Providence Day boys, girls clinch CISAA championships Friday
By Tim Donelli CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
There was a lot of excitement on senior night at Providence Day Friday night, and that excitement translated into a girls and boys basketball sweep of the Country Day Buccaneers.
In the boys game the Chargers, ranked No. 1 in the Observer’s Sweet 16, dominated from start to finish in a 78-56 victory. Country Day had one lead as they scored the first basket of the game. From then on out it was all Providence Day.
Providence Day's Janelle Bailey, left, looks to get around the Country Day defense during a girls prep basketball game Friday, January 5, 2016 at Providence Day. Photo by JASON E. MICZEK - Special to the Observer JASON E. MICZEK WWW.MICZEKPHOTO.COM
The win also gave Providence Day its fourth consecutive outright CISAA conference championship. Senior big men, Josh Howard and Isaac Johnson, led the way for the Chargers as both were dominant underneath and on the fast break. Howard finished with 17 points while Johnson poured in 16 points. Sophomore Trey Wertz also added 14 for Providence Day that included four 3-pointers.
“It was my last game at this place so I just gave it my all and gave a show for the fans.” said Johnson. “We took every practice and every game serious so we just play hard. We love the game and we love PD.”
Another senior, Scott Peterson, doesn’t start but is the Chargers’ first man off the bench. Peterson had nine points (on three 3-pointers) and talked about playing his last game on his home floor. “Definitely exciting especially with our student section,” he said. “It’s always good to see those guys come out here. Our season isn’t over and we’re going for the state championship. It’s a big night for all of us.”
The Chargers have two more regular-season games remaining, and then the playoffs. Coach Brian Field says there are still some things to work on before the post season. “We want to compete, play our hardest and just like every day we want to attack and be our best,” said Field. “We also want to fine tune a few things so we are playing our best basketball heading on to Raleigh (for the state playoffs).”
In the girls game Providence Day, No. 2 in the Sweet 16, won 63-9 in a wire-to-wire victory over Country Day. The Chargers win also gave them at least a share of the CISAA conference title.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Isaac Johnson: Chargers senior forward had 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and shot
73% from the floor.
Erin Whalen: Providence Day girls star had 23 points. She’s signed to Vanderbilt.
Jack Vaughn: Buccaneers senior forward led Country Day with 14 points, and was one of only two Bucs’ players to finish in double figures. (Triston Miller was the other with ten points)
THEY SAID IT
“It was a fun night. Every player on our team scored tonight which whether they admit it or not, all kids like to do. It was nice to see everyone get in the box score.” Providence
Day girls coach Josh Springer.
RECORDS
Country Day girls (7-14, 1-7), Country Day boys (10-17, 2-6)
Providence Day girls (22-2, 8-0), Providence Day boys (25-3, 8-0)
WHAT’S NEXT
Country Day will play at Charlotte Christian Tuesday; Providence Day will play at Covenant Day Tuesday
By Tim Donelli CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
There was a lot of excitement on senior night at Providence Day Friday night, and that excitement translated into a girls and boys basketball sweep of the Country Day Buccaneers.
In the boys game the Chargers, ranked No. 1 in the Observer’s Sweet 16, dominated from start to finish in a 78-56 victory. Country Day had one lead as they scored the first basket of the game. From then on out it was all Providence Day.
Providence Day's Janelle Bailey, left, looks to get around the Country Day defense during a girls prep basketball game Friday, January 5, 2016 at Providence Day. Photo by JASON E. MICZEK - Special to the Observer JASON E. MICZEK WWW.MICZEKPHOTO.COM
The win also gave Providence Day its fourth consecutive outright CISAA conference championship. Senior big men, Josh Howard and Isaac Johnson, led the way for the Chargers as both were dominant underneath and on the fast break. Howard finished with 17 points while Johnson poured in 16 points. Sophomore Trey Wertz also added 14 for Providence Day that included four 3-pointers.
“It was my last game at this place so I just gave it my all and gave a show for the fans.” said Johnson. “We took every practice and every game serious so we just play hard. We love the game and we love PD.”
Another senior, Scott Peterson, doesn’t start but is the Chargers’ first man off the bench. Peterson had nine points (on three 3-pointers) and talked about playing his last game on his home floor. “Definitely exciting especially with our student section,” he said. “It’s always good to see those guys come out here. Our season isn’t over and we’re going for the state championship. It’s a big night for all of us.”
The Chargers have two more regular-season games remaining, and then the playoffs. Coach Brian Field says there are still some things to work on before the post season. “We want to compete, play our hardest and just like every day we want to attack and be our best,” said Field. “We also want to fine tune a few things so we are playing our best basketball heading on to Raleigh (for the state playoffs).”
In the girls game Providence Day, No. 2 in the Sweet 16, won 63-9 in a wire-to-wire victory over Country Day. The Chargers win also gave them at least a share of the CISAA conference title.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Isaac Johnson: Chargers senior forward had 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and shot
73% from the floor.
Erin Whalen: Providence Day girls star had 23 points. She’s signed to Vanderbilt.
Jack Vaughn: Buccaneers senior forward led Country Day with 14 points, and was one of only two Bucs’ players to finish in double figures. (Triston Miller was the other with ten points)
THEY SAID IT
“It was a fun night. Every player on our team scored tonight which whether they admit it or not, all kids like to do. It was nice to see everyone get in the box score.” Providence
Day girls coach Josh Springer.
RECORDS
Country Day girls (7-14, 1-7), Country Day boys (10-17, 2-6)
Providence Day girls (22-2, 8-0), Providence Day boys (25-3, 8-0)
WHAT’S NEXT
Country Day will play at Charlotte Christian Tuesday; Providence Day will play at Covenant Day Tuesday
