February 2014 archives

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Friday, February 28, 2014

Darden splashes his way to four medals

rcoggins@newsargus.com Barely rejuvenated from a demanding high school season, Zach Darden is back in the pool. And he's making a splash again -- this time with the Eastern Carolina Aquatics competition team. Darden returned home with four medals and helped...

Confident Trojan women ready to defend tournament crown

rcoggins@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Play hard or go home. It's a simple mantra that holds significant meaning for the University of Mount Olive women's basketball team, particularly its five seniors. The quintet looks to extend their collegiate careers Saturday when...

Rosewood boots Kinston in season opener

Rosewood launched its 2014 campaign with a 2-0, non-conference triumph over Kinston on Thursday evening. Peyton Lane and Maria Santibanez each scored a goal for the Eagles. Goalie Patrice Robertson posted one save and claimed the shutout. Rosewood (1-0-0 overall)...

Strickland notches hat trick (3 goals) in CBA opener

WILSON -- Alex Strickland recorded a hat trick (three goals) and Charles B. Aycock rolled past Wilson Beddingfield 7-0 on Thursday night. Strickland got the Golden Falcons on the board in the seventh minute. She also scored on a penalty...

Rosewood nets season-opening win

Rosewood opened its 2014 season with a 7-2, non-conference triumph over county foe Southern Wayne on Thursday afternoon. Two-time defending eastern 1-A singles champ Dylan Cuddington, Samuel Drew, Jordan Price, Jeremy Lintner and Jake Smith each posted a straight-set singles...

Hawks' Smith just misses hitting for the cycle

LaGRANGE -- Tyler Smith just missed hitting for the cycle in a 4-for-4 performance during North Lenoir's 9-0 non-conference win over Southern Wayne at Alphin Field. Smith singled, doubled twice, swatted a home run and collected five RBI. He also...

Midseason meeting changed Trojans' fortunes

astevens@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- With his team mired in a three-game losing streak against Conference Carolinas opposition in early January, University of Mount Olive head coach Joey Higginbotham decided to cancel practice one afternoon. He called the team into the...

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Preps digest: JV sports

JV sports * Baseball: C.B. Aycock 11, Wilson Hunt 0 -- Cameron Kornegay led the Golden Falcons with three hits, five RBI and three runs scored. Caleb Smith supplied two hits. Jacob Sanford (four RBI), Bryce Anders (two RBI),...

Southern Wayne falls in baseball opener

DUDLEY -- Wilmington New Hanover triumphed spoiled the debut of Southern Wayne head baseball coach Jackson Massey during a 7-4 victory on a bone-chilling Wednesday afternoon. Josh Jeremiah led the Saints' offense with two RBI. Hunter Barwick batted 1-for-1...

Rosewood-James Kenan girls box

GIRLS James Kenan 15 7 19 9 -- 50 Rosewood 15 13 9 15 -- 52 JAMES KENAN (16-6) Maquesha Floyd 2 0 0-5 4, Nikki Judge 2 1 3-6 10, Christy Debnam 2 2 5-8 15, Dezarae Phillips 6...

James Kenan girls push state-ranked Rosewood

astevens@newsargus.com Rosewood found the truth behind the adage "it's tough to beat a team three times in a season" Wednesday evening. The second-seeded Eagles made key plays in the final two minutes and rallied for a 52-50 win over seventh-seeded...

Wallace-Rose Hill drops Princeton in 1A boys' playoffs

rcoggins@newsargus.com PRINCETON -- Princeton dodged the raindrops during its late-season, nine-game win streak. It couldn't survive the storm Wednesday evening. Wallace-Rose Hill's relentless full-court zone pressure coerced the Bulldogs into numerous second-half turnovers, which fueled a 65-44 victory in second-round...

Princeton-Wallace box

BOYS W.-Rose Hill 16 11 21 17 -- 65 Princeton 11 16 11 6 -- 44 WALLACE-ROSE HILL (12-13) Ty Scarborough 3 1 1-2 10, Jamal James 1 1 0-0 5, Taekwon Carr 0 2 0-0 6, BJ McKinzie 1...

Muses has goal, assist in Warriors' season-opening win

Eastern Wayne opened its season with a 3-0, non-conference win over North Lenoir on Wednesday evening. Kristina Muses opened the scoring for the Warriors off Cheyenne Craft's assist in the 44th minute. Muses returned the favor to Craft in the...

Southern Wayne softball opens season with shutout win

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne began its season with a 15-0, five-inning over Goldsboro on Wednesday. Morgan Best earned the win inside the pitcher's circle. Haley Brogden belted a home run for the Saints. Kelsey Hayes added a triple. Claire Kennedy,...

Golden Falcons drop softball opener to Hunt in 8 innings

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock scored three runs in the eighth inning but came up short in a 13-12, season-opening loss to Wilson Hunt on Wednesday night. The two teams combined to score 14 runs in the final two innings....

Spring Creek boys fall to Trask in 1A playoffs

ROCKY POINT -- Heide Trask outscored Spring Creek 56-19 during the final three quarters and picked up a second-round, 71-36 win in the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs Wednesday evening. The Gators led 17-15 after one quarter. Brandon Gonzalez led Spring Creek...

Eastern Wayne girls bumped from 3A hoops playoffs

Eastern Wayne's season came to a close with a 50-49 loss to Cardinal Gibbons in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A playoffs on Wednesday evening. Jasmine Covington led the Warriors 13 points and seven rebounds. Elondia Grant had...

Cougars triumph in Harper's debut

First-year Goldsboro head coach Mike Harper earned his first win with a season-opening, 22-1 rout of Neuse Charter on Wednesday in five innings. Sterling Dodson led the Cougars with two hits. Jared Howard (three RBI), Kenny Stempien (3 RBI), Cayce...

Hawks' Reese drives in game-winning run against E. Wayne

Noah Reese drove in the game's only run as North Lenoir defeated Eastern Wayne 1-0 in nine innings on Wednesday evening. It was the season opener for both teams. Reese and Landon Letchworth each had two hits for the Hawks....

C.B. Aycock weathers rally, edges Hunt 6-5

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock built a 6-0 lead and held on for a 6-5 season-opening victory over Wilson Hunt on Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Falcons led 6-0 after four innings before the Warriors pushed across five runs in the...

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

UMO sports news

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- No. 18-ranked University of Mount Olive finished 13th overall during the Armstrong Pirate Men's Golf Invitational, which had eight top-25 teams participate in the 54-hole event. The Trojans shot 299 in the second round and 923...

Trojan women complete regular-season sweep of archrival

rcoggins@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Kirksten Mitchell doesn't remember the run, but University of Mount Olive head women's basketball coach Wendy Lee was thankful to see it. Haunted by slow-starting second halves in each of its last three outings, UMO...

UMO men earn share of Conference Carolinas hoops crown

astevens@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive and Barton have staged some classic battles in the storied history of their bitter rivalry. Tuesday night's meeting ranks among the best. The Trojans sank 14 of 16 free throws in the final six...

Carolina Elite Stars bring home the hardware

CHAPEL HILL -- Goldsboro Elite Athletics took four competitive Carolina Elite Stars cheerleading squads to the Sweetheart Classic All-Star Challenge and returned home with hardware in tow. Senior Onyx emerged as the Grand Champion and first place in its...

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Rosewood girls dominate Trask in 1A playoffs

kfine@newsargus.com Rosewood's Lexi Mercer single-handedly outscored Heide Trask in the first quarter, and three of her teammates posted double figures in an opening-round, 71-31 victory in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A playoffs. Mercer turned in a double-double...

