December 2008 archives

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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Saints collect fifth straight victory

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne invited perennial 4-A power Durham Hillside to its inaugural Saints Christmas Classic in hopes of receiving one last stern non-conference test. The Saints received every bit of the challenge they had hoped for and plenty more...

Local Preps Digest

ROBERSONVILLE -- Tournament Most Valuable Player Demetrio Irby poured in 29 points as Goldsboro defeated Roanoke 72-61 in the championship game of the Roanoke Christmas Tournament on Tuesday evening. Tyrelle Jackson added 18 points for the Cougars. Rasean Brewington...

West Craven notches first win at Gators' expense

DUDLEY -- Spring Creek's jerseys may have said Southern Wayne on the front but the Gators' performance on Tuesday night failed to resemble the Saints in every way imaginable. Spring Creek was the designated visiting team for its game with...

Rosewood matmen sweep tri-meet

Rosewood recorded 14 pins in 21 contested matches and swept a non-conference, tri-wrestling meet against Smithfield-Selma and Ayden-Grifton on Tuesday evening. The Eagles claimed eight individual victories in a 54-18 rout of SSS, and followed that with a lopsided,...

Prep boxscores

Spring Creek 7 2 11 8 -- 28 West Craven 13 10 21 24 -- 68 SPRING CREEK (2-8) Melvin Deveaux 4 0 3-4 11, Joey Combs 0 0 0-2 0, Anthony Green 0 0 2-2 2, Courtland Jones 2...

Trojans suffer sixth loss in eight outings this season

MOUNT OLIVE --Finish the game. Tusculum sealed the deal in the closing minutes Tuesday evening, while injury-riddled Mount Olive -- back at full strength -- couldn't convert the big plays. The Pioneers drained nine consecutive free throws in the final...

Opinion -- Pro sports teams need to develop resolutions with 2009 approaching

New Year's resolutions -- seemingly everyone has them and yet very few people keep them past the end of January. Rather than come up with my own wishful thinking resolution that I may or may not stick to, here's a...

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Local Digest

ROBERSONVILLE -- Goldsboro found their offensive focus early and kept up the intensity as they routed Edenton Holmes 89-45 in the opening round of the Roanoke Christmas Tournament on Monday evening. Demetrio Irby poured in 29 points to lead...

Saints shake off holiday rust

DUDLEY -- West Craven remained winless on the basketball court Monday evening. Southern Wayne made sure it wasn't the Eagles' first victim. The Saints shook off some rust, kicked up the offensive intensity in the second half and prevailed 59-37...

Gators swamped by Hillside

DUDLEY -- Non-conference games give coaches time to see exactly where their team needs to improve before league play begins. First-year Spring Creek coach Taylor Jones has definitely learned much about his team during the past two months. And the...

Prep boxscores

Spring Creek 3 6 6 11 - 26 Durham Hillside 18 14 13 10 - 55 Spring Creek (2-7) Melvin Deveaux 1 0 4-7 6, Dontay Boseman 0 0 1-2 1, Courtland Jones 1 0 0-0 2, Mike Rivers 2...

MOC women drop Elizabeth City State

MOC Sports Information ELIZABETH CITY -- Brittany Miller and Tomeka Prichard shared game-high scoring honors with 16 points apiece as Mount Olive College defeated Elizabeth City State 88-70 on Monday evening. Miller, who established a career high, scored 14 points...

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Wayne Country Day falls

Terry Jones threw just about every defense imaginable at Mount Zion on Saturday evening. Jones, the second-year Wayne Country Day boys' basketball coach, had no strategy for the Warriors' height or their supply of talented depth on the bench. Mount...

Prep basketball boxscores

BOYS Mount Zion 19 10 24 18 -- 71 Wayne Country Day 15 16 14 16 -- 61 MOUNT ZION Rasheed Laws 3 1 0-1 9, Terrence Townes 3 1 0-2 9, Derric Iozard 1 0 0-0 2, Desmon Louis...

Chargers down Cape Fear

Wayne Country Day girls basketball coach Eric Perry is interested in a lot more than winning ugly or simply getting by. Perry's Chargers defeated Cape Fear Christian 53-41 on the second day of the Charger Christmas Classic on Saturday. However,...

