January 2016 archives

View Archive

Friday, January 29, 2016

UMO: North Greenville is first focus, then Limestone on national TV

MOUNT OLIVE -- Just play ball. The University of Mount Olive men and women face Conference Carolinas foe Limestone (S.C.) on Saturday in the school's first-ever nationally-televised basketball game at Kornegay Arena. Tip-off is 6 p.m. Nerves sometimes overcome actors,...

Logistics in place as UMO prepares to host nationally-televised basketball games

BY JUSTIN HAYES jhayes@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Wednesday, 2 p.m. Three days and counting. The air in the concourse stairwell of Kornegay Arena -- home to the University of Mount Olive basketball program -- is sticky, even for January. Sample...

Smith pleased that Saints finally erase ECC goose egg

rcoggins@newsargus.com DUDLEY -- Up by eight points with one quarter to play, Southern Wayne's players walked toward their bench. "Keep playing," the coaching staff told them. And this time the Saints closed out an opponent. Southern Wayne used its 2-1-2...

King Pin Scratch Open -- Hill gives tournament a makeover

rcoggins@newsargus.com Clarke Hill felt it was time for a makeover. He sought some advice. Then he devised a plan of action. The result? Hill may have perhaps just created a one-day bowling tournament that could gain considerable recognition along the...

Southern Wayne girls break away late against CBA

DUDLEY -- A loss avenged. A skid finally ends. Southern Wayne closed out the game with a 16-5 run and turned back county rival Charles B. Aycock, 45-39, on the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference scene Thursday evening. The Saints...

Conley grapplers top Eastern Wayne

HOLLYWOOD CROSSROADS -- Justice Green's fall over Chris Barbour with one second left in the opening period helped D.H. Conley seal a 42-36 victory over Eastern Wayne in the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A regular-season finale for both teams. The Vikings earned...

Rosewood's Decatur-Luker sets freshman record

Timothy "The Tank" Decatur-Luker broke the North Carolina single-season record for victories (46) by a freshman during Rosewood's tri-meet sweep of North Lenoir and Neuse Charter on Wednesday evening. Matthew Cruz-Cruz, a senior at Cleveland, held the previous record of...

Thursday, January 28, 2016

BOXES: Tri-meet at C.B. Aycock

Match 1 C.B. Aycock 42 J.H. Rose 33 138 -- Jackson Sisk (JHR) wbf Hunter Ortega, 37 seconds; 145 -- Zach Creel (CBA) wbf Alex Hammond, 4:24; 152 -- Jeremy Klitzkie (JHR) dec. Chase Hapes, 9-8; 160 -- Josh Wallace...

Sauls, Chastain combine to win three ECC 3A/4A individual titles

Charles B. Aycock's Zech Chastain emerged with two individual titles during the season-ending Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference championship meet contested at B.G. Darden Natatorium. Chastain secured first place in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1 minute, 57.09...

Rosewood, Goldsboro swimmers hold 'mini meet'

While their three county rivals dueled for supremacy in the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference championship meet, Goldsboro and Rosewood held their own "mini competition" in the B.G. Darden Natatorium. Rosewood won 12 events. Goldsboro won six. The teams didn't...

CBA grapplers complete senior night sweep

rcoggins@newsargus.com PIKEVILLE -- Justin Washington needed less than a minute to forget his opening-match loss on senior night. 58 seconds to be exact. And no one could have been more happier than Charles B. Aycock assistant coach Mark Bass. As...

UMO BASEBALL PREVIEW -- Pitching staff takes offseason hit

rcoggins@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Imagine grabbing a box of puzzle pieces, shaking them up, scattering them on the floor and wondering -- where do you begin? Ask Carl Lancaster that question. Two months ago, the University of Mount Olive head...

PREPS DIGEST: JV, middle schools

JV * Girls' basketball: Wayne Country Day 37, Trinity Christian 26 -- Lexi Jeffreys led the Chargers' offense with 16 points. Janae Jones knocked down nine points. WCDS remained unbeaten in 11 outings this season. * Boys' basketball: Trinity...

New Bern shuts down Eastern Wayne in 2nd half

NEW BERN -- New Bern posted 60 second-half points and cruised past Eastern Wayne, 87-56, in an Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference game Wednesday evening. The Warriors led 29-27 at halftime. Rhysante' Ellis knocked down 30 points, including 15 from 3-point...

Hamilton's double-double not enough for Warriors

NEW BERN -- Senior Naheria Hamilton dropped in a team-high 23 points and pulled down 15 rebounds as Eastern Wayne endured a 62-52 loss to New Bern on the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference scene Wednesday evening. The Bears avenged their...

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

WCDS expends third-quarter energy, tires in fourth

A referee asked the coaches for a needle to let some air out of the basketball during the first quarter of Tuesday night's game between Trinity Christian of Fayetteville and Wayne Country Day. The Chargers lost some air as well...

Trojan men, women sweep Belmont Abbey

UMO Media Relations MOUNT OLIVE -- Dominique Reed notched a double-double -- 18 points, 11 rebounds -- as the University of Mount Olive men's basketball team throttled in-state rival Belmont Abbey, 102-76, in Conference Carolinas play Tuesday evening. The Trojans...

Wildcats control the boards against Gators

jhayes@newsargus.com SEVEN SPRINGS -- Film often speaks in plain language. And for Hobbton boys' varsity coach Alfonza Hooper, the glaring weakness of his team's December effort at home versus Spring Creek was singular -- a lack of intensity in the...

Golden Falcons' Phillips signs NLI with Pitt CC

PIKEVILLE -- Every once in a while last season, Abbie Walton would call time, slip off her catcher's mask and trot toward the pitcher's circle. It's part of her job that she easily embraced. And it had a calming effect...

PREPS DIGEST: JV, middle schools

JV * Boys' basketball: Spring Creek 46, Hobbton 31 -- Allen Hickman pumped in a team-leading 13 points for the Gators. Xavion Garcia contributed nine points. * Boys' basketball: James Kenan 61, Rosewood 45 -- Connor Vernon paced the...

BOX: Trinity Christian-Fayetteville boys at WCDS

Trinity Christian    12    22    8    25    --    67 Wayne Country Day    9    13    14    21    --    57 TRINITY CHRISTIAN (10-10) Joey Baker 3 0 2-3 8, Mike Boykin 5 2 5-5 21, Cameron Campbell 5 0 3-5 13, Cyier Foy...

BOX: Trinity Christian-Fayetteville girls at WCDS

Trinity Christian    24    19    15    6    --    64 Wayne Country Day    0    5    1    0    --    6 TRINITY CHRISTIAN (17-5) Kayla Bridge 2 0 0-0 4, Nikki Cooke 5 1 2-4 15, Kayla Fredericks 0 1 0-0 3, Ceundra Mcgee...

BOX: Hobbton girls at Spring Creek

Hobbton    9    12    14    6    --    41 Spring Creek    17    26    20    21    --    84 HOBBTON Alexus Bustamante 0 0 1-3 1, Sabrina Fussell 1 0 1-2 3, Denise Lamb 2 0 0-0 4, Shay Bell 2 1 3-9 10,...

BOX: Hobbton boys at Spring Creek

Hobbton    16    12    16    18    --    62 Spring Creek    7    12    6    14    --    49 HOBBTON Eric Parker 2 0 1-1 5, Omar Farrior 3 0 1-1 7, Collin King 4 1 3-4 14, Walter Thompson 0 1 0-0 3,...

Neuse Charter defeats Princeton on Carolina 1A girls hoops scene

Jordan Benson knocked down 14 points during Princeton's 48-41 loss to Carolina 1-A Conference foe Neuse Charter on Tuesday evening. Teammate Maddie Atkins added nine points. Kortney Edwards grabbed a team-leading 11 rebounds. Princeton (6-11 overall) travels to Hobbton on...

WCDS girls fall to Trinity Christian of Fayetteville

Trinity Christian of Fayetteville dominated from the opening tip and defeated Wayne Country Day, 64-6, on Tuesday evening. "That was just a tough one," Chargers head coach Claude Waters said. "Coming out, we knew it would be a tough game...

Lakewood girls edge North Duplin in overtime

SALEMBURG -- Lakewood squeezed out a 41-39 overtime win over North Duplin in Carolina 1-A Conference action Tuesday evening. Rylee Pate poured in 16 points for the visiting Rebels. Shaily McCarty added 11 points. Kenzie Taylor and Courtney Brock contributed...

Moses tallies 31 points for Goldsboro's girls

SNOW HILL -- Senior Tyona Moses dropped in a season-high 31 points as Goldsboro escaped Greene Central, 57-52, on the Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference scene Tuesday evening. Khamryn Brown tallied nine points. Sterling Jones scored eight points, followed by Destiney...

Holloman tosses in career-high 25 points for RHS

WARSAW -- Jala Holloman tossed in a career-high 25 points as Rosewood rolled past James Kenan, 64-20, on the Carolina 1-A Conference scene Tuesday evening. Holloman shot 11 of 19 from the floor and just missed a double-double with nine...

