Diamonds Classic: Hoop State Matchups

The 2022 rendition of the annual Diamonds Classic is one of the latest events to complete across the landscape of high school girls basketball across the Carolinas.    This year's event saw a last-minute venue to change to United Faith Christian Academy in Charlotte. A total of six games took place that mostly featured North Carolina-based teams along with three squads out of South Carolina.  We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trip to southeastern Charlotte – and the home of the Falcons - for the day-long festivities. Three games occurred that saw Hoop State teams facing each other and here is how those contests unfolded.    Butler HS vs. Chambers HS   The second matchup on the six-game slate was the first one that pitted a pair of Hoop State combatants as the Bulldogs of Butler matched up against the Cougars of Chambers HS.    In similar fashion to what happened with the first game of the slate between Westminster Catawba Christian and Caramel Christian, the team that scored first did not exactly taste victory.    The Bulldogs may have got on the scoreboard first, but when the final buzzer sounded, the Cougars, designated as the home team, felt right at home at United Faith Christian Academy by virtue of their 60-45 triumph over the Bulldogs.    Records   The Cougars and Bulldogs both came into Saturday afternoon's contest as .500 teams but one team had played two more games up to this point than the other. Chambers' record was 2-2 entering the day's play while Butler had one win and one loss apiece entering the weekend's action.    A Promising Start…   The Bulldogs had tallied the first four points of the game in a first few minutes that had to be promising for coach Mark Sanders' team.    Where The Game Was Won…   Chambers responded to the early 4-0 start with a 13-1 run. The Cougars, which include plenty of sophomores with height, not only managed to put the ball through the basket on a consistent basis, but keep the Bulldogs away from the goal.    That run prompted a timeout from Butler.    At the Half…   Eventually, Chambers grew its lead to 11 and that is what it was at the half as the Cougars held a 36-25 advantage over the Bulldogs. It was four (16-12) at the conclusion of the first frame.    More of the Same…   The third quarter appeared to be very similar to much of the previous few minutes as the Cougars continued to provide timely offense while making it difficult for Butler to put points on the board. By outscoring the Bulldogs 11-5 in the third, the Chambers advantage was 47-30 heading into the third quarter.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2627-scaled-crop-2239x1470-1670181823.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-560256" width="325" height="213" /></figure>   The Butler defense had no answers for sophomore Bethani Overby who led the Cougars' offensive attack with 24 points.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2633-scaled-crop-2310x1517-1670181944.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-560258" width="326" height="214" /></figure>   Another from the Chambers' 2025 class also played a key role in the team's victory. Nia Kirk tallied 10 points.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2630-scaled-crop-2447x1607-1670182092.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-560260" width="333" height="219" /></figure>   Paving the way for the Bulldogs also was a sophomore in [player_tooltip player_id='393661' first='Brooklyn' last='Saunders']. The 5-foot-5 guard was a consistent point-getter for Butler as she scored 18 points.    Up Next...   The Cougars will head home for a Monday contest with 1 of 1 Academy. As for the Bulldogs, they will be on the road this Tuesday when they will face off against West Charlotte.   Northside Christian Academy vs. Victory Christian Center   When this contest between the Knights and Kings had concluded, we were officially halfway complete with the 2022 Diamonds Classic at United Faith Christian Academy.    Also when this matchup between two Hoop State schools had concluded, it was coach Matthew Chapman's Victory Christian Center bunch that had earned its way into the win column. The Kings outlasted the Knights by a final score of 36-26.    Records   Records-wise, the get-together between Northside Christian Academy and Victory Christian Center represented one of the better games of the day. The Knights had entered the contest with a record of 4-3 while Victory Christian Center was entering Saturday's action with a 6-1 mark and its sole loss coming in a hard-fought battle against Providence Day in mid-November.    De-fense! *clap-clap* De-fense! *clap-clap*   If one is a fan of defense, this game was a dream contest. The Knights and Kings had combined for 62 points – less than the 67 that was put on the board by Carmel Christian and Westminster Catawba Christian as well as the 105 that Butler and Chambers had mustered.    So Much For Depth…   This was also not exactly a matchup that was appealing to the eyes of those who like teams with deep benches. Both Northside Christian Academy and Victory Christian Center each had only one available player available on its bench, making endurance a key theme as the game wore on.    