James Kenan girls defeat Raleigh Charter

WARSAW -- James Kenan defeated Raleigh Charter, 57-38, in opening-round play of the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs Monday evening. Additional details were not available. The Tigers (16-5) visit Rosewood on Wednesday....

Northern Guilford knocks out SW girls

GREENSBORO -- Zaria Atkins led Southern Wayne with 15 points in a 57-43 loss at Northern Guilford in the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs Monday evening. Latrecia Johnson scored eight points for the Saints and Cierra Thompson had seven points....

Goldsboro girls lose at Cummings

BURLINGTON -- Goldsboro's Tyona Moses scored a game-high 25 points, but it wasn't enough in a 60-47 loss to Burlington Cummings in the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs Monday evening. The Cougars trailed 48-43 entering the fourth quarter but struggled to knock...

Massengill leads Princeton girls

PRINCETON -- Princeton defeated Whiteville, 53-41, in the first round of the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs Monday evening. Savanna Massengill led the Bulldogs with 23 points. Charley Cox had 21 points and Tori Paul added five points and 12 rebounds. Princeton...

Granville Central eliminates James Kenan from 1A boys playoffs

STEM -- James Kenan's season ended with a 64-59 loss to Granville Central in the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs Monday evening. Additional details were not available....

Cavaliers storm past Saints in fourth quarter

DUDLEY -- Southern Lee used a 14-0, fourth-quarter run to defeat Southern Wayne, 56-55, in their NCHSAA 3-A opening-round playoff game Monday evening. The Saints had a chance to take the lead in the closing seconds but Maurice Butler's jump...

Princeton boys slip past East Columbus

PRINCETON -- Princeton turned back East Columbus, 57-53, during first-round play in the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs Monday evening. Michael Wooten led the Bulldogs with 20 points and Colby Norris contributed 11 points. Tanner Woodard provided 10 points and Joel Hines...

Spring Creek boys spot Louisburg 14-0, rally for road playoff win

LOUISBURG -- Spring Creek rallied from a 14-0 deficit and upended Louisburg, 62-59, in opening-round action of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A playoffs Monday evening. Brandon Gonzalez led the Gators with 20 points and Tre Hammonds added...

Cougars' offense misfires in final 60 seconds

It won't be the ugly three quarters from Monday night that will haunt Goldsboro during the offseason, it will be the missed opportunities in the final 60 seconds. The Cougars failed to convert those late chances in a 64-63 loss...

Goldsboro-Randleman boys box

BOYS Randleman 18 15 15 13 -- 64 Goldsboro 13 14 15 21 -- 63 RANDLEMAN (16-7) Juval Molette 7 1 2-4 19, Asonti Price 1 0 2-2 4, Bobby Gibbs 2 2 9-10 19, Allen Goslen 2 0 4-6...

Warriors' defense pays off in 2nd half

rcoggins@newsargus.com Would a season loaded with high expectations end in disappointing fashion Monday evening? It sure seemed so for one half. Eastern Wayne struggled to finish shots around the basket and displayed the frustration that's bothered it for the last...

Eastern Wayne-Southern Lee girls box

GIRLS Southern Lee 11 6 8 13 -- 38 E. Wayne 5 11 19 11 -- 46 SOUTHERN LEE (11-13) Jasmine McIver 5 2 2-9 16, Britta Bowers 0 0 1-2 1, Makenzie Cicogna 0 0 2-4 2, Faith Hector...

Monday, February 24, 2014

NCHSAA 1A/2A/3A state wrestling results

GREENSBORO -- Results involving area wrestlers who competed in the 2014 N.C. High School Athletic Association wrestling championships contested at the Greensboro Coliseum. C.B. AYCOCK Zack Howard (120) -- l. David Bobeck (W. Guilford), 2-11; d. Reagan Fedowitz (Union Pines),...

UMO sweeps Conference Carolinas men's, women's indoor track team titles

WINSTON-SALEM -- The University of Mount Olive men's and women's indoor track teams combined for eight individual titles and swept the team crowns during the 2014 Conference Carolinas indoor track and field championship meet contested at the JDL Fast...

Eagles return home with three state runners-up

rcoggins@newsargus.com GREENSBORO -- Rosewood's wrestlers tried their best to rewrite the program and Wayne County record books Saturday evening. The Eagles ran out of ink. Kaleb Smith, Joshua Drew and Kaleb Taylor each finished state runner-up in their respective weight...

Howard, Tomljenovich, Morgan raise bar for respective teams

rcoggins@newsargus.com GREENSBORO -- Zack Howard joined an elite group. Jesse Tomljenovich and Keywan Morgan each raised the bar a little higher for their respective programs. All three individuals turned in state-placing performances during the season-ending N.C. High School Athletic Association...

Heels' Pate delivers game-winning, walk-off hit

CHAPEL HILL -- Freshman Adam Pate delivered the game-winning, walk-off single during a North Carolina's 3-2 victory over Xavier at Boshamer Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The No. 12-ranked Tar Heels entered the bottom of the ninth inning down 2-1....

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Local preps digest

Boys' basketball North Duplin 58, James Kenan 42 * CALYPSO -- Savon Scott pumped in 16 points and North Duplin turned back county archrival James Kenan, 58-42, in the Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season finale for both teams Friday evening. The...

Prep basketball playoff pairings set

Goldsboro's boys are seeded 14th in the 2-A portion and will entertain 19th-seeded Randleman. The Cougars (16-8 overall) finished runners-up to Eastern Carolina rival Kinston in regular-season and tournament play. "(We) had a great win against a really, really good...

Mount Olive splits doubleheader with California (Pa.)

UMO SPORTS INFORMATION MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive split a non-conference doubleheader with California (Pa.) on Saturday at Scarborough Field. The Trojans claimed the opener 6-1 and the Vulcans prevailed 6-4 in game two. Mount Olive's Bradon...

Goldsboro girls can't avoid scoring drought

RUDY COGGINS rcoggins@newsargus.com KINSTON -- Goldsboro's deliberate tempo did the job for one quarter against state-ranked Kinston on Friday evening. The Cougars moved the ball efficiently, worked off screens, crashed the boards and built a three-point lead. The Vikings responded...

Vikings' defense shuts down Cougars

RUDY COGGINS rcoggins@newsargus.com KINSTON -- Goldsboro misfired at inopportune times in its offensive attack and state-ranked Kinston seemed to capitalize on every mistake in assassin-like fashion Friday evening. The outcome ended miserably for the Cougars. Mykel Hart and Andrew Lopez...

Goldsboro-Kinston boxes (ECC finals)

BOYS Goldsboro 10 7 13 14 -- 44 Kinston 17 17 18 19 -- 71 GOLDSBORO (16-8) Rasheen Artis 3 0 4-8 10, Myron Carmon 1 0 2-2 4, D'Onte Russell 2 0 0-0 4, Joseph Baker 1 0 0-0...

Friday, February 21, 2014

Trojans net non-conference sweep of Chowan

UMO Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive men's and women's tennis teams earned a non-conference sweep over in-state foe Chowan University at the Walker Tennis Center on Thursday afternoon. Henric Falkenberg, Stan Roffe and Lautaro Vazquez...

Trojans split softball twinbill with Wingate

UMO Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Kalie Smith's lead-off double and two-RBI single in a fourth-inning uprising propelled the University of Mount Olive past No. 24-ranked Wingate, 8-2, in game two of their softball doubleheader on Thursday afternoon. Madison Johnston...

