cougars win ended Cannon’s nine-game win streak. Cannon School hadn’t lost since dropping a 79-63 game at Carmel Christian last month. Cannon’s streak included wins over 3A power Northwood, 4A power Chambers, NCISAA state 3A champion Concord Academy and NCHSAA 3A state champion West Charlotte.
So Carmel Christian made a bit of a statement Thursday night, and it remains at the top of the 4A private school pile … and can lay a legitimate claim as the state’s best high school team.
But Cougars’ head coach Joe Badgett isn’t ready to crown his team yet. To him, the regular-season schedule is Development Road. He hopes to see steady improvement from his team, game by game. He admits the Cougars are much better than the team that started the season, with a number of new faces.
“We’re just starting to get where it’s beginning to click,” Badgett says. “Coming into the season, we knew this was a good defensive team,” he adds. “We knew we could rely on that. “It was the offense that had to develop … that, and the ability of our guys to trust each other.”
Carmel Christian certainly can play defense. Cannon School managed to erase a 20-7 deficit and take the lead several times in the third quarter because it made 8-of-11 from 3-point range in the second and third periods. Austin Swartz, a 6-5 junior wing who’s already getting Division 1 college offers, had three of those 3-pointers in the third quarter.
“My guys were guarding him, and he steps way outside the 3-point line and makes it,” Badgett says. “What can you do?” Or, says Carmel Christian senior forward Bryce Cash, named the game’s Most Valuable Player, “Swartz is one heck of a player.”
CARMEL STAYS CALM
The key, according to Cash, was not to panic. “We had to stick to our principles, stick to the things we work on in practice,” he says.
Carmel Christian chased Cannon’s ball-handlers around the floor, and eventually Cannon School appeared to tire. The 3-pointers stopped going in. And Cannon was shut out from the floor in the fourth quarter.
This Carmel Christian team is different from the 2019-20 squad, led by current Charleston player Ben Burnham; and the 2020-21 team, led by current Belmont freshman Cade Tyson. Both Burnham and Tyson were on hand Thursday night to watch their alma mater.
“This team doesn’t have that one dominant player,” Badgett says. “We’ve got a talented group of guys who learning to work together. “You’re starting to see where they’re doing that.”
A month ago, Badgett’s players weren’t always sure where a teammate would be on an offensive position. So they’d try to make things happen by themselves. Now the Cougars are relying more on one another. Fast breaks have more passes, and the Cougars are finding open opponents slashing to the basket.
Cash finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Jaeden Mustaf, named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, had 19 points and six assists. Khamani Wertz scored 14 and had four assists. And Michael Marcus Jr. finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
TOUGH TESTS AHEAD
“A game like this will help the process of growth for us,” Cash says. “They gave us a pretty good run. They got up by six points. We had to rely on each other to come back.”
Badgett says there’s still quite a bit of growth needed before his team can hope to win another state title in late February. Tough tests lie ahead. Carmel Christian will face three difficult foes – two from Virginia, another from South Carolina – in the Lowcountry Classic next week in Charleston.
In mid-January comes a test with public school powerhouse Myers Park. Swartz and Cannon School likely will be a big roadblock for Badgett’s team in the state playoffs.
“Those are some of the games that will help us grow, hopefully,” Badgett says. But he likes what he sees so far. “It’s fun to see it coming together,” he says. “It’s fun to see the kids learning to do it the right way.”
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 75, CANNON SCHOOL 58
Carmel Christian 28 13 11 23 -- 75
Cannon School 18 18 18 4 -- 58
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 75 -- Freeman 3, Khamani Wertz 14, Jaeden Mustaf 19, Bryce Cash 26, Michael Marcus Jr. 12
CANNON SCHOOL 58 -- Austin Swartz 21, Titus 2, Claggett 9, Isaiah Henry 13, Sean Birmingham 13 Carmel notable: Bryce Cash 26p 10r 5a 1b 1s; Jaeden Mustaf 19p 2r 6a 1s; Khamani Wertz 14p 2r 4a; Michael Marcus 12p 7r
Cannon notable: Austin Swartz 21p 2r 5a 2b 2s; Sean Birmingham 13p 6r 4a 1b; Isaiah Henry 13p 4r
Carmel Christian, the defending 4A state private school champion, looked mortal. But in the end, it was status quo, and as we head into the final week of 2022, the bottom line remains the same: Everyone is chasing Carmel Christian, which beat Cannon 75-58.
