Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013

Charger girls make a run to semifinals

The Cary Academy girls’ basketball team advanced to last week’s N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 3A state semifinals before bowing out with a 31-21 loss to eventual champ Providence Day of Charlotte.

The Chargers ended the season 21-6 in coach Mike Zeilmann’s first year. It is also the final year for standout senior Mickayla Sanders, who will play at Liberty University next season.

Sanders finished her career with more than 2,000 points and was named to the NCISAA all-state team.

Also in the NCISAA playoffs, Cary Christian’s girls lost in the second round to Fayetteville Christian, 57-49. The Lady Knights (22-9), seeded fifth overall in 2A, had dispatched Carolina Friends in the first round, 45-34.

Senior Amy Van Deventer earned a spot on the 2A all-state team.

Grace Christian’s boys were seeded 12th in the 2A playoffs and lost 76-62 to Calvary Baptist.

The Eagles (17-12) were co-conference champs with two other teams; however, they were the only conference team to advance to the postseason, thanks to their 3-2 record against fellow co-conference champs.

Mike Taylor, Grace’s all-time leading scorer, made the all-state team.

NCISAA swimming: At the NCISAA 3A state swimming championships, Cary Academy’s girls finished seventh and the boys were runner-up.

In the boys’ meet, state champ Charlotte Latin School finished the meet with 286 points, 55 ahead of Cary Academy (231).

Cary Academy had one state champion: Adam Linker won the 500 freestyle.

Ravenscroft won the girls’ state title.

In the 1A/2A championships, Cary Christian finished fifth in both the girls’ and boys’ championships.

Brooke Barnes claimed titles in the 100 freestyle and 500 freestyle.