UMO golf teams picked to win league titles

rcoggins@newsargus.com Respect for one. Redemption for the other. And high expectations for both. The University of Mount Olive men's and women's golf teams start the season ranked No. 1 in their respective 2014 Conference Carolinas coaches preseason polls. Led by...

Williams logs career 5th hole-in-one

George Williams recorded his fifth career hole-in-one on Thursday on the 16th hole at Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course. Williams used a 7 iron and his witness included Jonathan Ashworth, Gene Spainhour and Gene Farmer....

Conquerors' season ends in NCCSA 2A elite eight

WALKERTON -- Faith Christian couldn't sustain a 13-point halftime lead in a 65-56 loss to Hilltop Christian during quarterfinal-round play of the N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A playoffs Thursday. Victor Jenkins finished with 23 points for the Conquerors. Richard Sasser...

Conley girls bounce E. Wayne from ECC girls' tourney

GREENVILLE -- D.H. Conley rallied to defeat Eastern Wayne 41-36 in semifinal-round play of the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference on Thursday evening. The Vikings trailed 32-29 at halftime and neither team managed to score in the third quarter. Conley outscored...

Former WWE star Nelson Frazier Jr. passes

rcoggins@newsargus.com A gentle giant to his friends and well-known star in the professional wrestling world, Nelson Frazier Jr., passed away at his home Tuesday. He was 43. Wrestling agent Eric Simms shared the news on his Facebook page. "I hate...

Aycock's Jones steps into leadership role

astevens@newsargus.com PIKEVILLE -- Myleah Jones did everything she could to be a leader for Charles B. Aycock on the basketball court this season -- and when necessary -- she used words. Determined to set an example for the Golden Falcons,...

Preps digest: Middle school news

Middle schools * Boys' basketball: Grantham 56, Spring Creek 23 -- Emmanuel Walker led three Bulldogs in double figures with 12 points. Jamal King and Rakilen Butler provided 10 points apiece. Grantham concluded the year 14-2 overall....

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Reed scores career-high 24 points in UMO road win

BANNER ELK -- Dominique Reed scored a career-high 24 points, and the University of Mount Olive men's basketball team rolled past in-state Conference Carolinas foe Lees-McRae, 93-65, on Wednesday evening. Reed pulled down seven rebounds for the Trojans, who...

Preps digest: Middle school news

Middle schools * Boys' basketball: Grantham 46, Mount Olive 22 -- DeAndre Wright led Grantham with 10 points. Jamal King added nine points and eight blocks. Rakilen Butler also scored nine points. Grantham (13-2 overall) clinched the Wayne County...

ECC 2A semifinal boxes

BOYS South Lenoir 3 14 4 18 -- 39 Goldsboro 26 20 8 6 -- 60 SOUTH LENOIR (16-7) Wuanya Cooper 0 0 0-2 0, Dion Jones 4 0 1-2 9, Dominic Williams 1 1 0-0 5, Brett Davis 1...

Mitchell leads RHS boys past Lakewood

Dennis Mitchell poured in 30 points as Rosewood defeated Lakewood 54-49 in Carolina 1-A Conference play Wednesday night. Jon Hair supplied 15 points for the Eagles. Rosewood (7-14 overall) finished 6-8 in conference play....

Rosewood girls complete 14-0 season in Carolina 1A play

Rosewood finished its unbeaten run through the Carolina 1-A Conference with a 67-37 rout of Lakewood on Wednesday evening. Lexi Mercer led the Eagles with 28 points. Alicia Burns had 15 points and Crystal Yelverton supplied 13 points. Rosewood (21-1...

Goldsboro girls slip past N. Lenoir

Goldsboro scored two points in the final five minutes, but managed to survive for a 50-49 win over North Lenoir in semifinal-round play of the Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference tournament Wednesday evening. The Cougars visit Kinston on Friday in the...

Goldsboro boys near flawless against S. Lenoir

astevens@newsargus.com Goldsboro could seemingly do nothing wrong in the first half against South Lenoir on Wednesday evening. The Cougars know they'll need another near-flawless performance Friday. Four Goldsboro players scored in double figures in a 60-39 rout of South Lenoir...

EW boys battle through obstacles

astevens@newsargus.com Chris Roberts has done his best to remain focused on building toward the future in a job that is usually measured by current results. Eastern Wayne's 3-14 record isn't a true reflection of what Roberts and the Warriors endured...

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Preps digest: Middle school news

Middle schools * Boys' basketball: Rosewood 56, Norwayne 41 -- Tucker Chapin led the Eagles with 18 points, while Chance Howard scored 16. * Boys' basketball: Eastern Wayne 74, Dillard 54 -- Coby White led Eastern Wayne with 24...

WCDS-Neuse Christian box

BOYS N. Christian 14 11 15 25 -- 65 WCDS 17 19 21 24 -- 81 NEUSE CHRISTIAN (17-10) Glen Campbell 3 0 2-3 8, Fred Rambert 4 2 0-1 14, Alan Clarke 1 0 0-0 2, Justin Storey 4...

Chargers work out kinks, oust Neuse Christian

rcoggins@newsargus.com Once Wayne Country Day worked out the kinks, its offense nearly looked like poetry in motion Tuesday evening. The Chargers extended Neuse Christian's defense, capitalized on their quickness and rolled to an 81-65, opening-round victory in the 2014 N.C....

Justice throws complete game in opener against L-RC

UMO Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Nationally-ranked University of Mount Olive earned a doubleheader sweep of in-state foe Lenoir-Rhyne, 7-2 and 6-1, at Scarborough Field on Tuesday afternoon. Derek Justice threw a complete-game, four-hitter in the opener. The senior yielded...

Gators sink Rebels at free throw line

astevens@newsargus.com CALYPSO -- With one last opportunity to impact its postseason destiny Spring Creek found a way to close out a critical road win. The Gators went 14 for 19 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter during...

N. Duplin-S. Creek basketball boxes

BOYS Spring Creek 14 13 15 25 -- 67 North Duplin 10 9 14 27 -- 60 SPRING CREEK (11-10, 7-7 CC) Brandon Gonzalez 3 1 13-14 22, Gary Williams 3 3 1-2 16, Trey Hammonds 1 1 0-1 5,...

J.H. Rose knocks out Aycock in 3A/4A ECC tournament

GREENVILLE -- J.H. Rose turned back Charles B. Aycock 51-41 in the first round of the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference tournament on Tuesday night....

Bears beat Warriors on last-second shot

NEW BERN -- New Bern's Rhysante' Ellis sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer as New Bern defeated Eastern Wayne 77-75 in the quarterfinals of the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference tournament on Tuesday night. Zongio Troy led the Warriors with 18...

SW boys fall to D.H. Conley

DUDLEY -- D.H. Conley slipped past Southern Wayne 59-56 in the first round of the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference tournament Tuesday night. Xzavier Pearsall led the Saints with 14 points. Jaylen Roberts had 13 points and Tarvis Bradshaw added 11....

EW girls advance to ECC 3A/4A semifinals

Eastern Wayne defeated Charles B. Aycock 58-40 in quarterfinal-round play of the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference tournament on Tuesday evening. Naheria Hamilton led the Warriors with 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Shontel Monk contributed 10 points, five...

Spring Creek girls roll past North Duplin

CALYPSO -- Spring Creek concluded regular-season play with a 41-30 win over Carolina 1-A Conference foe North Duplin on Tuesday evening. Destiney Sutton led the Gators (7-14, 6-8 CC) with 13 points and Amber Buchan had 10. Ashley Marriner added...

