Thursday’s basketball rewind: No. 5 Lake Norman dominates Hickory Ridge on the road
Lake Norman started slow, then ran out to a big lead to beat Hickory Ridge Thursday in a battle of the Greater Metro 4A’s top two teams.
The Wildcats’ 77-58 victory gave them sole possession of first place.
“I think the biggest thing is when we get out ahead, we get a little nonchalant or casual with the basketball,” said Lake Norman coach Grant Hodges, whose team is ranked No. 5 in The Observer’s Sweet 16. “It wasn’t just one player, it was us, as a group, stopped doing what he had been doing to go on that run there in the third quarter.”
The Wildcats didn’t get off to the start they hoped to, letting the Ragin’ Bulls hang around early in the first quarter. Lake Norman led by just six points after the first eight minutes.
“This is the second game in a row we’ve got off to a slow start,” Hodges said. “I don’t know what is going on, ‘cause we had been getting out to fast starts. But, I think we weathered the storm.”
Lake Norman center Trent Steinour, a 6-foot-10 junior being recruited by major college teams, led the Wildcats with 17 points.
“(Steinour) is so unselfish,” Hodges said. “He could stand to be a little more selfish. I think he had six of his points on the same out of bounds play. We just kept running that one play. His defensive presence in the middle is just huge for us.”
Steinour said he feels like the Wildcats can keep their winning ways on track into late February and March as the conference tournament and playoffs approach.
“I think this win is huge for us because it puts us in the number one spot (in our conference),” he said. “We’ve beaten all the other teams (in our conference) so it gives us some momentum. I think the team is doing an amazing job. We’ve just had a ton of energy on the floor.”
THREE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE
Trent Steinour, Lake Norman: The 6-10 junior can do anything on a basketball court. His height helps him create scoring opportunities in the paint, but he can also stretch the floor and shoot the 3-point shot.
Santana Lynch, Lake Norman: The Myers Park transfer has played a key role as the primary ball handler and facilitator for the Wildcats. He may be listed as a shooting guard but he can pass and facilitate like a point guard. He had 13 points Thursday.
Parker Watkins, Hickory Ridge: Watkins led the Ragin’ Bulls with 16 points in the game. He made three 3-point shots.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Lake Norman (17-1) will play at A.L. Brown at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30.
Hickory Ridge (14-4) will host A.L. Brown at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Wednesday/Thursday’s #BIG5 top performers
Sheree Gidney, Hickory Ridge girls: In a 69-63 loss to Lake Norman, Gidney had 18 points, five rebounds.
Peter Moye, South Mecklenburg: Moye had a team-high 21 points in Wednesday’s 63-61 win over Ardrey Kell that gave the Sabres sole possession of second place in the SoMECK conference.
Alexis Shehan, Lake Norman girls: Shehan scored a team-high 21 points, eight rebounds in a 69-63 win for the Sweet 16 No. 1 Wildcats over No. 10 Hickory Ridge.
Autumn Washington, Ardrey Kell girls: In a 63-57 win over South Mecklenburg Wednesday, Washington helped her team rally from 19 points back, scoring 27 of her school-record 37 points after halftime. She also had 16 rebounds.
Thursday’s box scores
NO. 1 LAKE NORMAN GIRLS 69, NO. 10 HICKORY RIDGE 63
Lake Norman 21 12 15 11 — 69
Hickory Ridge 13 8 15 17 — 63
LAKE NORMAN 69 — Buoniconti 2, Kelsey Rhyne 11, Ellis 1, Moore 2, Alexis Shehan 21, Samantha Shehan 17, Sirianni 5
HICKORY RIDGE 63 — Watkins 5, Leathers 1, Sheree Gidney 18, Ma-Kaela Gidney 17, MaKaila Ritter 10, Duley 2
Records: Lake Norman 16-1 Hickory Ridge 15-3
NO. 5 LAKE NORMAN BOYS 77, HICKORY RIDGE 58
Lake Norman 21 24 12 20 — 77
Hickory Ridge 15 8 15 20 — 58
LAKE NORMAN 72 — Will Googins 7, Josh Yates 18, Fynn Hales 2, Santana Lynch 13, Tre McKinnon 15, Nick Arnold 2, Grant Dryden 3, Myles Crumes 1, Trent Steinour 16
CORVIAN COMMUNITY 61, METROLINA CHRISTIAN 51
Metrolina Christian 8 11 16 16 — 51
Corvian Community 18 14 16 13 — 61
METROLINA CHRISTIAN 51 — Walker 8, Nick Crews 14, Rutherford 2, Josiah Rucks 20, Mumpower 5
CORVIAN COMMUNITY 61 — Moore 6, McCutcheon 9, Doug Quarles 16 & 13 rebounds, Milton 3, Jack Hudson 10, Scott 6, AJ Jackson 11
Wednesday’s boys’ box scores
▪ Observer Sweet 16 rankings included
NO. 13 SOUTH MECKLENBURG 63, ARDREY KELL 61
South Meck 15 10 13 25 — 63
Ardrey Kell 12 22 14 13 — 61
SOUTH MECKLENBURG 63 — P. Moye 21, M. Howard 15, A. Skelton 14, Houpt 7, Chudgar 5
ARDREY KELL 61 — Hammonds 23, Caskey 11, Freeman 10, Thomas 10
Records: South Meck 15-2, 4-1; Ardrey Kell 12-5, 2-2
PORTER RIDGE 59, CUTHBERTSON 44
Porter Ridge 11 16 16 16 — 59
Cuthbertson 11 10 9 14 — 44
PORTER RIDGE 59 — Daniel Osei 4, Samaj Long 14, Dennis Kurucu 11, Ziggy Harris 5, Rai’Shawn Elmore 6, Jacob Conroy 10, Bryce Yelverton 5, Brayden Payne 2
CUTHBERTSON 44 — Luke Nelson 8, Chandler Heyward 1, Gena Nkwah 11, Luke Thompson 11, Grady Webb 8, Jayden Gunby 2, Douglas 3
Wednesday’s girls’ box score
NO. 13 ARDREY KELL 63 SOUTH MECK 57
Ardrey Kell 6 14 20 23 — 63
South Meck 21 16 14 6 — 57
ARDREY KELL 63 — Autumn Washington 37 Molly Burns 14 Glahn 6 McCoy 2
SOUTH MECK 57 — Davis 27 Holland 2 Hansley 2 Brown 16 William 4 Heaslet 3 Miller 2
Notes: Ardrey Kell rallied from 19 points down to win. Knights’ star Autumn Washington broke the school-record with a career-high 37 points to go with 16 rebounds. She scored 27 points in the second half.
