More snow/ice, more postponements

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on February 12, 2014 1:48 PM

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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 contests slated for Tuesday evening and tonight. The postponements have caused a logjam toward the end of the week and forced many teams to play three games within a three-day period -- including Saturday.

"I hope we don't get any more snow so we can play this out," Goldsboro High athletics director Ray Lippert said.

More white stuff and conference tournaments scheduled for next week could get eliminated. However, ADs don't want to lose the revenue which helps pay the bills for their respective leagues.

Athletics directors from the Carolina 1-A Conference met Tuesday morning and agreed to eliminate the "open day" in their season-ending tournament. Opening-round play begins next Tuesday and Wednesday at the highest two girls' and boys' seeds. The semifinals and finals are Thursday and Friday, respectively, at the University of Mount Olive.

"It was decided that we play as many games as possible this week and then seed the tournament based on (winning) percentages," Spring Creek AD Heath Whitfield said.

Weather permitting, Neuse Charter is the guest of Rosewood for a pivotal doubleheader on Thursday. The No. 5-ranked Eagles can clinch a share of their first regular-season Carolina 1-A Conference girls' championship since 2007. Neuse's boys enter the game tied atop the league standings with James Kenan at 9-2.

In other games: North Duplin goes to Hobbton, Lakewood visits Princeton, Spring Creek heads to James Kenan, Southern Wayne travels to archrival Eastern Wayne and Greene Central invades Goldsboro.

On Friday, Rosewood's girls can clinch the outright championship with a victory at archrival Princeton. County foes Southern Wayne, Eastern Wayne and Charles B. Aycock each conclude their respective regular seasons on the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference scene.

Goldsboro entertains North Lenoir.

The reigning state 2-A boys' and girls' champion, Kinston can sweep the inaugural Eastern Carolina 2-A regular-season crowns with wins over Ayden-Grifton on Thursday. The Vikings are the guests of county rival South Lenoir on Friday.

In ECC 3-A play, South Central has secured a portion of the boys' and girls' regular-season titles. Each hold a 1 1/2-game advantage over their nearest competitor.