Overachieving Conquerors reach NCCSA 2A elite eight

rcoggins@newsargus.com WALKERTOWN -- Faith Christian is peaking at the right time. The youth-ladened Conquerors are no longer concerned about early-season issues such as individual play and struggles to accept specific roles on the team. They've made the adjustments and reached...

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Trojan men hit century mark against Belmont Abbey

UMO Sports Information BELMONT -- Dontrell Brite pumped in a game-high 22 points as the University of Mount Olive dismantled in-state Conference Carolinas men's basketball foe Belmont Abbey, 100-61, on Monday evening. The Trojans won for the seventh time in...

Kines overcomes shaky start, Trojans dump Concord (W. Va.)

astevens@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- One hard-luck inning was not indicative of Gunner Kines' day on the mound for the University of Mount Olive. The left-hander bounced back from a shaky first inning in an 8-4 win over Concord on Monday...

Preps digest: JV, middle school sports

JV sports * Girls' basketabll: Goldsboro 43, North Lenoir 29 -- The Cougars finished the season unbeaten in Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference play. Alicia Hobbs averaged 11.6 points per game and Sterling Jones added seven points and a rebounds...

Roberts delivers game-winning shot for Saints

rcoggins@newsargus.com Eastern Wayne denied the 3-ball and made Southern Wayne look for another scoring option during the final thrilling seconds of their regular-season finale Monday evening. The Saints did. Jaylen Roberts delivered the game-winning basket with 2.1 seconds to go...

So. Wayne-E. Wayne box scores

BOYS So. Wayne 21 16 11 22 -- 70 E. Wayne 15 9 23 22 -- 69 SOUTHERN WAYNE (10-13, 4-8 ECC) Xzavier Pearsall 3 1 0-0 9, Maurice Butler 1 1 0-2 5, Tarvis Bradshaw 3 1 6-6 15,...

Wooten, Woodard spark Princeton boys

PRINCETON -- Princeton defeated Carolina 1-A Conference foe Lakewood 69-61 on Monday night. Michael Wooten led the Bulldogs with 25 points, including 21 in the second half. Tanner Woodard provided 18 points and Colby Norris had 11. Alex Whitley finished...

Ivey leads ND boys past Hobbton

NEWTON GROVE -- Cody Ivey scored 18 points to lead North Duplin to a 64-41 win over Hobbton on Monday evening. James Britt had 14 points for the Rebels and Savon Scott added eight. North Duplin entertains Spring Creek tonight....

James Kenan boys bounce back in 2nd half

WARSAW -- James Kenan outscored Spring Creek 33-17 in the second half of their 55-43 victory in Carolina 1-A Conference play Monday night. The Tigers trailed 26-22 at halftime. John Brooks led James Kenan with 19 points and 14 rebounds....

Princeton girls cruise past Lakewood

PRINCETON-- Princeton completed its regular season with a 46-34 win over Carolina 1-A Conference foe Lakewood on Monday evening. Savanna Massengill led the Bulldogs (14-9 overall, 10-4 CC) with 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks. Charley Cox provided eight...

North Duplin girls stop Hobbton in OT

NEWTON GROVE -- North Duplin claimed a 47-42 overtime win over Hobbton on Monday evening. The Rebels' Rylee Pate led all scorers with 17 points. Deja Aycock scored seven points. North Duplin plays host to Spring Creek tonight....

So. Wayne girls upend E. Wayne in OT

Zaria Atkins provided a game-high 28 points during Southern Wayne's 56-54 overtime triumph over county and Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference rival Eastern Wayne on Monday evening. It was the ECC regular-season finale for both teams. The Saints (10-14 overall,...

Monday, February 17, 2014

WCDS boys get at-large bid to NCISAA 1A playoffs

rcoggins@newsargus.com Wayne Country Day hopes that a challenging schedule, filled with some disappointments along the way, has prepared it for the next step of its basketball season. Avoiding the "bad game" is paramount now. The Chargers received an at-large bid...

No. 5 Trojans split twinbill with Concord

UMO Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- A seven-run, second-inning outburst propelled No. 5-ranked University of Mount Olive to a 14-1 victory over Concord (W. Va.) University in game two of its non-conference doubleheader at Scarborough Field on Sunday evening. Concord...

Grimes logs double-double for SC girls

SMITHFIELD -- Jazlyn Grimes posted her third double-double of the season and Spring Creek dismantled Neuse Charter, 70-46, in a Carolina 1-A Conference game contested Saturday afternoon. Grimes tallied 22 points, 12 rebounds, six blocked shots and five assists in...

CBA's Howard, EW's Williams survive 3A regional

ROCKY MOUNT -- Charles B. Aycock's Zack Howard and Eastern Wayne's Quadrick Williams are headed to the season-ending N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A state wrestling championships. The sixth-seeded Howard, a junior, prevailed in four consolation-round matches and claimed...

Preps digest: JV sports

JV sports * Boys' basketball: C.B. Aycock 58, Eastern Wayne 39 -- Damien Darden emerged the Golden Falcons' top scorer with 15 points. Cameron Kornegay added 12 points, while Brandon Cowan chipped in 10. Elijah Bryant collected eight points....

Rosewood sending 9 state qualifiers to Greensboro

rcoggins@newsargus.com Rosewood couldn't have experienced a better weekend during the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A eastern regional wrestling championships. The Eagles had two regional champs and eight top-three placers, they matched a school record for state qualifiers (nine)...

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Preps digest: JV sports

JV sports * Boys' basketball: Goldsboro 75, Greene Central 39 -- Kisheem Faison hit 7 of 8 shots from the floor and finished with a game-high 21 points in the Cougars' regular-season finale. Nakia Atkins added 10 points. Goldsboro...

WCDS basketball boxes

BOYS Freedom Christian 16 18 17 19 -- 70 W. Country Day 7 16 13 22 -- 58 FREEDOM CHRISTIAN Mike Melvin 0 0 0-2 0, Vladimer Nemcok 1 1 2-3 7, Logan Halen 1 2 2-2 10, Gunner Hardason...

Patriots oust Chargers in CPIC semifinals

astevens@newsargus.com Wayne Country Day withstood Freedom Christian's initial punch to the mouth, but couldn't overcome the constant barrage of body blows Friday evening. The third-seeded Chargers trimmed a 17-point deficit to five points, however, the second-seeded Patriots won 70-58 in...

Reed, Brite pace Trojan men at home

UMO Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Dominique Reed and Dontrell Brite combined for 37 points during the University of Mount Olive's 70-66 conquest of Conference Carolinas foe Erskine (S.C.) on Saturday afternoon. Reed finished one rebound shy of a double-double...

Rosewood girls clinch first league title since 2007

kfine@newsargus.com PRINCETON -- Rosewood head coach Rick Grantham has been preaching it all season. "I told them the first day, I said, 'If we're not here to put a number up on that banner, then why are we here? We're...

Princeton boys stay in title hunt

kfine@newsargus.com PRINCETON -- When Rosewood's Ethan Chapin drained a 3-pointer to cut Princeton's lead to four with less than two minutes remaining in Friday's game between the archrivals, Bulldogs head coach Jeff Davis flashed back to the last meeting less...

Goldsboro takes care of business in final 2 ECC games

rcoggins@newsargus.com Goldsboro took care of business Saturday evening and earned an opening-round bye in the Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference boys' basketball tournament as its reward. Joseph Baker posted a double-double -- 14 points, 13 rebounds -- during the Cougars' 72-50...

