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SPORTS
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006
SOUTH MECKLENBURG EARNS N.C. CHAMPIONSHIP
PHOTO/CURTIS WILSON
ON TOP OF THE WORLD: South Mecklenburg High forward Joy Cheek (30) was all smiles celebrating with Principal Marian Yates (in hat) and teammates after the Sabres’ 60-53 win over
Apex in the N.C. 4A girls’ basketball championship.
Finally, mission accomplished
By Eric Bozeman
FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST
South Mecklenburg High
accomplished ite mission of
winning the N.C.' 4A girls
basketball championship. ,
Coeich Tioy Gaston said the
run to the state title, which
ended with a 60-53 win over
Apex Saturday in Ralei^,
whs a long time coming.
‘It’s flat out incredible,” he
said. “Sometimes you ask
yourself the question as a
coach are you worthy of such
talent. Then you sit back and
say you don’t have to be wor
thy because it’s yours.”
Star forward Joy Cheek,
who is committed to play at
Duke nest year, said she set
a championship as her goal
four years ago.
‘It’s the best way to finish
off my career, it’s the only
way I could imagine myself
doing it,” she said. “I said
when I came here my ninth
grade year that’s how I want
ed to end my last year win
ning a state championship”
Cheek, scored at game high
22 points for the Sabres, and
she believed the turning
point was earlier in the sea
son when South Meek fal-
te:ed to the Buffer Bulldogs
in the conference champi
onships.
“When we lost to Buffer in
the conference championship
that was the turning point in
the season,” Cheek said. “We
all sat down and talked to
each other then we were all
on the same page, and felt we
were going to win.”
The Sabres finished the
season 27-3, Cheek was the
tournament MVP, but she
had help from Betsy
Horowitz and Erica
Williams, who both scored 13
in the final.
“It’s the best way possible
to end this part of my fife, I
couldn’t have dreamed of a
better way of ending this,”
said Horowitz, who is going
to Virginia Tfech on a voUey-
baU scholarship. ‘Even if I
had chosen basketball in col
lege it woiild have been hard
to overcome this experience.”
Cheek said she knew there
were doubters who won
dered whether South could
get it done.
“I try not to get into what
people say I wanted to win
but that didn’t define me as a
player,” Cheek said.
HHOTO/CURTIS WILSON
Johnson C. Smith quarterback Carlton Richardson (10) has bulked
up since his freshman year, in which the Golden Bulls went 0-10.
JOHNSON C. SMITH FOOTBALL
Spring drills
bring a rare sight:
Competition
By Herbert L. White
lterb.\vhite@lliecliarlonepost.com
Carlton Richardson endured a winter of dis
content.
The Johnson C. Smith quar
terback heard the jokes and crit
icism - on and off campus ■ of a
second straight winless season.
So he’s dedicated himself to
improving his skills and by
extension, the Golden Bulls.
“Tb me, I had to take it per
sonally in order for me to work '*
harder,” he said “Tbking some of the criticism
around campus where the students are like
‘our football team sucks,’ stuff like ... not get
ting any respect fi-om other teams and coaches.
I just had to take it personal to get myself beff
ter and get my team better.”
Richardson’s growth is evident. As a scrawny
170-pound fieshman last year, Richardson
struggled to keep pace with the college game.
See SPRING/2C
McNeil
PHOTO/CURTIS WILSON
Charlotte Bobcats center/forward Melvin Ely has been a double
figure scorer whether he starts or comes off the bench.
As Starter or off bench,
Ely a consistent presence
By Roland Hawkins
FOR THE CHARLOTIE POST
Is Melvin Ely more produc
tive for the Bobcats when he
starts or when he comes off the
bench? A strong case could be
made for either scenario.
Ely, a forward/center has
adapted to both roles, although
he’s been forced to play more
minutes as injuries have
depleted Charlotte’s fix)ntcourt
depth. Ely is not known for his
toughness but his ability to do
whatever is needed to help the
Bobcats. Most days it’s giving
the interior offense a jolt; oth-
See ELY/2C
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