Friday, December 26, 2008

Hammock Beach closed for dredging

The middle section of Bear Island at Hammocks Beach State Park will close Jan. 2 through at least March 15 to allow a dredging project in the main approach channel to the island, according to the N.C. Division of Parks...

New outdoors books allow for winter learning

Lots of folks ask how I've learned so much about the outdoors. The answer is that like most successful writers in any genre, I am also a prodigious reader. Everywhere I go, there is an outdoor book, magazine or newspaper...

Wayne Country Day set to host Charger Classic

The inaugural Wayne Country Day Charger Christmas Classic is scheduled to begin this afternoon and continue through Saturday evening. The field features a handful of boys and girls teams ranked in the state. Play gets under way at 3...

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Eagles split tri-match

Rosewood's wrestling team dropped a close 34-33 decision to Rocky Mount and earned a 66-18 victory over Southwest Edgecombe in a home tri-match on Tuesday evening. Chris Lane (103 pounds), Zach Behrend (112) and Greg Cavenaugh (140) each earned...

Opinion -- Buffalo's first bowl trip historic for many reasons

Fifty years after completing one of the best football seasons in Buffalo University's humble gridiron history Willie Evans and Mike Wilson are finally getting their opportunity to represent the Bulls at a bowl game. Evans and Wilson were the were...

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Union tops Dawgs

CLINTON -- A poor second quarter spelled disaster for the Princeton Bulldogs on Monday night as they fell 70-54 at Union in a non-conference clash on Monday night. The Dawgs were outscored 28-8 in the second period. For the...

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Local preps Digest

Eastern Wayne erased an eight-point, third-quarter deficit, but Wilson Fike pulled away for a 56-50, non-conference girls' basketball victory Friday evening. The Warriors (3-5 overall) surrendered two quick baskets to start the third quarter, but stormed back. Danielle Daniel...

Eastern Wayne-Wilson Fike boxscores

prep basketball BOYS Wilson Fike 23 22 22 20 -- 87 Eastern Wayne 17 14 7 13 -- 51 WILSON FIKE (5-1) Jeremy Atkinson 5 3 8-11 27, Jordan Davis 2 1 0-0 7, Kendrick Davis 0 0 1-2...

Warriors go down: Fike's Atkinson too hot to stop

Wilson Fike star Jeremy Atkinson came as good as advertised as the Golden Demons defeated Eastern Wayne 87-51 on Friday evening in New Hope. Atkinson delivered 27 points and grabbed nine boards in the non-conference showdown. "He is a really...

Aycock grapplers beat Princeton in Louisburg Duals

LOUISBURG -- Despite prevailing in just five of 11 contested individual matches, Charles B. Aycock pulled out a 48-30, non-conference decision over Princeton in the annual Louisburg Duals on Friday evening. The Golden Falcons, still smarting from a stunning...

Friday, December 19, 2008

Friday's prep boxscores

BOYS C.B. Aycock 21 22 11 14 -- 68 Rosewood 2 2 10 11 -- 25 C.B. AYCOCK (10-2) Molonza Hayes 2 1 0-0 7, Kyle Laflamme 5 0 2-4 12, Daniel Lane 1 0 0-2 2, Devon Newsome 1...

Local Prep Digest

After beginning the week without a win, the Charles B. Aycock varsity girls' basketball team recorded its second victory in three days with a dominating 59-32 conquest of Rosewood on Thursday evening. The Golden Falcons jumped out to an...

Mature Golden Falcons improve to 10-2 overall

Maybe someone will listen now. Throughout the season, Charles B. Aycock head basketball coach David West has talked about his team's maturity and how much they've grown the past two seasons. West doesn't have to talk anymore. The Golden Falcons...

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Local Digest

TRENTON -- Southern Wayne got its offense on track early and never looked back as it punished Jones Senior 72-48 on Wednesday night. The Saints built a 20-point lead on 65-percent shooting from the floor in the opening half....