How Things Progressed…   Following a first quarter that was evenly matched, the Kings began to display that they were the better team on Saturday evening. Victory Christian Center assumed a 20-11 advantage going into halftime thanks in large part because of stellar interior play.    When three quarters were in the books, the Kings had doubled up on the Knights as their lead was 26-13.     Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2645-scaled-crop-2350x1543-1670182308.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-560262" width="366" height="240" /></figure>   Leading the way (and all scorers) for Victory Christian Center was Deborah Orianegbena. The junior standout for the Kings finished with 16 points.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2648-scaled-crop-2500x1642-1670182427.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-560265" width="371" height="243" /></figure>   Coach Matthew Chapman's Kings were also the beneficiary of 10 points from senior [player_tooltip player_id='323882' first='Valeria' last='Batista'].    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2650-scaled-crop-2554x1677-1670182537.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-560267" width="375" height="246" /></figure>   Coach Donnell Rhyne's Knights were lifted by the nine-point effort of junior [player_tooltip player_id='252849' first='Tyler' last='Collins'].    Up Next…   Victory Christian Center will have a day to rest and recover before heading to the road for a conference matchup with Winston-Salem Christian. As for Northside Christian Academy, up next for the team is a return to conference play via a home game with the tough out that always is Concord Academy.    The Knights are undefeated in conference with wins over Westminster Catawba Christian and SouthLake Christian Academy this season.    The Burlington School vs. Olympic HS   Game 4 of the 2022 Diamonds Classic featured the final contest that would feature a pair of teams from the Hoop State. It also made a strong case for best game of the day as the Spartans of The Burlington School matched up against the Trojans of Olympic HS.    Prep Girls Hoops has already become familiar with the Trojans as they were the lone North Carolina representative at the MillTown Varsity Classic. The girls' portion of the event was staged at Catawba Ridge HS in Fort Mill and Olympic had a tough go of things against North Myrtle Beach HS.   The Trojans and Spartans were locked in an entertaining matchup, but The Burlington School proved victorious by a final of 57-44 at the contest's close.    Records   The Burlington School and Olympic HS both came into Saturday afternoon's game with five losses apiece on the young season. The difference is the Spartans also came into the matchup with a win while the Trojans are still in search of their first. Salem Baptist Christian suffered defeat to The Burlington School in the first game of the season.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2660-scaled-crop-2283x1499-1670182706.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-560269" width="373" height="245" /></figure>   With 24 points, the Spartans' [player_tooltip player_id='393655' first='Xiomara' last='Moser'] not only led all scorers for her team, she led all point-getters for the game. Moser, the team's lone sophomore, was an early tone-setter for her team as she already had 13 points by the conclusion of the third quarter. Olympic's defense managed to make a run in the second quarter by keeping Moser off the scoreboard.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2666-scaled-crop-2509x1648-1670182892.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-560271" width="386" height="253" /></figure>   Complimenting Moser's 24 was the 12 points the team got from Sarah Hargrove. A 5-foot-8 junior forward, the standout 2024 for The Burlington School gave an interior dimension to the Spartans' game plan, particularly on offense.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2663-scaled-crop-2438x1601-1670183045.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-560273" width="384" height="252" /></figure>   Aaliyah Coley, who is a 2023 and stands at 5-foot-9, tallied 10 points. Coley plays more of the traditional forward position.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2662-scaled-crop-2527x1659-1670183209.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-560275" width="388" height="255" /></figure>   For the Trojans, its reliable bucket-getters were once again reliable point-getters. These start with [player_tooltip player_id='389297' first='Devin' last='Long'], who led Olympic's offensive attack with 18 points.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2658-scaled-crop-1854x1217-1670183373.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-560277" width="394" height="259" /></figure>   Barri Terri scored 16 points.    Up Next…   With the team's second victory secured on the young season, The Burlington School will welcome an opponent from outside of the Carolinas for its next tip. The Spartans on Wednesday will host Chatham Hall from Virginia for a mid-week, non-conference game.    Olympic also has a home game this coming week as the Trojans will see the Rams of Harding University on Friday.

The 2022 rendition of the annual Diamonds Classic is one of the latest events to complete across the landscape of high school girls basketball across the Carolinas.