Two area coaches hit big milestones Friday night.
In Union County, Monroe’s legendary football and basketball coach, Johnny Sowell, won his 400th basketball game.
In Charlotte, East Mecklenburg’s Jason Grube, who is building towards a legendary career of his own, won his 200th game, one day shy of another big milestone.
Grube turned 40 Saturday.
Sowell started coaching Monroe’s boys team in 1990 and took 563 games to hit 400. The Redhawks beat Union Academy 64-26 at home Friday to give Sowell an impressive career record of 400-163.
Sowell won a state title in 1980 as a player at Monroe. In 2010, He won one as a coach.
In 14 years as a coach, Grube now has a career record of 200-145. Despite losing five players to transfers, three to academics and five to graduation, Grube, who led East to the 2008 N.C. 4A championship, has the Eagles (7-8, 2-3 Southwestern 4A) in contention for a league championship.
East is just a few games behind league leading Independence (4-1 in conference) and four teams tied for second at 3-2 -- Butler, South Meck, Myers Park and Rocky River.
19 Şubat 2013 Salı
East Meck's Jason Grube, Monroe's Johnny Sowell reach coaching milestones
Friday's top prep basketball performances
David Airing, Covenant Day: 26 points in Thursday’s 61-55 loss to regional power Charlotte Christian. Had 31 points in Friday’s 63-48 win over Metrolina Christian.
Destiny Barrino, North Meck girls: Game winning buzzer beater in 46-44 win over Mooresville. Finished with 13 points, 10 steals, nine rebounds, four assists.
Jayla Horton, East Meck girls: 10 points, 12 rebounds, two steals in 36-33 win over Providence.
Luke Maye, Hough: 27 points, 11 rebounds, three assists in 69-51 win over Lake Norman. Theo Mack had 19 ponits, four rebounds.
Kennedy Meeks, West Charlotte: 18 points, 16 rebounds, four blocks and a steal in 81-76 come-from-behind win over Mallard Creek. Teammate Nakia Rivers finished with 20 points, seven steals, five assists and five rebounds.
Patrick Rooks, Charlotte Christian: 28 points in a 60-56 wiin over Cannon
Sophie Rossitch, Charlotte Catholic girls: 23 points in 54-37 win over Olympic.
Kara Straite, South Mecklenburg girls: 14 points, 11 rebounds in 41-36 win over Butler.
Mariah Washington, Hopewell girls: 16 points, 11 rebounds in 43-32 win over Vance.
Stephanie Watts, Weddington girls: 32 points, 11 rebounds, eight steals, three assists in 61-44 win over Anson Senior. Weddington (13-3) won its 10th straight game.
Shaigna Wentz, Queens Grant: 40 points in 62-43 win over Community School of Davidson.
Chantel Williams, Mallard Creek girls: 13 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals in 63-48 win over West Charlotte.
Swap of legends: Latin loses volleyball coach Suzie Pignetti, hires AKell's Zoe Bell
Charlotte Latin’s volleyball program swapped two legendary coaches Thursday.
Suzie Pignetti announced she is retiring July 1, and the school announced it was hiring former Ardrey Kell coach Zoe Bell.
Pignetti will resign her position as assistant athletics director and coach after leading Charlotte Latin to nine straight state championships.
Pignetti has coached at Latin since 2001. The team won 11 straight conference championships.
Pignetti coached for 35 years at Latin, Butler and Charlotte Country Day, amassing a 745-120 record. Her teams won 29 conference championships and 15 state titles.
Pignetti coache 18 high school players and 35 club players who played in college and was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association national coach of the year in 2012.
A breast cancer survivor, Pignetti helped start an annual tournament called “Serve For The Cure” that has raised more than $300,000 for breast cancer research in 11 years.
Bell, who replaces Pignetti, led Ardrey Kell to a state championship last year. She has more than 30 years of coaching experience in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and led powerhouse programs at Ardrey Kell and Providence to 13 Southwestern 4A conference titles and five N.C. 4A state championships.
“Zoe is widely recognized and respected as a winning volleyball coach in North Carolina and surrounding states,” Pignetti said in a written statement. “In addition to being one of the best volleyball coaches in the area, Zoe is also an experienced school administrator. Her professionalism is a well-balanced blend of competence, experience and cordiality. She will fit in very comfortably with the professional educators at Charlotte Latin.”
Friday's top high school basketball performers
Akela Branch, Albemarle girls: 22 points, nine rebounds, four steals, three assists in 43-35 win against Gray Stone Day.
CJ Bryce, Hopewell: 24 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals in a 55-52 loss to Mallard Creek. Dominique Williams had 21 for the winners.
Bryanna Curry, Hopewell girls: 17 points, five rebounds, two assists in 54-50 upset of Mallard Creek.
Jessica Gaston, West Charlotte girls: 13 points, 15 rebounds, four steals in 48-39 loss to Lake Norman. Teammate Me’shell Puryear finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, four steals.
Jasmine Gray, West Meck girls: 17 points, 11 steals, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 58-20 win against Garinger.
Keith Griffin, Hickory Grove: 23 points in 56-45 win against Covenant Day. Teammate Dustin Dodd had 21.
Keousha Griffin, Harding girls: 16 points, 13 rebounds, four assists in 61-48 win against Olympic.
