South Mecklenburg Girls Extend Streak With Dominant Win

It was a Friday night packed with basketball fireworks and standout performances as girls’ hoops teams from across the region took center stage on January 16, 2026. The spotlight shone brightest on South Mecklenburg’s girls basketball squad, who continued their dazzling run with an eighth straight victory, overwhelming Ballantyne Ridge 62-16 in a display of relentless defensive pressure and balanced scoring.

South Mecklenburg, ranked No. 11 in The Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 poll, wasted no time stamping their authority on the contest. The Sabres opened the game with a suffocating 17-0 run, leaving Ballantyne Ridge scrambling for answers. Head coach Justin Clarke beamed after the game, saying, “We thrive off our intensity on defense. That’s our identity.” And thrive they did—allowing just three points in the opening quarter and a mere seven by halftime.

The Sabres’ offense was just as crisp as their defense, with Kaitlyn Hensley leading the charge with 17 points. Nykira Arrington chipped in 13, Bri’Asia Rowe added 10, and Ladacia Coleman finished with seven. It was a true team effort, with eight South Meck players finding the scoresheet. Their 12-3 record (3-0 in the Southwestern 7A/8A) now includes a signature win over Mallard Creek, the Meck Power Six 7A/8A leader, back on December 16. That victory, a hard-fought 47-43 battle, stands as a testament to the Sabres’ grit and growing confidence.

For Ballantyne Ridge (8-8, 1-2), it was a tough night against a top-tier opponent. Natanya Chando managed eight points while Kaiya Dodson added seven, but the team struggled to find rhythm against South Meck’s swarming defense. The Sabres’ identity as a defense-first squad was on full display, as they held Ballantyne Ridge scoreless in the third quarter and to just nine points in the final period.

Elsewhere in the region, Friday’s games delivered a smorgasbord of remarkable individual feats and pivotal team wins. Perhaps the most eye-popping stat line of the night belonged to North Gaston’s Jaleila Littlejohn, who erupted for 50 points in a 58-51 win over Crest. Littlejohn’s performance, which also included 13 rebounds, five steals, and five assists, shattered a 35-year-old school scoring record. According to the Observer’s records, it was among the top 15 single-game performances in North Carolina public school girls’ basketball history and marked only the ninth 50-point outing since the state adopted 5-on-5 play in 1969-70. The previous North Gaston record had stood since 1991, when Chastity Friday notched 39 points.

Another player making headlines was Claire Frank of South Point, who poured in a career-high 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Raiders defeated Kings Mountain 47-34. Frank’s all-around effort was complemented by Tierney Waters’ 11 rebounds and Rowen Trexler’s eight rebounds and eight assists, with Ja’Nyiah Bittle adding eight steals to the stat sheet. South Point’s win improved their record to 4-11 (3-2 in conference), showing that perseverance and teamwork can pay off even in a challenging season.

Hickory Ridge’s Ma-Kaela Gidney also etched her name in the record books, tallying 27 points and 10 steals in a 62-11 rout of Harding. Gidney’s tenacity on defense made her the school’s all-time steals leader, with her 344th coming in the third quarter. Aubrey Cranford contributed 19 points as the Ragin’ Bulls (12-4, 6-0) continued their dominance atop the Greater Metro 6A/7A standings, while Harding (0-12, 0-6) remained winless on the season.

Other notable results included Cannon School snapping Charlotte Latin’s seven-game win streak with a 59-33 victory, led by Jaiden Thompson’s 18 points and Jakaila Gaskin’s 15. Providence Day, ranked No. 5, cruised to a 64-27 win over Charlotte Country Day, with Jaida McClure and Katelyn Ramsden leading the way. Meanwhile, Lake Norman Charter stayed perfect at 15-0, dispatching Bradford Prep 64-28 behind 23 points from Reece Long and 16 from Abby Courtney.

The night was also marked by milestone achievements. West Cabarrus’ Shariah White scored her 1,000th career point while leading her team to a 67-49 win over Central Cabarrus. White finished with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals, further cementing her status as a conference standout. North Iredell surged past Mooresville 60-47, and East Lincoln’s Emma Montanari (22 points, seven assists, five steals) and Lane Pethel (21 points, 14 rebounds, seven steals) powered the Mustangs to a 57-38 win over Newton-Conover.

In the Southern Piedmont 4A/5A, Jay M. Robinson topped Concord 48-15, while Northwest Cabarrus, ranked No. 14, rolled over Jesse Carson 70-39 behind KacKenzie Ortscheid’s 28 points. The Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A saw Community School of Davidson trounce Langtree Charter 64-24, and Lincoln Charter outlasted Christ the King 64-56 in a battle of conference contenders.

Several teams notched lopsided victories: Concord Academy, ranked No. 15, overwhelmed Westminster Catawba 97-6, with Justice Alexander scoring 31 points. Stuart Cramer, ranked No. 10, dominated Burns 68-27, with Oshauna Holland nearly posting a quadruple-double—28 points, nine rebounds, nine blocks, eight assists, and seven steals. Queen’s Grant Charter, ranked No. 6, stayed hot with a 62-29 win over Jackson Day, thanks to Za’Miya Bynum’s 24 points and Misa Garris’ 18.

As the regular season barrels toward its final stretch, the region’s girls basketball landscape is alive with storylines—record-breaking performances, milestone achievements, and the emergence of new contenders. South Mecklenburg’s Sabres, with their stifling defense and balanced scoring, have become a team to watch as they chase postseason glory. But with so many teams and players raising the bar, the coming weeks promise even more drama and excitement on the hardwood.

For now, the Sabres and their peers can savor a night where defense, history, and heart took center stage, and where every basket seemed to tell a story worth remembering.