Nationally ranked Olympic (22-0) has been dominant all season. Last week was no different with convincing wins against Berry (70-48) and Charlotte Catholic (84-50).
The Trojans, No. 1 in the Observer's Sweet 16 poll, begin ME-GA 7 conference tournament play Thursday at Charlotte Catholic.
At the CMS conference tournament seeding meeting Saturday morning, Charlotte Catholic coach Mike King told Ardrey Kell’s Mike Craft that he was impressed that a team like Olympic, with an abundance of individual talent, shares the basketball as well as it does.
“Hearing that from an opposing coach is good,” Trojans coach Ty Baumgardner said, “but it’s true. This group is just common, especially in this day and age when it’s all about me, me, me. They could care less who scores and who shoots. They just want to win. They share the ball and play well together and it all goes back to how close we are.”
Baumgardner said he’s been most impressed with how consistent his team has been. There haven’t been a lot of times when he didn’t think his team was playing at 100 percent effort and commitment.
“We’ve been real steady and I don’t read too much into scores,” he said. “I know people like to read into that, but you start doing that you start thinking about other things instead of playing the game the way you’re supposed to. I told the guys after the game Friday, ‘Hey proud of you for a great regular season, but a new season starts this week. The playoffs is a whole different ballgame.’”
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/02/16/3860475/northside-christian-stays-sharp.html#storylink=cpy
24 Şubat 2013 Pazar
Olympic, readying for conference tournament, hitting its stride
A few thoughts on Harry Giles, best freshman I've seen in 20 years
I went to the High Point Wesleyan-Raleigh Ravenscroft state quarterfinal playoff game today to see and write about Wesleyan's 6-6 junior guard Theo Pinson. That story will run in Friday's editions of the Observer.
Pinson is as good as advertised. He's ranked No. 13 in the nation and it's easy to see why. He can jump out of the gym and get to the basket at will. I very much enjoyed his skill set.
I wrote in my notebook during the game:
-- "Reminds me a little of how Jerry Stackhouse attacked rim in high school.'
-- "Really wants the ball on defense when he wants it. Could be a lockdown defender if he chooses."
-- "Very long, athletic and as fast as anyone on the floor."
-- "Will be a major problem if he develops a jump shot."
But as I'm observing Pinson, I can't help but notice Wesleyan's freshman 6-8 power forward Harry Giles. He caught a pass flat footed -- in traffic -- and jumped off two feet, cocked the ball back with his right hand and slammed it in traffic.
Giles reminds me of former Clemson center (and LA Laker) Elden Campbell with how he looks, and Giles -- besides the obvious need for physical strength -- doesn't appear to have many weaknesses.
I saw him dribble the full the length of the floor a few times. I saw a smooth outside jump shot, stroked with the kind of confidence that only comes when you have made a lot of them in big situations. I shot shot blocking with the proper hand and phenomenal rebounding technique.
Giles runs the floor the way I used to see Antawn Jamison do it when he was at Providence High School. In fact, the 6-9 Jamison was the guy I kept thinking of when I saw Giles, and I don't think I've seen a better freshman since Jamsion, way back in the early '90s.
And a national college player of the year award and two max NBA deals later, Jamison's playing career didn't turn out too badly.
"Harry's special," said Wesleyan coach Keith Gatlin, a former ACC point guard at Maryland. "He's only 14 and doesn't turn 15 until April. It's amazing to see a kid who can move and handle (the ball) and pass like that. He's a joy to coach and he's a great kid."
I don't think Giles is done growing either. I spoke with his father, Harry Sr., who is a elementary school teacher in the Greensboro area. Harry Sr. is 6-6 and Giles' mother is 6-foot. There are 7-footers in the immediate family.
Last fall, Giles attended a USA Basketball mini-camp in Colorado for players who may be selected for this summer's U-16 team. ESPN national recruiting analyst Dave Telep, who attended the camp, thought Giles was the best player there.
"I spent three days with Harry Giles at USA Basketbal Tryouts," Telep said, "and you just left shaking your head at the things he can do as a 14-year-old basketball player. His awareness in the lane, his passing ability, his feel for the game is amazing. He was the best 2016 player at the camp."
By the time he's a senior, Giles may have a real shot to be the best high school player in America.
NCHSAA Boys Basketball Playoff Pairings
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Games are hosted by higher seed and will be played Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Game time is 7 pm unless a doubleheader is played at 6:30 pm and 8 pm. Records include conference tournament results. Seeds are indicated.
