Gastonia, Shelby high school basketball rankings: Crest, Stuart Cramer pass tough tests

Here’s a look at the high school basketball pecking order for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties going into play Wednesday, Jan. 24, including teams whose stock is surging and those worth keeping an eye on in coming days and weeks.

Boys basketball 

Blue chip stock of the week

Lincolnton; freshman sensation L.J. Smith has continued his strong play, averaging 32.2 points per game. However, Landen Lyerly’s contribution cannot be omitted, the Wolves’ junior standout averaging a double-double (11.6 ppg, 11.8 rpg). As a result, the Wolves are 6-1 and in a three-way tie for first in Catawba Valley 2A.

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Stock to keep an eye on

South Point; with wins over Kings Mountain and North Gaston, the Red Raiders thrust themselves back into the Big South 3A title race. South Point won nine straight down the stretch last season en route to a league championship. Could another late surge be in the cards?

This week's rankings

1. North Lincoln (14-3, 6-1 Western Foothills 3A): Knights have won five in a row since their 76-70 loss to Hickory on Jan. 5, winning those games by an average margin of 20.6 points per game.

2. Crest (12-1, 7-0 Big South 3A): The Chargers have won 12 in a row after surviving road tests at South Point and Kings Mountain the past two weeks.

3. Ashbrook (15-2, 6-1 Big South 3A): The Green Wave are unbeaten in the new year, this after coming back from a 24-point halftime deficit to beat rival Hunter Huss on Tuesday.

4. Lincolnton (15-2, 6-1 Catawba Valley 2A): Since a loss to Newton-Conover, the Wolves have won five consecutive games, with four by double digits.

5. Kings Mountain (11-5, 4-3 Big South 3A): Consecutive losses in Big South 3A competition to South Point and Crest have the Mountaineers’ league title hopes on life support.

6. Gaston Christian (14-13, 8-3 NCISAA MAC): An overtime win at Gaston Day followed by a dominant effort at SouthLake Christian has the Eagles back on track.

7. Gaston Day (15-9, 7-4 NCISAA MAC): The Spartans rebounded nicely with a 20-point win over Metrolina Christian following a heartbreaking overtime loss to rival Gaston Christian on Monday.

8. (tie) Lincoln Charter (12-7, 6-1 Catawba Shores 1A/2A): A 63-60 loss at Corvian Community School ended a 33-game win streak in Catawba Shores 1A/2A competition.

Girls basketball

Blue chip stock of the week

Stuart Cramer; the Storm have taken everyone’s best shot in Big South 3A and came out clean. Oshauna Holland leads the way (25.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 5.4 apg, 6.9 spg), but freshman Lauren Humphrey’s development has taken the team to a new level. Humphrey has earned a double-double in each of her team’s last three games.

Stocks to keep an eye on

Crest and Hunter Huss; considered two of Big South 3A’s favorites heading into the season, both have fallen on hard times of late. The teams are in a three-way tie for third in the league, three games behind Stuart Cramer. While a conference title may be fleeting, both need momentum to solidify their playoff positioning.

This week's rankings

1. East Lincoln (16-1, 7-0 Western Foothills 3A): Led by Kiara Anderson and Emma Montanari, the Lady Mustangs are averaging more than 70 points per game.

2. Stuart Cramer (13-4, 7-0 Big South 3A): The Storm have won 11 consecutive games, including them going 7-0 through the first round of Big South 3A play.

3. Lincoln Charter (12-4, 5-1 Catawba Shores 1A/2A): The Eagles have won eight in a row, but their biggest test comes Friday against Catawba Shores 1A/2A’s top team, Community School of Davidson.

4. South Point (11-6, 6-1 Big South 3A): The Lady Raiders head into the final round of Big South 3A competition a game behind first-place Stuart Cramer. The teams meet in Belmont on Feb. 2.

5. Forestview (12-5, 4-3 Big South 3A): Despite Stuart Cramer ending its five-game win streak, the Lady Jaguars proved they may have a say in how Big South 3A plays out.

6. North Lincoln (11-6, 3-4 Western Foothills 3A): The Lady Knights have lost five of their last seven, including a 20-point loss to East Lincoln on Tuesday.

7. Crest (9-4, 4-3 Big South 3A): The Chargers are 3-3 in the new year. Big games loom, however, starting with consecutive trips to Gastonia for matchups with Forestview and Hunter Huss.

8. Hunter Huss (8-9, 4-3 Big South 3A): The Lady Huskies ended a three-game losing streak with a 59-23 win over rival Ashbrook.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NCHSAA basketball: Ranking Gastonia, Shelby top teams (Jan. 24, 2023)