Lakewood boys pull away from North Duplin

SALEMBURG -- Lakewood grabbed a nine-point advantage at halftime and pulled away for a 50-36 win over Carolina 1-A Conference rival North Duplin on Tuesday evening. Luke Britt paced the Rebels' offense with eight points. Malik Cobb and Terrion Addison...

Portela leads Heat with double-double

Gavin Portela dropped in 22 first-half points and finished with a double-double during the Goldsboro Heat's 54-45 triumph over Wilmington Cardinal on Tuesday evening. Portela dumped in a season-high 37 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Heat, which...

Faison hits seven 3-pointers in Cougars' road win

SNOW HILL -- Kisheem Faison buried a career-high seven 3-pointers and ended up with 31 points in Goldsboro's 82-74 victory over Greene Central in Carolina 1-A Conference play Tuesday evening. The Cougars (17-1 overall, 5-0 ECC) have won three road...

Rosewood boys upend James Kenan in Carolina 1A play

WARSAW -- Zack Barnes sizzled the nets for a team- and game-high 25 points as Rosewood shocked James Kenan, 56-53, during their Carolina 1-A Conference game contested at Harmon Gym on Tuesday evening. Kenan suffered its first league loss of...

SC girls dominate Hobbton

SEVEN SPRINGS -- A boxing match of similar nature would have been stopped. Spring Creek attacked in the early minutes and easily defeated Hobbton, 84-41, in a Carolina 1-A Conference game Tuesday evening. Led by junior guard Ashley Marriner...

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

EW's Hamilton, N. Best lead second-half charge

For the first time in a calendar week, Eastern Wayne failed to resemble the team which dispatched its previous two conference foes -- in short order, no less -- by an average of 10 points. Struggling against a myriad...

Warriors take tough league loss on the chin

jhayes@newsargus.com South Central guard Jae'tavion Edwards gets buckets. Quickly. He did just that Monday. Edwards scored five points in the final seven seconds of the first half at Eastern Wayne. He later rallied the Falcons to a 48-46 victory --...

Bears slip past Saints in ECC 3A-4A boys' basketball

bdavis@newsargus.com DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne sparked a dismal home crowd when it pulled within three points of New Bern in the final quarter Monday evening. But the Saints couldn't overcome a first-half slump. New Bern built as much as a...

PREPS DIGEST: Middle schools

Middle schools * Girls' basketball: Dillard 57, Eastern Wayne 11 -- Dyamond George emerged as the Tigers' top scorer with 20 points. Zeanya Jones knocked down 19 points and Ikenya King contributed 11 points. Ania Sands dished out 15...

New Bern girls turn back Southern Wayne

DUDLEY -- Straight roads make driving simple, but turning corners takes patience and precision. Southern Wayne used simple fundamentals to shut down New Bern's Teana Lewis in the second quarter. The plan helped the Saints build a 20-16 lead with...

Lawhon, Skinner lead Conqueror girls

Jordan Lawhon and Meredith Skinner each flirted with a double-double during Faith Christian's 59-21, non-conference conquest of TEACH on Monday evening. Lawhon pumped in a team-leading 17 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Meredith Skinner contributed 11 points and snared...

Faith Christian boys defeat TEACH

Christopher Mills led three Faith Christian players in double figures with 20 points during a 65-55, non-conference triumph over TEACH on Monday evening. Mills shot 10 of 12 from the free throw line, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots....

BOXES: New Bern boys/girls @ So. Wayne

GIRLS New Bern 14 14 17 14 -- 59 Southern Wayne 8 12 11 7 -- 43 NEW BERN (13-4, 5-1 ECC) Starasia Bell-Freeman 9 0 1-2 19, Keziah Capers 1 0 0-0 2, Antaniya Dawson 2 0 0-0 4,...

BOX: S. Central girls @ E. Wayne

South Central 12 10 14 10 -- 46 Eastern Wayne 11 12 14 19 -- 56 SOUTH CENTRAL Anna Mewborn 1 0 2-2 4, Anyia Little 1 0 2-2 4, Ninevah Reddick 8 0 3-9 19, Kinnedy Lawrence 2 0...

BOX: S. Central boys @ Eastern Wayne

South Central 14 5 16 13 -- 48 Eastern Wayne 8 9 19 10 -- 46 SOUTH CENTRAL Tahj Riddick 0 0 2-2 2, Xavier Boyd 2 0 1-2 5, Jae'tavion Edwards 5 2 4-7 20, Monquare Whichard 1 0...

Monday, January 25, 2016

UMO freshman Rendon-Alcala breaks pair of school records

UMO Media Relations WINSTON-SALEM -- University of Mount Olive freshman Guillermo Rendon-Alcala broke two indoor track program records during second-day competition in the WSSU Rams Team Challenge. Rendon-Alcala posted a time of 7.07 seconds in the 60-meter dash and 22.89...

Trojans' Koehler, Orrison earn preseason all-Southeast Region accolades

rcoggins@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Humility and hard work. Those two characteristics best describe University of Mount Olive baseball teammates Zak Orrison and Joe Koehler. They also share another trait -- preseason all-Southeast Region team recognition from the National Collegiate Baseball...

Saturday, January 23, 2016

REALIGNMENT: Goldsboro, Spring Creek now placed in separate conferences

By RUDY COGGINS rcoggins@newsargus.com SEVEN SPRINGS -- Just when you though the Rubik's Cube was the biggest brain teaser back in the day, the latest N.C. High School Athletic Association realignment has become a headache itself. Especially to Heath Whitfield,...

Late turnover lifts Lakewood boys past Spring Creek

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Lakewood converted the game-winning shot with five seconds left and slipped past Spring Creek, 68-66, in a Carolina 1-A Conference game contested at "The Swamp." The Leopards held a 12-point lead with three minutes remaining in regulation....

North Duplin reschedules games with Neuse Charter

CALYPSO -- North Duplin athletics director Ricky Edwards announced the Carolina 1-A Conference matchup with Neuse Charter has been rescheduled for Feb. 1. The Rebels (3-10 overall, 1-6 CC) continue play Tuesday at Lakewood....

PREPS DIGEST: JV, middle schools

JV • Boys' basketball: Spring Creek 66, Lakewood 47 -- Xavion Garcia emerged as the Gators' top scorer with 24 points. Allen Hickman chipped in 15 points. Jensen Barwick contributed eight points. Middle schools • Girls' basketball: Norwayne 24, Grantham...

Conference Carolinas releases preseason men's, women's tennis polls

MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive men's tennis team is picked to finish second, according to the Conference Carolinas preseason poll. The Trojans received 70 points and two first-place nods. UMO won 18 matches last season and finished...

Winter Storm Jonas postpones UMO basketball road games

CENTRAL, S.C. -- Winter Storm Jonas forced the postponement of Saturday's Conference Carolinas basketball doubleheader between University of Mount Olive and Southern Wesleyan. The games have been rescheduled for Feb. 12. To accommodate the change, UMO's home twinbill with in-state...

Friday, January 22, 2016

EW's Lynch shows mixed emotions after wrestling tri-meet

rcoggins@newsargus.com First-year Eastern Wayne head wrestling coach Aaron Lynch experienced a variety of emotions Thursday evening. It was senior night. He gushed over his team's effort against North Johnston. But, he showed some disappointment in the Warriors' nightcap against perennial...

Higginbotham hopes UMO's current troubles are solved

jhayes@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Following his team's surprising home loss to Emmanuel (Ga.) College nine days ago -- in which it squandered a cozy 13-point second half advantage -- University of Mount Olive men's head coach Joey Higginbotham had a...

Hamilton, Nyesha Best lead EW girls

jhayescom@newsargus.com PIKEVILLE -- When pressed for a gameplan strategy Thursday evening, Charles B. Aycock girls' varsity coach Roy Harrell kept it simple. "Score more than they do," he offered. Eastern Wayne, however, had no intention of letting that happen. Led...

Goldsboro boys dominate Ayden-Grifton

bdavis@newsargus.com Yes, it's defense. No, it's offense. The argument will never end regarding how teams win games, but Goldsboro's basketball team proved that both gameplans work. The Cougars scored 20 points or more in the first three quarters to defeat...

PREPS DIGEST: JV

JV * Boys' basketball: Rosewood 49, Hobbton 46 -- Connor Vernon led a balanced RHS offense with 11 points. Jon Peacock posted 10 points. Marquail Vaughn and Colby Harris each scored eight points. The Eagles (6-5 overall) rose to...

White scores 27, Greenfield boys topple Wayne Christian

WILSON -- Former Eastern Wayne middle school standout Coby White sizzled the nets for a team-leading 27 points as perennial powerhouse Greenfield defeated Wayne Christian, 89-67, on Thursday evening. The Eagles' Darrin Oates led all scorers with 28 points. Ty...

James Kenan boys stay unbeaten in Carolina 1A action

PRINCETON -- Grey McCoy cranked out a team-high 13 points as Princeton endured a 59-50 loss to reigning Carolina 1-A Conference co-champion James Kenan on Thursday evening. Austin Sullivan added nine points for the Bulldogs, who dipped to 1-17 overall...

