Two Lady Powerhouses Collide
The Charlotte-based area is absolutely loaded with talent on both the men’s and women’s side, and two of the top programs are set to face off this weekend. North Meck ladies enter this contest with an undefeated record (3-0) and a slew of talented prospects. Led by Lenise Joseph, Shannon Hoover, Morgan Knox, Altamise Leach, Kameron Smith, and several others, the Lady Vikings have been legitimately thwarting opponents to start the season (winning each game by 40 or more points). The program has been nothing short of dominant throughout Coach Baker’s 15 years at the helm—and has gone 74-13 in the last three seasons. However, Friday will feature the Lady Vikings’ toughest test yet. Hickory Ridge currently sits at 6-1 with only two contests being decided by single digits. Despite graduating a clear leader in Sheree Gidney, they have pivoted behind the duo of Amya Leathers and Ma’Kaela Gidney. Additionally, Jada Powell, Miranda Duley, and Makalia Ritter each play key roles for this squad. These two contenders will do battle on Friday night at 7:00.
True Contenders: 1A Public Versus 2A Private
Arguably the most intriguing game of the event, Queens Grant and Berean Baptist are both loaded with notable pieces. On one hand, Coach Joe Badgett has seemingly competed for a title every year he’s been on the sideline—both as a head and assistant coach. In year one of his new endeavor, Badgett has already assembled a roster worthy of attention. They have college-level veterans in Ian Howard and Geronimo Clark. However, their young core of Bobby Montgomery, Chase Smith, Mekhi Allen, Preston Scott, and Cannon DeBerry have each turned heads throughout the early season. There is no shortage of talent on the Stallions roster. On the other side, Berean Baptist also has an array of enticing pieces. The duo of Josiah Sanders, Jossiah Johnson, Justin Caldwell set the tone through their production, but guys like Jadyn Cooper, Jeremiah Harper, Amari Goggins, and David Kadundji each play vital roles in the Bulldogs’ success. Similar to Coach Badgett, Coach James Strong always finds a way to be among the final teams standing. Add in the public versus private aspect, and it’ll be fascinating to see what team comes out victorious.
Lots of Offense: Jesse Carson and Hickory Ridge
The Saturday nightcap of the Ish Smith Showcase will feature an exciting contest between Carson and Hickory Ridge. Coming into this contest at 4-1, the Cougars are led by their sophomore trio of CP Perry, Jacob Mills, and Drew Neve. Jonah Drye also plays a critical role and provides consistent production. Their combination of ball movement and perimeter shooting makes them an entertaining team to watch in every setting. Meanwhile, the Ragin Bulls have seen some ups and downs without all of their guys healthy. Regardless, the likes of Braylen Hill, Tyzir Dyer, Zeke Kelly, and Travien Williams still give this group more than enough talent to make real noise. Expect these two programs to compete at a high level to conclude the event.