State poll: Boys' tennis

N.C. Boys' Tennis Polls
(Observer-area teams in bold)

Class 4A
Team Points
1) East Chapel Hill 68
2) Raleigh Millbrook 58
3) Raleigh Broughton 52
4) Ardrey Kell 49
5) Greensboro Page 40
6) R.J. Reynolds 38
7) Myers Park 23
8) Green Hope 19
9) Greensboro Grimsley 10
10) Fayetteville Terry Sanford 9

Others receiving votes: Chapel Hill 8, Wakefield 5, Watauga 3, Providence 2 .

Class 3A
Team Points
1) Charlotte Catholic 72
2) Lake Norman 70
3) Western Alamance 59
4) Southern Nash 55
5) Charles B. Aycock 36
6) D.H. Conley 30
7) Mooresville 29
8) T.C. Roberson 24
9) Union Pines 23
10)Marvin Ridge 17

Others receiving votes: Northern Nash 8, Western Guilford 8, Gastonia Forestview 3, Burlington Williams 2, Nash Central 2, Southern Alamance 1, Southwest Guilford 1.

Class 2A
Team Points
1) Cardinal Gibbons 80
2) First Flight 57
3) Newton-Conover 54
4) Greene Central 49
5) Salisbury 39
6) Cedar Ridge 34
7) Ledford 31
8) Durham School of the Arts 21
9) Lexington 19
10) Tarboro 16

Others receiving votes: Patton 15, Brevard 9, East Duplin 7, John A. Holmes 4, Shelby 3, Ashe County 2.

Class 1A
Team Points
1) Mount Airy 37
NC School of Science & Math 37
3) Topsail 29
4) East Wilkes 23
Gastonia Highland 23
6) Hendersonville 20
7) Bishop McGuinness 13
8) Alleghany 11
Jordan-Matthews 11
10) Raleigh Charter 7

Others receiving votes: East Montgomery (4), Ayden-Grifton (3), Misenheimer Gray Stone Day (1), North Johnston (1).

- Cliff Mehrtens

Memphis still leads for John Wall

Memphis is still the leader for Raleigh Word of God basketball point guard John Wall.

The 6-foot-4 point guard visited Duke on Sunday and he said he learned a lot about the Duke program from Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski.

"It was great to meet Coach K and talk him to him," Wall said Monday night. "Everybody is always saying what he says or what he thinks, but I was good to talk to him and get the answers to my questions.

"He showed me around campus and we were able to talk very frankly. I learned a lot about the program."

Wall said Krzyzewski told him that Duke program would use him in an offense similar to the one used by the Blue Devils when Jason Williams was the point guard.

"He told me the program had not had a point guard in a while that could penetrate and create," Wall said. "Duke has lots of great players and players who can really score. I would be surrounded by great players there."

Wall said Memphis is still his leader, even though there are questions about head coach John Calipari's interest in the Kentucky head coaching job.

"I talked to Memphis [Sunday] and they said it was too early to know what will happen," Wall said. "I'm waiting."

Wall has Memphis, Baylor, Duke, N.C. State, Kansas and Miami on his list. He has scheduled a visit to Miami on April 22.

Before then, he plans to play for the U.S. team in the Nike Hoop Summit Game in Portland, Ore., on April 11 against the World Select Team. He also plans to play in the Jordan Brand All-American Game on April 18 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Last Friday, Wall was named as The Associated Press boys high school basketball player of the year in North Carolina. -- Tim Stevens, (Raleigh) News & Observer

North Meck's Padgett new football coach at Concord

Glen Padgett is the new football coach at Concord High. He replaces longtime coach E.Z. Smith who recently retired.

Padgett (pictured above in a 2007 staff file photo) is the 19th coach at the school. He comes from North Mecklenburg, where he led the Vikings to seven straight playoff appearances.

Read more about this breaking story in Tuesday's Observer.

-- Langston Wertz Jr.

After de-commiting to N.C. State, CJ Leslie weighs options

CARY — C.J. Leslie is not in a hurry.

After committing to N.C. State as a freshman, the Word of God junior wants to take a second look at his college options. As the 16th-rated prospect in the country in the class of 2010, Leslie has plenty of options.

"I wanted to open it up and see what else is out there," Leslie said Saturday at Dave Telep's Carolina Challenge in Cary. "I wanted to make sure I didn't miss any opportunities."

Leslie, a 6-8 forward, said he was too young when he made his initial verbal commitment. Leslie said the Wolfpack is still on his list but he has "no favorite." Leslie said he has offers from "everybody" and has recently talked to Florida, Memphis, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Miami.

"I want to look at everybody before I make my final decision and make sure that's the place that I really want to go," Leslie said. "There may be something else out there and I would have missed out on that if I had stayed committed [to N.C State]."

Leslie showed flashes of the ability that has so many colleges pursuing his services. The tall and skinny forward hit a quick turn-around in traffic, a move that showed touch, in his first game on Saturday with Team Josh Howard. In the same game, he rained in a 3-pointer from the left corner, showing some range.

Leslie has a busy summer planned with trips to the Vince Carter Skills Academy (June in Orlando), LeBron James Skills Academy (July in San Diego) and NBPA top 100 camp. He said he will make his official visits in the fall before making a final decision.

"I want to take my time," Leslie said. "I'm going to weigh my options after all the visits. I'm just focused on finding a good team that's a good fit for me."

-- JP Giglio, Raleigh News & Observer

W. Charlotte's Caldwell named state player of year

Christal Caldwell spent a year thinking about making up for a missed chance to lead West Charlotte to a state championship. Now, with that title in hand, Caldwell can also celebrate being considered North Carolina's top player.

The senior guard was named the 2008-09 Associated Press women's prep basketball player of the year for the state on Friday, an honor that comes two weeks after guiding the Lions to the Class 4-A championship.

The Florida signee earned eight of a possible 16 votes from sports writers across the state and was the leading vote-getter on the AP All-State women's team for the second straight season. She easily outdistanced Gastonia Forestview's Shannon Smith, who finished with three votes after averaging 26 points to help her team reach the 3-A final.

Caldwell averaged 19 points and eight rebounds on the season, but upped her play during the playoffs to help West Charlotte win the first North Carolina High School Athletic Association championship in program history. It came one year after the Lions lost in the title game to Fayetteville Westover by just five points.

“At the beginning of the school year, the whole time I was just thinking about when basketball season would start,” Caldwell said. “Then the season started and from then on, that's all me and my teammates were thinking about. We knew if we did what we were supposed to do, we could get there.”

With help from AP All-State second-team performer Nikki Burton, Caldwell upped her averages to 24 points and 10 rebounds per game in the postseason. She finished that run with 19 points in the final, earning MVP honors for guiding the Lions (28-3) past Durham Hillside 78-60.

“She just did anything to help the team win,” West Charlotte coach Reggie Mobley said. “She wants to get better each and every year. She's worked hard on different facets of the game. That work ethic, I had seen it in very few kids. It sort of transferred to the rest of the team.”

The title was the perfect reward for Caldwell, who worked out more and tried to eat better over the past year so she would be better prepared to win that championship.

“I had to step up for my team,” she said. “I had to go harder in practice and do other things outside the gym that I knew would come back and help my team. I just pushed myself a little bit harder so I could be there and do what I had to do.”

WALL NAMED BOYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

John Wall is regarded as one of the nation's best recruits. It's no surprise then that he's been voted the top player in North Carolina.

The Raleigh Word of God point guard was named the 2008-09 Associated Press men's prep basketball player of the year Friday. The senior earned six of a possible 16 votes from sports writers across the state, edging Kinston junior Reggie Bullock for the honor.

Bullock, a 6-foot-7 guard who has committed to North Carolina, had five votes after averaging 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. Winston-Salem Mt.

Tabor's C.J. Harris finished third with three votes; the Wake Forest recruit averaged 23 points per game to lead his team to the Class 4-A championship.

Wall averaged 21 points, seven rebounds and nine assists for a team that reached the 1-A final of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association playoffs. The 6-4 playmaker is ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the country by both rivals.com and scout.com.

Word of God, a private school with about 250 students, declined to make Wall available for an interview with the AP when notified of his award.

In a recent interview with a local newspaper, Wall said he began to realize how talented he was while playing for a YMCA team as a 10-year-old.

“Everybody said I was cheatin', that I was too old to play against ‘em,” he told The News & Observer of Raleigh in a story published last month.

Wall remains uncommitted on a college choice, though he has been recruited by Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Memphis and North Carolina State among others. He has said he wants to play in a fast-paced offense.

“If you go to a school where you don't get along with the coaches, y'all are having a lot of arguments, you're not going to play, you might take more years than you expect to go to the next level,” he told The News & Observer. “I need a coach to push me to make sure I get to the next level as soon as possible.” -- Observer News Services

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

• More prep honors.

Area players fill roster for Carolina Challenge

More than 30 Observer-area players are part of an 81-man field at Saturday's Carolina Challenge at Cary Academy. National recruiting analyst Dave Telep annually invites the state's top freshmen, sophomores and juniors for a day of skill evaluation and gives the kids a chance to go head-to-head against the state's best.

