(Cliff Mehrtens, cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com) Charlotte Christian football coach Jason Estep won't use injuries as an excuse. But it certainly created a bump in the season.The healed Knights have recovered to land in the N.C. 3A private-school championship game against Charlotte Latin on Friday at Latin. After winning its first six games, Christian went on a 1-3 skid, then rallied to win dramatically in the semifinals last week, 42-35 against Charlotte Country Day in double overtime.“I looked around after last week's game and told the team this was the first time in a long time we've had the whole team together,” Estep said. “At our level, when kids get hurt, you often lose two positions (offense and defense). The depth isn't the same as a large school.”Christian, which last won a state title in 1992, has offensive balance. Ty Linton (660 yards) and Parker Blazevich (434) have combined to rush for 11 touchdowns. Luke Bard has thrown for 1,131 yards and 15 touchdowns, and recovered from a late-season ankle injury.The top targets are Linton (28 receptions), Jonathan Miller (24) and Willis Hall (five touchdowns).On defense, Buddy Craft has a team-high 83 tackles, and Judson Hall and Kyler Brown have 68 tackles apiece. Justin Parker has a team-high four interceptions.Estep said when you've played a team as often as his has played Latin – four times in little more than a year – there won't be many surprises.“It will be all about execution,” he said. “Neither team is going to do much that the other hasn't seen. In fact, many of these kids have played against each other a long time. They often hang out together.”Christian's 42 points last week were the most it had scored in eight games. Linton had 196 all-purpose yards, touchdowns on a kick return and a running play, and the clinching sack to end the game.Christian, which lost 48-14 to Latin in last year's title game, isn't simply happy for another attempt.“We didn't want to just get here, we want to play to win,” Estep said. “I expect it to be a hard-fought physical game.”

(Cliff Mehrtens, cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com) Providence High isn't only a girls' swimming power anymore. This year, the Panthers boys' team will be a state contender. The girls, who've won nine N.C. 4A titles in 11 years, return a solid core from last year's state runner-up team. “It's very exciting on both sides,” coach Sandy Martin said. “Our boys team will be very good, and we've got some good divers.”Martin has dubbed her core the “Five Guys,” but it grew to more than half a dozen as she rattled off the names and accomplishments. The “Five Guys” are seniors David Maxwell, Ben Correll and Andy Richter, junior Anderson Sloan and sophomore Kip Darmody.Austin Snyder, a freshman distance swimmer, will earn points, and divers Tucker Marsden and Tyler Conover will make Providence powerful in that department.Maxwell, strong in backstroke and butterfly, signed with Xavier; Correll, with Florida. Richter is considering offers and will sign in the spring.“Ben can swim absolutely anything,” Martin said. “He swam the 200 freestyle and 200 IM (individual medley) back-to-back in our first meet (a victory against Ardrey Kell on Monday). Andy is a sprinter, and has had some great times.”The girls' squad is led by seniors Kellie Darmody, Liz Van Halsema and Anne Safran. Kellie Darmody signed with Navy, and “can swim anything,” Martin said. Van Halsema is a freestyle distance swimmer receiving attention from college scouts, and Safran is strong in the butterfly and IM who, too, will likely sign with a college in the spring.Providence's strength is depth, which means more swimmers earning more points in every event. Top Panthers this season include Lexi Lienenkugel (sophomore sprinter), Courtney Cox (junior distance), Bailey Woodling (a versatile Buffalo, N.Y., transfer), Aviry Reich (an experienced junior), Christina Weber and Kristina Grayson (juniors), Susie Raichle (sophomore), and Maryanne Grayson and Caroline Weber (freshmen).The divers are equally deep and talented. Freshman Madaline Keeley is the top diver; sophomores Jessica Doolittle and Devyn Ressler competed in the state meet last year; and freshman twins Lacy and Madison Moore will contribute. Newcomers Lauren Danielson (a transfer from Seattle) and Anna Cook are talented.“It is going to be an interesting year,” Martin said.

(Cliff Mehrtens, cmehrtens@charlotteobserver) It has been a rebuilding season for Charlotte Latin's football team, but that hasn't shown much in the won-loss record.The Hawks (9-2), three-time reigning N.C. private school 3A champion, will play for a fourth straight title against Charlotte Christian at 7:30 p.m. Friday, at home. Charlotte Latin had to replace 18 (of 22) starters after winning last year.“Early in the season, we struggled offensively, but we played really good defense and had a good kicking game,” coach Larry McNulty said. “The low point was the Christian game (a 17-9 loss on Oct. 3), when I think we had one first down in the second half. Since then, we've made changes and it's been exciting to watch.”Latin, since losing to Christian, has scored 50, 39, 55, 30 and 40 points. It was part lineup changes, part strategy adjustment and, mostly, players gaining experience. Sophomore Jalen Ross became a starting running back about four games into the season, McNulty said, and has run for more than 1,100 yards. He's averaging about nine yards per carry. Quarterback David Pearson, a senior who'd never started, has sizzled the past four games, with eight touchdown passes and one interception.The offensive line – all new from last year – steadily improved. Last week, they helped Ross run for 170 yards and a touchdown. Pearson was 10-of-17 passing for 177 yards and touchdowns to Ross Cockrell and Davis Austin. Latin led 27-0 at half, and coasted into Friday's title game.“I am very pleased with the way the players have worked the past four or five weeks,” McNulty said. “We've simplified some things. When you play someone three or four times in the span we've played Christian, it's really all about execution, fundamentals and the kicking game. “We won't have a lot of secrets for each other. I'd be surprised if this isn't a close game.”

