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Gastonia, Shelby high school basketball rankings: What teams have made an early splash?

joe l hughes ii, gaston gazette
·4 min read

We’re almost a month into the high school basketball season, but the pecking order for boys and girls teams in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties is still rounding into shape.

Here’s a look at where teams stand following play on Dec. 9, along with those whose stock is surging, worth keeping an eye on and those worth buying despite early misfortune.

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Boys basketball

  1. Gaston Christian (7-5, 4-0 NCISAA MAC): Ahead of a Saturday clash with Weddington, the Eagles were on a five-game win streak in which they had beaten opponents by 17.4 points per game.

  2. Gaston Day (8-5, 3-2 NCISAA MAC): Sophomores Deshawn Coulter (14.8 ppg), Braylen Todd (15.4 ppg) and Griffen Simpson (11.2 ppg) lead the Spartans through one of the state’s toughest leagues, the NCISAA’s Metrolina Athletic Conference (MAC).

  3. Ashbrook (5-0): The Green Wave is off to its best start since coach Darin Dellinger took over during an abbreviated 2021 season.

  4. Kings Mountain (2-1): Tougher tests await, but wins over Burns and Cox Mill are promising signs for the Mountaineers as Big South 3A competition looms.

  5. Shelby (1-0): A veteran Golden Lion squad got its 2023-24 season underway with a gritty 48-44 win over rival Crest.

  6. Crest (0-1): It isn’t wise to gauge the Chargers’ 2023 prospects by a four-point loss at rival Shelby to start the season.

  7. Lincolnton (5-0): The Wolves showed they can win even when not clicking on all cylinders, overcoming a sizable halftime deficit to claim an overtime win at Burns.

  8. Mountain Island Charter (6-1, 0-1 Catawba Shores 1A/2A): Until Friday's 10-point loss to Community School of Davidson, the Raptors had specialized in winning close games. Three of their wins thus far have come by two points or less.

Stock surging

Ashbrook; the Green Wave survived its latest test last Friday by taking a 73-72 win at East Lincoln. Ashbrook is led by Isaac Byers (20.8 ppg), Jamari Smith (14 ppg) and Kenneth Green (12 ppg).

Worth watching

North Lincoln; the Knights are off to a 4-2 start, losing only to a pair of undefeated teams in Ashbrook and Lake Norman. Three North Lincoln players average in double figures, led by junior standout Kendall Karr (14.2 ppg).

Buy the dip

Hunter Huss; many teams this season will be on the receiving end of beatdowns from Hickory. Such learning experiences will come in handy for the Huskies in Troy Phillips’ first-year as head coach.

Girls basketball

  1. East Lincoln (5-0): The Lady Mustangs are beating opponents by an average of 43 points this season.

  2. Lincoln Charter (4-3, 1-0 Catawba Shores 1A/2A): The Eagles’ lowest margin of victory thus far was a 12-point win over North Lincoln.

  3. Crest (1-0): An experienced Charger team began its season on a high note, earning a 43-28 win over rival Shelby.

  4. North Lincoln (5-1): The Knights are led by freshmen Ally Smith (16.5 ppg), Addison Grice (14 ppg) and Ashlyn Black (13.5 ppg).

  5. Hunter Huss (1-2): The Huskies hope non-conference matchups with Hickory and Rock Hill prepare it for what is expected to be a tough Big South 3A slate.

  6. Stuart Cramer (2-4): The Storm have lost to East Lincoln, East Rutherford and Marvin Ridge, teams which began the weekend with a combined 13-0 record.

  7. Forestview (6-1): Amani Neely, Tralyn Phillips and Blair Riley lead a balanced Jaguar roster seeking to improve upon a 9-16 mark last winter.

  8. Highland Tech (5-1): The Lady Rams are two wins shy of their 2022-23 win total. Senior standout Addie McCraw is averaging a double-double thus far with 12.6 points and 14.6 rebounds per game.

Stock surging

Forestview; the Jaguars are beating teams by more than 24 points per game.

Worth watching

South Point; the Lady Raiders have lost two of their first three games despite Amya Graham averaging 23 points and 17.5 rebounds per game.

Buy the dip

Stuart Cramer; despite a 2-4 start, it’s hard to believe sophomore standout Oshauna Holland (28 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 4 apg) will allow the Storm to fade this season.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NC high school basketball: Gastonia, Shelby rankings (Dec. 9, 2023)