Here are invited players.

CLASS OF 2010
1. DeMon Brooks, 6-6, PF, Charlotte Hopewell
2. Reggie Bullock, 6-7, G, Kinston
3. Jay Canty, 6-5, SG, Ragsdale
4. James Carlton, 6-7, PF, Winterville
5. Emanuel Chapman, 6-0, PG, Raleigh Enloe
6. Justin Cheek, 6-2, SG/PG, Ardrey Kell
7. Luke Cothron, 6-8, PF, Red Springs Flora McDonald
8. Luke Davis, 6-0, PG, Raleigh Ravenscroft
9. Manny Dias, 6-8, F, Greensboro Veritas Sports Academy
10. Jordan Downing, 6-5, SF, Hopewell
11. Jarell Eddie, 6-7, SF, Concord Cannon
12. Tevin Friday, 6-5, SF, United Faith
13. Jonathan Frye, 6-4, G, Northern Guilford
14. Kadeem Green, 6-8, PF, United Faith
15. Damontre Harris, 6-9, C, Fayetteville Christian
16. Jeremy Ingram, 6-1, SG, East Mecklenburg
17. Jeremy Jeffers, 6-5, SF, Greenfield School
18. Sebastian Koch, 6-8, SG, Arden Christ School
19. Paul Larsen, 6-6, PF, Lake Norman
20. Leek Leek Malual, 6-6, SF, Veritas Sports Academy
21. C.J. Leslie, 6-8, PF, Raleigh Word Of God
22. Stargell Love, 6-2, G, Winston-Salem Quality Education
23. TaShawn Mabry, 6-6, SF, Rocky Mount
24. George MaNgoue, 6-8, C, Forsyth Country Day
25. Reco McCarter, 6-7, SF, Goldsboro Wayne Country Day
26. Ian Miller, 6-2, PG, United Faith
27. Akil Mitchell, 6-6, SF/PF, Charlotte Christian
28. Weston Murphy, 6-7, PF, Apex
29. Reggie Price, 6-3, SG/PG, Lake Norman
30. Corey Raley-Ross, 6-3, SG/PG, Gaston Day
31. Jonathan Rice, 6-6, SF, Fayetteville Academy
32. Brian Richardson, 6-5, SG/PG, Wilson Greenfield
33. Melvin Tabb, 6-8, PF, Raleigh Enloe
34. J.T. Terrell, 6-3, SG, Burlington Cummings
35. Anthony Thomas, 6-5, SF, Winston-Salem Prep
36. Aaron Toomey, 6-1, PG, Bishop-McGuinness
37. Daryl Traynham, 5-9, PG, Vance
38. Jermaine White, 6-6, PF, Butler
39. David Wishon, 7-1, C, Concord
40. Brennan Wyatt, 5-10, PG, Greensboro Dudley
41. Jarrick Brown, 6-2, SG, Raleigh Millbrook

CLASS OF 2011
1. Keith Bellfield, 6-5, SG, Concord Cannon
2. Deuce Bello, 6-3, SG/PG, High Point Westchester Academy
3. Devince Boykins, 6-3, SG/PG, East Rutherford
4. John Cannon, 6-10, C, Burnsville Mt Heritage
5. Chris Coleman, 6-9, C, Durham Mt Zion
6. Bishop Daniels, 6-1, SG/PG, Raleigh Word of God
7. Jacoby Davis, 6-0, SG/PG, Vance
8. Monroe Faulkner, 6-4, SF/SG, Roxboro Person
9. Anthony Gill, 6-8, PF, Charlotte Christian
10. P.J. Hairston, 6-6, SF/SG, Greensboro Dudley
11. Donta Harper, 6-6, SG/PG, Winterville South Central
12. Tony Kimbro, 6-4, SG, Arden Christ School
13. Jacob Lawson, 6-7, PF, Northern Guilford
14. Deng Leek, 7-0, C, Veritas Sports Academy
15. Travion Leonard, 6-7, C, Raleigh Wakefield
16. Quincy Miller, 6-7, SF/PF, W-S Quality Education
17. Tony Menton, 6-6, SF/PF, Waddell
18. Jacquise Moore, 6-1, SG/PG, Concord
19. Michael Neal, 6-1, SG, Northern Guilford
20. Reggie Perkins, 6-1, PG/SG, Western Guilford
21. Keynan Pittman, 6-9, PG, Burgaw Pender
22. Marshall Plumlee, 6-10, PF, Arden Christ School
23. Tyler Poole, 6-7, PF/SF, Hickory
24. Jervon Pressley, 6-7, C/PF, Waddell
25. Marquis Rankin, 6-1, PG, Vance
26. Jordan Robertson, 6-7, C/PF, Greensboro Day
27. Jackson Simmons, 6-8, PF, Smoky Mountain
28. Anthony Stitt, Butler, 6-1, PG, Butler
29. Bernard Sullivan, 6-7, PF, North Mecklenburg
30. Dezmine Wells, 6-4, SF, Raleigh Word of God
31. Terry Whisnant, 6-3, SF, Cherryville
32. Anthony Williams, 6-8, C, Whiteville Waccamaw Academy
33. Terrence Williams, 6-4, SG/SF, West Mecklenburg
34. Chris Wilson, 6-2, PG, Fayetteville Sanford

CLASS OF 2012
1. Reggie Dillard, 6-5, SG, Greensboro Dudley
2. Julius Hamilton, 6-3, SG, West Charlotte
3. Madison Jones, 5-11, PG, Raleigh Ravenscroft
4. Tyler Lewis, 5-10, PG, Forsyth Country Day
5. Josh Mellette, 6-4, PF, Sanford Southern Lee
6. Braxton Ogbueze, 6-0, SG/PG, Vance
7. Josh Smith, 6-7, C, Bessemer City

POSTED BY OBSERVER SPORTS AT 3:17 PM 1 COMMENTS

Hickory's Trevin Parks is All-District 10 player of the year

The N.C. Basketball Coaches Association All-District 10 Team

1st Team 2nd Team
Trevin Parks (Hickory) Darius Howell (Cherryville)
Preston Holmes (Forestview) Graham McRory (St. Stephens)
Cody Shuffler (East Burke) DeJuan Means (Forestview)
Eric Mayo (Shelby) Queralos Murray (Shelby)
Terry Whisnant (Cherryville) Jack Sumner (Forestview)
Nick Stamp (Shelby)

Player of the Year---Trevin Parks (Hickory)
Co-Coaches of the Year---Aubrey Hollifield (Shelby) and Dan Ghent (Forestview)

Myers Park's Turner wins District 9 player of the year

Myers Park's Odell Turner is the N.C. Coaches Association All-District 9 Boys basketball player of the year.

Turner, a 6-8 center, led the Mustangs to their first N.C. 4A Western Regional berth in 19 years. He averaged 17 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists helping the Mustangs win the Southwestern 4A regular season championship.

Hopewell's Eric Davis is the coach of the year after leading the Titans to an unbeaten regular season and a berth in the N.C. 4A state semifinals.


The All District 9 Boys Basketball Team
(as selected by N.C. Basketball Coaches Association)
First Team: Odell Turner, Myers Park, Sr.; Brandyn Curry, Hopewell, Sr.; Marquise Rankin, Vance, So.; Jacquise Moore, Concord, So.; Reggie Arceneaux, Olympic, So.
Second Team: A.J. Evans, Butler, Sr.; Quan Alexander, Myers Park, Sr.; Mark Clyburn, Marshville Forest Hills, Sr.; Jacoby Davis, Vance, So.; J.D. Ey, Myers Park, Sr.
Player of the year: Turner, Myers Park
Coach of the year: Eric Davis, Hopewell

Queen City Relays Canceled Due to Weather

Myers Park athletics director Greg Clewis said the school has canceled Saturday's scheduled Queen City Relays track event due to weather.

In an email, Clewis wrote "With the impending forecast for severe weather over the next 24 hours, the present condition of the facility and trying to be proactive and err on the side of caution for safety of student athletes, volunteers and spectators, the 53rd annual running of the Queen City Relays scheduled for Saturday 28 March 2008 at Myers Park High in Charlotte, NC has been cancelled. The planned reception for former track and field coach Stuart B. Allen will go on as scheduled at 11:30 am in the Art Gallery located on the campus of Myers Park High."

Shelby's Hollifield is AP coach of the year

Shelby’s Aubrey Hollifield is the 2009 Associated Press N.C. All-State boys basketball coach of the year.

Hollifield got six of a possible 16 votes from a statewide media panel after leading the 2A Golden Lions to the first N.C. state title in school history. Winston-Salem Mount Tabor’s Andy Muse (four votes), who led his school to a 4A state title, was runner-up. Gastonia Forestview’s Dan Ghent , whose team reached the 3A final for the first time, was one of three coaches to get two votes.