(Langston Wertz Jr.) Tuesday's Top PerformersNIKKI BURTON, W. CHARLOTTE GIRLS: Had 28 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals in 73-66 loss to Butler.KRISTA GROSS, CONCORD CANNON GIRLS: After scoring 84 points in two games, Gross only had 20 last night but had her third straight triple double (15 points, 12 blocks).PAUL LARSEN, LAKE NORMAN: Had 23 points and 10 rebounds in 98-65 win over Gastonia Forestview Tuesday. Garinger transfer Reggie Price added 17. SHANNON SMITH, GASTONIA FORESTVIEW GIRLS: Scored 35 points in season-opening 65-60 win over Lake Norman.JERMAINE WHITE, BUTLER: Triple-double in 68-64 win over West Charlotte (10 points, 15 rebounds, school-record 12 blocks).LAUREN WHITE and CHELSEA DOUGLAS, HICKORY GROVE GIRLS: White had 37 points and Douglas 27 in 96-39 win over Charlotte Latin.By the Numbers29.6 Average points allowed by Concord Cannon's girls this season.30.1 West Charlotte girls' shooting percentage against Butler Tuesday.9, 4, 7 Points scored by Covenant Classical in first, third and fourth quarters of 92-37 loss to United Faith.4 Dunks by Hickory Grove 6-6 junior Evan Shelton against Charlotte Latin3 Dunks by Butler's Jermaine White against West Charlotte.ObservationsIf we're handing out player of the year awards right now, it's a wrap for Cannon's Krista Gross, averaging 34.6 points and a triple-double per game. They're going to love her in Chapel Hill next year. I've never seen a player improve so much in an offseason as Butler's Clair Watkins (22 points, 13 rebounds against West Charlotte Tuesday). The 6-4 junior center was N.C. good last year. She's national good now. I see why Duke offered her early. I hope West Charlotte's girls and Butler meet again. The first time was too good to not have a replay. It would make an unforgettable Western Regional final. Concord Robinson's girls have a nice one-two punch in Tabby Koerner (17 points, 9 rebounds, 7 steals in 59-36 win over Northwest Cabarrus) and 5-10 point guard Kelsee Cheek (19 points, 57 percent shooting). They will cause some problems in the ME-CA 7 this year.

(By Langston Wertz Jr., lwertz@charlotteobserver.com) Doug Miller is the new boys' basketball coach at Maiden High. He replaces Garry Robinson who resigned for personal reasons. Miller was already on staff and was going to coach the junior varsity this season.Gaston Day girls basketball player Marie-Luise “Lulu” Brase, signed with Colgate last week. Brase, a 6-3 senior center, averaged 15 points and 14 rebounds last season.West Charlotte's home basketball game against Harding, scheduled for Friday, has been moved to Thursday. The doubleheader starts at 6:30 p.m. with the girls game. West Charlotte has a 2 p.m. doubleheader with Durham Hillside Saturday.The Hopewell at Myers Park basketball games scheduled for Friday was moved to Dec. 3 due to Hopewell's second round football playoff game…. Charlotte Catholic's home game with Charlotte Christian, scheduled for Friday, was moved to Thursday. East Lincoln basketball star Keith Rendleman, a 6-6 senior, signed with UNC Wilmington. He averaged 18 points, 7.3 rebounds and two blocks last season. Marvin Ridge baseball player Shane Basen (Charlotte) and Scott Shipman (Augusta State) signed with colleges. Basen hit .400 with 28 stolen bases last year. Shipman was 10-1 as a pitcher with a 1.76 ERA and 93 strikeouts. Concord Cannon's boys lost to Flora Macdonald 66-63 in overtime in the final of Saturday's Cannon Classic. Here are the all-tournament teams: Jonathan George, Covenant Classical; Tyler Lewis, Forsyth Country Day; Luke Cothron, Flora Macdonald; Jarell Eddie, Cannon; Brian McManamy, Cannon; Lateef McMullan, Flora Macdonald, MVP. Cannon's Krista Gross was MVP of the girls event after leading her team to the title. The all-tournament team: Kathleen Wood, Flora Macdonald; Collen DeBoer, Covenant Classical; Brey Dorsett, Forsyth; Taylor Duggins, Forsyth; Melissa Marcantonio, Cannon; Krista Gross, Cannon, MVP. Mallard Creek's boys beat Butler 65-54 in last week's season opener behind 24 points and 7 rebounds from Thomas Cooper. Ardrey Kell's Alex Watkins is off to a hot start, averaging 21.5 points and eight rebounds to lead the Knights, who played at Mallard Creek Tuesday and play at Waddell Friday. Teammate Justin Cheek is averaging 16.5 points. Cameron McQueen is averaging 10 points and shoots 76 percent from the floor. Miguel Cardona averages six assists.