NCHSAA Weekend Top Games- 1/20 and 1/21

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've got a couple good weekend clashes in the public school class for this upcoming weekend. Check the key teams and players out below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hough (12-5) @ North Mecklenburg (16-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Meck will have their gym rocking for another Friday night contest as they take on local rivals Hough. [player_tooltip player_id='1154560' first='Isaiah' last='Evans'] has been unbelievable so far this year, showcasing his high major talent in many ways, whether athletically, scoring the basketball at an extremely high clip, or being a great defender. [player_tooltip player_id='1076344' first='Christian' last='Foy'] is physical and will make Hough's bigger guys work hard down low, but can also play high on the floor if needed. [player_tooltip player_id='1076335' first='Trey' last='Maxwell'] will provide 3 pointers in bunches, and [player_tooltip player_id='1680977' first='Ashton' last='Pierce'] is a young combo guard who has broken out so far this year.Hough will need a huge night from senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1336405' first='Rashad' last='McCormick'], as his explosiveness and length will be key for both defending and scoring against the North Meck arsenal. [player_tooltip player_id='854899' first='Trey' last='Horton'] will be a threat with shooting since his recent transfer from Providence Day, and wing Mason Smith has good size and a 3 point shot that has to be respected. Guards <strong>Cole Galombeck</strong> and <strong>Hank Neace</strong> will provide stops on the defensive end, and a few key buckets here and there. Hough has the size and physicality to match up well with North Meck, but I believe the Vikings will use their talent to put this game away in the end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Millbrook (11-6) @ Wake Forest (11-6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Millbrook is a stacked squad, but will face a difficult trip up to Wake Forest to take on the Cougars. Wake Forest is led by 6'6 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1350160' first='Jaevian' last='Alston'], who is energetic and explosive around the rim, and will be a tough cover for Millbrook's forwards. They need him to take over the game in order to be successful. <strong>AJ Small</strong> will provide the shooting and guard play, as he is a shotmaker from 3 and also can play inside the arc. [player_tooltip player_id='1216311' first='Dashaun' last='Grant'] should be key, as his grittiness, motor, and ability to make the tough plays around the rim will be helpful to keep the Cougars in it. However, Millbrook has a stacked lineup, starting with sharpshooting lefty wing [player_tooltip player_id='1272558' first='Colt' last='Langdon']. [player_tooltip player_id='1343876' first='Jayan' last='Walker'] is a big time player, and his guard play and late game proficiency will be key for the Wildcats. He will need to score inside the arc with consistency for them to succeed. [player_tooltip player_id='1062157' first='Jacob' last='Lawton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1343867' first='Gabriel' last='Cerda'] will be other guys that need to impact the game in their own ways, whether it be shooting or defense. Look for this to be a great game, but Millbrook pulling away at the end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Hanover (14-3) @ Northwood (14-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A non-conference matchup this late in the year should excite, and both of these teams are very solid. [player_tooltip player_id='1220122' first='Rodmik' last='Allen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1220121' first='Zeus' last='Batts'] will both be key pieces in the backcourt, but their size may hamper them. However, Allen is a legitimate scoring threat from all over the court, averaging over 15 PPG. Batts is a thief in the passing lanes while also being able to be a secondary guard. <strong>Nolan Billings</strong> will be one of the forwards who they need to bring down rebounds and provide an interior scoring punch when he can. As for Northwood, they're loaded with guys who can play. Of course everyone knows about [player_tooltip player_id='1115509' first='Drake' last='Powell'], but the bigs of [player_tooltip player_id='1489674' first='Kenan' last='Parrish'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1352123' first='Max' last='Frazier'] are key to dominating the matchup. Their size and rebounding ability will make it hard for New Hanover to find an edge unless their guards score. [player_tooltip player_id='1144259' first='Fred' last='Whitaker'] Jr. will also be counted on to provide complementary buckets as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->