WCDS, Faith Christian postpone games

Overnight sleet and a possible forecast for snow flurries prompted school officials at Wayne Country Day and Faith Christian Academy to either postpone or cancel games Thursday evening. WCDS and archrival Greenfield have tentatively planned to play Jan. 30 in...

Barnes, Al-montaser lead Eagles on road

NEWTON GROVE -- Senior Zack Barnes knocked down 15 points during Rosewood's 51-45 conquest of Carolina 1-A Conference foe Hobbton on Thursday evening. Marquail Al-montaser contributed 11 points. Noah Grantham and Tucker Chapin provided seven points apiece. The Eagles (5-3...

Princeton girls rally past James Kenan

PRINCETON -- Jordan Benson played a solid all-around floor game as Princeton earned a come-from-behind, 39-36 triumph over Carolina 1-A Conference foe James Kenan on Thursday evening. The Tigers led 32-29 after three quarters. The Bulldogs (6-10 overall) outscored their...

Rosewood girls crush Hobbton

NEWTON GROVE -- Lexi Mercer delivered 28 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and seven steals as Rosewood throttled Hobbton, 88-62, in a Carolina 1-A Conference battle Thursday evening. Jala Holloman pumped in a game-high 29 points for the Eagles, who...

Goldsboro's pressure defense de-charges Ayden-Grifton girls

Nothing seemed to go right for Goldsboro Cougars during the first two quarters on Thursday evening. Ayden-Grifton overcame a 5-0 deficit in the first quarter and eventually led 12-9. Goldsboro senior Tyona Moses picked up her third foul with five...

Spring Creek girls earn costly win against Lakewood

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Amber Buchan pumped in 19 points and Ashley Marriner added 15 points as Spring Creek pulled off a costly upset of Lakewood, 58-52, in Carolina 1-A Conference play Thursday evening at "The Swamp." The Gators' may have...

Wayne Christian girls knock off Greenfield, snap 14-game skid

WILSON -- Wayne Christian snapped a 14-game skid with a 36-31, non-conference victory over Greenfield School on Thursday evening. Kasey Norris paced the visiting Eagles' offensive attack with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Abi Harrelson contributed nine points and Adayah...

BOX: Ayden-Grifton girls at Goldsboro

Ayden-Grifton    12    5    4    8    --    29 Goldsboro    9    13    13    17    --    52 AYDEN-GRIFTON (2-13, 0-4 ECC) Penny Ascencio 0 0 2-2 2, LaTavia Brown 2 0 0-3 4, Angela Davis 0 0 2-2 2, Beyonce Jones 3 0...

WRESTLING: Tri-meet boxes at Eastern Wayne

Match 1 Rosewood    72 North Johnston    9 145 -- Joey Behrend (R) dec. JoJo Richardson, 8-4; 152 -- Isaiah Kornegay (R) wbf Tyler Scott, 1 minute, 48.3 seconds; 160 -- Richard Jest (R) wbf Justin Pilkington, 5:04.5; 170 -- Dylan...

BOX: Ayden-Grifton boys at Goldsboro

Ayden-Grifton    15    13    21    16    --    65 Goldsboro        25    26    24    14    --    89 AYDEN-GRIFTON (6-10, 1-3 ECC) Dometrius Barfield 3 0 0-0 6, Tijuan Blount 1 0 0-1 2, Brokema Edmonds 1 0 0-0 2, AJ Forman 3...

BOX: Eastern Wayne girls at C.B. Aycock

Eastern Wayne    20    7    12    17    --    56 C.B. Aycock    10    17    8    10    --    45 EASTERN WAYNE Tammaria Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Brianna Autman 1 0 0-0 2, Treycie Ford 5 0 0-0 10, Myesha Best 2 1...

BOX: Eastern Wayne boys at C.B. Aycock

Eastern Wayne    18    15    12    15    --    60 C.B. Aycock    6    16    16    13    --    51 EASTERN WAYNE Coriante Foye 2 0 0-0 4, Ethan Molloy 1 0 0-0 2, Eric Agee 5 0 0-0 10, Marcus Rouse 0 1...

Eastern Wayne @ CB Aycock - Boys

jhayes@newsargus.com PIKEVILLE -- With Eastern Wayne clinging to a six point advantage late in Thursday's class at Eastern Conference 3A/4A rival Charles B. Aycock, one notion became prevalent. One team has KK Best. The other does not. The senior guard...

Thursday, January 21, 2016

PREPS DIGEST: JV, middle schools

JV * Girls' basketball: Wayne Country Day 36, Parrott Academy 7 -- Janae Jones emerged as the Chargers' top scorer with 12 points. Hayden Nielsen and Langley Barnes knocked down eight points apiece. The Chargers (11-0 overall) entertain nemesis...

Rosewood grapplers dominate Northern Nash, Southern Nash

Rosewood claimed 21 individual victories and swept a tri-meet against Northern Nash (57-21) and Southern Nash (54-21) on Wednesday evening. Senior Dylan Melgar, a returning state qualifier, inched closer to joining the Eagles' Century Club (100 career wins) with a...

CBA matmen earn pair of key ECC 3A-4A road victories

HOLLYWOOD CROSSROADS -- Injury-bitten Charles B. Aycock escaped unscathed during a three-team Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference meet contested at D.H. Conley on Wednesday evening. The Golden Falcons upended league-leading and county archrival Eastern Wayne 45-30, and handed the host Vikings...

Inclement weather changes brings about schedule changes

Games moved to today were: * Ayden-Grifton at Goldsboro; * Eastern Wayne at C.B. Aycock; * Rosewood at Hobbton; * James Kenan at Princeton; * and Lakewood at Spring Creek. Wayne Christian's varsity boys travel to perennial independent 1-A powerhouse...

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

UMO men knock off King (Tenn.), but Trojan women fall

UMO Media Relations MOUNT OLIVE -- Regionally-ranked King (Tenn.) University sliced a double-digit deficit to one point with eight minutes remaining, but University of Mount answered the challenge and claimed a 92-76 win in Conference Carolinas play Tuesday evening. Dontrell...

Rosewood boys drain nine 3-pointers against Princeton

jhayes@newsargus.com Binary opposites. One glance at the official scorebook from Tuesday night's Carolinas 1-A Conference varsity boys' tilt between Princeton and Rosewood confirmed the concept in startling fashion. The Bulldogs scored in bursts, but Rosewood overwhelmed their effort with nine...

Williams sparks Warriors in second quarter

rcoggins@newsargus.com Melik Williams dove onto the floor at halfcourt for the loose ball, caught it in the air and flipped it toward an Eastern Wayne teammate. Seconds later, the Warriors scored. "That speaks volumes about what kind of athlete he...

Goldsboro boys stay unbeaten in ECC 2A

Cougar basketball equals total team effort. Just ask Goldsboro head basketball coach Russell Stephens. His team -- including the bench -- defeated South Lenoir, 69-48, in Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference play on Tuesday night. "We played yesterday (against Orange) and...

PREPS DIGEST: JV, middle schools

JV * Boys' basketball: Rosewood 51, Princeton 47 -- Conner Vernon paced the Eagles' offense with 14 points. Marquail Vaughn and Jonathan Peacock contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively. Rosewood (5-5 overall) improved to 5-1 in Carolina 1-A Conference...

McClain drops 28 points in Eagles' loss to Northwood Temple

Tyrique McClain knocked down 28 points as Wayne Christian fell to Northwood Temple, 87-72, in a Carolina Christian 1-A Conference game Tuesday evening. McClain pulled down eight rebounds. Darrian Oates had 24 points, two assists, one rebound and one blocked...

Portela paces Heat past Pitt County

Gavin Portela collected a double-double as Goldsboro Heat defeated the Pitt County Pacers 60-30 on Tuesday evening. Portela logged 18 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals. Harman Kaler added 17 points and rebounds for the Heat, which improved...

Forde leads balanced offense in WCDS loss

Jamal Forde tallied 18 points in Wayne Country Day's 80-75, non-conference loss to Cape Fear Christian Academy on Tuesday evening. Jamal King chipped in 17 points. Cole Atwood provided 14 points, while DJ Waters scored 13. Jamal King grabbed six...

Golden Falcon boys fall to J.H. Rose

GREENVILLE -- J.H. Rose built a 10-point lead after one quarter and cruised past C.B. Aycock, 55-36, on the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference scene Tuesday evening. Cameron Kornegay and Ian Best knocked down 12 points apiece for CBA, which dropped...

Sasser sparks Faith Christian with triple-double

Sharp-shooting guard Richard Sasser logged a triple-double -- 24 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds -- as Faith Christian defeated Friendship Christian, 66-54, in a N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A affair Tuesday evening. Christian added a double-double -- 22 points,...

Young knocks down 22 points, Gators topple Rebels

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Najee Young paced three Spring Creek players in double figures with 22 points in an 80-48 triumph over Carolina 1-A Conference foe North Duplin on Tuesday evening. Devonte Williams scored 13 points. Dominique Morse contributed nine points...

Friendship Christian girls defeat Faith Christian

Chloe Mills emerged as Faith Christian's top scorer with 13 points in a 45-35 setback to Friendship Christian in N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A play Tuesday evening. Jordan Lawhon posted nine points and nine rebounds. Mandy Dilley scored six points....

