What: Dale’s Sporting Goods Sam Moir Christmas Classic

When: Dec. 28-30. 8 games Thursday and Friday, 4 games Saturday

Where: Catawba College’s Goodman Gym

Cost: $10 daily, $25 for 3-day tournament pass

 

Girls teams

West Rowan (6-1) — Seeded second by record, the Falcons are the defending champs in the tournament and the favorite to repeat. West has six experienced players back from an undefeated 3A state championship team, five of them seniors, so coach Ashley Poole has a high-powered squad that defends furiously and scores quickly. In its last pre-Christmas romp, West scored 25 points in the first four minutes at Concord. Uncommitted senior Lauren Arnold is the steadiest scorer, but on a given night, any of the veterans can step forward and score 18, including Tennessee softball recruit Emma Clarke, the reigning athlete of the year in the county. Senior guard De’Mya Phifer is closing in on 1,000 career points, but probably won’t get there until January.

Salisbury (5-3) — The Hornets may be the best No. 5 seed in tournament history. A lot of teams have good records this year. The Hornets won their second straight 2A state title last season. They were hit hard by graduation — losing four college-bound seniors, including three-time county player of the year Kyla Bryant — but coach Lakai Brice has them playing well and they have gotten better by playing a tough schedule. MaKayla Noble, a Division I signee who averages 21.9 points per game, is a versatile franchise player. Jamyrah Cherry, a transfer from Cannon School, is the No. 2 scorer. Shamya Arnold, last year’s sixth person, has turned in double-doubles.

A.L. Brown (6-0) — The schedule has been softer than a box of Kleenex, so the top-seeded Wonders are still untested, but they are undefeated, they obviously have come a long way in the past year, and they are eager to show what they can do on a big stage. A Salisbury-A.L. Brown semifinal is likely and might be interesting. First-year coach Kayla Crayton has an experienced group of players led by quick point guard Sadie Faulkner. The Wonders haven’t played since Dec. 8. That could be a factor.

Central Davidson (8-3) — They don’t look imposing, but the third-seeded Spartans are sound and solid for a young team. Their first-round game with East Rowan to kick off the tournament could be a good one. Guards Aubrey Garrison and Raegan McCarn average double figures. McCarn made a game-winning bucket against North Rowan.

North Rowan (5-2) — Seeded fourth, North played its last three games before Christmas without the senior Goodlett twins, Bailee and Bloom. The sisters are not expected to return to action until January. Bailee is a human jet who averages 28 points per game and is the primary ball-handler, so that changes a lot for the Cavaliers. Brittany Ellis has carried even more of the scoring load lately. In North’s three Bailee-less outings, Ellis, a senior, scored 33, 27 and 33 points. North was able to beat struggling South Davidson and Thomasville squads without the Goodletts, and went to the wire with Central Davidson before losing 51-50. Ellis has 960 career points and averages 26.4 points, so she could get to 1,000 during the tournament.

East Rowan (4-4) — The sixth-seeded Mustangs have struggled to score in their last three games. although they were able to beat South Rowan 34-26 in their final outing before Christmas.  Mary Church, Hannah Waddell and Kady Collins all have enjoyed big scoring games, but they haven’t all been on at the same time since very early in the season. Isis Smith is coming off a career game. She had a double-double against South Rowan.

South Rowan (1-7) — As the seventh seed, South gets West Rowan in the first round, which is not the best draw in the world. Post player Kynlee Dextraze and guard Hannah Atwell are the steadiest Raiders. At times, sophomore Ella Morgan can do amazing things. South scored 28 and 26 points in its last two pre-tourney games.

Carson (0-7) — Seeded eighth, Carson will play A.L. Brown in the first round. The Wonders won 57-19 against the Cougars earlier this season. Freshman Rylee Hedrick has two double-figure games for the Cougars, but the loss of leading scorer Allie Martin before the season started, has been difficult for the Cougars to overcome.

 

Thursday, Dec. 28

9 a.m. — Girls,  (3) Central Davidson vs. (6) East Rowan

10:30 a.m. — Boys,  (3) West Rowan vs. (6) Carson

Noon — Girls, (2) West Rowan vs. (7) South Rowan

1:30 p.m. — Boys, (2) Salisbury vs (7) East Rowan

3 p.m. — Girls, (1) A.L. Brown vs. (8) Carson

4:30 p.m. — Boys, (1) Central Davidson vs. (8) South Rowan

6 p.m. — Girls, (4) North Rowan vs. (5) Salisbury

7:30 p.m. — Boys, (4) A.L. Brown vs (5) North Rowan

Friday. Dec. 29

9 a.m. — Girls, losers of Games 1 and 3

10:30 a.m. — Boys, losers of Games 2 and 4

Noon — Girls, losers of Games 5 and 7

1:30 p.m. — Boys, losers of Games 6 and 8

3 p.m — Girls semifinal, winners 1 and 3

4:30 p.m. — Boys semifinal, winners 2 and 4

6 p.m. — Girls semifinal, winners 5 and 7

7:30 p.m. — Boys semifinal, winners 6 and 8

Saturday, Dec. 30

3 p.m — Girls, 3rd place

4:30 p.m. — Boys, 3rd place

6 p.m. — Girls championship

7:30 p.m. — Boys semifinal, winners 6 and 8