The 2025-26 Mecklenburg County girls’ private school basketball preview
The 2025-26 N.C. girls’ high school basketball season tips off Monday when public school Queen’s Grant visits private school Victory Christian in a game matching teams that have legitimate state championship hopes.
The Observer begins a look at girls’ high school basketball in the area with a focus on Mecklenburg County private schools.
Later this week, The Observer will preview Mecklenburg County’s public schools and the schools within its regional coverage area in Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union counties.
The annual Sweet 16 girls’ basketball poll will also debut.
Meck private teams to watch
Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers’ return four starters from a team that won 20 games and went to the NCISAA 4A state quarterfinals. C Country Day will be led by the seniors Olive Bigham (16.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, all-state, Washington & Lee University commit) and Sam Vanderhave (16.1 ppg, 3.4 spg). Senior forward Evelyn Turner and junior forward C.J. Starnes, will also play big roles for a team on the rise.
Providence Day: The Chargers return a veteran team with five seniors from a squad that won 25 games, a share of the CISAA conference title and made it to the NCISAA 4A state semifinals. Back this year are Layla Clark (7 ppg), Ginny Anne Dumont (14 ppg, 6 rpg, recent offers Georgia Tech, UCLA), Jaida McClure (10 ppg, Appalachian State commit), and Katelyn Ramsden (5 ppg, University of Chicago commit). Also back are 6-2 senior Julia O’Malley (Division III recruit) and 5-11, Jane Updyke.
Other players to watch
Erika Balderas, Victory Christian: The 5-7 senior guard will team with 5-6 classmate Valery Bethancourt and 5-6 junior Hannah Tesfay to give the defending NCISAA 1A state champions a veteran backcourt.
Lauren Feaster, Hickory Grove: The 5-9 sophomore forward averaged a double-double as a freshman (15 ppg, 12 rpg).
Avery Houseton, Covenant Day: The 5-8 senior point guard averaged 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game last season. She’s one of four starters back, joining Kaitlyn Allen (8 ppg, 7 rpg), Charlotte Hall (8 ppg), and Taryn Van Der Schaff (5 ppg).
Charlotte Tune, Charlotte Latin: The 5-7 senior (15.3 ppg) gives the Hawks a strong one-two punch with 6-foot senior forward Laney Edwards (13 ppg, 5 rpg).
Players on the rise
Piper Fair, Charlotte Christian: The 5-foot-11 senior averaged 4.8 points and 3.1 rebounds last season and is the team’s leading return scorer in 2025-26.
Morgan McLaughlin, Charlotte Latin: The 6-1 senior forward will have to play a bigger role inside with 5-11 junior, Ava Nadeau.
Mackenzie Williams, Hickory Grove: The 5-8 senior sharpshooter (10 ppg) made 52 three-pointers last season.
Preseason all-county team
Olive Bigham, Charlotte Country Day, 6-0, Sr.
Layla Clark, Providence Day, 5-7, Sr.
Ginny Anne Dumont, Providence Day, 5-11, Jr.
Avery Houseton, Covenant Day, 5-8, Sr.
Jaida McClure, Providence Day, 5-9, Sr.
Charlotte Tune, Charlotte Latin, 5-7, Sr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Ginny Anne Dumont, Providence Day, 5-11, Jr.
Notes
— Carmel Christian hasn’t had a girls’ basketball team in two years. This year, the school will revive the program, led by former Covenant Day boys’ and Davidson Day girls’ coach Marty Parrish.
— Covenant Day seniors Kaitlyn Allen and Avery Houseton are both college softball commits. Allen will play for Tusculum University and Houseton with the Charlotte 49ers.
— The Providence Day girls’ basketball program has won 23 conference titles and 17 NCISAA state championships in program history, with Chargers’ basketball coach Josh Springer guiding his team to 10 of the state titles.
Conference predictions
CISAA
1. Cannon School; 2. Providence Day; 3. Charlotte Country Day; 4. Charlotte Latin; 5. Covenant Day; 6. Charlotte Christian.
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Concord Academy; 2. Gaston Christian; 3. Metrolina Christian; 4. SouthLake Christian; 5. Hickory Grove; 6. Westminster Catawba; 7. Gaston Day.
This story was originally published November 3, 2025 at 6:30 AM with the headline "The 2025-26 Mecklenburg County girls’ private school basketball preview."