Goldsboro-North Lenoir boxes

BOYS N. Lenoir 10 9 14 21 -- 54 Goldsboro 15 13 13 23 -- 64 NORTH LENOIR (9-14, 4-5 ECC) Jalen Robinson 1 0 1-2 3, Jaquez Jones 4 1 2-2 13, Landon Letchworth 1 0 0-0 2, Donyae...

Whisenhunt: Football icon is honorary member of NCFCA

ANDREW STEVENS astevens@newsargus.com One conversation altered Gerald Whisenhunt's life forever and set off a Hall of Fame coaching career that included 17 stops at different schools along the way. The chat happened with former American Legion baseball teammate Jim McRee...

Aycock girls upend Eastern Wayne

astevens@newsargus.com PIKEVILLE -- The first signature win of Ryan Wells' tenure at Charles B. Aycock could not have come at a better time. The Golden Falcons watched a 16-point lead disappear before rallying for a 47-44 victory over Eastern Carolina...

CBA-E. Wayne boxes

BOYS Eastern Wayne 9 13 9 18 -- 49 C.B. Aycock 23 6 13 15 -- 57 EASTERN WAYNE (3-12, 3-8 ECC) Ethan Molloy 0 0 1-2 1, Dayshawn Boudy 2 1 2-4 9, Jaylin Thomas 1 0 0-0 2,...

Goldsboro girls cruise by North Lenoir

LaTina Bullock expected a ragged start. Still, Goldsboro continued its late-season surge. Sophomore guard Tyona Moses poured in a game-high 24 points during the Cougars' 56-44 triumph over North Lenoir at Norvell T. Lee Gymnasium on Friday evening. Goldsboro (10-11...

Atkins just misses double-double for SW girls

DUDLEY -- Zaria Atkins just missed recording a double-double in Southern Wayne's 48-47 loss to J.H. Rose in an Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference game contested Saturday afternoon. Atkins scored 20 points, pulled down eight rebounds and picked the Rampants for...

Oakwood bounces WCDS girls from league tournament

Wayne Country Day fell behind 24-0 after one quarter and never recovered in a 52-23 loss to Oakwood during semifinal-round play in the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference tournament Friday evening. Senior Bailee Creger led the Chargers with eight points....

C.B. Aycock boys defeat Eastern Wayne

PIKEVILLE -- With its best player on the bench after fouling out, Charles B. Aycock got a big lift from its supporting cast. The Golden Falcons got 11 of their 15 fourth-quarter points from their bench in a 57-49 win...

Saints fall to J.H. Rose boys

DUDLEY -- Maurice Butler led a balanced offense with 11 points in Southern Wayne's 69-60 loss to J.H. Rose on the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference scene Saturday. Drake Shaw and Tyaire Allen scored 10 points apiece for the Saints. Kalvix...

Faith Christian boys advance in NCCSA 2A playoffs

Faith Christian opened the N.C. Christian Schools Association Class 2-A playoffs with a 52-35 triumph over Greenville Christian on Friday evening. Andrew Parrish recorded a double-double, 13 points and 10 rebounds, for the Conquerors. Richard Sasser knocked down 11 points,...

Friday, February 14, 2014

East regional wrestling: Goldsboro's Thigpen pleased with his four grapplers

Perennial powerhouse Rosewood is the host school for the 1-A regional, which was moved to Saturday and Sunday through permission from the Association. Rocky Mount will operate the 3-A regional on the same days. Goldsboro, North Lenoir and Greene Central...

First-round 1A, 2A, 3A east regional wrestling pairings

2014 N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A Eastern Regionals ROCKY MOUNT -- First-round pairings involving wrestlers from Charles B. Aycock and Eastern Wayne. The two-day regional begins Saturday morning at Rocky Mount High School. The top four finishers in each...

Weather causes more scheduling dilemmas

rcoggins@newsargus.com Jabo Fulghum remembers practicing in the sleet a few years ago. In 30 seasons, though, the Eastern Wayne head varsity baseball coach said he could never recall an opening day getting canceled due to snow. "Unbelievable," Fulghum said. Indeed,...

Jones: Gators' improved work on the boards pays dividends

astevens@newsargus.com SEVEN SPRINGS -- Taylor Jones repeatedly uses one phrase -- hard work -- to describe the Spring Creek varsity boys' basketball team. The Gators have persevered through injuries and countless weather-related changes that have taken away valuable practice time....

Success broadens outlook for Rosewood girls

rcoggins@newsargus.com Too much purple and not enough gold. That's what the Rosewood High girls' basketball team sees each time it views the banner recognizing the program's conference championship years hanging in the gymnasium. Three titles is not enough. A fourth...

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

UMO basketball teams surging at right time

astevens@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- University of Mount Olive women's basketball coach Wendy Lee reminds her seniors every day how many practices and games they have left in their collegiate careers. The Trojans have also found their identity. They discovered during...

More snow/ice, more postponements

rcoggins@newsargus.com Maybe spring will be warmer. County athletics directors certainly hope so because they're tired of seeing the white stuff these days. The second snowstorm within the last 14 days wiped out an entire slate of high school basketball...

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Weather forces postponements

School is closed -- again. That means more schedule juggling as the final week of regular-season basketball winds down. Six games scheduled for today have been postponed. Charles B. Aycock athletics director Charles Davis announced this morning that the...

UMO's Loennechen ties for 13th overall

UMO Sports Information ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- The University of Mount Olive sophomore Julie Loennechen carded a two-day score of 155 and shared 13th place overall after completion of the World Golf Invitational. The Trojans placed 13th in the team...

Preps digest: JV, middle schools

JV sports * Boys' basketball: J.H. Rose 53, C.B. Aycock 38 -- Cameron Kornegay and Damien Darden each scored 12 points for the Golden Falcons. * Girls' basketball: J.H. Rose 27, C.B. Aycock 23 -- Destiny Washington led the...

WCDS girls stroll by Epiphany

Wayne Country Day matched its largest offensive output of the season with a 44-16 win over Epiphany in quarterfinal-round play of the CPIC 1-A/2-A tournament Monday evening. Karis Hawkins led the Chargers with 12 points. Bailee Creeger and Lillian Freeman...

Lakewood girls roll over North Duplin

SALEMBURG -- Lakewood defeated North Duplin 53-20 in Carolina 1-A Conference play Monday evening. Rylee Pate and Jordan Jones each scored seven points for the Rebels. North Duplin (2-15 overall, 2-9) visits Hobbton on Friday....

Princeton dominates Hobbton's girls

NEWTON GROVE -- Princeton rolled past Hobbton 51-26 on Monday evening. Charley Cox paced the Bulldogs with 13 points. Savanna Massengill added 10 points and nine rebounds. Princeton (13-8, 10-2 CC) plays host to Rosewood on Friday....

Greene Central boys slip by Ayden-Grifton

AYDEN -- Greene Central slipped past Ayden-Grifton, 51-50, in an Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference game Monday evening. Brandon Belcher scored 17 points for the Rams. Quante Smith and Kevin Ormond each had 10 points. Greene Central (10-11 overall, 2-6 ECC)...

Lakewood boys trip up N. Duplin

SALEMBURG -- North Duplin came up short in a 69-64 loss to Carolina 1-A Conference opponent Lakewood on Monday night. Cedrick Kornegay finished with 17 points for the Rebels. Cody Ivey provided 14 points and Trey Pate had 12. James...

