Fire destroys apartment building - Carolina Weekly Newspapers

SportsBoys basketball(continued from page 28)Mecklenburg has shown majorimprovement from a year ago.With a 1-6 mark heading into a Dec.14 game with Providence, two of theSabres’ losses were by a combinedthree points. The lopsided losses evenGirls basketball(continued from page 28)The Knights have no seniors onthe roster, but the young players havestepped up. Junior Oceania Andersonleads the way with 17 points per game,while junior Christelle Shembo scores15 points and pulls down six reboundseach night. Junior Katelyn White hasbeen a key player on defense, averagingtwo steals per game, while freshmanMackenzie Crenshaw has come in andprovided strong outside shooting.Bevy of Bucs contributingFirst-year Charlotte Country Daycoach Andre Haston said there’s a simplereason the Bucs are off to a 4-2 startthis season: pretty much every player iscontributing.“I feel great about what we’ve done,”Haston said. “All the girls have steppedup to help this team.”The Bucs have victories over CovenantDay, Greensboro Day, CharlotteCatholic and Raleigh St. Mary’s. Hastonsaid sophomore Beth Erb “is havinga great season,” averaging 12 points pergame.“Her assists, rebounds and steals areup this season, too,” Haston said. “I’mproud of her. But again, so many othergirls have played well.”That includes senior guard SydneyJones, who he said has exhibited greathave provided optimism. In a Dec. 10loss to Ardrey Kell, the Sabres surrenderedonly one field goal in the fourthquarter.“We’ve played well, we just haven’tdone the little things to win games atthe end, and that’s something we’vebeen trying to stress to (the players),”second-year coach John Fitch said.leadership and made big shots despitenursing an injured shoulder. JuniorRachel Roberts has been a force in theinterior, despite being a bit undersizedat 5 foot 7, averaging nine points andeight rebounds. Roberts also has beenadept at exploiting mismatches againstthe bigger girls defending her, steppingout for 3-poiners and penetrating forbaskets.The team also received a pleasantsurprise when junior Courtney Stuttsrejoined the team after initially decidingto focus on soccer. Stutts, who hascommitted to play soccer at VirginiaTech, is averaging nearly 12 reboundsper game and providing leadership forsophomores Brook Vann and JudithCohen inside.The Bucs’ two losses came againstHigh Point Wesleyan Christian andMonroe Parkwood. And Haston said theWesleyan Christian loss, during whichthe Bucs scored just 20 points, was a bitof an aberration.“I blame that one on Harry Potter,” hesaid with a laugh. “The night before theWesleyan game, some of our girls wentto the Harry Potter (movie) release thatstarted really late and didn’t get homeuntil about 3 a.m. on a school night.Then they had to go to school and try toplay a game that night.“I think we learned a lot from that,”Haston said, still chuckling. “We knowwhat we have to do now.” qPLAY LACROSSEat www.StickWithUs.orgBoys & GirlsClinicsCampsLeaguesTravel TeamsInjuries have played a role, too, butFitch pointed to a lack of urgency duringpractice as the biggest culprit.“They’ve got to mature a little bit,and they don’t know what it takes towin,” he said. “Practice is so vital – andhow you practice, because that developsyour muscle memory when you gointo the game. If you’re inconsistent inpractice, you’re going to be inconsistentin the game.”But Fitch acknowledges the moralvictories and believes success is on thehorizon.“I’m very optimistic,” he said. “It’searly, but once we get everyone healthyand get everyone on the same page,hopefully we can be pretty strong.”Panthers trudge through injuriesIt’s not uncommon to see severalfootball players on Providence’s roster.So naturally, a transition period isnothing new for coach Myron Lowery.But this season has been unlike anythingLowery’s witnessed.The Panthers have dealt with severalconcussions and broken wrists, alongwith a broken leg. Currently, they’reonly able to dress eight players for varsitygames, and only eight more for JV.But returning starters Robby VanGrandSlam USaLanen and Howie Davenport havehelped ease things. Van Lanen averages10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds pergame, while Davenport contributes9.3 points and 3.4 rebounds. However,senior guard Chauncey Concepcion,the school’s star football quarterback,has truly led the charge with 14.8points and two steals per contest.“He wants to win, and a lot of thatsuccess he’s had in football kind ofcarries over, so I’m not surprised,” saidLowery.But Concepcion will miss this week’saction while preparing for the ShrineBowl of the Carolinas football gameon Saturday, Dec. 18.The key for the basketball team,said Lowery, is continuing to focus onimprovement despite the injuries andmissing players.“We just keep working hard andspending the time with the guys,” hesaid. “We’re just trying to get thembetter and better. We’re trying todevelop them. It’s just going to takesome time. We’ve still got enough toplay, and we have kids that want to getafter it. We’re just trying to get themto understand what we’re good at andwhat we’re not good at. That’s been anongoing process.” qWinter Baseball& FastpitchClassesGrand Slam USA “HOLIDAY PITCHING & HITTING CAMPS”are held December 28-29 only $90.00 each! WinterClasses begin January 3rd and always fill-up. Registrationbegins today! Classes are held for 4 weeks/1 hour per week,$100.00 per class! Call 704.847.5333or www.grandslamusa.org to reserve your spot.Instruction / Classes / Pro-Shop /ClinicsTeaching Baseball & Softball Is Our Business!Registration forms are available online @ www.grandslamusa.orgGrand Slam USa10715 Independence Pointe Parkway • Matthews, NC 28105Call us today 704.847.5333 or check us out @ www.grandslamusa.orgHolidayRiding CampDecember 21st and December 22nd10:00am – 3:00pmRiding, Crafts and HorsemanshipCost: $85 for one day | $150 for both days~ Holiday Gift Certificates Available! ~Join us for a great time and holiday cheer!Growing the Game Since 2001424 Waxhaw-Indian Trail Rd.(near Wesley Chapel Village Commons Shopping Center)704-843-5215 www.providenceequestrian.comwww.thecharlotteweekly.comSouth Charlotte Weekly • Dec. 17-23, 2010 • Page 29