Northwood Temple girls defeat Wayne Christian

Abi Harrelson recorded 12 points as Wayne Christian endured a 75-35 loss to Carolina Christian 1-A Conference foe Northwood Temple on Tuesday evening. Kasey Norris and Adayah Ginn collected 10 points and six points, respectively, for the Eagles. "I'm proud...

WCDS girls fall to Cape Fear Christian

TT Ramsey collected nine points in Wayne Country Day's 62-36, non-conference loss to Cape Fear Christian Academy on Tuesday evening. Lillian Freeman registered eight points. The Chargers (4-13 overall) play host to Greenfield on Friday....

Sutton, Teachey pace Spring Creek's attack

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Destiney Sutton and Tysha Teachey each flirted with a double-double during Spring Creek's 73-32 conquest of Carolina 1-A Conference foe North Duplin on Tuesday evening. Sutton recorded 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists, six steals and two...

Goldsboro girls dominate South Lenoir

One must be aware of his or her surroundings -- at all times. Goldsboro led 47-24 after three quarters, but South Lenoir pulled to within 13 points with four minutes left in regulation. "I told them (Cougars), 'We can't let...

Rosewood girls stay unbeaten in Carolina 1A play

A mere 12 miles separate rivals Rosewood and Princeton. The distance between the two varsity girls' programs is much greater. Led by Elon University signee Lexi Mercer, the Eagles used a balanced opportunistic attack to defeat the Bulldogs, 71-35. Rosewood...

Warrior girls wake up against Saints in 3rd quarter

Eastern Wayne needed to relax offensively and utilize their "go-to" player, Naheria Hamilton, on Tuesday. The Warriors did just that in the second half. Hamilton pumped in 13 third-quarter points and collected her second triple-double within a 24-hour period during...

Daniels hits 1,000 points for career in CBA's overtime road loss

GREENVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock senior Taylor Daniels scored 10 points and surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career during a 51-44 overtime loss to J.H. Rose on Tuesday evening. Tanika Powell provided a team-leading 18 points for the Golden...

BOX: Princeton @ Rosewood girls

Princeton 6 12 12 5 -- 35 Rosewood 23 15 19 14 -- 71 PRINCETON (5-10, 1-6 CC) Megan Bryant 0 1 0-0 3, Presly Whitley 2 0 0-0 2, Maddie Adkins 0 2 0-0 6, Amber Johnson 1 0...

BOX: Princeton @ Rosewood boys

Princeton 6 15 10 14 -- 45 Rosewood 16 19 12 24 -- 71 PRINCETON (1-16, 1-6 CC) Demarcus Ellis 4 2 2-2 16, Landon Futrelle 0 1 0-0 3, Earl Gibson, Jr. 2 1 0-0 7, Grey McCoy 3...

BOX: So. Wayne girls @ E. Wayne

Southern Wayne 16 14 6 23 -- 59 Eastern Wayne 8 14 24 25 -- 68 SOUTHERN WAYNE (5-11, 0-6 ECC) Macayla Tyndall 1 0 0-0 2, Kiara Wallace 1 0 3-4 5, Ebony Fuller 0 0 2-3 2, Zaria...

BOX: So. Wayne boys @ E. Wayne

Southern Wayne 13 17 12 16 -- 58 Eastern Wayne 15 22 20 14 -- 71 SOUTHERN WAYNE (2-15, 0-6 ECC) James Leonard 0 2 0-2 4, Terry Artis 6 0 5-10 17, Quentin Carlton 5 0 2-4 12, Emmanuel...

BOX: S. Lenoir @ Goldsboro boys

BOYS South Lenoir 4 9 12 23 -- 48 Goldsboro 15 21 19 14 -- 69 SOUTH LENOIR (6-6, 0-1 ECC) Justin Dixon 1 0 1-4 3, Miciah Jackson 1 0 0-0 2, Jordan Kennedy 0 2 0-0 6, Jonte...

BOX: S. Lenoir girls @ Goldsboro

GIRLS South Lenoir 7 7 10 20 -- 44 Goldsboro 14 20 13 14 -- 61 SOUTH LENOIR (7-8, 1-2 ECC) Keely Gates 4 0 1-2 9, Tiara Graham 1 1 0-0 5, Gralicia Jenkins 0 0 2-4 2, Taniejah...

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Warriors' Hamilton breaks school record, matches all-time state mark

Naheria Hamilton blocked a single-season and school-record 20 shots during Eastern Wayne's 63-28 loss to perennial power Greensboro Dudley on Monday afternoon. Hamilton tied the single-game state record set by East Davidson's Bayley Plummer, who accomplished the feat against...

Monday, January 18, 2016

WRESTLING: Warriors compete in Rumble on the Mat

DEEP RUN -- Eastern Wayne claimed 36 individual victories during the annual Rumble on the Mat contested inside Munn Gymnasium on the South Lenoir campus. The Warriors defeated East Carteret (48-36), Pasquotank County (54-30) and Pamlico County (48-30). Head...

WRESTLING: Rosewood wins Carolina/2 Rivers dual-team title

rcoggins@newsargus.com Rosewood claimed the 2016 Carolina/Two Rivers Class 1-A Conference dual-team championship in perfect fashion on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles (30-6 overall) emerged as the automatic qualifiers for the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs, which begin Feb. 2....

WHITFIELD HALL OF FAME: BIOS

Here are some notes about the 44th class of inductees enshrined into the George Whitfield Hall of Fame: Dr. Lee Adams * Adams earned a degree in optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1953 and returned to his...

UMO men continue to struggle on basketball court

MISENHEIMER -- Talk about a familiar trope. The University of Mount Olive men's basketball team -- once again beset by poor shooting and turnovers -- lost their second consecutive Conference Carolinas tilt Saturday evening, 87-71, to Pfeiffer University Senior...

Phil Ford: An All-American but not a 'celebrity'

rcoggins@newsargus.com Media writers and basketball organizations constantly showered Phil Ford with honors throughout his career at the University of North Carolina. Ford didn't consider himself a celebrity then. He doesn't now. Instead, the Rocky Mount native remembers the lessons he...

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Vikings' defense smothers Moses, rolls past Cougars

bdavis@newsargus.com KINSTON -- No matter where she was on the court Friday evening, Tyona Moses carried a shadow with her. A Kinston defender constantly smothered Moses, who managed just 11 points in the Cougars' 58-38 loss to the Vikings in...

Goldsboro boys snap Kinston's 25-game home win streak in conference play

bdavis@newsargus.com KINSTON -- A combined 45 turnovers by Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference rivals Goldsboro and Kinston almost -- almost -- overshadowed the end of a remarkable streak Friday evening. The Cougars won 73-64 and ended the Vikings' streak of 25...

Hamilton's triple-double not enough in Warriors' loss

jhayes@newsargus.com Eastern Wayne senior center Naheria Hamilton was honored in a pre-game ceremony Friday evening, and presented a commemorative basketball in recognition of her eclipsing 600 career rebounds. Then she promptly registered a triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds and...

D.H. Conley tops Eastern Wayne's boys

jhayes@newsargus.com Through one quarter Friday night, the D.H. Conley boys' basketball team appeared lost against Eastern Wayne. As in, a group of teens takes-the-obvious-wrong-turn-in-a-horror-film kind of lost. Plagued by turnovers, misses at the rim and matchup problems at multiple spots...

Gators' Buchan hits 1,000 points

rcoggins@newsargus.com SEVEN SPRINGS -- Amber Buchan took the inbounds pass from Ashley Marriner, got a screen from another teammate on the baseline and stepped inside the 3-point line. Buchan fired a jump shot. Buckets. And a grand -- as in...

PREPS DIGEST: JV news

JV * Boys' basketball: James Kenan 61, Spring Creek 38 -- Allen Hickman emerged as the Gators' top scorer with 15 points. Xavion Garcia chipped in 14 points. * Boys' basketball: Wayne Country Day 65, Terra Ceia 28 --...

BOX: Goldsboro girls @ Kinston

GIRLS Goldsboro 7 16 5 10 -- 38 Kinston 24 16 10 8 -- 58 GOLDSBORO (7-6, 1-1 ECC) Natiana Barnes 0 1 0-0 3, Khamryn Brown 2 0 0-0 4, Sterling Jones 1 0 1-1 3, Lyshiya Lofton 1...

BOX: Goldsboro boys @ Kinston

BOYS Goldsboro 18 19 21 15 -- 73 Kinston 10 18 16 20 -- 64 GOLDSBORO (14-0, 2-0 ECC) Nakia Atkins 7 0 1-4 15, Eric Bufkin 1 0 3-6 5, Myron Carmon 4 1 0-1 11, Tyzhaun Claude 6...

BOX: D.H. Conley girls @ E. Wayne

D.H. Conley 14 6 16 18 -- 52 Eastern Wayne 11 16 2 14 -- 43 D.H. CONLEY (7-8, 3-1 ECC) Daniels 2 0 1-2 5, Wilson, L 1 3 5-5 16, Hart 2 0 0-0 4, J. Wilson 2...