The girls coach of the year was East Davidson’s Terry Allmon, who led his team to a 31-1 record, which included a 37-game win streak that started last season and ended in the regional playoffs. Allmon remained with his team this year despite suffering from prostate cancer. He had surgery Wednesday.

He received eight of 16 votes from the media panel. West Charlotte’s Reggie Mobley got one vote after leading the Lions to their first state title in 71 years.

At Shelby, Hollifield’s team ended several near-miss seasons. The Golden Lions reached the 2006 finals under Ken Napier, losing by three to Burlington Cummings in the finals. They lost in the regional playoffs the past two seasons.

This year, Shelby won its last 13 games including a 62-50 win over Pittsboro Northwood to win the championship.

“This has been a great year. We've had good years the last four years – we've been right there,” Hollifield said. “We had a core of five boys that were with me since their sophomore year, this being their senior year … seeing those guys develop and come into their own.”

The Associated Press contributed.
-- Langston Wertz Jr.

Myers Park, Ardrey Kell postpone spring sports events today

MYERS PARK
Baseball/softball: East Meck at Myers Park has been postponed until April 1 at Myers Park (jv/varsity)

Boys tennis: Butler at Myers Park has been postponed and rescheduled for March 30 at Myers Park (Monday)

Girls Soccer: Providence at Myers Park has been postponed and a requested reschedule date is March at Myers Park (jayvee/varsity)

ARDREY KELL
Tennis match with Independence at Independence has been postponed until next Wednesday, April 1.
South Meck Soccer has postponed today's match at Smeck…they will reschedule and try for next week if possible.
Baseball and softball will try to make a go of it today (weather permitting)…
Baseball at 4:30pm, and softball at 4pm.
If baseball/softball get rained out, we will let you know what will be determined.

ALSO
Hickory St. Stephens at Patton softball has been rescheduled to April 30 at Patton

West Charlotte's Christal Caldwell leads voting for N.C. AP All-State team

Kinston's Reggie Bullock and West Charlotte's Christal Caldwell were the leading vote-getters on The Associated Press All-State prep basketball teams for North Carolina.

Bullock was a first-team pick on 14 of 16 ballots and earned 30 points in voting by sports writers across the state in results released Wednesday. The 6-foot-7 junior has committed to North Carolina and averaged 23 points per game.

Caldwell, who helped West Charlotte to the first state championship in school history, was a first-team pick on 13 ballots and earned 28 points to lead the women's first team. It was the second straight year the Florida recruit had led the voting for the women's team.

Votes for the first team counted as two points, while second-team picks were one point.


MEN
FIRST TEAM
Reggie Bullock, Kinston (30), 6-7, G, Jr.
C.J. Harris, Winston-Salem Mt. Tabor (28), 6-3, G, Sr.
John Wall, Raleigh Word of God (24), 6-4, PG, Sr.
Ryan Kelly, Raleigh Ravenscroft (20), 6-10, F, Sr.
J.T. Terrell, Burlington Cummings (20), 6-3, G, Jr.
SECOND TEAM
Ian Miller, Charlotte United Faith (18), 6-3, G, Jr.
Eric Mayo, Shelby (12), 6-4, F, Sr.
Mason Plumlee, Arden Christ School (11), 6-11, F, Sr.
Aaron Toomey, Kernersville McGuinness (8), 6-1, PG, Jr.
Akeem Richmond, Southern Lee (7), 6-2, G, Sr.
–––
WOMEN
FIRST TEAM
Christal Caldwell, West Charlotte (28), 5-11, G, Sr.
Keyrra Gillespie, Statesville (25), 5-6, PG, Sr.
Asia Williams, Durham Hillside (25), 5-11, G/F, Sr.
Erinn Thompson, Kernersville McGuinness (22), 6-3, C, Sr.
Shannon Smith, Gastonia Forestview (21), 5-7, G, Jr.
SECOND TEAM
Anna Freeman, East Davidson (20), 6-1, F, Sr.
Katie Paschal, Williamston (11), 5-7, G, Jr.
Krista Gross, Concord Cannon (11), 6-1, G, Sr.
Eleisha Hairston, Reidsville (11), 6-1, F, Sr.
Nikki Burton, West Charlotte (10), 5-10, F, Sr. AP-ES-03-25-09 1502EDT

Myers Park postpones spring sports events today

Due to rainy conditions, Myers Park High has postponed today's tennis match at Mallard Creek. It will be played April 22.

Also, the completion of a suspended baseball game with Weddington, scheduled for today, will be rescheduled for a later date.

Forestview's Smith is District 11 player of the year

Gastonia Forestview's Shannon Smith who led her team to the N.C. 3A girls final is the N.C. Basketball Coaches Association District 11 player of the year. Her coach, Ken Beaty, is coach of the year. 1st Team
First name	Last name	Grade	School
Shannon	Smith	11	Forestview
Kelsey	Harris	11	Forestview
Ali	Ford	12	Freedom
Elizabeth	Ross	12	Draughn
Autumn	Ward	11	McDowell
2nd Team
First name	Last name	Grade	School
Chelsea	Connelly	11	Freedom
Brittany	Yancey	12	Draughn
Xandi	Gellman	11	McDowell
Shannon	Hines	9	RS Central
Natalie	Baker	12	East Burke
3rd Team
First name	Last name	Grade	School
Mercedes	Davis	9	RS Central
Ariel	Bumgardner	11	Cherryville

Sherrill is District 11 player of the year

Charlotte recruit K.J. Sherrill, a 6-8 forward, signed to Charlotte, is the N.C. Basketball Coaches Association District 11 player of the year. Here is the all-district team:

First Team

KJ Sherrill- Player of the Year in District 11 as well- West Rowan
Tommy Spagnolo- Ashe County
Ryan Hargrave- Alexander Central
Brandon Abel- Salisbury
Drew Absher- Davie County

Second Team

Jeff Newell- Watauga
Darien Rankin- Salisbury
Daniel Waln- Ashe County
Shawn Lester- Mooresville
Kevin Canevari- Lake Norman

Third Team

Kaleb Kimber- West Rowan
Paul Larsen- Lake Norman
Tatum Lemly- Ashe County
Reggie Price- Lake Norman

Coach of the Year- Jason Causby – Salisbury

Pack's Sidney Lowe give recruit "scholarship of his dreams"

Raleigh Athens Drive forward Josh Davis said he expected his recruitment to pick up this spring.

He had been contacted by some high major college basketball programs, and although none had offered him a scholarship, he still thought there might be some interest.

If no attractive offers came his way, Davis harbored thoughts that he might need to attend prep school for a year to further improve his basketball skills.

But Davis' dream became reality on Monday when N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe offered Davis the scholarship that he had wanted for years.

"This is what I have been hoping for," Davis said Tuesday. "Ever since I was in the ninth grade, I've wanted to play for State."

A volunteer assistant coach at Athens Drive took Davis to a Wolfpack game against Virginia three years ago. Davis decided that night he wanted to play for N.C. State.

"I knew State has been looking at me since they saw me at an elite camp," Davis said. "But it got serious very quickly."

On Saturday, Davis played for the North Carolina all-stars in the Carolinas All-Star Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. He led the North Carolina all-stars to a 106-82 victory over the South Carolina team. He made all five of his field-goal attempts and set a game record with 10 rebounds.

Davis was hoping that Lowe would offer him a scholarship when they arranged for a Monday on-campus visit.

"He talked about how they had been following me and where I could fit in on the team," Davis said. "We had talked about 15 or 20 minutes, and then he offered me."

The 6-foot-6 athlete is projected as a small forward, but he said Lowe believes he can defend several positions.

"A lot of it is going to depend on the matchups," Davis said. "I just want to get there and contribute any way that I can."

Davis averaged 25.1 points for the 22-6 Jaguars.

"This is a great opportunity for Josh," said Dave Telep, the director of recruiting for Scout.com. "The chance to play in your hometown for your dream school is a great opportunity for Josh.

"Now, he has to work his tail off and take advantage of this chance."

Davis joins an incoming class that includes 6-7 power forward Richard Howell of Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler, 6-4 shooting guard Lorenzo Brown of Roswell (Ga.) Centennial, and 6-5 shooting guard Scott Wood of Marion, Ind.

"I think it is a great class," Davis said. "I really think we are going to have a good team next year."