Princeton boys roll past Hobbton

NEWTON GROVE -- Princeton easily knocked off Carolina 1-A Conference foe Hobbton 77-59 on Monday night. Michael Wooten led four Bulldogs in double figures with 17 points. Colby Norris supplied 11 points. Alex Whitley and Tanner Woodard each had 10...

WCDS boys advance to CPIC semifinals

Joel Davis recorded a triple-double during Wayne Country Day's opening-round, 86-36 romp over Pope John Paul II in the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference tournament Monday evening. The third-seeded Chargers (22-10 overall) entertain second-seeded Freedom Christian on Friday. Tip off...

Rosewood girls closer to league crown

rcoggins@newsargus.com WARSAW -- Goal No. 1 is almost done. Now if only Mother Nature would cooperate. Rosewood moved one step closer to the Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season championship with a 69-48 triumph over James Kenan at Harmon Gymnasium on Monday...

Tigers get key hustle plays in 4th quarter

rcoggins@newsargus.com WARSAW -- Loose balls don't appear in the boxscore. But two mad scrambles proved pivotal during James Kenan's 76-65 conquest of Carolina 1-A Conference foe Rosewood inside Harmon Gymnasium on Monday evening. Each resulted in a three-point play...

James Kenan-Rosewood basketball boxes

BOYS Rosewood 19 14 16 16 -- 65 James Kenan 12 24 18 22 -- 76 ROSEWOOD (6-13, 5-6 CC) Marquail Almontaser 1 0 2-5 4, Kyi Hawkins 0 0 2-2 2, Zack Barnes 2 4 1-1 17, Ethan Chapen...

Monday, February 10, 2014

CBA's Chastain fares well in state 3A swim meet

Charles B. Aycock freshman Zech Chastain wound up seventh overall in the 100-yard backstroke during the season-ending NCHSAA 3-A state championship meet. Chastain touched the wall in 55.74 seconds. The Golden Falcons' 200 medley relay of Chastain, Colton Marley, Charlie...

South Lenoir boys stun Goldsboro

DEEP RUN -- Goldsboro watched a nine-point halftime lead disappear in a 65-59 loss to Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference foe South Lenoir on Saturday night. The Cougars were outscored 42-27 in the second half, including 24-10 in the fourth quarter....

Cougars' Martens finishes 5th in 500-meter dash

WINSTON-SALEM -- Goldsboro senior Christian Martens earned fifth place in the 500-meter dash during the N.C. High School Athletic Association Classes 1-A/2-A indoor track and field championships contested at the JDL Fast Track. Martens posted a time of 1 minute,...

Trojans net upset of No. 17-ranked Francis Marion

UMO Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Stan Roffe clinched the overall match point at No. 4 singles and the University of Mount Olive stunned No. 17-ranked Francis Marion, 5-4, in a non-conference men's tennis contest Sunday afternoon. The No. 2...

Warriors' Sutton 'surprised' about ECC accolade

rcoggins@newsargus.com Faith Sutton isn't too sure of her future in tennis. But she certainly left a lasting impression during her prep career that spanned a combined five seasons at Wayne Christian and Eastern Wayne High School. The list of accolades...

Hans captures 2014 King Pin Scratch Open championship

rcoggins@newsargus.com Don't be your own worst enemy. Bowl slow and steady. The two-part plan provided a $1,200 dividend for Chris Hans on Sunday afternoon. A semifinalist last season, Hans found a bit of fortune on the AMF Boulevard Lanes...

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Local preps digest

Girls' basketball Wayne Country Day 28, Greenfield 18 * Wayne Country Day closed the game with a 12-3 run and turned back archrival Greenfield, 28-18, in the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference regular-season finale for both teams Friday evening. Kaitlyn...

Knights joust Chargers

rcoggins@newsargus.com Charged up on emotions, Wayne Country Day had everything go in its favor during the first three minutes against bitter archrival Greenfield on Friday evening. But the Knights spoiled the senior night party. Greenfield drained 10 3-pointers and got...

University of Mount Olive weekend wrap up

UMO SPORTS INFORMATION AIKEN, S.C. -- Bradon Reitano went 4-for-5 with five RBI and a three-run homerun in the seventh as the nationally fourth-ranked University of Mount Olive defeated Shepherd University 14-3 on Saturday in the Prestige Appliance Classic. Jay...

Spring Creek captures pivotal league victory

astevens@newsargus.com SEVEN SPRINGS -- Rosewood head coach Daniel Mitchell didn't view his team's fourth-quarter comeback as a silver lining in the midst of a conference loss Friday evening. Mitchell saw it a source of frustration. Spring Creek dominated the Eagles...

prep basketball boxes

BOYS Rosewood 9 9 13 24 -- 55 Spring Creek 15 11 20 16 -- 62 ROSEWOOD (6-12, 5-5 CC) Marquail Almontaser 1 0 0-0 2, Zack Barnes 3 3 0-1 15, Ethan Chappin 2 1 0-0 7, Khalil Warren...

Hall claims gold medal

Devin Hall wishes his grandmother could have been present for his finest moment Friday afternoon. But he's sure Grandma Lois is smiling proudly somewhere in Heaven. The Charles B. Aycock senior stepped onto the board for the final dive of...

Friday, February 7, 2014

Grimes, SC girls crush Wildcats

kfine@newsargus.com SEVEN SPRINGS --The game had been over for nearly an hour, but Jazlyn Grimes still had no idea what she had achieved during Spring Creek's 50-28 Thursday evening victory over Carolina 1-A Conference rival Hobbton. So when the...

SC starters get break against Hobbton

kfine@newsargus.com SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek's starting five doesn't typically watch the fourth quarter of Carolina 1-A Conference games from the bench. A 30-point lead after three quarters of play led to the unusual perk during a 67-40 victory...

Rosewood-Chatham Central wrestling box

2014 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A Eastern Regional Championship (at Rosewood HS) Chatham Central 40 Rosewood 30 195 -- Luis Puente (CC) wbf Garner Beasley, 3:31; 220 -- Rayquon Jones (RHS) wbf Curtis Brown, 1:51; 285 -- Casey...

Bears derail Eagles' state-title dreams

rcoggins@newsargus.com Experience won out. Senior-laden Chatham Central seized control during the lower weights and claimed the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A eastern dual-team championship with a 40-30 victory over Rosewood on Thursday evening. Champions of the tradition-rich Yadkin...

Princeton boys sink Lakewood

SALEMBURG -- Princeton made 15 of 18 free throws in the fourth quarter of a 62-52 win at Carolina 1-A Conference foe Lakewood on Thursday evening. The Bulldogs outscored the Leopards 40-21 in the second half. Tanner Woodard led Princeton...

Princeton girls turn back Lakewood

SALEMBURG -- Princeton picked up a 45-39 win at Carolina 1-A Conference foe Lakewood on Thursday evening. Savanna Massengill paced the Bulldogs with 15 points and seven rebounds. Tori Paul contributed 13 points and nine rebounds. Charlie Cox added eight...

Abbott, SC boys fare well

SALEMBURG -- Gage Abbott emerged the 1,000-meter individual champion and helped Spring Creek place second during the boys' portion of the season-ending Carolina 1-A Conference indoor track and field championship meet contested at Lakewood High School. Abbott won the event...

Matt Peedin signs with UNC Pembroke

astevens@newsargus.com PRINCETON -- Matt Peedin's time in a Princeton High uniform is over, but he won't ever leave the program. His future home, UNC Pembroke, has numerous similarities. "I went to their football camp this summer," Peedin, who signed a...