CLASS 4-AEAST16 Holly Springs (12-13) at 1 Clayton (25-2)9 Wilmington Ashley (16-8) at 8 Wilmington New Hanover (15-9)12 Knightdale (14-11) at 5 Hope Mills South View (22-4)13 Fayetteville Terry Sanford (13-11) at 4 Wilmington Hoggard (16-8)14 Greenville Rose (10-14) at 3 Fayetteville Seventy-First (24-2)11 Fayetteville Pine Forest (15-11) at 6 Garner (21-4)10 Southeast Raleigh (15-10) at 7 Richmond Senior (18-8)15 East Wake (8-16) at 2 Hoke County (24-2)
MIDEAST16 Cary Panther Creek (10-13) at 1 Durham Jordan (21-4)9 Southern Pines Pinecrest (14-9) at 8 Apex Middle Creek (18-8)12 Raleigh Wakefield (13-11) at 5 Durham Hillside (18-7)13 Lee (14-12) at 4 Cary Green Hope (21-5)14 Lumberton (10-15) at 3 Apex (18-9)11 Northern Durham (13-9) at 6 Raleigh Millbrook (16-10)10 Roxboro Person (14-10) at 7 Ralelgh Leesville Road (18-8)15 Raleigh Enloe (11-13) at 2 Raleigh Broughton (22-5)
MIDWEST16 Greensboro Grimsley (7-17) at 1 Southwest Guilford (26-0)9 Pfafftown Ronald Reagan (19-5) at 8 Northwest Guilford (17-8)12 South Mecklenburg (13-12) at 5 Charlotte Ardrey Kell (22-5)13 Jamestown Ragsdale (12-13) at 4 Greensboro Dudley (20-6)14 Winston-Salem R.J. Reynolds (12-14) at Charlotte Independence (22-5)11 East Forsyth (14-12) at 6 Davie (20-5)10 Greensboro Ben Smith (16-10) at 7 Greensboro Page (19-7)15 Charlotte Myers Park (12-14) at 2 Winston-Salem Mount Tabor (23-3)
WEST16 East Mecklenburg (12-14) at 1 Charlotte Olympic (24-0)9 Charlotte Garinger (8-16) at 8 South Caldwell (8-14)12 East Gaston (11-13) at 5 Watauga (13-10)13 Charlotte Mallard Creek (18-8) at 4 Monroe Sun Valley (17-8)14 Lake Norman (12-12) at 3 McDowell (20-5)11 Charlotte Vance (20-6) at 6 Cornelius W.A. Hough (20-5)10 Indian Trail Porter Ridge (7-17) at Asheville A.C. Reynolds (12-12)15 Mint Hill Rocky River (9-15) at 2 West Charlotte (24-3)
CLASS 3-A
EAST16 Jacksonville (10-15) at 1 Rocky Mount (22-2)9 South Brunswick (3-20) at 8 Currituck (9-16)12 Pikeville C.B. Aycock (13-12) at 5 Hertford (12-12)13 Greenville D.H. Conley (15-11) at 4 West Brunswick (12-11)14 North Lenoir (13-13) at 3 West Craven (22-4)11 Nash Central (13-9) at 6 Wilson Hunt (20-5)10 Winterville South Central (17-9) at 7 Havelock (16-9)15 Northern Nash (8-13) at 2 Erwin Triton (22-3)
MIDEAST16 Eastern Guilford (12-13) at 1 Chapel Hill (22-4)9 Eden Morehead (15-8) at 8 Spring Lake Overhills (17-8)12 Mayodan Dalton McMichael (16-9) at 5 Southern Wayne (16-8)13 Asheboro (13-13) at 4 Oxford Webb (21-5)14 Orange (10-14) at 3 Eastern Alamance (22-5)11 Southern Guilford (11-14) at 6 Southern Lee (14-10)10 Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons (15-11) at 7 Northern Guilford (15-12)15 Fayetteville Douglas Byrd (10-15) at 2 Fayetteville Westover (21-4)
MIDWEST16 Central Cabarrus (10-15) at 1 Concord (22-2)9 Weddington (14-12) at 8 China Grove Jesse Carson (17-10)12 Anson (12-13) at 5 Charlotte Harding University (13-10)13 West Rowan (12-13) at 4 Waxhaw Marvin Ridge (14-9)14 Northwest Cabarrus (15-9) at 3 Statesville (20-3)11 Kannapolis A.L. Brown (19-7) at 6 North Forysth (20-6)10 Charlotte Berry Academy (13-10) at 7 Concord Cox Mill (17-10)15 North Iredell (10-14) at 2 Northeast Guilford (22-3)
WEST16 Gastonia Forestview (10-14) at 1 Gastonia Hunter Huss (21-3)9 R-S Central (13-13) at 8 Franklin (18-8)12 Shelby Crest (13-9) at 5 Asheville (16-9)13 Asheville Erwin (14-11) at 4 Morganton Freedom (20-5)14 Morganton Patton (7-18) at 3 Newton Fred T. Foard (22-4)11 Hickory St. Stephens (19-7) at 6 Hickory (21-6)10 Enka (12-14) at 7 Gastonia Ashbrook (18-8)15 West Henderson (5-17) at 2 Waynesville Tuscola (23-4)