- Raleigh News & Observer

Butler's Stewart is All District Girls Player of the year

Here is the N.C. Basketball Coaches Association District 9 team

Here is District 9 ALL- DISTRICT Players
Player of Year --- Celeste Stewart
Coach of Year ---- Brady Monismith

1st Team
Celeste Stewart Sr. Butler 16.3 ppg 4rpg 3.9 apg 3.6 spg 44FG% 65FT% signed ECU
Monet Tellier Jr. East Meck 14.1ppg 7.4rpg 2.6apg 4.6spg 54FG% 68FT%
Danaira Erwin-Spencer Sr. East Meck 15.3ppg 4.2rpg 2.8apg 3.4spg 46FG% 69FT% signed Radford
Allie Cashion Sr. Weddington 17.0ppg 4.1rpg 2.5apg 2.5spg 44FG% 74FT% Signed App. St (Softball)
Jaquaria Forney Sr. Butler 14.0ppg 7.0rpg 3.4apg 3.1spg 46FG% 62FT% Signed UNCC
Kelsee Cheek Soph. J.M. Robinson 18.2ppg 4.3rpg 3.8apg 3.0spg 45FG% 78FT%

2nd Team
Aliyah Kilpatrick Fresh East Meck 12.3ppg 5.4rpg 3.3apg 3.6spg 45FG% 73FT%
Tabby Koerner Jr. J.M. Robinson 13.8ppg 10.1rpg 1.3apg 2.9spg 35FG% 51FT%
Ciera Burdick Soph Butler 12.5ppg 11.1rpg 2apg 2.3spg 46FG% 82FT%
Clair Watkins Jr. Butler 11.2ppg 7rpg committed to DUKE
Alexis Grant Jr. Vance 16.4ppg 5rpg 1.6apg 4.4spg 65FG% 72FT%

3rd Team
Christal Caldwell Sr. West Charlotte no information signed Florida
Nikki Burton Sr. West Charlotte no information signed Louisville
Jatzmine Johnson Soph Concord no information
Nyesha Hammonds Soph Concrod no information

Mallard Creek soph named to All-America team

Mallard Creek sophomore Mikal Hill, an infielder, was named to the Perfect Game USA High School Preseason Underclassman All-American baseball second team.

Hill, who stole 37 bases as a freshman, has committed to South Carolina. Christian Pfaft, an R-S Central infielder, also was a second-team pick.

Named as honorable mentions were Grayson Atwood and Brandon Burris (Mount Pleasant), Hunter Conley and Keith Prowse (Hopewell), Caleb Cunningham and Duece Wright (South Mecklenburg), and Brian Holberton and Grant Fisher (Myers Park).

- Cliff Mehrtens

W. Charlotte's Burton is all-star MVP

West Charlotte's Nikki Burton, who helped the Lions win their first N.C. 4A girls state basketball championship this season, was named MVP of the Carolinas All-Star Basketball Classic in Myrtle Beach Saturday.

The game, billed as a Shrine Bowl basketball game of sorts, pits some of the top seniors from North and South Carolina against each other. The N.C. girls won 111-77. The N.C. boys also won 106-82.

Burton, signed to Louisville, finished with 16 points and six rebounds. Durham Hillside's Asia Williams, signed to Wake Forest, had a team-high 19 points. Spartanburg Dorman's  Ashlen Dewart was the S.C. MVP (17 points, 14 rebounds).

Morganton Freedom's Ali Ford had seven assists for the N.C. girls.

In the boys game, Raleigh Athens Drive's Josh Davis had 15 points, on 5-for-5 shooting, and had 10 rebounds to earn team MVP. Southside's Robbie Dreher, who has signed with Winthrop, was the S.C. MVP (23 pints). Hopewell's Brandyn Curry, signed to Harvard, had 12 points. North Meck's Andre Marhold, signed to Duquesne, had six points for the N.C. team and West Rowan's K.J. Sherrill, signed to Charlotte, had 7 points.

Three area athletes sign with Catawba

Cross country seniors Jonathan Cooley (Lake Norman High) and Jarrett Jackson (Hopewell) signed with Catawba.

Cooley was a two-time team most valuable runner. He was all-conference last season, twice all-North Piedmont 3A and set the team record in the 5-kilometer race (16 minutes, 57 seconds).

Jackson was named Hopewell’s most improved runner last season. He helped the Titans to the ME-CA 7 4A title as a junior.

East Rowan girls’ tennis player Emilee Smith, the Mustangs’ No. 1 singles player the past two seasons, also signed with Catawba.

Smith was all-North Piedmont 3A twice, and all-Rowan County three times.

- Cliff Mehrtens

West Charlotte sprinter signs with LSU

West Charlotte High sprinter Nyosha Bryant, the reigning N.C. 4A champion in the 400-meter sprint, signed with Louisiana State.

Bryant, a senior, was named most valuable athlete at the N.C. 4A Indoor championships last month, when she won the long jump (19 feet) and second in the 55-meter dash (7.11) seconds.

She also won indoor state titles in the 55 and 300 as a junior in 2008.

- Cliff Mehrtens

Coach: Unbeaten team still can improve

The Lake Norman girls’ soccer team is undefeated, No. 2 in the state, has given up only two goals all season, and just beat archrival Mooresville. But still Wildcats’ head coach Jon Mertes is not happy with his team’s play.

“We have not played up to the level that I expect,” Mertes said, who also plays in the Fort Mill tournament this weekend against Fort Mill and Lexington, No. 5 and 6 in the state in South Carolina. “We have done what we need to do to win, but that isn’t enough. We won’t get where we want to be, playing like this.”

The Wildcats (5-0) came back from a goal down to beat Mooresville 2-1 Wednesday night (March 18) with Sarah Tang and Kaitlyn Ferguson scoring for Lake Norman. But Mertes pulled nine starters out in the first half to send the message that he was not happy with their intensity or approach to the game.

“I think a lot of the way we are playing is mental,” Mertes said, whose team has outscored their opponents 26-2 this season. “I have challenged the girls (to step up) and I think we will get to see just how they respond and how good we really are really soon. Right now, I think that is what we need.”

The Blue Devils (3-2), No. 5 in the state, lost their second contest in as many games after falling to No. 6 Northwest Cabarrus Monday (March 16).

West Charlotte to host victory parade for championship winning girls basketball team

West Charlotte will host a victory parade for its state championship-winning girls basketball team Saturday at 1 p.m., starting at the school gym. The Lions beat Durham Hillside 78-60 Saturday to win the first girls championship in West Charlotte's 71-year history.

-- Langston Wertz Jr.

Area players invited to Dave Telep's Carolina Challenge

Here are invited players to the Dave Telep Carolina Challenge. Telep, a national basketball recruiting evaluator for scout.com, holds an annual camp in the Raleigh area for the top underclass boys basketball players in the state.

CLASS OF 2010
1. DeMon Brooks, 6-6, PF, Charlotte Hopewell
2. Reggie Bullock, 6-7, G, Kinston
3. Jay Canty, 6-5, SG, Ragsdale
4. James Carlton, 6-7, PF, Winterville
5. Emanuel Chapman, 6-0, PG, Raleigh Enloe
6. Justin Cheek, 6-2, SG/PG, Ardrey Kell
7. Luke Cothron, 6-8, PF, Red Springs Flora McDonald
8. Luke Davis, 6-0, PG, Raleigh Ravenscroft
9. Manny Dias, 6-8, F, Greensboro Veritas Sports Academy
10. Jordan Downing, 6-5, SF, Hopewell
11. Jarell Eddie, 6-7, SF, Concord Cannon
12. Tevin Friday, 6-5, SF, United Faith
13. Jonathan Frye, 6-4, G, Northern Guilford
14. Kadeem Green, 6-8, PF, United Faith
15. Damontre Harris, 6-9, C, Fayetteville Christian
16. Jeremy Ingram, 6-1, SG, East Mecklenburg
17. Jeremy Jeffers, 6-5, SF, Greenfield School
18. Sebastian Koch, 6-8, SG, Arden Christ School
19. Paul Larsen, 6-6, PF, Lake Norman
20. Leek Leek Malual, 6-6, SF, Veritas Sports Academy
21. C.J. Leslie, 6-8, PF, Raleigh Word Of God
22. Stargell Love, 6-2, G, Winston-Salem Quality Education
23. TaShawn Mabry, 6-6, SF, Rocky Mount
24. George MaNgoue, 6-8, C, Forsyth Country Day
25. Reco McCarter, 6-7, SF, Goldsboro Wayne Country Day
26. Ian Miller, 6-2, PG, United Faith
27. Akil Mitchell, 6-6, SF/PF, Charlotte Christian
28. Weston Murphy, 6-7, PF, Apex
29. Reggie Price, 6-3, SG/PG, Lake Norman
30. Corey Raley-Ross, 6-3, SG/PG, Gaston Day
31. Jonathan Rice, 6-6, SF, Fayetteville Academy
32. Brian Richardson, 6-5, SG/PG, Wilson Greenfield
33. Melvin Tabb, 6-8, PF, Raleigh Enloe
34. J.T. Terrell, 6-3, SG, Burlington Cummings
35. Anthony Thomas, 6-5, SF, Winston-Salem Prep
36. Aaron Toomey, 6-1, PG, Bishop-McGuinness
37. Daryl Traynham, 5-9, PG, Vance
38. Jermaine White, 6-6, PF, Butler
39. David Wishon, 7-1, C, Concord
40. Brennan Wyatt, 5-10, PG, Greensboro Dudley
41. Jarrick Brown, 6-2, SG, Raleigh Millbrook