BOX: D.H. Conley boys @ E. Wayne

BOYS D.H. Conley 9 12 17 18 -- 57 Eastern Wayne 12 7 7 15 -- 41 D.H. CONLEY (4-12, 3-1 ECC) Barnhill 1 0 4-4 6, Roberson 1 0 0-0 2, Staton 7 3 1-4 21, Greene 3 1...

North Duplin girls snap 6-game skid

CALYPSO -- Rylee Pate collected 14 points as North Duplin turned back Hobbton, 43-41, for its first Carolina 1-A Conference win of the season Friday evening. Daja Aycock chipped in seven points and Courtney Brock scored six points for the...

Mercer logs triple-double before half, Eagles rout Cougars

Lexi Mercer recorded a triple-double in the first half during Rosewood's 74-50 conquest of Carolina 1-A Conference foe Neuse Charter on Friday evening. Mercer had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 12 steals by intermission. The Elon University signee ended the...

WCDS girls roll past Terra Ceia

Jasmine Jones dropped in 11 points as Wayne Country Day handed Terra Ceia a 42-22 loss Friday evening. Lillian Freeman and Lexi Jeffreys scored six points apiece. The Chargers (5-13 overall) entertain Cape Fear Christian Academy on Tuesday....

New Bern shuts down Aycock girls in 3rd quarter, rallies for ECC win

PIKEVILLE -- New Bern held Charles B. Aycock to seven points in the third quarter and rallied for a 49-42 victory on the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference scene Friday evening. CBA led 22-19 at halftime. Taylor Daniels paced the Golden...

Atkins turns in 19 points as Saints fall to South Central

DUDLEY -- Zaria Atkins scored 19 points during Southern Wayne's 57-44 loss to South Central in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play Friday evening. Iyahna Bess added 15 points for the Saints. Southern Wayne (5-8 overall, 0-5 ECC) travels to county...

Lakewood girls defeat Princeton

SALEMBURG -- Lakewood raced to an 18-point lead at halftime and cruised past Princeton, 51-20, in Carolina 1-A Conference play Friday evening. Jordan Benson led the Bulldogs with 12 points and nine rebounds. Princeton (5-9 overall, 1-5 CC) ends its...

Faith Christian girls drop NCCSA 2A game to Wilmington Christian

Meredith Skinner accounted for 17 points and Jordan Lawhon flirted with a double-double during Faith Christian's 53-30 loss to Wilmington Christian in a N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A game Friday evening. Lawhon scored seven points and pulled down a team-high...

Forde leads balanced offensive attack for Chargers

Jamal Forde paced a balanced offensive attack with 13 points, Emmanuel Walker returned to the court and Wayne Country Day defeated Terra Ceia, 78-61, on Friday evening. Walker (broken left hand) pulled down 11 rebounds. PJ Hill collected 12 points....

Portela, Kaler turn up 'Heat' on Chatham Thunder

Gavin Portela and Harman Kaler provided almost half of Goldsboro Heat's offense in a 65-56 victory over Chatham Thunder on Friday evening. Portela collected 16 points and Kaler added 15 as Goldsboro improved to 5-6 overall this season. Cameron Yarbrough...

CBA boys fall to New Bern in ECC 3A-4A play

PIKEVILLE -- Senior Cameron Kornegay led four Charles B. Aycock players in double figures with 14 points in a 79-58 loss to Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference foe New Bern on Friday evening. Keyshawn Cobb added 11 points. Seniors Alex Mooring...

Barnes knocks down 27 points in Rosewood's road loss

SMITHFIELD -- Zack Barnes dumped in a team-leading 27 points as Rosewood fell to Neuse Charter, 68-63, in a Carolina 1-A Conference game Friday evening. Ethan Chapin added 17 points for the Eagles. Rosewood (4-10 overall, 3-3 CC) concludes first-half...

Hobbton boys defeat North Duplin

CALYPSO -- Dexter Morrisey scored 18 points as North Duplin dropped a 66-54 decision to Carolina 1-A Conference foe Hobbton on Friday evening. Malik Cobb contributed 11 points for the Rebels. Teammates JP Payton, Luke Britt and Travaye Darden each...

Tigers erase 17-point deficit, defeat Gators

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek watched its 17-point halftime lead disappear in the third quarter, and eventually see James Kenan pull away for a 70-59 victory Friday evening. It was the first meeting of the season between the Gators and...

Rosewood matmen roll past Fike, Pamlico County

Seven Rosewood wrestlers each logged a 2-0 worksheet during non-conference action against Wilson Fike and Pamlico County on Friday evening. The Eagles prevailed in nine of 14 contested matches during their 49-22 romp over Fike. They received nine forfeits and...

Friday, January 15, 2016

Exams over, area schools back on hardwood tonight

The marquee boys' game is Goldsboro at Kinston. The two perennial powerhouses enter their first Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference meeting of 2016 ranked among the state's top five teams. The Cougars (13-0) are No. 2 in the NCPreps.com poll, while...

PREPS DIGEST: JV, middle schools

JV * Boys' basketball: Wayne Country Day 53, Pope John Paul 37 -- Marcus Metcalf paced the visiting Chargers with 16 points. Teammate Will Rose chipped in 13. WCDS (12-2 overall) plays host to Terra Ceia today. Middle schools...

Chargers fall to PJP in girls hoops action

GREENVILLE -- Lillian Freeman provided a team-best 14 points in Wayne Country Day's 51-43 loss to Pope John Paul II Catholic HS on the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference scene Thursday evening. Janae Jones added 11 points. The Chargers (3-12...

Hill, Atwood lead WCDS to road win

GREENVILLE -- PJ Hill and Cole Atwood pumped in 15 points apiece and Wayne Country Day snapped a three-game skid with a 71-45 romp over Pope John Paul II Catholic High School in a Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference game...

GEORGE WHITFIELD HALL of FAME: Phil Ford highlights list of inductees

rcoggins@newsargus.com Awed. Honored. Surprised. And even "wow." Those were some of the reactions from the latest inductees -- 21 in all -- scheduled for enshrinement into the George Whitfield Hall of Fame tonight inside the Goldsboro High School auditorium. The...

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Johnson, Styles spark UMO women in 3rd quarter

rcoggins@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive women's basketball team never refused to give up on its gameplan Wednesday evening. Emmanuel (Ga.) College constantly double- and triple-teamed Aerial Johnson in the paint. Ni'Ya Styles constantly drew the attention...

PREPS DIGEST: JV, middle schools

JV * Boys' basketball: Wayne Country Day 62, Freedom Christian 45 -- Marcus Metcalf drilled in a team- and game-high 33 points during the Chargers' road win. Nick Fletcher added 13 points. Wayne Country Day (11-2 overall) travels to...

WCDS girls fall to Freedom Christian in CPIC opener

FAYETTEVILLE -- Janae Jones and Lexi Jeffreys knocked down five points apiece in Wayne Country Day's 55-16 loss to Freedom Christian in the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference play Tuesday. The Chargers (3-10 overall, 0-1 CPIC) are the guests of...

Chargers drop road affair at Freedom Christian

FAYETTEVILLE -- PJ Hill led three players in double figures with 16 points during Wayne Country Day's 68-48 loss to perennial power Freedom Christian on Wednesday evening. It was the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference opener for both teams. Jamal...

Emmanuel men rally past UMO

jhayes@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Causality. Forecasting. Chaos theory. Or, as University of Mount Olive men's head basketball coach Joey Higginbotham referred to it, "the snowball effect." Regardless of one's pet description for the Trojans' 71-67 loss to visiting Emmanuel (Ga.)...

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Higginbotham wants to see 40 complete minutes from his team

jhayes@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- 3,946 miles. That is the rough equivalent of 14 visits to the nation's capital. It's also nearly two round-trip passages to the Superdome in New Orleans and one Donner Party-like junket to the Sitka Rocky Gutierrez...

"Rabbit" Fulghum elected to N.C. Sports Hall of Fame

Courtesy of NCSHF RALEIGH -- Eastern Wayne assistant baseball coach James "Rabbit" Fulghum is among the 53rd class slated for enshrinement in the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame. Fulghum, whose career spans five decades, will join Rod Brind'Amour, Eric "Sleepy"...

PREPS DIGEST: Middle schools

Middle schools * Girls' basketball: Greenwood 39, Rosewood 26 -- Aleesha Boyette paced the T-Birds' offense with 16 points. Teammate Victoria Royal added 10 points. Greenwood improved to 7-1 overall. * Boys' basketball: Greenwood vs. Rosewood (no score submitted) --...

UMO women eager to face Emmanuel (Ga.) again

rcoggins@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- University of Mount Olive's last previous meeting with Emmanuel (Ga.) College sticks out like a sore thumb. The Trojan women let a winnable game slip away. Emmanuel capitalized on a scoring drought, crashed the offensive glass...

Rosewood's Burton selected to play in inaugural Tarheel Cup

University of Mount Olive signee Lindsey Burton has been selected to participate in the inaugural Tarheel Cup, which recognizes the most stellar female and male golfers in North Carolina who will graduate this year. Burton is a senior at...