Preps digest: Middle schools

Middle schools * Girls' basketball: Wayne Christian 30, Cape Fear Christian 12 -- Kasey Norris and Ashley Harrelson each finished with 10 points for the Eagles. Georgia Parnell added six points. Wayne Christian concluded the regular season with a...

Darden earns bronze medal in 100 freestyle at states

rcoggins@newsargus.com CARY -- One slight mistake didn't ruin Zach Darden's desire to medal during the N.C. High School Athletic Association Classes 1-A/2-A men's championship swim meet Thursday evening. The miscue also proved to be a character-building moment. Darden climbed onto...

Carolina 1A Conference indoor track agate

SALEMBURG -- Results from the 2014 Carolina 1-A Conference boys' and girls' indoor track and field championships contested at Lakewood High School on Thursday afternoon: BOYS Team scores Lakewood 177 Spring Creek 67 Hobbton 55 Princeton 52 Rosewood 35 INDIVIDUAL...

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Preps digest: JV, middle schools

JV sports * Boys' basketball: Southern Wayne 63, C.B. Aycock 60 (OT) -- Quientio Carlton emerged as the Saints' top scorer with 15 points. Terry Artis added 14 points. Emmanuel Walker and James Leonard chipped in nine and eight...

Hines collects triple-double in UMO road win

UMO Sports Information MISENHEIMER -- Dory Hines recorded the first triple-double in University of Mount Olive men's basketball history during an 86-65 victory over in-state Conference Carolinas foe Pfeiffer University at Merner Gym on Wednesday evening. Hines finished with 11...

Moses scores 19, Goldsboro girls prevail on road

SNOW HILL -- Sophomore Tyona Moses dumped in a team-leading 19 points and Goldsboro handed Greene Central a 60-42 loss in Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference play Wednesday evening. Destini Covington added 12 points for the Cougars. The Rams' Bria Payton...

SW's Atkins flirts with triple-double against CBA girls

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne completed its regular-season sweep of Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference rival C.B. Aycock with a 56-35 victory on Wednesday evening. Zaria Atkins paced the Saints with 16 points, seven steals and six assists. Keajah Wilson logged a...

Rosewood girls dominate North Duplin

Lexi Mercer scorched the nets for 30 points and state-ranked Rosewood handed North Duplin a 71-27 setback on the Carolina 1-A Conference scene Wednesday evening. Alicia Burns added 18 points for the Eagles, who are No. 8 in the latest...

Goldsboro boys stop Greene Central

SNOW HILL -- Goldsboro stepped back into the win column with a 51-47 triumph over Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference foe Greene Central on Wednesday evening. Myron Carmon led the Cougars with 17 points, while backcourt mate Rasheen Artis scored 15...

Saints have balanced attack against CBA

DUDLEY -- Zxavier Pearsall and Maurice Butler led a balanced Southern Wayne offensive attack with 11 points apiece during a 51-43 victory over county and Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference foe Charles B. Aycock on Wednesday evening. Jalen Bennett added nine...

Rosewood boys slip past N. Duplin

Rosewood watched North Duplin's game-tying shot miss the mark and claimed a 64-61 victory in Carolina 1-A Conference action Wednesday evening. Jon Hair and Dennis Mitchell paced the Eagles' offense with 15 points apiece. Zack Barnes contributed 10 points, while...

JK's Sutton signs with N.C. State

astevens@newsargus.com WARSAW -- Making split-second decisions is common for running backs, especially Marcelias Sutton. And it didn't take long for him to choose his future college home. The James Kenan senior signed a national letter-of-intent with N.C. State on Wednesday...

Lewis-Alston remembered in halftime ceremony

rcoggins@newsargus.com Soft spoken. Easy going. A credit to their families, school and community. The late Warren Alston and Barney Lewis left a legacy for future youngsters to emulate in the tradition-rich Goldsboro High basketball program. Their heart-breaking story came to...

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Preps digest: JV, middle schools

JV sports * Boys' basketball: Faith Christian 36, Trinity-Greenville 14 -- Trey Chase led the victorious Conquerors with 13 points. Christopher Mills chipped in seven points. * Girls' basketball: Trinity-Greenville 27, Faith Christian 24 -- Jordan Lawhon paced Faith...

UMO snaps 6-game skid in volleyball

UMO Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- Angel Dache cranked out a match-high 19 kills and the University of Mount Olive turned back Coker (S.C.) College 25-17, 37-25, 25-22 at Kornegay Arena on Tuesday evening. The Trojans snapped a six-game skid....

Rosewood matmen advance to 1A east regional final

BISCOE -- Rosewood punched its ticket to the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A eastern regional dual-team wrestling championship for the second straight year by winning a pair of matches at East Montgomery on Tuesday evening. The Eagles...

JH Rose-E. Wayne boxes

BOYS J.H. Rose 20 17 21 33 -- 91 Eastern Wayne 21 23 13 25 -- 82 J.H. ROSE (11-5, 7-1 ECC) Geoffrey Williams 2 0 0-0 4, Omisha Stewart 4 0 1-2 9, Matt Romagna 0 0 2-2 2,...

Swansboro eliminates CBA from dual-team playoffs

SWANSBORO -- Senior Ryan Morton earned Charles B. Aycock's lone pin in a season-ending, 53-18 loss to Swansboro in opening-round action of the 2014 N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A dual-team playoffs. Joshua Wallace, Jaret Paynter, Matt Teachey and Jacob...

S. Central girls trip up So. Wayne

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne suffered a 46-35 loss to Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference opponent South Central on Tuesday evening. Zaria Atkins led the Saints with 10 points. Cierra Thompson and Sharonne' Maultsby each had seven points. Latrecia Johnson provided six...

Princeton girls edge Spring Creek

PRINCETON -- Princeton edged past Spring Creek 47-43 in Carolina 1-A Conference play on Tuesday evening. Savanna Massengill led the Bulldogs with 21 points. Charley Cox provided 10 points. Tori Paul and Kortney Edwards each had six points. Paul also...

Kinston girls crush Goldsboro

Defending 2-A state champion Kinston scored the first 12 points of the game, built as much as a 25-point first-half lead and rolled past Goldsboro, 75-37, in Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference play Tuesday evening. Senior Brittany Drumgoole led three Vikings...

Oakwood girls turn back WCDS

GREENVILLE -- Wayne Country Day endured a 41-14 loss at Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference foe Oakwood on Tuesday evening. Bailee Creger scored five points for the Chargers and Karis Hawkins had four points. Wayne Country Day (6-15 overall,...

Inspired Sawyer plays on broken ankle

Plagued by a fractured left ankle since late January, Ben Sawyer refused to watch his final game from the bench Tuesday evening. The Wayne Christian senior played 20 minutes, opening the game with layup and finishing with a 3-pointer during...

Sasser leads Conquerors at home

Faith Christian rolled past N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A foe Trinity Christian-Greenville, 62-44, on Tuesday night. Richard Sasser scored 13 points for the Conquerors. Victor Jenkins and Levi Wise each finished with 12 points. Andrew Parrish added 10 points. Faith...

James Kenan boys nip Lakewood

ROSEBORO -- James Kenan escaped with a 72-71 win at Carolina 1-A Conference foe Lakewood on Tuesday night. John Brooks scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Tigers. TJ Fullwood supplied 13 points. Antonio Smith provided 11 points...