CLASS OF 2011
1. Keith Bellfield, 6-5, SG, Concord Cannon
2. Deuce Bello, 6-3, SG/PG, High Point Westchester Academy
3. Devince Boykins, 6-3, SG/PG, East Rutherford
4. John Cannon, 6-10, C, Burnsville Mt Heritage
5. Chris Coleman, 6-9, C, Durham Mt Zion
6. Bishop Daniels, 6-1, SG/PG, Raleigh Word of God
7. Jacoby Davis, 6-0, SG/PG, Vance
8. Monroe Faulkner, 6-4, SF/SG, Roxboro Person
9. Anthony Gill, 6-8, PF, Charlotte Christian
10. P.J. Hairston, 6-6, SF/SG, Greensboro Dudley
11. Donta Harper, 6-6, SG/PG, Winterville South Central
12. Tony Kimbro, 6-4, SG, Arden Christ School
13. Jacob Lawson, 6-7, PF, Northern Guilford
14. Deng Leek, 7-0, C, Veritas Sports Academy
15. Travion Leonard, 6-7, C, Raleigh Wakefield
16. Quincy Miller, 6-7, SF/PF, W-S Quality Education
17. Tony Menton, 6-6, SF/PF, Waddell
18. Jacquise Moore, 6-1, SG/PG, Concord
19. Michael Neal, 6-1, SG, Northern Guilford
20. Reggie Perkins, 6-1, PG/SG, Western Guilford
21. Keynan Pittman, 6-9, PG, Burgaw Pender
22. Marshall Plumlee, 6-10, PF, Arden Christ School
23. Tyler Poole, 6-7, PF/SF, Hickory
24. Jervon Pressley, 6-7, C/PF, Waddell
25. Marquis Rankin, 6-1, PG, Vance
26. Jordan Robertson, 6-7, C/PF, Greensboro Day
27. Jackson Simmons, 6-8, PF, Smoky Mountain
28. Anthony Stitt, Butler, 6-1, PG, Butler
29. Bernard Sullivan, 6-7, PF, North Mecklenburg
30. Dezmine Wells, 6-4, SF, Raleigh Word of God
31. Terry Whisnant, 6-3, SF, Cherryville
32. Anthony Williams, 6-8, C, Whiteville Waccamaw Academy
33. Terrence Williams, 6-4, SG/SF, West Mecklenburg
34. Chris Wilson, 6-2, PG, Fayetteville Sanford

CLASS OF 2012
1. Reggie Dillard, 6-5, SG, Greensboro Dudley
2. Julius Hamilton, 6-3, SG, West Charlotte
3. Madison Jones, 5-11, PG, Raleigh Ravenscroft
4. Tyler Lewis, 5-10, PG, Forsyth Country Day
5. Josh Mellette, 6-4, PF, Sanford Southern Lee
6. Braxton Ogbueze, 6-0, SG/PG, Vance
7. Josh Smith, 6-7, C, Bessemer City

Marvin Ridge at national track meet

Marvin Ridge’s Diego Lawrence, Garrett Jackson, David McCuiston and Austin Jackson finished seventh in the 4x400 relay at the Nike Indoor Nationals last weekend.

They finished in 3 minutes, 23.64 seconds, the second-fastest time this season by an Observer-area team.

The prestigious meet was held at the Reggie Lewis Sports and Athletic Center in Boston.

Lawrence finished seventh in the long jump (22 feet, seven inches) and McCuiston was eighth in the 400 meters (51.83 seconds).

- Cliff Mehrtens

Around the prep diamonds...

SOFTBALL
Ardrey Kell’s Jennifer Rosene pitched a five-inning no-hitter in a 12-0 victory against East Mecklenburg on Tuesday. Rosene (2-0) struck out 11 and didn’t walk a batter.
Kalie Lang had three hits and four RBIs, and Sarah Campbell drove in two runs.

BASEBALL
Pitchers Nick Newton and Nick Chapman combined for 16 strikeouts and Aaron Attaway had a home run and three RBIs in Morganton Patton’s 4-2 victory against Newton Foard.

- Cliff Mehrtens

Charlotte All-Star Classic Rosters released

CHARLOTTE 2009 ALL STAR CLASSIC

ROSTERS

(Game tips at 1:30, girls and boys at 3 p.m. March 28 at Providence Day. Tickets are $7)

 

EAST ALL STAR- Girl’s Roster Local (Coach: Mrs. Stephanie Butler-Butler High School)

 

1)     Ashlyn Diggs                                                5’3               1/2              Butler High

 

2)     Candace Flowers                                    5’4              1/2            Mallard Creek High

 

3)     Autumn Smith-Faulkner                        5/5            1/2              Mallard Creek High

 

4)     Celeste Stewart                                    5’5            1/2            Butler High

 

5)     Malikah Akbar                                                5’6              2            Independence High

 

6)     Keyrra Gillespie                                                5’6            1/2             Statesville High

 

7)     Jessica Blair                                                5’7                2/3            Independence High

 

8)     Jaquaria Forney                                    5’10            2            Butler High

 

9)     Morgan Geisler                                                6’0            4/5            Butler High

 

10)  Janee Johnson                                                6’1              3/4            Providence Day School

 

11)  Lindsay Cowher                                    6’2            3/4            Raleigh Ravenscroft School

 

 

 

WEST ALL STARS - Girl’s Roster (Coach: Mrs. Amber Fox-Freedom High)

 

1)     Trena Moore-Smith                                    5’4            1             West Charlotte High

 

2)     Da’Naria Erwin-Spencer                        5’4            1            East Meck. High

 

3)     Cassey Tolliver                                                5’5            1             Country Day School

 

4)     Jessica Freeman                                    5’5            1/2            West Charlotte High

 

5)     Ebony Caldwell                                                5’8            2            West Charlotte High

 

6)     Renelle Wyke                                                5’8            2            Victory Christian School

 

7)     Kanisha “Nikki” Burton                                    5’9            2/3/4            West Charlotte High

 

8)     Christal Caldwell                                    5’10            2/3            West Charlotte High

 

9)     Olivia Surratt                                                5’11            3/4            Freedom High

 

10)  Laura Chapman                                    5’11            3/4            Freedom High

 

11)  Emma Reskoska                                    6’3       4/5      Veritas Christian School

 

 

CHARLOTTE

2009 ALL STAR CLASSIC

ROSTERS

 

 

WEST ALL STAR-Boys (Coach: Mr. Walter Aikens-Harding High)

 

1)     Adam Hunt                                                6’2               170             1/2              Olympic High

 

2)     Walter Aikens Jr.                                      6’2               180            1/2             Harding High

 

3)     Alex Godette                                                 6’2               170            2/3              Hopewell High

 

4)     Chance Rucker                                                6’2               170            1/2            Concord High

 

5)     Montrey Sayles                                                  6’2               175             1/2            Vance High

 

6)     Eric Mayo                                                6’4               195             2/3             Shelby High

 

7)     Quan Alexander                                    6’5             185             2/3              Myers Park High

 

8)     Aaron Bennett                                                6’5               215            3/4            West Meck. High 

 

9)     Brandon Abel                                                6’5            210            2/3/4            Salisbury High

 

10)  Odell Turner                                                6’6               200            3/4            Myers Park High

 

11)  Kyle Gaillard                                                6’7            210            2/3            North Meck. High           

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

EAST ALL STAR –Boys  (Coach: Mr. Brian Field-Providence Day School )

                                                                                                                                   

1)     Pedro O’Neal Jr.                                     5’9              160              1/2             First Assembly

 

2)     Qualyn Shipp                                                  6’0              165              1/2            Victory Christian School

 

3)     John Jay  Lewis IV                                    6’1               180             1/2               Greensboro Day School

 

4)     David Batson                                                6’2            180            1/2            Covenant Day School

 

5)     Ross Diachenko                                    6’2             170              1/2              Bishop McGuinness School

 

6)     Taylor Wagener                                    6’2            175            1/2            Charlotte Christian School

 

7)     Carson            Sullivan                                     6’3               180              1/2             Charlotte Christian School

 

8)     Javan Mitchell                                                6’8            250            4/5            Greensboro Day School

 

9)     Domas Rinksalis                                     6’9               225             4/5              Greensboro Day School

 

10)  Andrew Kyles                                                6’10               255             4/5             Veritas Christian School

 

11)  Matt Wilson                                                6’11             210             4/5              Raleigh Ravenscroft School

 

 

NBA legend "The Chief" headed to West Meck

Hall of Fame center Robert Parrish will present West Mecklenburg High with $1,000 on March 30 as part of the Get Fit by Finals rally.

The program, designed by Body By Milk, tries to reverse trends of inactivity and obesity among children.

The rally will be from 1-2 p.m. at West Mecklenburg, 7400 Tuckaseegee Road.

Parrish, nicknamed "The Chief" because of his stoic nature, in 1997 was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history.

- Cliff Mehrtens

Mooresville football coach resigns

Mooresville High’s Barclay Marsh resigned after six seasons as football coach, but will remain as athletics director and physical education teacher.

Marsh’s record was 40-34, including 9-4 last season. The Blue Devils beat Indian Trail Sun Valley 21-6 in the N.C. 3A playoff opener, and lost to Kings Mountain 41-34 in overtime in the second round.