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

PREPS DIGEST: Middle schools

Middle schools * Girls' basketball: Norwayne 31, Eastern Wayne 22 -- Katie Parrish emerged as the Cobras' top scorer with a team- and game-high 12 points. Teammates Lydia Butler and Trinayah Harris collected eight and five points, respectively. Eastern...

Chargers, Eagles battle in Family Y pool

Wayne Country Day placed second overall with 78 points during the boys' team portion of an independent schools meet contested at B.G. Darden Natatorium inside the Goldsboro Family Y on Monday. The Chargers' foursome of Charlie Dees, Nathan Rigdon, Zan...

George Whitfield receives Clyde King Excellence in Coaching Award

jhayes@newsargus.com WILSON -- George Whitfield is still coaching. Not in the literal sense, because converted gym floors are not to be confused with regulation base pads, wilted rosin bags or summer floodlights glaring upon a rattling aluminum fence in straightaway...

Monday, January 11, 2016

Aycock ends up 2-3 at Firebird Duals

STANHOPE -- Injury-plagued Charles B. Aycock emerged victorious in just two of five matches during the annual Thomas Cowles Firebird Duals contested at Southern Nash. The Golden Falcons defeated Southern Nash (40-30) and Fuquay-Varina (63-18). However, they endured losses...

CBA girls dealt conference road defeat

WINTERVILLE -- Junior Lexie Edmundson pumped in 13 points during Charles B. Aycock's 47-46 loss to South Central in an Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference contest Friday evening. Senior Taylor Daniels added 11 points. Tanika Powell and Destiny Washington scored nine...

Wayne Christian girls fall to Neuse Christian

Neuse Christian cruised past Wayne Christian 54-11 in a Carolina Christian 1-A Conference game Friday evening. The Eagles (0-12 overall, 0-6 CCC) entertain Cape Fear Christian next Friday....

Lawhon's 17 points not enough for Conquerors to defeat Bethel

Jordan Lawhon tallied a team-high 17 points as Faith Christian endured a 44-38 defeat against Bethel Christian on the N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A scene Friday evening. Lawhon also grabbed eight rebounds. Meredith Skinner supplied 14 points and six rebounds....

Atkins scores 20 points in Saints' road loss

HOLLYWOOD CROSSROADS -- Zaria Atkins pumped in a team-best 20 points during Southern Wayne's 60-51 loss to Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference foe D.H. Conley on Friday evening. Iyahna Bess contributed a season-high 13 points. Ebony Fuller chipped in nine points....

Rosewood stays unbeaten on Carolina 1A girls hoops scene

CALYPSO -- Two-time defending Carolina 1-A Conference champion Rosewood built a 17-point lead after one quarter and cruised past North Duplin, 53-19, on Friday evening. Lexi Mercer and Jala Holloman paced the Eagles' offense with 17 points and 12 points,...

Goldsboro girls win ECC 2A opener

La GRANGE -- Goldsboro head basketball coach LaTina Bullock instructed her team during a timeout with three minutes left in the third quarter. Senior Tyona Moses listened. Moses stood at the top of the key and launched a 3-pointer to...

WCDS girls scratch in win column

Janae Jones scored six points as Wayne Country Day defeated Dash United, 36-18, on Friday evening. TT Ramsey and Lexi Jeffreys provided five points apiece. Lillian Freeman and Kaitlyn Daniels each scored four points. The Chargers (4-11 overall) opens their...

CBA boys drop second straight league contest

WINTERVILLE -- Senior Ian Best collected 14 points and Charles B. Aycock dropped a 51-39 decision to South Central in an Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference game Friday evening. Cameron Kornegay recorded 10 points. Ty Ford and Keyshawn Cobb posted seven...

Wayne Christian, Neuse Christian boys stage shootout

Wayne Christian held a three-point lead after one quarter, but Neuse Christian eventually claimed a 117-91 victory in Carolina Christian 1-A Conference play Friday evening. Ty McClain led the Eagles with a season-high 41 points, five rebounds, four assists and...

Bethel Christian defeats FCA boys

Richard Sasser led three Faith Christian players in double figures with 15 points and dished out seven assists during a 62-55 loss to N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A rival Bethel Christian on Friday evening. Raleigh Anderson contributed 14 points. Christian...

Goldsboro Heat boys shock New Life Storm on the road

SNOW HILL -- Gavin Portela logged a double-double -- 21 points, 10 rebounds -- as Goldsboro Heat stunned NCHEAC Eastern Conference leader New Life Storm on Friday evening. Portela also recorded four steals. Harman Kaler and Cameron Yarbrough scored 11...

Chapin (Ethan) sparks Rosewood on the road

CALYPSO -- Ethan Chapin tallied a team- and game-high 14 points during Rosewood's 54-45 conquest of Carolina 1-A Conference foe North Duplin on Friday evening. Chance Howard added 13 points. Dexter Morrisey knocked down 12 points for the Rebels, who...

Buchan, Gators keep poise in closing minutes

By RUDY COGGINS rcoggins@newsargus.com SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek's varsity girls basketball team is finally learning the importance of clock management and how to keep its poise in tight games. Plus, it's on a historical mission. Up by a single...

Princeton uses height to snap 14-game skid

By RUDY COGGINS rcoggins@newsargus.com SEVEN SPRINGS -- Out-sized in the paint on occasion this season, Princeton finally had the advantage Friday evening. Boy, did the Bulldogs use it. Grey McCoy pumped in a team- and career-high 23 points and pulled...

ECC 2A boys' opener: Goldsboro boys fall behind early, rallies to stay unbeaten

By BRANDON DAVIS bdavis@newsargus.com La GRANGE -- Undefeated and unable to score early, Goldsboro trailed 11-0 in the first quarter before senior Myron Carmon sank a field goal Friday evening. The Cougars warmed up offensively, but entered halftime without the...

PREPS DIGEST: JV, middle schools

JV * Boys' basketball: Wake Forest Lighthouse 47, Goldsboro Heat 44 (OT) -- Harman Kaler forced the overtime with a game-tying 3-pointer and ended the game with a double-double -- 13 points, 10 rebounds. Christian Yarbrough contributed 11 points, four...

Heat's Portela just misses a double-double in road win

Gavin Portela knocked down 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Goldsboro Heat defeated Wake Forest Lighthouse, 65-63, on Saturday evening. Cameron Yarbrough supplied 10 points and dished out seven assists. Harman Kaler pulled down 10 rebounds. Jordan Carswell...

Rosewood matmen pick up two wins at Firebird Duals

STANHOPE -- Rosewood claimed two dual-team victories during the annual Thomas Cowles Firebird Duals contested Saturday at Southern Nash. The Eagles knocked off perennial Big East 3-A powerhouse Rocky Mount (45-30) and cruised past Fuquay-Varina (60-21). Rosewood fell to Southern...

No longer a free agent, Rob Wooten signs with Atlanta

rcoggins@newsargus.com During his trips with the Milwaukee Brewers to Atlanta, Rob Wooten secretly did the iconic "tomahawk chop" out of the sight of his teammates while sitting in the bullpen. Now, Wooten has the chance to take the mound at...

Friday, January 8, 2016

Heller likes team's unselfishness, willingess to work as a unit

rcoggins@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Admittedly, fourth-year University of Mount Olive men's volleyball coach David Heller emerged almost speechless after a recent team meeting that involved discussing goals for the 2016 season. Not a single player mentioned anything he'd like to...

UMO men's volleyball notebook

PRESEASON RANKING * UMO is picked third in the 2016 preseason coaches' poll behind defending champion Pfeiffer University and Erskine (S.C.) College. The Trojans haven't won a regular-season championship since 2013 and senior libero Ryan Thomas is the lone holdover...

New year, new start for Goldsboro hoops teams

bdavis@newsargus.com A new year doesn't always bring in something completely new. The Goldsboro girls' new year resolution is to develop more confidence heading into tonight's Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference opener at North Lenoir. The Lady Cougars ended 2015 with a...

PREPS DIGEST: Middle schools

Middle schools * Girls' basketball: Rosewood 35, Grantham 33 (OT) -- Arzhane Dozier paced Rosewood's offense with a game-high 13 points. Kaitlyn Smith added six points. Teammates Laine Marak and Rylee Myers chipped in five points apiece. Morgan Kennedy...

Norris tallies 15 points in Eagles' CCC road loss

WILSON -- Kasey Norris pumped in a team-high 15 points during Wayne Christian's 47-30 loss to Carolina Christian 1-A Conference foe Community Christian on Thursday evening. Adayah Ginn added six points. Wayne Christian (0-11 overall, 0-5 CCC) plays host to...

Wayne Christian boys dismantle Community Christian

WILSON -- Wayne Christian led 23-5 after one quarter and dismantled Community Christian, 75-45, in a Carolina Christian 1-A Conference game Thursday evening. Tyrique McClain emerged as the Eagles' top scorer with 17 points. Austin Kornegay recorded a double-double with...

UMO women's lacrosse team earns preseason ranking

UMO Media Relations MOUNT OLIVE -- Defending Conference Carolinas champion University of Mount Olive is ranked No. 13 in the Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Division II women's preseason poll. The Trojan women return five all-conference, two IWLCA all-South Region team and three...

