Davidson Day’s Johnson earns coaching milestone

Davidson Day boys basketball coach Ron Johnson earned his 300th career victory Dec. 3 when the Patriots defeated Thomasville Prep, 67-35, in the Mercedes Benz Showcase in Lewisville, N.C.

Johnson’s career record is 300-128 in 15 seasons. This is his third season at Davidson Day, and the Patriots are 6-1 this season.

“This win is definitely a coaching milestone for Coach Johnson,” Davidson Day athletics director Matt Neville said. “I am pleased that our Davidson Day school community was able to share in this special moment. I look forward to watching Coach Johnson chase down his 400th win over the next several seasons.”

Before coming to Davidson Day, Johnson was program coordinator for the University of Georgia men’s basketball program (2008-09) and athletics director and boys basketball coach at Concord Cannon (2004-08), where he led the Cougars to a state championship in 2006. Johnson has also coached at The Benjamin School (Fla.) and Melbourne (Fla.) Central Catholic High.

This season, Davidson Day is averaging 64.4 points while allowing 43.5. Point guard Rashun Davis, a Radford signee, is averaging 16.5 points, 5.6 assists and 3.8 steals. Forward Phillip Anglade is averaging 11.3 points and 12.6 rebounds.

Lake Norman Charter scores upset in opener

Hayden Goins’ jumper with 5.9 seconds left gave the Lake Norman Charter boys a 44-43 victory against Hough in the Nov. 30 season opener.

The Knights rallied after trailing 22-14 at halftime. The game was close throughout the fourth quarter, and Hough took a 43-42 lead on freshman Luke Maye’s 3-pointer with 16 seconds left.

Goins scored a game-high 21 points, and Michael Dorsainvil added seven points. Eleven Hough players scored, led by seven apiece by Jaquez Jackson, Ty Murrell and Maye.

North Meck point guard sizzling

North Mecklenburg senior boys basketball player Shivaughn Wiggins is a huge reason the Vikings are 5-0 and have scored 76 or more points every game.

The point guard is averaging 25.2 points, 5.8 assists and three steals. The Vikings also are getting solid inside play from Josh Stepoli, Tahjai Watt and Rashaan Brown.

SouthLake Christian evens record

The SouthLake Christian boys improved to 3-3 with a 59-55 victory at Gaston Christian on Dec. 2. Guard Demetri Allison led the Eagles with 21 points. Backcourt mate Connor Duncan had 12 points and six steals, and 6-foot-8 sophomore Ralph McCollum had 10 rebounds and seven points.

Area teams battling strong foe

One particular girls basketball team is creating havoc among Lake Norman-area opponents: South Charlotte’s Myers Park.

The unbeaten Mustangs (7-0) have romped against area teams, beating Hopewell by 17 and 31 points, Hough by 12 and North Mecklenburg by 39.

Myers Park competes in the Southwestern 4A conference, so it won’t see any of those teams again (they’re all in I-MECK 4A conference) until the playoffs. And none of those lake-area teams are slouches – North Mecklenburg is 4-2, Hopewell 3-3 and Hough 3-2.

Eagles turn things around

The SouthLake Christian girls have won three consecutive games after an 0-2 start, the latest victory being a 73-50 rout against Gaston Christian on Dec. 2. SouthLake returns to action at Concord Cannon on Dec. 9.

Hopewell hopes to battle back

The Hopewell girls (3-3) have lost three of four games after a 2-0 start. But the Titans have played one of the area’s toughest schedules. Two of the losses have been to Myers Park (7-0), and another was to Ardrey Kell (5-0).

Senior Sharee Boyd leads Hopewell in scoring (13.5 points), rebounds (7.3), steals (3.0) and assists (3.0). Bryanna Curry is averaging 12.7 points.

The Titans have won the past two I-MECK 4A conference titles.

Vikings looking to rebound

The North Mecklenburg girls rolled early, with victories by 27 points against Independence and Garinger, until they ran into the Myers Park buzzsaw and were on the other end of a blowout on Dec. 6.

The Vikings (4-2) have topped 60 points three times. Destiny Barrino is averaging 10.5 points, five rebounds and four steals. Kelly Beasley is averaging 7.8 points and Jasmine Bullock averages 5.3 assists.