“The changing nature of high school athletics makes it extremely difficult to serve in two demanding jobs and maintain the level of excellence to which I always strive,” Marsh said in a statement.

Mooresville was 7-2 in North Piedmont 3A games last season, and tied for second in the 10-team conference.

- Cliff Mehrtens

Football players death remains mystery

CHAPEL HILL -- The state medical examiner's office has found no definite explanation for the death of a 17-year-old high school football player following a scrimmage last summer.

Atlas Shaquille Fraley evidently died of natural causes, possibly as a result of multiple factors, according to a report of the autopsy made public today.

Fraley, who had asthma, died on Aug. 12 at his home following a Chapel Hill High School football scrimmage that left him cramping and complaining of dehydration.

"It may be that there are multiple factors involved," state medical examiner John D. Butts wrote in the autopsy report. "He may have become relatively dehydrated with the resulting fluid and electrolyte imbalances causing the cramping, the resulting agitation precipitating a fatal cardiac event or even an acute asthmatic attack."

Before he died, Fraley called 911. A paramedic who went to his home evaluated him, thought he was stable and left after advising him about adequate hydration, the report said. Fraley's parents later found him dead on the floor.

A year previously, Fraley had experienced a similar episode of cramping following a football exercise, the autopsy report said. At the time, paramedics found him dehydrated, treated him with intravenous fluids and instructed him to follow a hydration regimen before strenuous activity.

On the day of the scrimmage, Fraley possibly did not follow that hydration regimen, the report said. Also, the report noted, Fraley's cousins have had similar cramping episodes.

Fraley possibly had an inherited disorder of metabolism affecting his muscle function, though such disorders usually are not fatal, the report said.

-- Raleigh News & Observer

Lake Norman off to hot soccer start

Lake Norman girls' soccer is 4-0 this year and ranked No. 2 in 3A in the state. The Wildcats beat rival Statesville 1-0 last week after beating Hopewell (4-1) and West Iredell (10-0) in the season's opening week.

Freshman Taylor Waters, whose family moved from Winston-Salem last summer, has been a pleasant surprise so far, leading the offense with three goals, including two scores against Hopewell. Senior Meghan Kos has led a defense that has allowed only one goal.

“We haven't really had the opportunity to play up to the level we're capable of playing for an extended period of time,” Lake Norman coach Jon Mertes said. “But we will find out very quickly where we are as a team.”

Lake Norman, which has outscored opponents 24-1, also has a big week coming up with a home game versus Mooresville Wednesday before playing in the Fort Mill Invitational Tournament next weekend.

Lake Norman senior midfielder Sarah Tang will play in the Clash of the Carolinas all-star game July 11 at Blackbaud Stadium in Mount Pleasant, S.C. Tang, who will play college soccer at Francis Marion next year, was an all-North Piedmont Conference and all-region performer as a junior last season.

Mooresville girls soccer's hot start

The Mooresville girls' soccer team started the season unranked, unnoticed and made up of mostly underclassmen. But in less than two weeks, the Blue Devils have begun making a name for themselves, going a perfect 5-0, good for a No. 6 ranking in 3A statewide.

“I'm not sure if we're a top-10 team just yet,” Mooresville coach Steve Stith said. “But we hope to just keep getting better, and hope to be one by the end of the season.”

Mooresville will get an opportunity to see just how good it is this week, when it hosts eighth-ranked Northwest Cabarrus and then travels to archrival No. 2 Lake Norman, which it has never beaten.

“This week will be a huge test for us,” said Stith, whose team starts six freshmen and sophomores combined. “I think we will really get to find out just how good we are at this point.”

The Blue Devils are led by sophomores Courtney Smith and Ashley Cress. Smith, who had a school-record 42 goals in her freshman season, is back at it with eight goals so far this year. Cress has a team-leading nine scores on a team that has outscored its opponents 29-4.

Smith, who had a school-record 42 goals in her freshman season, is back at it again with eight goals, while Cress has a team-leading nine scores on a team that has now outscored opponents 24-1.

Concord Cannon honors special athletes

CONCORD, N.C. – Cannon School’s junior varsity and varsity student-athletes were honored for their participation in winter sports during a special ceremony held at the school on March 11, 2009. The following students earned special recognition for their efforts:

 

Junior Varsity Boys’ Basketball

Most Outstanding Player            John Edwards                Davidson
Most Improved Player                 Jake Vowell                   Cornelius

Coach’s Award                          Graham Lombardi          Concord

 

Girls’ Varsity Basketball

Most Outstanding Player            Krista Gross                  University City
Most Improved Player                 Whitney Harriss             Concord

Coach’s Award                          Mackenzie Moyer          Concord

 

Boys’ Varsity Basketball

Most Valuable Player                 Brian McManamy           Charlotte
Most Improved Player                 Keith Belfield                 University City

Coach’s Award                          Jarell Eddie                    University City

 

Girls’ Varsity Swimming
Most Improved Swimmer             Trevor Bray                    Cornelius

Coach’s Award                          Ashley Rivenbark           Charlotte

 

Boys’ Varsity Swimming
Most Improved Swimmer             Davey Waymer              Cornelius

Coach’s Award                          David Randolph              Concord

 

Varsity Cheerleading

Most Outstanding Cheerleader    Kristen Hoffman             Cornelius
Most Improved Cheerleader         Lisa Olearczyk              Huntersville

Coach’s Award                          Caroline Cato                 Cornelius

All-ME-CA 7 4A girls' basketball team

West Charlotte's Nikki Burton, who helped the Lions win the N.C. 4A girls' basketball championship last weekend, is the ME-CA 7 4A player of the year.

Mallard Creek's Ericia Graham is coach of the year.

The all-conference team:

Christal Caldwell, Jessica Freeman and Burton (West Charlotte); Kelsee Cheek and Tabby Koener (Concord Robinson); Lauren Lewis and Mettia Miller (North Mecklenburg); Alexis Grant (Vance); Autumn Smith-Faulkner, Umeka Benson and Candace Flowers (Mallard Creek); and Share'e Boyd and Tiera Burks (Hopewell).

- Cliff Mehrtens

Word of God star C.J. Leslie decommits from N.C. State

The mother of Word of God Christian Academy basketball player C.J. Leslie said Sunday that Leslie has withdrawn the verbal commitment he made to N.C. State as a high school freshman. Lisa Leslie made clear, however, that she still likes NCSU, and her son is still considering playing for Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe.

Leslie is a 6-7 junior ranked among the top 20 in his class.

"He just wanted to expand his visits to other schools," said Lisa Leslie, who added that she and her son decided Saturday night to open the search again.

Mitch Summerfield, Word of God's chief operating officer and son of founder Dr. Frank Summerfield, confirmed that Memphis is among the other schools that the 6-foot-9 junior would like to visit. Summerfield would not specify where else Leslie might look, however. Memphis and N.C. State are also on the list of Leslie's Word of God teammate, John Wall, a senior point guard who intends to turn pro after his freshman year in college.

Summerfield said that the chances are "still very strong" that Leslie will wind up at State.

"He actually talked to Sidney Lowe directly to let him know they are still on his list," Summerfield said. "He just wants to make sure he's not hurting his chances of being ranked and all of the things that go along with his summer this year."

T.J. Jones, coach of the Lake Norman Wizards, a 16-and-under traveling team based in the Charlotte area, said Leslie would play for his team for the first time this summer.

Summerfield said Leslie basically felt he had committed too early -- before he had progressed athletically and academically in the past two years. Summerfield would not comment specifically on Leslie's grade-point average but said it was above the minimum 2.4 that Word of God requires for athletes to be eligible to compete.

-- Raleigh News & Observer

N.C. high school tennis polls (Week 1)

N.C. Boys' Tennis Polls
(by N.C. Tennis Coaches Association)

Class 4A
Team Points
1) East Chapel Hill ......................79
2) Raleigh Broughton .................60
Ardrey Kell .................................60
4) Raleigh Millbrook................... 50
5) Winston-Salem R.J. Reynolds ...31
Greensboro Page .........................31
7) Greensboro Grimsley.............. 28
8) Chapel Hill.............................. 20
9) Green Hope ............................18
10) Myers Park ............................13

Others receiving votes: Weddington 12, Apex 9, Fayetteville Terry Sanford 8, Watauga 8, Jay M. Robinson 7, Charlotte Providence 4, Wilmington Hoggard 2.

Class 3A
Team Points
1) Lake Norman.............. 73
2) Charlotte Catholic....... 66
3) Western Alamance...... 50
4) Southern Nash ...........41
Charles B. Aycock ...........41
6) D.H. Conley ................27
7) Hickory...................... 26
8) Union Pines ...............25
9) T.C. Roberson ...........21
10)Burlington Williams ...19

Others receiving votes: Marvin Ridge 13, Mooresville 9, Rocky Mount 8, Southeast Guilford 4, Southwest Guilford 3, Western Guilford 3, Fred T. Foard 2, Northern Nash 2, Statesville 1.