Chowan takes season series from MOC men

MOUNT OLIVE -- Young teams must learn how to win. The lessons continued for the youth-ladened Mount Olive College men's basketball team in its 74-62, non-conference loss to in-state rival Chowan University on Wednesday evening. The Trojans started slow and...

MOC women down Apprentice

MOC Sports Information NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Helen Moore and Laporsha Davis spearheaded a late first-half run and Mount Olive cruised past the Apprentice School 79-64 on Wednesday evening. Moore scored eight of her team-high 18 points during a 14-3...

Beddingfield stuns C.B. Aycock grapplers

PIKEVILLE -- Somehow Charles B. Aycock's work ethic in the practice room isn't materializing on the wrestling mat. One month into the season, the Golden Falcons continue to struggle when they're put on their backs. Tuesday evening was no exception....

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Local Preps Digest

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Southern Wayne held off scrappy Spring Creek and earned a 54-41, non-conference win on the road on Tuesday evening. The Gators trailed by three entering the final quarter but 11 fourth-quarter points from the Saints' Lynenesha...

Saints' depth wears down Spring Creek

SEVEN SPRINGS --A seemingly endless supply of talented depth, the ability to score in bunches and an entire team committed to playing defense. Second-year Southern Wayne head coach Russell Stephens must of felt like he was watching every coach's dream...

Prep basketball boxes

BOYS Southern Wayne 15 28 23 18 -- 84 Spring Creek 7 14 14 11 --46 SOUTHERN WAYNE (6-4) Gary Woodard 1 0 0-0 2, Javaris McMillan3 0 2-3 8, Rashard Hill 2 0 1-1 5, Chris Davis 2 1...

Opinion -- Panthers will play another milestone game

From the time his franchise played its first game in 1995 to its only Super Bowl appearance in the 2003-04 season, owner Jerry Richardson has lived to witness his Carolina Panthers in moments like these. The Panthers visit the defending...

New confidence: Warrior boys collect second straight victory

Call it new found confidence. The Eastern Wayne varsity boys' basketball team picked up its second victory in a 24-hour span, defeating North Lenoir 79-69 on Tuesday evening. After an 0-6 start, the Warriors have avenged two regular-season losses. "We...

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Chargers derail Eagles

Wayne Country Day released the hounds from the opening tip Monday evening. Rosewood couldn't cage them. The Chargers forced quick turnovers out of its aggressive and stifling full-court pressure, and grabbed a 6-0 lead just 42 seconds into the non-conference...

Prep boxscores

BOYS Rosewood 6 16 12 4 -- 38 W. Country Day 30 14 15 7 -- 66 ROSEWOOD (3-5) Trevor Cox 0 0 2-2 2, Will Caughron 0 0 0-0 0, Ahkeem Simms 3 0 0-2 6, Cody Harris 2...

Local digest

Eastern Wayne shook off a slow start and picked up a 42-22 non-conference victory over visiting Wilmington Laney on Monday evening. The Warriors (2-4 overall) outscored the Buccaneers 37-17 over the final three quarters. Tiarra McIntyre scored a game-high...

MOC softball signs three

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive has signed three North Carolina recruits to softball national letters-of-intent, according to head softball coach Jaime Kylis-Higginbotham. Joining the Trojans in 2010 will be Southern Wayne standout Lauren Darden, Rebekah Daniel and...

Warriors get first win

This one didn't get away. Having struggled to close out ballgames this season while stumbling to an 0-6 start, Eastern Wayne appeared to have learned from its failures in a 67-50 home non-conference win over Wilmington Laney. The victory avenged...

Monday, December 15, 2008

Eagles' Holmes gets respect

Joshua Holmes finally got a little respect. The Rosewood senior earned his third individual championship of the season with an impressive performance in the 13th annual Eagle Invitational contested in his home gym. And opposing coaches noticed, too. Holmes wrestled...

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Local digest

SPIVEY'S CORNER -- David Gurganus finished with 30 points and five assists as Princeton picked up a 69-58, non-conference win at Midway on Friday evening. Patrick Jacobs scored 10 points for the Bulldawgs and Benton Myers added nine. Andre...