1 ON 1 CONVERSATION: CBA junior wrestler Joshua Wallace

Q: Last year at the state tournament, you walk off the mat and it's your last match of the season. What did you think about? A: As soon as I walked off the mat that last time, I was like...

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Saints, Warriors battle on the wrestling mat

rcoggins@newsargus.com Even though the final score reflects a different outcome, county rivals Eastern Wayne and Southern Wayne wrestled an even match Wednesday evening. Each earned six individual victories. The difference? The Warriors fielded a full team and benefited from two...

Eagles defeat Gators for 2nd time in 7 days

Another back-and-forth game. Another fight to the end. Meeting for the second time in seven days, Rosewood turned back Spring Creek, 53-45, in their Carolina 1-A Conference boys' basketball battle. Najee Young assisted sophmore Tahj Edwards on a 3-pointer, which...

Morrisey leads N. Duplin boys past Princeton

PRINCETON -- Dexter Morrisey knocked down 22 points as North Duplin turned back Princeton, 58-46, in a Carolina 1-A Conference game Wednesday evening. JP Payton contributed 11 points, while Schmid Romeus scored seven. Travaye Darden and Luke Britt chipped...

PREPS DIGEST: JV, middle schools

Boys' basketball: Rosewood 52, Spring Creek 44 -- Allen Hickman poured in a team-high 21 points in the Gators' home loss. Teammate Xavion Garcia registered 12 points. Rosewood did not submit individual statistics to the News-Argus. Middle schools * Girls'...

Golden Falcons defeat S. Central, fall to New Bern

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock won just two individual matches against New Bern and sustained some key injuries against South Central in an Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A tri-meet contested Wednesday evening. Cody Grenier pinned his respective opponent at 160 pounds and...

Rosewood matmen sweep tri-meet

Rosewood emerged victorious in 23 individual matches during a tri-meet sweep of Carolina 1-A/Two Rivers Conference foes Neuse Charter and Princeton on Wednesday evening. The Eagles defeated Princeton 66-12 and Neuse Charter 64-12. Jayden Thomas, Michael Daughtry, Kyle Balageo, Isaiah...

Eastern Wayne boys fall to North Lenoir

Ethan Molloy and Matthew Ray-Sutton each flirted with a double-double during Eastern Wayne's 63-60, non-conference loss to North Lenoir on Wednesday evening. Molloy provided 12 points and eight rebounds. Sutton contributed 12 points and nine rebounds. Marcus Rouse collected 12...

Bulldogs' offense comes alive after 1st quarter

PRINCETON -- Princeton outscored North Duplin 27-14 over the final three quarters and claimed a 41-22 victory on the Carolina 1-A Conference scene Wednesday evening. Kortney Edwards supplied eight points, seven rebounds and three steals for the Bulldogs. Chelsea Hawley...

Rosewood girls defeat Spring Creek

Rosewood senior Lexi Mercer sank her first shot -- a free throw -- five minutes into the opening quarter against Spring Creek on Wednesday evening. Not long after, the Elon University signee, with her parents by her side, stood at...

BOX: Rosewood girls @ Spring Creek

Spring Creek 15 7 21 11 - 54 Rosewood 20 22 21 15 - 78 SPRING CREEK (3-10 overall, 1-3 conference) Amber Buchan 1 7 3-4 26, Jordan Lane 1 0 0-3 2, Destiny Sutton 2 1 0-2 7,...

BOX: So. Wayne wrestling @ E. Wayne

Eastern Wayne 48 Southern Wayne 33 126 -- Equan Tune (EW) wbf Josh Raynor, 27 seconds; 132 -- Devante Jackson (SW) wbf Jaleek Lewis, 0:33; 138 -- Cainen Miller (EW) wbf Joel Espinoza 0:46; 145 -- Willie Leonard (SW) wbf...

BOX: Rosewood boys @ Spring Creek

Spring Creek 10 12 13 10 -- 45 Rosewood 10 18 7 18 -- 53 SPRING CREEK (2-11, 2-2 CC) Jamerion Dawson 4 1 3-5 14, Tahj Edwards 1 0 0-0 2, Will Rouse 1 1 0-1 5, Landon...

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Faith Christian girls defeat Trinity-Greenville

The ball crossed half court. Then it returned two feet from the center line. Faith Christian Academy's Chloe Mills received a backcourt violation early in the first quarter, but from that point on, she pushed her team forward to a...

Sasser scores 18 points, Conquerors down Trinity-Greenville

The unexpected can be a scary thing. Or it can prove beneficial. Faith Christian Academy senior Richard Sasser stole the spotlight from teammate Christian Mills in a 59-41 victory over Trinity Christian on Tuesday evening. Mills picked up two first-quarter...

C.B. Aycock boys fall to Conley

rcoggins@newsargus.com PIKEVILLE -- Down three possessions and with the ball, Charles B. Aycock dribbled upcourt and turned the ball over inside the free throw circle. D.H. Conley scored. Seconds later, the Golden Falcons committed a foul and Shykeef Daniels drained...

PREPS DIGEST: JV, middle schools

JV * Girls' basketball: J.H. Rose 42, Southern Wayne 30 -- Macayah Moore paced the Saints' offense with 10 points. Southern Wayne (10-3 overall) dropped to 1-2 in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play this season, and travels D.H. Conley...

WCDS boys, still short-handed, fall to Neuse Christian

Jamal Forde dropped in a team-high 25 points during Wayne Country Day's 83-67, non-conference loss to Neuse Christian on Tuesday evening. Justin Lofton-Russell added 18 points. Forde pulled down five rebounds. PJ Hill provided five steals and five assists. East...

Goldsboro Heat handed loss

Cameron Yarbrough emerged as Goldsboro Heat's top scorer with 18 points in a loss to Durham Flight on Tuesday evening. Gavin Portela provided 17 points, eight rebounds, seven blocked shots and four steals. Goldsboro (2-5 overall) faces New Life Storm...

Cobb's 17-point outing not enough for Rebels

WARSAW -- Malik Cobb dumped in a team-high 17 points as North Duplin fell to James Kenan, 60-43, in their Carolina 1-A Conference game contested at Harmon Gym on Tuesday evening. Luke Britt collected 11 points for the Rebels. Dexter...

Princeton boys erase deficit, but Hobbton prevails in triple OT

PRINCETON -- Princeton rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit, but couldn't complete the comeback in a 69-66, triple-overtime loss to Carolina 1-A Conference foe Hobbton on Tuesday evening. Demarcus Ellis led four Bulldogs in double figures with 19 points. Austin...

Barnes knocks down 30 points, but RHS boys endure defeat

SALEMBURG -- Zack Barnes torched the nets for a career- and game-high 30 points in Rosewood's 73-70 loss to Lakewood in a Carolina 1-A Conference affair Tuesday evening. Ethan Chapin and Noah Grantham provided nine points apiece. The Eagles (2-9...

WCDS girls drop road affair at Neuse Christian

Lillian Freeman collected a team-high 11 points in Wayne Country Day's 65-25, non-conference loss to Neuse Christian on Tuesday evening. The Chargers (2-9 overall) visit Lawrence Academy on Thursday....

James Kenan girls find offensive stride in 3rd quarter

WARSAW -- James Kenan posted 20 third-quarter points and cruised past North Duplin, 49-33, in Carolina 1-A Conference play Tuesday evening. Courtney Brock emerged as the Rebels' top scorer with 11 points. Rylee Pate knocked down eight points. Shaily McCarty...

Hobbton girls escape Princeton in double OT

PRINCETON -- Jazmain McClain, Kortney Edwards and Jordan Benson each flirted with a double-double during Princeton's 56-53, double-overtime loss to Carolina 1-A Conference foe Hobbton on Tuesday evening. McCain logged 14 points and eight rebounds. Edwards supplied nine points and...

Spring Creek girls lose heart-breaker on last-second shot

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Neuse Charter converted an offensive putback as time expired, and escaped "The Swamp" with a 53-52 victory over Carolina 1-A Conference foe Spring Creek on Tuesday evening. Tysha Teachey led the Gators with 13 points, 12 rebounds,...

Atkins provides more than half of Saints' offense in loss

DUDLEY -- Zaria Atkins dropped in 27 points during Southern Wayne's 56-47 loss to J.H. Rose on the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference scene Tuesday evening. Iyahna Bess chipped in nine points for the Saints. Southern Wayne (5-8 overall, 0-3 ECC)...

Mercer torches Leopards' defense for 38 points

SALEMBURG -- Lexi Mercer torched the nets for 38 points in a 73-61 triumph over Lakewood in Carolina 1-A Conference action Tuesday evening. Mercer made all five 3-point attempts, shot 11 of 12 from the free throw line, snared eight...

Batts sparks Conley's 4th-quarter spurt against CBA

PIKEVILLE -- Mackena Batts sparked an early 9-2 fourth-quarter run and D.H. Conley battled from behind to defeat Charles B. Aycock, 53-51, in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play Tuesday evening. Batts scored eight consecutive points, incuding a conventional three-point play,...