EAST16 Northwest Halifax (13-9) at 1 Kinston (22-2)9 Warren County (17-0) at 8 Pittsboro Northwood (16-10)12 Wilson Beddingfield (12-10) at 5 Bertie (20-3)13 Roanoke Rapids (14-11) at Elizabeth City Northeastern (21-4)14 North Pitt (11-12) at Corinth Holders (22-3)11 South Granville (16-01) at Farmville Central (20-5)10 Edenton Holmes (14-7) at Bunn (20-6)15 Durham School of the Arts (9-10) at 2 Carrboro (22-3)
MIDEAST16 SouthWest Edgecombe (13-10) at 1 Jacksonville Northside (22-3)9 Newport Croatan (19-5) at 8 St. Pauls (16-8)12 Siler City Jordan-Matthews (19-7) at 5 Burlington Cummings (20-4)13 South Lenoir (14-10) at 4 North Brunswick (16-8)14 East Duplin (8-17) at 3 Fairmont (21-5)11 Eastern Randolph (16-10) at 6 Whiteville (19-7)10 South Columbus (15-7) at 7 Clinton (19-7)15 East Bladen (15-10 at 2 Graham (22-5)
MIDWEST16 High Point T.W. Andrews (8-16) at 1 Waxhaw Cuthbertson (24-3)9 North Surry (9-16) at 8 Lexington (10-16)12 Marshville Forest Hills (14-11) at 5 West Stokes (21-6)13 East Davidson (8-17) at 4 Wilkes Central (21-5)14 Ashe County (6-18) at 3 Trinity (19-4)11 Randleman (17-7) at 6 Trinity Wheatmore (21-5)10 Boonville Starmount (9-16) at 7 Monroe Piedmont (20-5)15 Salisbury (9-17) at 2 Central Davidson (21-3)
WEST16 South Iredell (6-18) at 1 Sylva Smoky Mountain (23-3)9 Lincolnton (13-11) at 8 Canton Pisgah (16-10)12 Black Mountain C.D. Owen (11-16) at 5 Burnsville Mountain Heritage (18-9)13 North Lincoln (10-15) at 4 East Lincoln (19-4)14 North Henderson (9-14) at 3 East Burke (22-5)11 Newton-Conover (16-10) at 6 West Caldwell (20-5)10 Madison (11-12) at 7 East Rutherford (21-6)15 Claremont Bunker Hill (7-17) at 2 Shelby (23-3)
CLASS 1-A
EAST16 Williamston Riverside (10-14) at 1 Plymouth (23-0)9 Weldon (10-14) at 8 Mattamuskeet (3-11)5 Rocky Mount Prep (19-3, independent qualifier) at 12 Southeast Halifax (8-13)13 Chocowinity Southside (13-13) at 4 Columbia (12-12)14 North Carolina School of Science and Math (6-14) at 3 Saxapahaw River Mill Academy (14-12)11 Franklin Academy (9-13) at 6 Robersonville South Creek (21-6)10 Camden (18-7) at 7 Durham Voyager Academy (16-9)15 Gates (6-18) at 2 Northampton (15-7)
MIDEAST16 Hobbton (11-13) at 1 East Carteret (21-5)9 Rosewood (16-6) at 8 West Columbus (5-15)12 Red Springs (6-16) at 5 Southwest Onslow (17-5)13 Lakewood (10-13) at 4 East Columbus (11-12)14 Princeton (9-16) at 3 Wallace-Rose Hill (19-7)11 Pamlico (11-12) at 6 Union (15-11)10 Pender (12-13) at 7 Ayden-Grifton (13-11)15 Dixon (7-18) at 2 Goldsboro (17-6)
MIDWEST16 Chatham Central (7-15) at 1 Winston-Salem Prep (26-2)9 North Moore (14-11) at 8 Monroe Central Academy (9-15)12 Mount Airy (13-11) at 5 Albemarle (20-3)13 West Montgomery (10-12) at 4 Lake Norman Charter (21-4)14 East Montgomery (12-13) at 3 Monroe (21-4)11 Gastonia Highland Tech (9-14) at 6 Bessemer City (18-7)10 Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (14-11) at 7 South Stokes (15-10)15 South Stanly (8-16) at 2 North Rowan (24-3)
WEST16 Cherryville (11-14) at 1 Hendersonville (21-3)9 Cherokee (14-12) at 8 Avery (12-14)12 Mitchell (3-22) at 5 Swain (19-7)13 Robbinsville (15-9) at 4 Highlands (15-10)14 East Surry (15-11) at 3 Elkin (20-7)11 Blue Ridge (8-16) at 6 North Wilkes (12-12)10 West Wilkes (10-15) at 7 Hiwassee Dam (12-14)15 Murphy (13-12) at 2 Hayesville (20-6)
Jack Daniel's parent company picks Ala. for mill
Jack Daniel's parent company, Brown-Forman Corp., has announced plans to open a mill in Stevenson that will produce white oak material for whiskey barrels. The vice president of Brown-Forman Cooperage, Greg Roshkowski, says dozens of sites were considered in the Tennessee Valley before deciding on Stevenson. He said the area has an abundant supply of white oak logs. The new mill is supposed to employ more than 30 people.