Class 2A
Team Points
1) Cardinal Gibbons ..........80
2) Newton-Conover ..........59
3) First Flight ...................54
4) Greene Central............ 53
5) Cedar Ridge ................32
6) Patton .........................31
7) Salisbury .....................30
8) Lexington ....................27
9) Ledford .......................19
10)Durham School of the Arts.... 17

Others receiving votes: Tarboro 8, Reidsville 6, East Duplin 5, Hibriten 4, Edenton Holmes 4, Shelby 3, Ashe County 2, Carrboro 2, Starmount 2, Brevard 1, St. Pauls 1.

Class 1A
Team Points
1) NC School of Science & Math .....39
2) Mount Airy .............35
3) Topsail ...................30
4) Hendersonville ........23
5) Gastonia Highland..... 20
6) Jordan-Matthews ......16
7) Bishop McGuiness .....13
8) East Wilkes .................9
9) Alleghany ...................8
10) Elkin 6

Others receiving votes: Raleigh Charter (5), East Montgomery (4), Ayden-Grifton (4), North Johnston (3), Polk County (3), Albemarle (2).

- Cliff Mehrtens

Forestview goes 0-2 in state title quest

RALEIGH -- In its quest for its first state championship in any sport, Gastonia Forestview went 0-for-2 Saturday in basketball title games at Reynolds Coliseum.

Hours after the school's girls' basketball team lost the 3A championship to Greensboro Dudley, Northern Guilford ended the school's boys' basketball team's dream of a state title.

Northern Guilford, in just its second season of existence and with no seniors, held off a fourth-quarter rally by Forestview and claimed the N.C. 3A state title with a 66-54 victory over the Jaguars.

Six-foot-six forward Chris McClain was nearly unstoppable for the Nighthawks (30-3), scoring 23 points and he missed only one shot all evening.

Preston Holmes led Forestview (25-7) with 17 points. -- Jim Utter

-- Full coverage

-- Girls game

Forestview trails at half

Just a score for now: Northern Guilford 30, Gastonia Forestview 23.

Check back later for full game story. -- Staff reports

West Charlotte wins first N.C. girls state title

After 71 years, West Charlotte's girls are finally state champions.

The Lions struggled throughout their 78-60 state final win over Durham Hillside, but in the fourth quarter, West Charlotte dug deep and found its chamnpionship heart.

After Hillside cut the Lions lead to 62-59 with 3:35 to play, West Charlotte went on a 16-1 run to end the game and made big free throws down the stretch.

4A Girls Final: West Charlotte 62, Hillside 59, 3:14 left

Lions have three straight turnovers. Hillside pulling close.

4A Girls Final: West Charlotte 62-57, 4:18 left

Lions holding onto the lead with two starters with four fouls: point guard Trena Moore-Smith and center Nikki Burton. Hillside continually going inside to force fouls and layups.

End 3rd: West Charlotte 50, Hillside 48 NC 4A girls final

Jessica Freeman makes a 3-point shot, off a Christal Caldwell assist, with three seconds left in the third quarter to give the Lions the lead. Playing from four or five points down all quarter, Hillside rallied late behind Wake Forest recruit Asia Williams, who dominated inside.

4A Girls Final: West Charlotte 39, Hillside 37

Hillside is continuing to explore the soft interior of the Lions defense. Trena Moore-Smith, the West Charlotte point guard, is sitting with four fouls. There's 5:21 left in the third quarter.

4A Girls Final: West Charlotte 35, Hillside 31 halftime

West Charlotte played a nervous, skittish first half and gained a lead mainly through forcing turnovers. The Lions, who beat Hillside 73-43 in the regular season, made three straight turnovers to end the first half.

Hillside also began to exploit the Lions lack of size inside. West Charlotte does not play a forward in its starting lineup.

4A GIrls Final: West Charlotte 28, Hillside 22, 3:26 2nd quarter

Lions still blowing chances to spread the lead and Hillside staying close.

4A Girls final: West Charlotte 24, Hillside 19

Lions pressure defense pays some dividends with 6-0 spurt to start the second quarter. West Charlotte is still missing easy shots and making unforced errors which is preventing their lead from growing.

4A Girls Final: Hillside 19, West Charlotte 18

The Lions play nervous the entire first quarter and get dominated on the boards by Hillside, looking to avenge a 73-43 loss to West Charlotte in the second game of the season.

4A girls final: West Charlotte 8, Durham Hillside 8

The Lions are a little nervous starting out their second straight N.C. 4A final. Hillside is taking West Charlotte to the basket.

Shelby wins first boys basketball state title

CHAPEL HILL -- Shelby forced Northwood into 33 percent shooting in the second half to win its first state title 62-50.

Eric Mayo led Shelby with 15 points and 9 rebounds. He was named the game's MVP.

N.C. 2A Final: End 3rd, Shelby 42, Northwood 35

With star Eric Mayo on the bench with an apparent ankle injury, Shelby is maintaining its lead.

N.C. 2A final: Shelby 40, Northwood 33, 1:13 Third

Shelby star Eric Mayo goes out with an apparent ankle injury.

NC BOys 2A Final:Shelby 35, Northwood 27, 3:58 3rd

Neither team is making much a move, basically trading baskets. Shelby continues to miss attempts inside the painted area -- and chances to expand its lead.

2A Boys Final: Shelby 31, Northwood 23 halftime

The Golden Lions defense is continuing to cause problems for Northwood and Shelby is hitting its outside shots on Northwood's zone. Poor outside shooting had cost Shelby in recent years in regional semifinals and finals.

Shelby's Derrick Mayo, a non-starter, has 10 points, including 2 3-pointers for Shelby. Shelby made 4-of-11 3-point attempts.

Boys 2A Final: Shelby 20, Northwood 12, 6:25 2nd

Shelby grabs a 16-12 first quarter lead despite shooting 36 percent from the field. Northwood is having trouble with Shelby's full-court pressure.

Salisbury's defense, Phifer's scoring, key rally for 2A girls title

By Langston Wertz Jr.

lwertz@charlotteobserver.com

CHAPEL HILL – Two years ago, Salisbury High girls coach Andrew Mitchell didn’t have a job. Saturday, after his team rallied for a 56-41 win over Graham, Mitchell was celebrating his first N.C. 2A championship.

“I didn’t know if I’d get back into coaching again,” Mitchell said, “and here we are winning a state championship game. To that, I say, ‘God is truly good.’”

Mitchell was an assistant under Steve Joyner at J.C. Smith from 1989-94 and was head women’s coach at Livingstone for 13 years. Before he took over at Salisbury, he spent a season with Kentucky State as an assistant.

Saturday in Chapel Hill, Mitchell found his team down six points at halftime. In the locker room, he told the Hornets they had to stop Graham’s Kiandria Allen, who scored 15 points in the first half as her team took a 28-22 lead.

Championship MVP Shanequa Phifer nearly knocked Mitchell down volunteering for the assignment.

“When she decided she wanted to do that,” Mitchell said, “she was the difference in the ballgame.”

Phifer, a 5-6 junior, had struggled with her game, shooting 2-24 in two regional games last week in Greensboro. At halftime Saturday, she was 1-for-3 with 3 points.

“In the first half, my shots weren’t falling,” she said, “but after halftime, I was hyped to go into the third quarter. I felt like it was a brand new game.”

Graham’s Allen scored two points in the second half. Graham shot 28 percent in the second half, scored only 16 points and lost in the finals for the third year in a row. Phifer broke open a tight game with seven straight points at the end of the third and start of the fourth quarter. She finished with 15 points and three rebounds.

“We wanted to make sure these seniors walked out of here with something,” Phifer said. “I’m estatic we won.”

Said teammate De’Rya Wylie, who had 10 points and 11 rebounds: “I can’t even speak right now. It’s that important to me. Everybody chipped in and it’s amazing. It’s all you can say.”

Salisbury 9 13 16 18 – 56

Graham 5 20 8 8 – 41

SALISBURY 56 – Ashia Holmes 8, Shanequa Phifer 15, Shipp 5, Ayanna Holmes 1, De’Rya Wylie 10, Young 1, Rice 9, Miller 2, Kreneshia Phifer 4, Helig 1

GRAHAM 41 – Enoch 2, Kiandra Allen 17, Apple 3, Beth Miller 13, Miles 4, Lea 2

Salisbury wins N.C. 2A girls title

Salisbury rallied from a six-point halftime deficit with a dominant second half performance in a 56-41 win over Graham in the N.C. 2A girls state championship game.

Salisbury (29-3) held Graham (28-4) to 28 percent shooting in the second half and allowed Graham 16 second half points.

Down 28-22 at halftime, Salisbury scored 34 halftime points led by championship MVP Shanequa Phifer, who had 15 points.

Salisbury star Shi-Heria Shipp shot 1-for-5 and scored only five points, but dominated the ball late as the Hornets worked the clock against Graham, which got 17 points from Kiandria Allen and 13 from 5-2 star Beth Miller.

It was Salisbury's second state title since 2004.

-- Langston Wertz Jr.