Raekwon Long, Garinger: 7-foot freshman had 24 points, 19 rebounds, 12 blocks in a 67-63 win against West Mecklenburg.
Nehemiah Mabson, United Faith: 20 points, 10 rebounds in a 74-58 win against Flora Macdonald. The Falcons, not eligible for the playoffs, end the season on a 10-game win streak for second-year coach Muggsy Bogues. United Faith (19-5) was unbeaten in the Southern Piedmont conference.
Tyrell Nelson, Metrolina Christian: 24 points, 17 rebounds, five steals, three assists in a 97-49 win over Gaston Christian. Josh Dominquez had 28 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals and Alec Bross had 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals for Metrolina.
Isiah Taylor, Myers Park: 25 points, four rebounds in 81-77 win over South Meck in OT. Taylor made 7 of 9 three-point attempts. Grant Hedberg (27 points) and CJ Thompson (22) had big games for South.
Stephanie Watts, Weddington girls: 19 points, 14 steals, 10 rebounds in a 56-27 win against Sun Valley. Watts’ teammate, Bailee Carter, added 19.
Jatarie White, Providence Day girls: 30 points, 13 rebounds, three steals in 70-31 win against Country Day. Teammate Jada Brayboy had 23 points, six steals and four assists.
Sierra Wiley, Lake Norman Charter girls: 15 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists in a 66-34 win against Highland Tech. Lake Norman Charter is 16-4, 10-1 in league play and has won 10 straight games.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/02/08/3843122/high-school-basketball-update.html#storylink=cpy
4 new teams join Observer's Sweet 16 poll
Four new teams join the Sweet 16 poll this week, as conference tournament play begins for public schools and private schools kick off state championship week.
In the boys poll, still led by unbeaten Olympic at No. 1, Providence Day rejoins the poll after missing a few weeks. The Chargers won their first outright CISAA championship since 1999 last week and check iin at No. 14.
At No. 16 is East Burke (20-4). The Cavaliers won the Catawba Valley 2A championship outright with an 82-35 win over South Iredell Friday.
East Burke’s girls are also in at No. 16 as a new team this week. East Burke’s 60-48 win over South Iredell Friday secured a third straight 20-win season.
Gastonia’s Forestview High is the other new team in the girls poll. Forestview, a Sweet 16 regular in recent years, is in at No. 16.
Boys
Rk. School (Class) Rec. Prv
1. Olympic (4A) 22-0 1
2. Hough (4A) 19-4 2
3. West Charlotte (4A) 21-3 3
4. Concord (3A) 21-1 5
5. Vance (4A) 18-5 4
6. Hunter Huss (3A) 19-3 6
7. Shelby (2A) 21-3 7
8. Rock Hill South Pointe (4A) 21-1 9
9. Cuthbertson (2A) 22-2 10
10. East Rutherford (2A) 18-5 8
11. Independence (4A) 19-5 14
12. Freedom (3A) 19-4 13
13. North Rowan (1A) 21-3 16
14. Providence Day (IND) 24-6 NR
15. Ardrey Kell (4A) 20-4 11
16. East Burke (2A) 20-4 NR
Dropped out: Mallard Creek (4A, 17-7); Hickory (3A, 19-5). Also receiving consideration: Lake Norman Charter (1A, 16-4); Foard (2A, 20-4)
Girls
Rk. School (Class) Rec. Prv
1. Myers Park (4A) 24-0 1
2. Ardrey Kell (4A) 22-2 3
3. Porter Ridge (4A) 20-3 4
4. North Mecklenburg (4A) 22-2 6
5. Rock Hill Northwestern (4A) 21-2 8
6. Hickory (3A) 22-2 9
7. Providence Day (IND) 24-4 2
8. Alexander Central (4A) 21-3 10
9. Bandys (2A) 21-2 5
10. Freedom (3A) 20-3 7
11. Crest (3A) 17-3 12
12. West Rowan (3A) 21-2 13
13. Harding (3A) 16-4 15
14. Weddington (3A) 19-5 14
15. Forestview (3A) 17-6 NR
16. East Burke (2A) 20-4 NR
Dropped out: South Point (3A, 18-4); Fred T. Foard (3A, 17-7). Also receiving consideration: Hough (4A, 16-6); Lake Norman Charter (1A, 18-4); Lincolnton (2A, 18-4); Berry (3A, 17-6); North Iredell (3A, 15-6)?
18 Şubat 2013 Pazartesi
Football: Briar Woods SO WR/Kick Returner Polk Picks up Maryland Offer
Briar Woods: Three More Falcons to College Level - Barta (Football/William and Mary), Basso (Women's Soccer/Shippensburg) and Haufler (Swim/Villanova)
- Senior safety Mike Barta has accepted a preferred walk on at William and Mary. Barta has been instrumental in the Falcons three straight state championship runs. He is a two-year starter at safety and coach Charlie Pierce says that Barta "did an outstanding job in our secondary. Mike was outstanding in our coverage checks, a sure tackler and a ball hawk. Mike is an outstanding student and a tremendous worker and knows what it takes to win."
- Leah Basso, signed a National Letter of Intent to play Division 2 women’s soccer at Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Leah is a senior at Briar Woods and will attend Ship and play soccer this fall.
- Kristin Haufler has signed a National Letter of Intent to swim for Villanova University starting this fall.