Rebel girls fall in three OTs

CALYPSO -- Missed free throws and crucial turnovers prevented the North Duplin girls' varsity basketball team from erasing an 0-3 start this season. And this loss -- so far -- had the most-agonizing ending. Niesha Lewis converted back-to-back steals into...

MOC women lose for first time

MOC Sports Information RALEIGH - Tomeka Prichard led all scorers with 19 points, but it wasn't enough as Mount Olive suffered its first loss of the season, falling to St. Augustine's 78-70 in non-conference women's basketball Saturday. The game was...

Saints top Cougars for second time

DUDLEY -- For the second time this season, Goldsboro came up just short against county rival Southern Wayne. The Saints used a strong third-quarter effort and fended off a late Cougar rally for a 64-62, non-conference victory on Friday evening....

Reid putting the Cougars back on the map

Returning Goldsboro to state-wide football prominence is a brick-by-brick process that began by setting its cornerstone in place two years ago with the hiring of head coach -- and alumnus -- Eric Reid. Reid inherited a team that went 0-11...

Parker's tenacity will be missed by Cougars

A quiet, humble and polite young man, Goldsboro's A.J. Parker doesn't go out of his way to strike fear in the heart of anyone with his personality. Put Parker in a football uniform and it's a completely different story. The...

North Duplin's Cox has nose for end zone

Akeem Cox's game isn't about numbers. It's not about accolades. It's certainly not about searching out superlatives. Instead Cox keeps things simple. He runs the football and finds the end zone. During his senior season at North Duplin, the offensive...

Friday, December 12, 2008

Expanded squirrel season based on sound biology

The proposed changes to the fishing, hunting and trapping seasons are now available. Outdoorsmen may view these proposals online by visiting www.ncwildlife.org. -- or obtain a copy by calling the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission at (919) 707-0050. They may...

Eagles will host county's longest-running tourney

During his career at Rosewood High School, wrestling coach Bill Edmundson has never been shy about fueling the fire of expectations. A bright purple banner hanging in the gymnasium displays the program's domination under Edmundson's guidance for nearly two decades....

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Wooten and Gourley sign with East Carolina

Two athletes confident in their respective abilities, who each have baseball pedigrees, won't part their separate ways after high school graduation. No sir. Eastern Wayne seniors John Wooten and Walker Gourley will continue their careers at East Carolina University. Each...

Prep basketball boxscores

BOYS Country Victoria 15 15 9 13 -- 52 Wayne Country Day 9 20 24 11 -- 64 COUNTRY VICTORIA Marcus Larcombe 0 0 2-2 2, Austen Flint 2 0 2-2 6, Matthew Dea 3 0 1-2 7, Bernie People...

Chargers turn up the defensive heat

With temperatures unseasonably warm outside, Terry Jones decided he needed to turn up the heat with a little full-court pressure. With his team down by 10 points early in the second quarter, Jones -- in his second season as the...

Local digest

Rosewood used strong defense and timely shooting to best Hobbton 42-37 on Wednesday night in "The Nest." The Eagles were led offensively by Jacquez Raynor's 16 points. James Harris was the only other Rosewood man in double figures with...

CB Aycock tops North Johnston

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock overcame a slow offensive start and went on to defeat North Johnston 67-48 on Wednesday night. The Panthers opened up a seven-point lead in the opening two minutes on the heels of a pair of...

Chowan downs MOC men

MOC Sports Information MURFREESBORO -- Freshman Derek Staton pumped in a collegiate-high 15 points, but injury-riddled Mount Olive College dropped a 93-58, non-conference decision to Chowan University on Wednesday evening. Senior guard Justin Melton returned the lineup and played just...

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Local Preps Digest

PRINCETON -- David Gurganus scored a game-high 18 points and Princeton defeated Hobbton 57-50 on Tuesday evening. Patrick Jacobs and Andre Nixon each had 12 points for the Bulldogs and Nixon pulled down 12 rebounds. Dillon Daughtry added six...

Warrior matmen upend Saints in ECC 3-A opener

DUDLEY -- Not 100 percent satisfied with their respective weekend performances, county wrestling archrivals Eastern Wayne and Southern Wayne tried to make amends Tuesday evening. And the Warriors got lucky. Southern Wayne triumphed in six of 11 contested individual matches....

