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.jpg "Charlotte Catholic defeated Independence in the 4A Southwest Women's Championship game on Friday")
Charlotte Catholic defeated Independence in the 4A Southwest Women’s Championship game on Friday
Special for the Observer
Friday was one of the biggest days for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools all season, as all three CMS conferences hosted girls’ championship games.
▪ At Independence High, top seed Charlotte Catholic got a monster game from National Top 10 rookie Blanca Thomas and beat Independence 53-40 in the 4A Southwest Championship game. Thomas had 29 points, 17 rebounds, two blocks and two assists. Catholic was the regular season champion.
▪ At Harding High, South Mecklenburg started hot, making a barrage of 3-point shots, and took a big lead over Sweet 16 No. 1 Myers Park, eventually winning 40-34, holding off a late rally. South Meck, which had lost twice to Myers Park this season, became the first NC team to beat Myers Park in 2021-22.
▪ And at Mallard Creek, two-time state champions Chambers High made a statement, winning their fifth straight game and defeating North Meck 66-63. North Meck was the last team to beat Chambers, 54-46 on Feb. 4.
More coverage below.
Photos: CMS Conference Championships
Holloway’s 33 points take Chambers past North Meck
Mia Holloway only scored from the foul line in the fourth quarter, but it was more than enough for her and her teammates at Chambers to edge North Mecklenburg 66-63 for the Queen City 3A-4A Tournament Women’s Championship.
Holloway hit 10 of 12 free throws in the final period as the Cougars (18-6) held off a savage comeback attempt by the Vikings.
Chambers took a 54-38 lead in the final period, but the Cougars started turning the ball over and North Mecklenburg warmed up from the floor. Chambers had just 11 turnovers in the first three quarters, but turned the ball over nine times in the fourth.
The Cougars led 60-50 with 2:30 remaining, but North Mecklenburg went 6-0 and closed the gap to four points in just 22 seconds.
Late in the game, the Vikings were forced to foul, and it was often Holloway heading for the line.
She finished with 33 points and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Her teammate Aaliyah El added 18 points.
Dearia Page scored a team-high 28 points for North Mecklenburg, and teammate Nevaeh Farmer added 20.
—Steve Lyttle
Charlotte Catholic rolls to SW4A final, beating Independence
The top-seeded Charlotte Catholic Cougars scored the game’s first nine points and never looked back as they defeated third-seeded Independence 53-40 in the Southwest 4A title game at Independence on Friday.
Catholic led by a whopping 19, but Independence closed at seven after Kaylee Carson scored seven straight points.
But Catholic responded with an 8-0 run and took the win.
Carson led Independence with 21 points, including 16 in the second half. Sophomore center Blanca Thomas was dominant for Catholic as she had 29 points for the regular-season champions.
—Matt Kline
South Meck stuns No 1 Myers Park in SoMECK final
South Mecklenburg has struggled to play Myers Park in two regular season meetings this season, losing by a combined 48 points.
On Friday, the Sabers were determined not to be blown again. The Sabers came out hot and ran away with a 40-34 win.
The first quarter was a defensive struggle. Neither team shot well, but South Meck took a 12-7 lead.
South Meck extended their lead to 14 in the second quarter and earned a layup from star Senali Moss, the daughter of NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss, to take a 16-point halftime lead.
Down 13 to start the fourth quarter and 11 with two minutes left, Myers Park kept fighting, but South Meck’s determination – chasing loose balls, getting multiple interceptions and getting past the Mustangs – was the difference. .
Moss won the tournament MVP award.
—Cameron Williams
This story was originally published February 18, 2022 8:48 p.m.
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