This weekend’s schedule
Friday
Queen City 3A-4A
Chambers at West Mecklenburg
Harding at Hopewell
Hough at North Mecklenburg
Mallard Creek at West Charlotte
SoMeck 4A
Palisades at Berry Academy
South Mecklenburg at Olympic
Southwestern 4A
Charlotte Catholic at Providence
Garinger at Butler
Rocky River at East Mecklenburg
CISAA
Cannon School at Covenant Day
Charlotte Country Day at Charlotte Christian
Providence Day at Charlotte Latin
Greater Metro 4 4A
A.L. Brown at Hickory Ridge
Mooresville at Cox Mill
South Iredell at West Cabarrus
Southern Carolina 4A
Porter Ridge at Sun Valley
Weddington at Marvin Ridge
Big South 3A
Crest at Forestview
Hunter Huss at North Gaston
Kings Mountain at Stuart Cramer
South Point at Ashbrook
South Piedmont 3A
Jesse Carson at Central Cabarrus
Northwest Cabarrus at Lake Norman Charter
South Rowan at Jay M. Robinson
West Rowan at East Rowan
Western Foothills 3A
Hickory at East Lincoln
North Iredell at Fred T. Foard
Statesville at North Lincoln
St. Stephens at West Iredell
Rocky River 2A-3A
Anson County at Piedmont
Forest Hills at Parkwood
West Stanly at Central Academy
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Concord Academy at Metrolina Christian
Northside Christian at Hickory Grove Christian
SouthLake Christian at Gaston Day
Westminster Catawba at Gaston Christian
Foothills Athletic Association
Davidson Day at University Christian (boys)
Hickory Christian at Statesville Christian
South Piedmont Athletic Association
Lake Norman Christian at United Faith Christian (boys)
North Hills Christian at Victory Christian
Catawba Valley 2A
Lincolnton at Bunker Hill
Maiden at East Burke
Newton-Conover at West Caldwell
West Lincoln at Bandys
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Community School of Davidson at Lincoln Charter
Corvian Community at Langtree Charter
Mountain Island Charter at Christ the King
Pine Lake Prep at Bradford Prep
Southern Piedmont 1A-2A
Burns at Shelby
Cherryville at Thomas Jefferson Academy
Highland Tech at East Gaston
Metro 1A
Piedmont Community Charter at Sugar Creek Charter
Valor Prep at Queen’s Grant Charter
Nonconference
Cuthbertson at Ardrey Kell
Grace Academy at South Charlotte Thunder (girls)
Jackson Day at Lee Park Prep
Legion Collegiate (SC) at United Faith Christian (girls)
S.C. Region 3 5A
Fort Mill at Blythewood
Nation Ford at Clover
Rock Hill at Spring Valley
S.C. Region 3 4A
Catawba Ridge at South Pointe
Indian Land at York
Lancaster at Northwestern
S.C. Region 4 3A
Chester at Union County
Emerald at Woodruff
S.C. Region 5 2A
Andrew Jackson at York Prep
Cheraw at North Central
Chesterfield at Central Pageland
S.C. Region 4 1A
Great Falls at Governor’s School (boys)
Lewisville at C.A. Johnson
S.C. nonconference
Legion Collegiate at Camden Military (boys)
Legion Collegiate at United Faith Christian (girls)
Saturday
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Metrolina Christian at Hickory Grove Christian
Nonconference
Cannon School at Carmel Christian, 4 (boys)
Myers Park at A.C. Reynolds (girls, 1; boys, 2:30)
Northside Christian at Victory Christian (girls, 12:30; boys, 2)
Oak Hill (VA) Regional at Charlotte Elite Academy (boys)
Rabun Gap School (VA) at Covenant Day, 2:30 (boys)
Winston-Salem Christian at Providence Day, 1 (girls)
Davidson Day at Providence Day, 2:30 (boys)
United Faith Christian vs. Milton (GA), in Longhorn Steakhouse 5-Star Classic, at Milton, GA, 8 (boys)
United Faith Christian at Legacy Early College (SC), 1:30 (girls)
S.C. Region 3 4A
Lancaster at South Pointe (girls, 5; boys, 6:30)
Sunday
No games scheduled
