This weekend, private schools will play their final game of the postseason. The matchups have been decided as each of the state championship games will be held in Charlotte. We will take a closer look at each of the four games set to take place, starting with the 4A contest between Christ School and Carmel Christian.
After an incredibly exciting finish to their last game, Carmel Christian stamps their ticket to the state championship to face off against Christ School—who would likely be the top seed across all public and private school classifications. The Cougars have proven capable of competing with anyone. Led by Bryce Slay and guys like Chandler Kennedy, Miles Leaks, Daniel Guandolo, and Braylen Bowman, they’ve appeared to hit their stride over the last week. If Slay can have another remarkable showing with contributions from their other key pieces, they could definitely surprise some folks.
Meanwhile, Christ School has been the odds-on favorite since before the start of the season. In addition to having one of the most loaded rosters in the state, Coach Coley’s reputation and history of success speak for themselves. The Greenies core of Zymicah Wilkins, Madden Collins, Dacen Petty, Mason Collins, and Tyler Jones is arguably as strong as any six-man unit in recent memory. They can play through several different guys and find success. Their adaptable, malleable structure naturally seems to cause problems for opponents. Add in the fact that their focal point, Wilkins, is a highly skilled big man who creates constant mismatches, and it’s difficult to ignore everything this team can do. It should be an exciting contest, but it’s difficult to pick against Christ School given their unwavering success throughout the season.