N. Lenoir boys slip past Greene Central

LaGRANGE -- North Lenoir held off Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference foe Greene Central for a 76-73 win on Tuesday night. Brandon Belcher scored 18 points for the Rams in defeat. Antoine Davis added nine points. Greene Central (9-9 overall, 1-4...

WCDS boys upend Oakwood

GREENVILLE -- Wayne Country Day turned back Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference foe Oakwood 58-40 on Tuesday night. Lee Atkinson led the Chargers with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Shahim Muhammed added 14 points and Victor Miller had...

South Central boys defeat So. Wayne

DUDLEY -- Zxavier Pearsall dropped in 13 points during Southern Wayne's 68-56 loss to South Central in an Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference game Tuesday. Jaylen Roberts contributed 10 points. The Saints (8-11 overall) fell to 2-7 in ECC play this...

EW boys lose ECC shootout to Rose

Eastern Wayne withstood one J.H. Rose run on Tuesday night. The second Rampants' spurt proved to be a knockout punch. Rose used a 22-9 run to pull away in the fourth quarter of a 91-82, Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference win...

Princeton boys stop Spring Creek in OT

PRINCETON -- Michael Wooten led three Princeton players in double figures during a 59-54, overtime victory over Carolina 1-A Conference foe Spring Creek on Tuesday evening. Alex Whitley and Tanner Woodard scored 11 points apiece for the Bulldogs. Joe Hines...

Kinston converts key buckets against Goldsboro

rcoggins@newsargus.com Everything fell into place for two-time defending state 2-A champion Kinston on Tuesday evening. Goldsboro didn't experience the same fortune. North Carolina recruit Brandon Ingram pumped in a team-high 21 points and the No. 4-ranked Vikings dropped the Cougars,...

Goldsboro-Kinston boxes

BOYS Kinston 15 10 18 20 -- 63 Goldsboro 12 13 13 17 -- 55 KINSTON (13-5, 5-0 ECC) Anthony Berry 1 0 0-0 2, Tiquan Canady 2 0 1-2 5, Qwarri Ham 1 0 0-0 2, Andrew Lopez 3...

EW girls avenge earlier ECC defeat

astevens@newsargus.com Revenge comes in all shapes and sizes. Eastern Wayne served J.H. Rose a healthy dose of payback, 72-36, on Tuesday evening and avenged a two-point loss to the Rampants one month ago in Greenville. Elondia Grant led Eastern Wayne...

Golden Falcon girls fall behind, can't catch up

PIKEVILLE -- Their newly implemented offense, at last, clicking, the Charles B. Aycock Lady Falcons dominated the second half against D.H. Conley Tuesday evening. But coach Ryan Wells said his team simply didn't have enough time to dig its way...

D.H. Conley boys slip past Aycock

kfine@newsargus.com PIKEVILLE -- Four turnovers, two layups and a jumpshot that bounced off the iron. And that was just the final 20 seconds. D.H. Conley outscored Charles B. Aycock 7-2 in the last 90 seconds of regulation and escaped with...

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Preps digest: JV, middle school news

JV sports * Boys' basketball: Faith Christian 41, Raleigh Christian 33 -- Trey Chase paced Faith Christian's attack with 18 points. Anderson Raleigh provided 12 points in the road win. Middle schools * Girls' basketball: Wayne Christian 25, Community...

Howell leads Wayne Christian in road loss

ERWIN -- Wayne Christian outscored Cape Fear Christian by six points in the second half, but CFC seized a 66-42 win on the Carolina Christian 1-A Conference scene Tuesday evening. Austin Howell led the Eagles with 10 points. Teammate Micah...

Faith Christian boys roll past RCA

RALEIGH -- Victor Jenkins pumped in a game-high 25 points during Faith Christian's 73-65 triumph over N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A foe Raleigh Christian Academy on Monday evening. The Conquerors are 3-0 against RCA this season. Richard Sasser knocked down...

Banners will be placed in Lee Gym in honor of Lewis, Alston

The bold, italic headline "God love them and may they rest in peace" appeared over two somber photos in a mid-December 1977 edition of the News-Argus. One picture depicted mourners wiping their eyes with handkerchiefs as they filed into the...

Hall completes quest for 4th straight east regional diving title

rcoggins@newsargus.com RALEIGH -- The skyline came into view and the butterflies started swimming in Devin Hall's stomach. "This is it," thought Hall as he headed toward the Pullen Aquatic Center. The facility came into view and Hall could barely contain...

Goldsboro's Darden wins 50 free championship in 1A/2A east regional

rcoggins@newsargus.com CARY -- Goldsboro teammates Zach Darden, Timmy Vick, Victor Prezbindowski and Christian Martens accomplished their respective goals. Kodey Silknitter wrote a new chapter in Rosewood athletics. All five punched their tickets to the season-ending N.C. High School Athletic Association...

Monday, February 3, 2014

Jones swats homer in Trojans' season-opening win

UMO Sports Information SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Armstrong Atlantic State swatted three runs and handed the University of Mount Olive an 8-1 defeat during the AASU tournament on Sunday afternoon. UMO defeated Tusculum, 5-4, in the opener. Savannah Becker connected on...

Trojans complete sweep of WS State

RUDY COGGINS rcoggins@newsargus.com WINSTON-SALEM -- The University of Mount Olive experienced a good weekend on the baseball diamond, but showed there is plenty of room for improvement. The No. 4-ranked Trojans polished off their season-opening, three-game sweep of Winston-Salem State,...

Rosewood matmen dominate Carolina-Coastal 10 tournament

rcoggins@newsargus.com PRINCETON -- Rosewood concluded its regular season in dominating fashion during the Class 1-A Carolina-Coastal 10 wrestling tournament contested at Princeton High on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles walked away with 12 individual championships and claimed the team crown with...

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Youngsters lead Chargers past Falcons

rcoggins@newsargus.com Wayne Country Day varsity girls head coach CC Archer continues to see daily improvement in practice. He particularly likes the current three-game win streak the Chargers have produced on the court, too. Bailee Creger pumped in a game-high 12...

Pressure defense wakes up WCDS boys

rcoggins@newsargus.com The pressure defense did the trick after Wayne Country Day played a sluggish opening period against Epiphany on Saturday afternoon. The full-court strategy coaxed the Falcons into a few turnovers and got the Chargers' blood pumping as they flourished...

WCDS-Epiphany basketball boxes

BOYS Epiphany 4 11 13 13 -- 41 W. Country Day 11 22 15 13 -- 61 EPIPHANY (2-17, 1-6 CPIC) Austin McConnell 0 0 1-2 1, Dawson Frogley 7 2 3-4 22, Jeffrey Williams 1 0 0-0 2, Jared...

Reitano homers in first at-bat, UMO sweeps WSSU

UMO Sports Information WINSTON-SALEM -- Preseason All-American Bradon Reitano homered during his first at-bat and No. 4-ranked University of Mount Olive swept Winston-Salem State, 9-5 and 4-1, at BB&T Ballpark on Saturday afternoon. Reitano delivered three hits on the day...

Trojan women capture 4th straight win

astevens@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- University of Mount Olive women's coach Wendy Lee admitted her team was still searching for its identity following a loss two weeks ago. The Trojans have found it. Katie Paschal led four UMO players in double...

Brite has career night for UMO men

astevens@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive men believe they belong among the upper echelon of Conference Carolinas. They proved it Saturday evening. Dontrell Brite poured in a career-high 26 points as Mount Olive handed North Greenville a...