Carmel (15-2) outscored Cannon School (15-3) 23-4 in the final period and didn’t allow a field goal. The Cougars win ended Cannon’s nine-game win streak. Cannon School hadn’t lost since dropping a 79-63 game at Carmel Christian last month. Cannon’s streak included wins over 3A power Northwood, 4A power Chambers, NCISAA state 3A champion Concord Academy and NCHSAA 3A state champion West Charlotte.
So Carmel Christian made a bit of a statement Thursday night, and it remains at the top of the 4A private school pile … and can lay a legitimate claim as the state’s best high school team.
But Cougars’ head coach Joe Badgett isn’t ready to crown his team yet. To him, the regular-season schedule is Development Road. He hopes to see steady improvement from his team, game by game. He admits the Cougars are much better than the team that started the season, with a number of new faces.
“We’re just starting to get where it’s beginning to click,” Badgett says. “Coming into the season, we knew this was a good defensive team,” he adds. “We knew we could rely on that. “It was the offense that had to develop … that, and the ability of our guys to trust each other.”
Carmel Christian certainly can play defense. Cannon School managed to erase a 20-7 deficit and take the lead several times in the third quarter because it made 8-of-11 from 3-point range in the second and third periods. Austin Swartz, a 6-5 junior wing who’s already getting Division 1 college offers, had three of those 3-pointers in the third quarter.
“My guys were guarding him, and he steps way outside the 3-point line and makes it,” Badgett says. “What can you do?” Or, says Carmel Christian senior forward Bryce Cash, named the game’s Most Valuable Player, “Swartz is one heck of a player.”
CARMEL STAYS CALM
The key, according to Cash, was not to panic. “We had to stick to our principles, stick to the things we work on in practice,” he says.
Carmel Christian chased Cannon’s ball-handlers around the floor, and eventually Cannon School appeared to tire. The 3-pointers stopped going in. And Cannon was shut out from the floor in the fourth quarter.
This Carmel Christian team is different from the 2019-20 squad, led by current Charleston player Ben Burnham; and the 2020-21 team, led by current Belmont freshman Cade Tyson. Both Burnham and Tyson were on hand Thursday night to watch their alma mater.
“This team doesn’t have that one dominant player,” Badgett says. “We’ve got a talented group of guys who learning to work together. “You’re starting to see where they’re doing that.”
A month ago, Badgett’s players weren’t always sure where a teammate would be on an offensive position. So they’d try to make things happen by themselves. Now the Cougars are relying more on one another. Fast breaks have more passes, and the Cougars are finding open opponents slashing to the basket.
Cash finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Jaeden Mustaf, named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, had 19 points and six assists. Khamani Wertz scored 14 and had four assists. And Michael Marcus Jr. finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
TOUGH TESTS AHEAD
“A game like this will help the process of growth for us,” Cash says. “They gave us a pretty good run. They got up by six points. We had to rely on each other to come back.”
Badgett says there’s still quite a bit of growth needed before his team can hope to win another state title in late February. Tough tests lie ahead. Carmel Christian will face three difficult foes – two from Virginia, another from South Carolina – in the Lowcountry Classic next week in Charleston.
In mid-January comes a test with public school powerhouse Myers Park. Swartz and Cannon School likely will be a big roadblock for Badgett’s team in the state playoffs.
“Those are some of the games that will help us grow, hopefully,” Badgett says. But he likes what he sees so far. “It’s fun to see it coming together,” he says. “It’s fun to see the kids learning to do it the right way.”
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 75, CANNON SCHOOL 58
Carmel Christian 28 13 11 23 -- 75
Cannon School 18 18 18 4 -- 58
CARMEL CHRISTIAN 75 -- Freeman 3, Khamani Wertz 14, Jaeden Mustaf 19, Bryce Cash 26, Michael Marcus Jr. 12
CANNON SCHOOL 58 -- Austin Swartz 21, Titus 2, Claggett 9, Isaiah Henry 13, Sean Birmingham 13 Carmel notable: Bryce Cash 26p 10r 5a 1b 1s; Jaeden Mustaf 19p 2r 6a 1s; Khamani Wertz 14p 2r 4a; Michael Marcus 12p 7r
Cannon notable: Austin Swartz 21p 2r 5a 2b 2s; Sean Birmingham 13p 6r 4a 1b; Isaiah Henry 13p 4r