Goldsboro-Eastern Wayne boxscores

BOYS Eastern Wayne 17 26 12 13 6 -- 74 Goldsboro 7 26 19 16 7 -- 75 EASTERN WAYNE (0-5) Lamar Best 2 0 1-2 5, Jeniri Cyrus 3 3 1-2 16, Eddie Copeland 1 0 3-5 5, Marvin...

Forte shoulders Cougars' offense in extra session

Carlton Forte saved his best for last as Goldsboro bested county rival Eastern Wayne 75-74 in overtime on Tuesday night. Forte scored all seven of the Cougars' points in the extra session, primarily off of dribble penetration by guards Michael...

Opinion -- Aycock teammates reaping hard work

Khendra Reid and Jonathan Williams were running out of chances to get 'em next year and the Charles B. Aycock seniors were beginning to wonder how much truth there was to "good things come to those who wait." Reid and...

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Local digest

JACKSONVILLE -- Southern Wayne had four players reach double figures as they seized a 62-52, non-conference hoops victory over Northside on Monday night. Dwight Smith paced the balanced Saints' attack with 12 points. Justin Artis, Javaris McMillan and Rashard...

ECC All-Conference list

Eight Wayne County players comprise the 26-man All-Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference football roster released Monday by the conference president. Playoff participant Eastern Wayne had three selections -- Will White, Ceron Bailey and Mac Stover. Stover flirted with the...

Monday, December 8, 2008

Local digest

PINETOPS -- Charles B. Aycock's Brandon Bailey and Rosewood's Zach Behrend each earned a gold medal during the 17th annual Pierce-Davis Memorial contested Saturday at SouthWest Edgecombe. Bailey, a senior, recorded two falls and a major decision to reach...

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Local Preps Digest

Lindsey Godwin scored a game-high 16 points and Faith Christian dispatched of Falls Road 54-23 on Friday night. Alyssa Hill played a complete game in the win, she scored nine points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists....

Wayne Christian offense comes alive in second half

Somebody finally flipped the switch -- after halftime. Wayne Christian sputtered offensively and allowed Johnston Christian Academy -- primarily a junior varsity team -- to dictate the tempo. The Lions trailed by just two possessions at intermission. Frustrated by 10...

Dawgs' last chance to force OT clangs off rim

PRINCETON -- Princeton brought its signature high-octane offense to its non-conference contest against Midway on Friday night. The Bulldawgs left their defense in the locker room. Midway prevailed 80-75 behind some excessively hot shooting and exorcised a worrisome demon. The...

Soaring Falcons: Golden Falcons topple Cougars

PIKEVILLE -- Any doubters who remained after Charles B. Aycock defeated Goldsboro less than two weeks ago should be full-fledged believers now. The Golden Falcons opened up a 14-point, first-quarter lead and used a solid defensive effort to beat the...

Fridays Prep Boxscores

prep basketball BOYS Goldsboro 8 16 15 17 -- 56 C.B. Aycock 22 13 14 15 -- 64 GOLDSBORO (4-4) Donald Lewis 1 1 0-0 5, Devonte White 1 1 0-0 5, Michael Langston 2 0 1-2 5, Tyrelle...

Friday, December 5, 2008

Wood ducks offer easy waterfowling

Of all the birds in the world, the wood duck may be the most beautiful. While some may argue the title for an exotic species such as the peacock, even diehard birders would agree the wood duck is the most...

Beware of where you buy oysters

Oysters are always popular during the holiday season. It is also the time of year when the N.C. Marine Patrol steps up enforcement efforts against illegal seafood sales. With that in mind, the Division of Marine Fisheries is warning...

Cougars turn back Firebirds

Offense will come and go. The defense needs to remain constant. Goldsboro High boys' basketball coach Chris Cherry stressed those two facts in the locker room before the Cougars faced Southern Nash on Thursday evening. And while the offense ebbed...

