Chick-fil-A Classic: Liberty Heights picks up two wins in two different states
Liberty Heights journey: Liberty Heights started its day in one state and ended in another.
In between, the Charlotte, North Carolina high school picked up a pair of wins on Tuesday. Liberty defeated Wayne Country Day, 64-51, at the Big Shots event in Winston-Salem, N.C., that ended around 1 p.m. Then, the team drove 192 miles to Columbia, SC. and defeated 80-62 Huntington Prep (WV), 80-62 in a National Bracket game at Chick-fil-A Classic at River Bluff High School.
“I’m speechless with how well those boys played,” Liberty coach AJ Jones said. “It was pure heart and effort out there. It was a bunch of dawgs that just wanted more than the next guys.”
Brothers Tajuan Simpkins and Takai Simpkins led the way for Liberty. Tajuan Simpkins scored 25 points, had seven rebounds and five assists. Takai Simpkins added 18 points and Chas Stinson scored 16 points.
Liberty was a late addition to the field after Hillcrest Prep (Ariz), dropped out of the event because of COVID-19. Chick-fil-A Classic director Gary Fulmer called Jones on Christmas Day to see if the team would be interested. Jones said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity for his team despite the challenges.
Liberty was staying in Columbia on Tuesday night and will drive back to NC to finish out the Big Shots event on Wednesday. Liberty will then drive back and play Prolific Prep or Ridge View at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and then finish the Classic on Thursday.
“We will just make sure we will be prepared for tomorrow,” Jones said. “I can’t thank Gary for the opportunity to be here. The guys at Big Shots let us change around our schedule to make it happen. We will get a good night’s sleep and be ready for tomorrow.”
Ridge View torrid schedule
Ridge View continued to play one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the state this week. After playing in Las Vegas last week, the Blazers took one one of the country’s best teams in Prolific Prep in the final game Tuesday.
Prolific Prep has four Division I signees - Adem Bona (UCLA), Dior Johnson (Oregon), MJ Rice (Kansas) and Tre White (Southern Cal). Johnson didn’t play Tuesday.
With national Class of 2023 prospect GG Jackson on the roster, Ridge View upped its out-of-region schedule. After playing three games at Chick-fil-A, the Blazers will head to New Orleans for the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Showcase on Jan. 6-8.
Ridge View begins Region 4-5A play after that against Northwestern on Jan. 11.
Slam dunk, 3-point winners
Legacy Early College’s Coen Carr won the Slam Dunk contest and Irmo’s Dylan Williams won the 3-point contest. Carr hit his final dunk running from the opposite side of the court to just inside the free-throw line to beat Carmel Christian’s Boston Smith.
Williams had 16 points in his first round and 12 in the final round to win it.
Chick-fil-A Classic Schedule
Tuesday
American Division
Grayson (Ga.) 65, Carmel Christian (NC) 58
CC: Krawacyzk 7, Kaleb Silet 10, Cade Tyson 20, Logan Threat 12, Arias 2, Howard 7. G: Chauncey Wiggins 18, Taylor 4, Tyrese Elliott 21, Caleb Blackwell 14, Christian 2, Gatlin 4, Delacy 2.
Archbishop Stepinac (NY) 54, John Marshall (Va.) 50
JM: Cordes 2, Thompson 9, Robertson 8, Dennis Parker 14, Stinson 9, Bailey 8. AS: Isaiah Alexander 13, Danny Carbuccia 13, Samuel Gibbs 13, Baez 7, Little 8.
Wednesday
Carmel Christian (NC) 66, Keenan (SC) 55
CC: Krawaczyk 4, Kaleb Siler 14, Bean 3, Cade Tyson 22, Threatt 8, S. Smith 3, Howard 1, Arias 8, B. Smith 3. K: Echols 4, Olyn Knox 11, Amarri King 14, Oree 8, Sumpter 8, Gipson 6, Price 2, Gilyard 2.
River Bluff vs. John Marshall (Va.), 12:30 p.m.
Grayson (Ga.) vs. Archbishop Stepinac (NY), 3:50 p.m.
Lexington vs. Irmo, 8:40 p.m.
Thursday
Games begin at 10:40 a.m. with championship at 8:40 p.m.
National Division
Tuesday
Denver Prep (Colo.) 73, St. Frances Academy (Md.) 64
DP: Baye Fall 20, Assane Diop 13, Michael Lewis Jr. 17, Justin Daniels 12, Gorosito 2, Mitchell 7, Hudnall 2. SFA: Johnson 7, Bryce Lindsey 18, Daquan Davis 20, Lamothe 8, Carrington 6, Robinson 3, Jackson 2.
Dream City Christian (Ariz) 60,. Legacy Early College (SC) 40
DC: David Tubek 12, Shawn Phillips 11, Braelon Green 12, Pickens 6, Uzan 9, Thomas 5, Milecevic 5. LE: Carr 7, Hodges 8, Chaney 5, Khalil Arnold 12, Sutton 3, Hawkins 5
Liberty Heights (NC) 80, Huntington Prep (WV) 62
HP: Ronald Jessamy 16, Mjordar 4, Seth Hubbard 36, Flowers 6. LH: Tajuan Simpkins 25, Takai Simnpkins 18, Hedgepath 5, Chas Stinson 16, Wilkerson 7, Dow 5, Torres 4.
Prolific Prep (Calif) 63, Ridge View (SC) 42
PP: Dabo 2, Adem Bona 12, Pope 9, MJ Rice 17, Tre White 15, Pate 2, LaBounty 2, Seck 2, Roseborough 2. RV: GG Jackson 15, Xavier Moultrie 12, Squirewell 4, Owens 6, Powers 3, Roach 2.
Wednesday
St. Frances Academy (Md.) 55, Legacy Early College (SC) 54
SFA: Johnson 4, Lindsay 7, Daquan Davis 20, Jahnathan Lemothe 12, Carrington 6, Robinson 6. LEC: Coen Carr 22, Smith Jr. 9, Hodges 2, Zaylan Chaney 15, Arnold 4, Hawkins 2.
Huntington Prep vs. Ridge View, 2:10 p.m.
Denver Prep vs. Dream City, 5:20 p.m.
Liberty Heights vs. Prolific Prep, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Games begin at 9:10 a.m with championship at 7 p.m.
Carolinas Challenge
Tuesday
At Lexington HS
Charlotte Christian 60, AC Flora 55
Olympic (NC) 71, Blythewood 68
Richland Northeast 49, Christ School (NC) 42
Swansea 42, Chapin 41
Midlands High School Scores
Girls
Skyhawk Classic
Camden 58, Hammond 49
Lower Richland 39, Legacy Early College 35
Boys
Skyhawk Classic
Hammond 75, Stall 68
H: McCall 9, Roberts 7, Michael Peterson 16, Amari Evans 22, Jackson Osborne 21
Poinsettia Classic
Brookland-Cayce 51, Greenwood 47
Emerald Tournament
Saluda 48, Laurens 31
S: Lane Kinard 13, J Baker 2, T Mathis 8, Zion Wright 22, Minick 1, A Mathis 2. L: Butler 3, Cureton 2, Mahon 7, Nelson 3, Edwards 2, Burnside 11
Pepsi Classic
North Augusta 63, Lower Richland 32
Slam Dunk at the Beach
Roselle Catholic (NJ) 75, Gray Collegiate 59
RC: Simeon Wilcher 25, Jamarques Lawrence 24, Akil Watson 16. GC: Avantae Parker 15, Tory Kelly 18, Trai White 15.
This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 10:01 PM.
