CHARLOTTE LATIN 71 PROVIDENCE BOYS 59
Later this weekend, Charlotte Latin boys’ basketball coach Chris Berger will try to convince a group of his peers that the Hawks are deserving of a high seed in the playoffs.
What might constitute Berger’s sales pitch was on display Friday night in Latin’s 71-59 victory over CISAA rival Providence Day.
An experienced, cool group of veteran players? The Hawks were all of that, refusing to fall apart after the visiting Chargers had bolted to a 15-5 lead after one quarter.
Depth? Go ahead and check that box, too. Latin had nine players in the scoring column, and eight Hawks had significant roles in the victory.
Standout player? How about 6-0 senior guard R.J. Johnson, a Holy Cross commit who took over the game in the second quarter, scoring 24 of his team’s 31 points in a big surge that put Latin ahead to stay?
N.C. Independent School Athletic Association coaches will gather Sunday in Greensboro and determine seeds for the playoffs that begin Tuesday. The Hawks (20-7, 7-3) are likely to be somewhere in the No. 4 or 5 spot.
Berger would prefer 4 over 5. The top four seeds in the 4A division get byes in the first two rounds and then a home game. Seeds in the 5 through 8 spots get just a first-round bye. Charlotte Latin was 10-2 at home this season.
“Well, we’ll make our case,” Berger said. “We played a strong schedule -- Ardrey Kell, some good teams in Atlanta, and our conference. I hope that helps.
“But either way, we’ll be ready for whatever happens.”
The Hawks got a good warmup for the playoffs from the Chargers (12-13, 4-6), a young team that has been streaky this season.
Providence Day led 23-13 with 5:26 left in the first half, but then Johnson took control. He was brilliant throughout the second quarter, but in the final three minutes of the half, he scored four baskets, had an assist and a steal, and then connected on a long three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.
“He has that ‘it’ factor,” Berger said of Johnson. “He’s a natural leader, and it’s been fun to see him grow over the four years. I just wish he wasn’t a senior.”
The Chargers battled back to within 45-43 late in the third quarter, but a pair of Providence Day turnovers and two Charlotte Latin baskets opened the gap. The Chargers never got close again.
THREE WHO MATTERED
R.J. Johnson, Charlotte Latin: He took over the game in the key second quarter. Johnson scored 24 of his 31 points in that period, hitting 9-of-10 from the floor, including a trio of three-pointers.
Michael Zanoni, Providence Day: Zanoni scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Bennett Smith, Charlotte Latin: Smith a senior, was the inside force for the Hawks. He had a game-high 11 rebounds along with his nine points.
Worth mentioning
▪ Providence Day is a young team. The Chargers started two sophomores and two juniors. One of those 10th-graders is Zanoni, who Latin coach Chris Berger called “a dynamite player.”
▪ It was Senior Night at Charlotte Latin, and the Hawks started five seniors.
▪ The Hawks had a strong shooting night. They hit 26-of-51 from the floor, for better than 50 percent. Providence Day connected on 17-of-37.
▪ The Hawks have won seven of their last nine games. They beat Providence Day 62-49 on Jan. 21 in the teams’ other meeting.
▪ Providence Day won the girls’ game 70-31, behind 19 points from Andri Levitz. Mary Schleusner had nine points for the Hawks.
They said it
“We’re pretty deep. We go eight, nine of 10 deep, and we try to wear out the other team.” -- Charlotte Latin coach Chris Berger
What’s next?
Both teams will play in the NCISAA 4A playoffs. The first round is Tuesday, with the second round Thursday and the quarterfinals next Saturday.
Later this weekend, Charlotte Latin boys’ basketball coach Chris Berger will try to convince a group of his peers that the Hawks are deserving of a high seed in the playoffs.
What might constitute Berger’s sales pitch was on display Friday night in Latin’s 71-59 victory over CISAA rival Providence Day.
An experienced, cool group of veteran players? The Hawks were all of that, refusing to fall apart after the visiting Chargers had bolted to a 15-5 lead after one quarter.
Depth? Go ahead and check that box, too. Latin had nine players in the scoring column, and eight Hawks had significant roles in the victory.
Standout player? How about 6-0 senior guard R.J. Johnson, a Holy Cross commit who took over the game in the second quarter, scoring 24 of his team’s 31 points in a big surge that put Latin ahead to stay?
N.C. Independent School Athletic Association coaches will gather Sunday in Greensboro and determine seeds for the playoffs that begin Tuesday. The Hawks (20-7, 7-3) are likely to be somewhere in the No. 4 or 5 spot.
Berger would prefer 4 over 5. The top four seeds in the 4A division get byes in the first two rounds and then a home game. Seeds in the 5 through 8 spots get just a first-round bye. Charlotte Latin was 10-2 at home this season.
“Well, we’ll make our case,” Berger said. “We played a strong schedule -- Ardrey Kell, some good teams in Atlanta, and our conference. I hope that helps.
“But either way, we’ll be ready for whatever happens.”
The Hawks got a good warmup for the playoffs from the Chargers (12-13, 4-6), a young team that has been streaky this season.
Providence Day led 23-13 with 5:26 left in the first half, but then Johnson took control. He was brilliant throughout the second quarter, but in the final three minutes of the half, he scored four baskets, had an assist and a steal, and then connected on a long three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.
“He has that ‘it’ factor,” Berger said of Johnson. “He’s a natural leader, and it’s been fun to see him grow over the four years. I just wish he wasn’t a senior.”
The Chargers battled back to within 45-43 late in the third quarter, but a pair of Providence Day turnovers and two Charlotte Latin baskets opened the gap. The Chargers never got close again.
THREE WHO MATTERED
R.J. Johnson, Charlotte Latin: He took over the game in the key second quarter. Johnson scored 24 of his 31 points in that period, hitting 9-of-10 from the floor, including a trio of three-pointers.
Michael Zanoni, Providence Day: Zanoni scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Bennett Smith, Charlotte Latin: Smith a senior, was the inside force for the Hawks. He had a game-high 11 rebounds along with his nine points.
Worth mentioning
▪ Providence Day is a young team. The Chargers started two sophomores and two juniors. One of those 10th-graders is Zanoni, who Latin coach Chris Berger called “a dynamite player.”
▪ It was Senior Night at Charlotte Latin, and the Hawks started five seniors.
▪ The Hawks had a strong shooting night. They hit 26-of-51 from the floor, for better than 50 percent. Providence Day connected on 17-of-37.
▪ The Hawks have won seven of their last nine games. They beat Providence Day 62-49 on Jan. 21 in the teams’ other meeting.
▪ Providence Day won the girls’ game 70-31, behind 19 points from Andri Levitz. Mary Schleusner had nine points for the Hawks.
They said it
“We’re pretty deep. We go eight, nine of 10 deep, and we try to wear out the other team.” -- Charlotte Latin coach Chris Berger
What’s next?
Both teams will play in the NCISAA 4A playoffs. The first round is Tuesday, with the second round Thursday and the quarterfinals next Saturday.