The president of the Jackson County Economic Development Authority, Dus Rogers, says the northeast Alabama county is getting an employer with a name known around the world.
Brown-Forman Cooperage currently operates mills in Jackson, Ohio, and Clifton, Tenn.
Oak Grove High School student charged with capital murder in parents' slaying
Drew Brennan Thacker (Jefferson County Sheriff's Office)JEFFERSON COUNTY, Alabama - A 17-year-old Oak Grove High School student is formally charged with capital murder in the slaying of his parents.
Jefferson County sheriff's deputies obtained the warrant this afternoon against Drew Brennan Thacker.
Thacker is being held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian.
"A kid murdering anyone is hard to understand but to take the lives of his own parents is pretty twisted," Christian said. "God rest their souls. Our hearts and prayers go out to the surviving brother and extended family members."
Deputies were called to the home in the 9900 block of Taylor's Ferry Road just after 9 p.m. Tuesday on a report of a shooting.
They discovered the bodies of Ronnie and Barbara Thacker, ages 53 and 55, dead inside the home. Both had been shot in the head with a .45-caliber pistol, which was recovered from inside the home.
Drew Thacker's brother, 20-year-old Luke Thacker, told deputies his brother called him at 3:30 p.m. and asked if he wanted to go get something to eat. His brother acted normal while they were at a fast-food restaurant, Luke Thacker told deputies, like nothing had happened. The two then went to visit friends.
When they got home around 9 p.m., they pulled up to the home. The suspect told his brother not to go inside. When he asked why, the suspect told him he had shot and had killed their parents.
The brothers got into a physical altercation, Christian said. The suspect told him they had pushed him too far and he could not take it anymore.
The other brother ran next door to ask for help, and the suspect fled in his father's truck. Drew Thacker was taken into custody a short time later at an Adger home.
23 Şubat 2013 Cumartesi
Jack Daniel's parent company picks Ala. for mill
Jack Daniel's parent company, Brown-Forman Corp., has announced plans to open a mill in Stevenson that will produce white oak material for whiskey barrels. The vice president of Brown-Forman Cooperage, Greg Roshkowski, says dozens of sites were considered in the Tennessee Valley before deciding on Stevenson. He said the area has an abundant supply of white oak logs. The new mill is supposed to employ more than 30 people.
The president of the Jackson County Economic Development Authority, Dus Rogers, says the northeast Alabama county is getting an employer with a name known around the world.
Brown-Forman Cooperage currently operates mills in Jackson, Ohio, and Clifton, Tenn.
Oak Grove High School student charged with capital murder in parents' slaying
Drew Brennan Thacker (Jefferson County Sheriff's Office)JEFFERSON COUNTY, Alabama - A 17-year-old Oak Grove High School student is formally charged with capital murder in the slaying of his parents.
Jefferson County sheriff's deputies obtained the warrant this afternoon against Drew Brennan Thacker.
Thacker is being held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian.
"A kid murdering anyone is hard to understand but to take the lives of his own parents is pretty twisted," Christian said. "God rest their souls. Our hearts and prayers go out to the surviving brother and extended family members."
Deputies were called to the home in the 9900 block of Taylor's Ferry Road just after 9 p.m. Tuesday on a report of a shooting.
They discovered the bodies of Ronnie and Barbara Thacker, ages 53 and 55, dead inside the home. Both had been shot in the head with a .45-caliber pistol, which was recovered from inside the home.
Drew Thacker's brother, 20-year-old Luke Thacker, told deputies his brother called him at 3:30 p.m. and asked if he wanted to go get something to eat. His brother acted normal while they were at a fast-food restaurant, Luke Thacker told deputies, like nothing had happened. The two then went to visit friends.
When they got home around 9 p.m., they pulled up to the home. The suspect told his brother not to go inside. When he asked why, the suspect told him he had shot and had killed their parents.
The brothers got into a physical altercation, Christian said. The suspect told him they had pushed him too far and he could not take it anymore.
The other brother ran next door to ask for help, and the suspect fled in his father's truck. Drew Thacker was taken into custody a short time later at an Adger home.