NCBCA recognizes Aycock's Charles Davis

rcoggins@newsargus.com PIKEVILLE -- The N.C. Baseball Coaches Association bestowed three honors upon the Charles B. Aycock baseball program. Head coach Charles Davis received the Region 2 Coach-of-the-Year award and was honored for 25 years of service with the Golden Falcons'...

BOXES: D.H. Conley @ C.B. Aycock girls/boys

BOYS D.H. Conley 8 18 13 12 -- 51 C.B. Aycock 10 9 10 8 -- 37 D.H. CONLEY (2-12, 1-1 ECC) Jahmois Barnhill 0 0 0-0 0, Skykeef Daniels 3 0 2-4 8, Jordan Staton 2 2 2-2 12,...

BOX: Trinity Christian vs. Faith Christian boys

BOYS Trinity Christian 12 9 12 8 -- 41 Faith Christian 16 9 18 16 -- 59 TRINITY CHRISTIAN (9-5) Jamison Dail 2 2 0-0 10, Hunter Miller 2 0 1-3 5, Carson Roeser 1 1 1-2 6, Devin Smith...

BOX: Faith Christian girls vs. Trinity

Trinity Christian 10 8 5 11 -- 34 Faith Christian 10 9 12 14 -- 45 TRINITY CHRISTIAN (6-2) Grace Hedgepath 1 0 0-0 2, Alyssa Pritehard 0 0 1-2 1, Lauren Weese 3 0 0-0 5, Hannah Woolard...

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Prep basketball returns in full force after holiday break

Eight teams are in action. Spring Creek entertains Neuse Charter, Rosewood travels to Lakewood, Hobbton visits Princeton and North Duplin is the guest of James Kenan on the Carolina 1-A Conference scene. The main feature for the Rosewood-Lakewood doubleheader is...

Agee scores 8 points, EW boys fall to Rams

SNOW HILL -- Eric Agee tallied eight points as Eastern Wayne dropped a 59-40, non-conference decision to Greene Central on Monday evening. Coriante Foye, Marcus Rouse and Ethan Molloy provided seven points apiece for the Warriors, who tumbled to 2-8...

Oates helps Warriors roll past Greene Central girls

SNOW HILL -- Taniyah Oates emerged as one of three players in double figures with 14 points during Eastern Wayne's 63-44, non-conference romp over Greene Central on Monday evening. Naheria Hamilton contributed 13 points, while Christina Perry chipped in 12....

Monday, January 4, 2016

Trojan men battle back, defeat Emmanuel; Trojan women fall

UMO Media Relations FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. -- Mike Moore knocked down a game-winning 3-pointer with 21 seconds left, and University of Mount Olive completed a 72-69 comeback triumph over Conference Carolinas men's basketball foe Emmanuel (Ga.) College. Moore finished with...

A LOOK BACK: Top News-Argus stories of 2015

By RUDY COGGINS rcoggins@newsargus.com Imagine driving down Interstate 40 and just before your turn, you see red-and-white lights flashing, hear horns blaring and notice people standing and cheering on an overhead bridge. You take the exit, make the left-hand turn...

2K16 FALCON INVITATIONAL: Different storylines highlight individual tournament

rcoggins@newsargus.com PIKEVILLE -- The experienced wrestlers, as usual, handled their respective duties as they've done all season once they've stepped onto the wrestling match. But a few shorelines developed from the 2016 installment of the Falcon Invitational on Saturday afternoon....

Friday, January 1, 2016

FALCON INVITATIONAL: Aycock's Allen starting to see young team mature

rcoggins@newsargus.com PIKEVILLE -- RJ Allen knew it was just a matter of time before Charles B. Aycock's wrestling team started to hit its stride. He got his first glimpse 10 days ago when the Golden Falcons dethroned two-time defending Pilkington...

SB/MOPWC: Goldsboro boys top Parrott, win 2nd tourney crown

By RUDY COGGINS rcoggins@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Once Goldsboro increased its defensive intensity and converted plays in transition, the pipes finally burst for Parrott Academy on Wednesday evening. The Cougars needed a halftime "talk" first. "I don't know if maybe...

SB/MOPWC: Eastern Wayne boys take 3rd

By RUDY COGGINS rcoggins@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Eastern Wayne started with intensity, but struggled to finish off South Lenoir on Wednesday evening. In fact, the Warriors almost ... almost ... let this one slip away. Ethan Molloy and KK Best...

BOX: Spring Creek-Rosewood boys

GAME 9 Spring Creek    21    18    9    13    --    59 Rosewood    20    12    15    15    --    62 SPRING CREEK Najee Young 1 4 5-6 19, Will Rouse 1 3 0-0 11, DeVante Williams 0 3 0-0 9, Jamerion Dawson 1...

BOX: South Lenoir-Eastern Wayne boys

GAME 11 South Lenoir    11    23    15    17    --    66 Eastern Wayne    15    24    14    16    --    69 SOUTH LENOIR Hunter 1 0 0-0 2, Tyrese Williams 1 0 1-2 3, Dajavian Outlaw 3 0 2-2 8, Roger Monroe 0...

BOX: Goldsboro-Parrott boys

CHAMPIONSHIP Goldsboro    25    14    19    20    --    78 Parrott    10    14    11    12    --    47 GOLDSBORO Kisheem Faison 4 2 1-2 15, Myron Carmon 1 1 1-3 8, Jalin Thomas 4 2 0-0 14, Nakia Atkins 4 0 3-6 11,...

SB/MOPWC: Eagles hold off Gators

By BRANDON DAVIS bdavis@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Rosewood head basketball coach Daniel Mitchell had a man-to-man conversation with his players at halftime. Literally. The Eagles halted Spring Creek' first-half shooting from the perimeter and claimed a 62-59 victory in the seventh-place...

SB/MOPWC: WCDS boys knock off Southern Wayne

By BRANDON DAVIS bdavis@newsargus.com MOUNT OLIVE -- Just one word explains Wednesday's basketball game between Southern Wayne and Wayne Country Day. Craziness. Questionable calls and officiating mixups encompassed the Charger's 65-55 victory over the Saints in the fifth-place game of...

Saints' Atkins notches double-double against Warriors

JACKSONVILLE -- Zaria Atkins posted a double-double as Southern Wayne upended county rival Eastern Wayne, 50-44, in the East Coast Classic on Wednesday afternoon. Atkins poured in a game-high 23 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, dished out six assists and...

Rosewood girls finish ECCC runners-up

JACKSONVILLE -- Northside forced 18 first-half turnovers and claimed the East Coast Christmas Classic championship with a 62-37 decision over Rosewood on Wednesday afternoon. All-tournament selection Lexi Mercer finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and six steals for the Eagles....

Aycock girls dominate Richlands

JACKSONVILLE -- Taylor Daniels led four Charles B. Aycock players in double figures with 13 points during a 63-37 romp over Richlands in the East Coast Christmas Classic on Wednesday afternoon. Lexie Edmundson knocked down 12 points. Mookie Powell and...

James Kenan girls explode offensively in 4th quarter

BEAULAVILLE -- James Kenan posted 29 fourth-quarter points and cruised past county foe North Duplin, 55-41, in a holiday tournament game Wednesday evening. Rylee Pate emerged as the Rebels' top scorer with 21 points. Courtney Brock added seven points, followed...

Rosewood matmen earn non-conference split

Rosewood split a non-conference tri-meet against perennial 4-A powerhouse Holly Springs and former league foe Ayden-Grifton on Wednesday evening. The Eagles defeated Ayden-Grifton 48-30, but lost to Holly Springs 39-33. Blake Dean, heavyweight Kaleb Taylor, Chris Hill, Timothy Decatur-Luker, Tanner...

North Duplin boys fall to Wallace-Rose Hill

BEAULAVILLE -- Wallace-Rose Hill seized a 24-point halftime lead and handed North Duplin an 84-65 defeat in a holiday tournament game Wednesday evening. Luke Britt and Malik Cobb pumped in 14 points apiece for the Rebels, who dropped to 2-6...

BOX: Southern Wayne-WCDS boys

GAME 10 at Kornegay Arena WCDS    13    24    14    14    --    65 Southern Wayne    7    9    24    15    --    55 WAYNE COUNTRY DAY Tony Townsend 2 0 7-9 11, Justin Lofton-Russell 4 2 0-2 14, PJ Hill 1 1 3-6...

JARRAN REED: He and Alabama teammates have some unfinished business

By RUDY COGGINS rcoggins@newsargus.com ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jarran Reed could have easily declared for the NFL draft after a stellar junior campaign at the University of Alabama. Pro scouts salivated over the 300-pound physical lineman who can clog any hole...

AP: Top 10 for 2015

NEW YORK (AP) -- American Pharoah's sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes for horse racing's first Triple Crown since 1978 was selected the sports story of the year Thursday in an annual vote conducted by The Associated...

1 ON 1 CONVERSATION: Spring Creek's Kane Geelen

Q: Why are you going to St. Andrews? A: I really like the student to ratio, so I can have 1-on-1 time instead of being in a huge lecture hall with 800 different students. It's a small school, which is...