New-look Davidson Day resumes with wins after COVID impacts
By dcoats@lakenormanpublications.com | on January 06, 2021
DAVIDSON – No matter what, this season was going to look different for Davidson Day.
The Patriots have a brand-new starting five from last season’s NCISAA 2A state championship team. No Jackson Threadgill, CJ Huntley or Adam Brazil. No holiday tournament in South Florida.
But the biggest adjustment for the players and coach Ron Johnson was a nearly month-long hiatus from games that included 16 days off. The school was the site of a COVID-19 cluster in December, forcing all athletics to shut down.
“It’s been a year like no other,” Johnson said. “I think teams that are going to advance in the playoffs won’t just be teams that are most talented, but able to stay focused and overcome pauses and cancellations in games. It’s been a really, really interesting year.”
Davidson Day started off at 0-2 with losses to competitive private schools Carmel Christian and Cannon on consecutive days. Johnson knew putting a new team against that level of competition was going to be a challenge, but the Patriots have responded with six straight wins since.
His players are hungry to join a championship program, but adjusting to a new culture can take time.
“I think they are excited about being in a program that has won a state championship,” Johnson said. “I’m trying to get them to understand, everybody you play is coming to play the state champions. It’s Davidson Day, so they come fired up ready to play. It’s been a challenge with these guys. It’s a process, and I know that’s an overused term. They’ve got to create their own sense of urgency and desire.”
The team picked up Army West Point commit Blane St. Clair and former Lake Norman Charter sharpshooter Donovan Atwell as marquees on the newly formed squad. St. Clair leads the team with 17 points and nearly seven rebounds per game, while Atwell is at 15 points and a team-high 2.2 steals.
Beyond their individuals accolades, both are described as team-first guys. Johnson said they would’ve fit in well with the likes of Threadgill and Brazil.
“He’s a really aggressive player, a team player,” Atwell said of St. Clair. “He’s a guy you can count on and can hype you up or get the team going. He’s a great all-around teammate.”
The NCISAA schedule has been mostly uniform to previous seasons, with practice starting the first week of November, but the Patriots started wearing masks to begin December.
Johnson has had to balance conditioning with following protocols after the virus impacts infiltrated the team.
“You’re thinking about conditioning, but we’re wearing masks too,” he said. “How far can you push guys when you need a break, water.”
The Patriots returned Dec. 30 with a 75-44 blowout of Fayetteville Christian. That was followed by an 87-66 road win Jan. 2 over Wayne Christian. As the Patriots pulled away late with 28 fourth-quarter points, it wasn’t St. Clair or Atwell, but sophomore Trey Horton who led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds for the game.
By dcoats@lakenormanpublications.com | on January 06, 2021
DAVIDSON – No matter what, this season was going to look different for Davidson Day.
The Patriots have a brand-new starting five from last season’s NCISAA 2A state championship team. No Jackson Threadgill, CJ Huntley or Adam Brazil. No holiday tournament in South Florida.
But the biggest adjustment for the players and coach Ron Johnson was a nearly month-long hiatus from games that included 16 days off. The school was the site of a COVID-19 cluster in December, forcing all athletics to shut down.
“It’s been a year like no other,” Johnson said. “I think teams that are going to advance in the playoffs won’t just be teams that are most talented, but able to stay focused and overcome pauses and cancellations in games. It’s been a really, really interesting year.”
Davidson Day started off at 0-2 with losses to competitive private schools Carmel Christian and Cannon on consecutive days. Johnson knew putting a new team against that level of competition was going to be a challenge, but the Patriots have responded with six straight wins since.
His players are hungry to join a championship program, but adjusting to a new culture can take time.
“I think they are excited about being in a program that has won a state championship,” Johnson said. “I’m trying to get them to understand, everybody you play is coming to play the state champions. It’s Davidson Day, so they come fired up ready to play. It’s been a challenge with these guys. It’s a process, and I know that’s an overused term. They’ve got to create their own sense of urgency and desire.”
The team picked up Army West Point commit Blane St. Clair and former Lake Norman Charter sharpshooter Donovan Atwell as marquees on the newly formed squad. St. Clair leads the team with 17 points and nearly seven rebounds per game, while Atwell is at 15 points and a team-high 2.2 steals.
Beyond their individuals accolades, both are described as team-first guys. Johnson said they would’ve fit in well with the likes of Threadgill and Brazil.
“He’s a really aggressive player, a team player,” Atwell said of St. Clair. “He’s a guy you can count on and can hype you up or get the team going. He’s a great all-around teammate.”
The NCISAA schedule has been mostly uniform to previous seasons, with practice starting the first week of November, but the Patriots started wearing masks to begin December.
Johnson has had to balance conditioning with following protocols after the virus impacts infiltrated the team.
“You’re thinking about conditioning, but we’re wearing masks too,” he said. “How far can you push guys when you need a break, water.”
The Patriots returned Dec. 30 with a 75-44 blowout of Fayetteville Christian. That was followed by an 87-66 road win Jan. 2 over Wayne Christian. As the Patriots pulled away late with 28 fourth-quarter points, it wasn’t St. Clair or Atwell, but sophomore Trey Horton who led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds for the game.
