NCISAA Playoffs: Providence Day vs Christ School
Damon Harge Jr., is back. After a ankle injury, Christ School’s floor general will be playing against Providence Day in the NCISAA playoffs this Saturday. With Harge’s return, a highly anticipated point guard match-up will finally take place. Providence Day’s…
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Continue ReadingDamon Harge Jr., is back. After a ankle injury, Christ School’s floor general will be playing against Providence Day in the NCISAA playoffs this Saturday. With Harge’s return, a highly anticipated point guard match-up will finally take place. Providence Day’s Devon Dotson is on the other end of this battle of PrepHoopsNC’s top point guards. One of the biggest match-ups of 2017 will be on Saturday as a Christ School travels to Providence Day for a NCISAA playoff showdown between two NCISAA 3-A powerhouses.
This game will be a re-match that never happened as their first meeting was canceled back in January because of snow. Now the stakes are higher as the loser will go home and their season will end.
Providence Day won it all last season and are off to a 12-5 record so far this season playing a national schedule. Providence Day features two of the best guards in the state for the 2018 class in Trey Wertz and Devon Dotson. Wertz is a 6-foot-5 scoring guard who has ACC offers Clemson and Virginia Tech. He is more of a natural shooting guard and can also take over the point guard position. A talented three-points shooter, a high basketball IQ, ability to make the right pass are going to what college coaches’ notice first with Trey. Also throw in a 6’9″ wingspan that allows Wertz to disrupt passing lanes and we see why high major programs are showing interest.
Devon Dotson has offers from nearly every high-major program in the country. Dotson is a true floor general, Dotson can get to the rim at will, strong with the ball in his hands, can score all the way out past the 3-point line, great rebounding instincts, can penetrate the lane and either score or dish for the right play, has a uncanny ability to make the right pass.
Freshman Luke Stankavage will be out of this match-up with a torn ACL and junior guard Isaac Suffren will have to step it up  for Providence Day and be a player that will make a impact in this game.
Christ School knocked off Charlotte Latin last night and has a 22-10 record so far this season. The Greenies feature one of the best shooters in the state in Matt Halvorsen, a 6-1 shooting guard who has committed to Western Carolina University. Halvorsen has one of the most fluid three-point shots that I have seen since I began covering high school basketball over seven years ago. Halvorsen had this to say about who helped him develop his shot, ” My older brother Todd, who played at East Tennessee State University. He’s been my trainer for many years and my go to guy when it comes to basketball. He’s the one who’s pushed me and taught me the mechanics.”
Junior point guard Damon Harge Jr., has been a key part for the Greenies this season and single-handedly was the reason Christ School beat nationally ranked Wesleyan Christian Academy at home in December. With a silky smooth game, unbelievable ball-handling ability and a rainbow three-point shot that is deadly accurate, it’s easy to see why many consider Harge one of the top prospects in the 2018 class.
Fellow junior Giir Ring, a transfer from Australia, has the ability to create his own shot, he can create space between his defender, loves competition and can score from all over the floor.
Two words, Justice Ajogbor has been playing at a All-CAA conference level the latter half of this season and will be the biggest factor in this game. The big man has started to turn heads in the recruiting world with his 6-foot-10 frame and natural ability. The key to this game will be the play of Christ Schools’ guards against the talented duo of Devon Dotson and Trey Wertz for Providence Day. Another big factor in the game will be the play of the Christ School big men. Providence Day lost a lot of size with graduation last season and the size difference could go in the Greenies favor.