Goldsboro-Southern Nash boxes

Boys Southern Nash 12 8 7 14 -- 41 Goldsboro 8 13 22 22 -- 65 SOUTHERN NASH (0-3) Nick Harris 2 2 1-4 11, Jamari Powell 0 0 0-0 0, Demarcus Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Andrew Gehring 2...

Local preps digest

One of three players to register a double-double, Millicent Kornegay snared a career-high 18 rebounds and pumped in 12 points as Goldsboro handled Southern Nash 53-31 on Thursday evening. Akeyanna Whitlor contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds for the...

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Local digest

NEWTON GROVE -- Rosewood earned its first win of the season with a 45-34 decision over Hobbton on Wednesday night. Angelica Knight led the Eagles' attack with 11 points. Shantal Johnson added nine, while Paige Babb chipped in seven....

Saints win in OT

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne and North Lenoir traded punches like heavyweight prize fighters Wednesday evening. The Saints scored the knockout in overtime. Southern Wayne deposited nine points in the extra session and exited with a 78-73, non-conference victory. "It's always...

High School boxscores

BOYS North Lenoir 17 14 14 24 4 -- 73 So. Wayne 11 24 17 18 9 -- 78 NORTH LENOIR (2-1) Chris McPhail 2 5 8-8 27, Joe Whitfield 4 1 2-4 13, Da'rico Jones 2 0 1-2 5,...

C.B. Aycock holds off South Johnston

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock, in recent seasons, has struggled to play through a sporadic, choppy tempo on the varsity boys' basketball scene. The Golden Falcons bucked the trend Wednesday evening. Senior Jonathan Williams nearly recorded a double-double, 15 points...

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Eagle grapplers trust coach's judgement

DUDLEY -- Rosewood's Chris Lane and Zach Behrend understood the need to bump up a weight class Tuesday evening. And they trusted Bill Edmundson's judgment. "(We hoped) to offset the forfeits at 119 and 125 (pounds)," said Edmundson. "We stressed...

Local Preps Digest

Goldsboro got a game-high 22 points from Millicent Kornegay and Ki'Ana Williams added 14 in a 58-47 win at Eastern Wayne on Tuesday evening. The Warriors trailed by double digits most of the second half before trimming the deficit...

Opinion -- Goodell has chance to make statement with Burress case

Growing up the middle child between two sisters I often heard the phrase from my parents we all heard at least once during childhood when on the verge of discipline: "this is going to hurt me a lot more than...

Jones, Prichard spark Trojans in OT

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Jasmine Whitby led five players in double figures with a season-high 24 points, eight rebounds and five steals as Mount Olive claimed a 99-82 victory over Conference Carolinas rival Converse (S.C.) College on Tuesday...

Goldsboro-Eastern Wayne boxes

Boys game Goldsboro 13 4 18 22 -- 57 Eastern Wayne 14 11 11 13 -- 49 GOLDSBORO (3-3) Donald Lewis 1 0 0-0 2, Michael Langston 0 1 1-2 4, Tyrelle Jackson 3 0 6-11 12, Demetrio Irby 5...

Goldsboro's boys use 10-0 run to turn back Warriors

Goldsboro's boys overcame a sloppy first-half effort and delivered in the clutch against county rival Eastern Wayne on Tuesday evening. The Cougars used a 10-0 fourth-quarter run to cap a come-from-behind, 57-49 road victory over the Warriors. Goldsboro (3-3 overall)...

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Local Digest

Wayne Christian earned its first Class 1-A Carolina Christian Conference victory of the season with a 51-37 triumph over Crossroads Christian on Monday night. Hanna Kaler led the Eagles with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Kayla Kennedy chipped in...

Darden picks Mount Olive

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne High School softball standout Lauren Darden will not have to worry about the pressures that go along with collegiate recruiting as she prepares for her senior season in the pitcher's circle. The talented hurler has signed...

Monday, December 1, 2008

Local digest

SANFORD -- Senior wrestler Joshua Holmes joined the Century Club at Rosewood High School and emerged the 145-pound champion during the Cavalier Invitational contested Saturday at Southern Lee. Holmes collected a 13-5 major decision over Fuquay-Varina's Jason Knoernschild in...