2A Girls Final: Salisbury 46, Graham 37, 3:37 left

Salisbury's defense is causing big problems for Graham, which is basically counting on 5-2 star Beth Miller to create all of its offense. Miller appears to be getting a bit tired and Salisbury is running time off the clock in its basic offense.

End 3rd: Salisbury 38, Graham 33 (NC 2A girls final)

Salisbury, down 28-22 at the half, cranks up its defense. Graham shoots 3-for-13 in the quarter and Salisbury rallies to grab the lead. Star Shiheria Shipp goes out with 1:25 left in the quarter with her fourth foul, but junior Shanequa Phifer makes back-to-back jumpers to stretch the lead from 1 to 5.

2a Girls: Salisbury 32, Graham 30, 2:45 Third

The Hornets force three straight Graham turnovers and begin to slow Graham's 5-2 star Beth Miller, forcing her into tough shots. Salisbury grabs its first lead of the second half after a Graham turnover and layup from Ashia Holmes.

2A Girls: Graham 30, Salisbury 30, 4:27 third quarter

Salisbury rallies with a 6-2 burst to tie the game at 28 and ties again at 30. The Hornets, though, are missing bunches of shots around the basket including two wide open layups with players ahead of the pack.

2A Girls halftime: Graham 25, Salisbury 22

At halftime, Graham has rallied for an early deficit to grab a 25-22 halftime lead in the N.C. 2A girls final at the Smith Center.

Wrestlers picked for all-star event

Rock Hill Hill wrestlers Seth Beck, Weston Beck, Rashard Durham, J.T. Charette, Colin Meachum, Dominique Jenkins, and Torree Fair will participate in the Palmetto Duals this weekend at Duncan Byrnes High.

Josh Tuck and Chad Beck also were selected but, can't attend because of obligations to take the SAT.

The Palmetto Duals is an all-star event which includes wrestlers from South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida.

- Cliff Mehrtens

Cannon's Eddie to play at NBA Developmental Camp

Concord Cannon basketball star Jarell Eddie, who has committed to Virginia Tech, has been invited to the 2009 NBA Player's Association (NBPA) TOP 100 Camp to be held at the University of Virginia, June 17-21.

Eddie is one of 85 juniors and 15 sophomores invited to the camp from across the country. Players will work with current and former NBA players. Current NBA players like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and O.J. Mayo are past camp participants.

Eddie, a 6-7 junior, has scored more than 2,000 points in his varsity career and led the Cougars to a co-conference championship in the Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) this season, the first season Cannon competed in the conference.

Eddie and sophomore teammate Keith Belfield (6’6” guard) are among 80 North Carolina basketball players hand-picked to participate in Dave Telep's Carolina Challenge, to be held March 28 at Cary Academy.

-- Langston Wertz Jr.

Around the Prep Diamonds...

Top baseball and softball performers:

BASEBALL

■Myers Park’s Chris Overman retired the first 14 batters in a 12-2 win against Hopewell. He struck out 11 in five innings, and allowed two hits.

■ Kannapolis Brown shortstop/pitcher John Tuttle was 5-for-7 with two home runs and two doubles in two games this week. He also picked up a save by retiring the last three batters in a 6-5 victory against Sun Valley.

■Dylan West’s three-run walkoff home run gave Mooresville a 7-6 victory against West Rowan. The Blue Devils have five home runs in three games – Aaron Meadows (two), Billy Nantz, Jake Beaver and West.

■Charlotte Catholic pitcher Danny Vliet is 2-0, and has complete-game victories against Charlotte Latin and South Mecklenburg. He’s also hitting .300 with seven RBIs.

■Central Cabarrus senior Dalton Shuford pitched a two-hitter with 15 strikeouts, and hit a three-run home run, in a 5-1 victory against North Meckenburg.
Coach Jim Knight called it "the best single-game performance of any player I've coached in 11 years as a head coach."

SOFTBALL

■ West Iredell’s Hannah Pennell struck out 19 in a 1-0 victory against Newton-Conover. She walked one, and allowed two hits.

■ East Rowan’s Chelsea White struck out 15 and didn’t walk a batter in a 5-0 victory against West Iredell.

■Providence’s Leah Quant is 2-0, with 20 strikeouts and two walks in wins against North Mecklenburg and Hopewell. She’s batting .714, with two doubles and three RBIs. Outfielder Erin Quant, her sister, is hitting .667.

■East Rutherford's Laura Hopper struck out 20 in eight innings in a 3-2 loss against Hickory St. Stephens.

- Cliff Mehrtens

Prep swimming foursome sets national record

Four area high school swimmers combined to set a national record in the 18-and-under boys’ 800-yard freestyle relay at the Southern Zone Eastern Sectional meet in Cary.

The record time of 6 minutes, 34.84 seconds qualified the foursome – Thomas Santoli and J.T. Stilley (North Mecklenburg High), Ben Correll (Providence) and Mack Montgomery (Concord Cannon) – for the World Championship Trials in Indianapolis in July.

The swimmers are on the Charlotte-based SwimMAC team.

Santoli is the top-ranked 200 freestyler in the country (in 18-and-under), Montgomery is third and Correll is fourth. Santoli represented the U.S. on the National Junior Team at an international meet in Guam in January.

Correll and Montgomery will represent the U.S. on the National Junior Team at an international meet in Vancouver, B.C. in May.

- Cliff Mehrtens

Butler High track star signs with Tennessee

Butler High’s Aslynn Halvorson, the Observer Girls’ Track Field Events Athlete of the Year, signed with Tennesee.

Halvorson, a senior, was the N.C. 4A champion in discus and shot put last spring. He shot put of 43 feet, 8.75 inches was the best in the state. Her discus throw of 155-8 was the second-best in N.C. prep history.

“I feel like Tennessee is close to home,” Halvorson said. “It’s far enough away where I feel I’m away at college, but close enough that I can come home on visits. The coach is great, and I felt like I’d fit in well in the program.”

Halvorson said she’ll concentrate on discus, hammer throw and shot put in college. She also considered an offer from Alabama.

“It was so hard deciding,” she said. “It’s a big relief having the decision out of the way. Every day, I’d get asked `Who did you pick?”

- Cliff Mehrtens

Gatorade names N.C. and S.C. girls' players of year

Asia Williams, a senior guard at Durham Hillside High, was named Gatorade N.C. Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.

The award is based on athletics, academics and character.

Williams averages 21.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.2 steals. She has helped Hillside (26-5) reach the N.C. 4A championship game Saturday against West Charlotte. She was named Most Valuable Player at the 4A Eastern Regional last week.

Williams, who has signed with Wake Forest, has a 4.55 grade point average, and is No. 5 in her class. She sings in the church choir, has volunteered at various school events, works as a peer tutor and on behalf of the local Ronald McDonald House serving sick children and their families.

■ Lower Richland senior forward Morgan Stroman is a repeat pick as the Gatorade S.C. Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.

She led the Diamond Hornets (26-1) to a fourth straight state championship, and averaged 16.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 2.6 blocks.

Stroman, named a McDonald’s All-American, has a 3.69 grade point average. She has served in the school’s student government and on the alcohol and drug prevention advisory board, volunteered as a youth basketball instructor and on behalf of the Families Helping Families charitable organization.

- Cliff Mehrtens

Around the prep diamonds......

Top baseball and softball performers:

BASEBALL
■ Cherryville’s Chase Scott and Cory Parks combined to pitch a perfect game in a 2-0 victory against Gastonia Highland.
Scott pitched five innings and struck out eight to earn the victory. Parks struck out five in the final two innings to get the save.

■ Hickory Grove’s Kyle Galloway had amazing hitting games on consecutive days.
He was 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBIs in an 11-3 victory against Charlotte Latin on Monday. Galloway had two home runs and five RBIs in a 14-8 victory against SouthLake Christian on Tuesday.
His two- day totals: 6-for-8, four home runs and 11 RBIs.

Matthew Culbertson, Ryan Cliff and Slater Erwin also hit home runs for Hickory Grove on Tuesday.

■ Cody Still pitched a 1-hitter with 11 strikeouts in Grace Academy’s 22-0 victory in four innings against United Faith.

■ Mallard Creek’s Carlos Aponte was 4-for-4 with three RBIs in a 6-5 victory against Concord Robinson.

■Mount Pleasant’s Garrett Furr pitched a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts, with two hits and two RBIs in a 3-1 victory against North Stanly.

■Butler’s Jake Fincher had two doubles, a home run and four RBIs in a 7-0 victory against Richmond Senior.


SOFTBALL
■ Ardrey Kell’s Kalie Lang struck out 15 in a 6-0 victory against Olympic. She walked one, and allowed two hits.

■ Charlotte Christian’s Mallory Severs was 4-for-4 with three RBIs in a 12-6 victory against Wesleyan, including a home run and a double.

■ Lincoln Charter’s Victoria Morgan had seven RBIs, two triples and a double in a 23-1 victory against Clearview Christian.

■ Alexander Central’s Chelsea Wilkinson, a freshman, threw a no-hitter in her first prep game Monday, an 18-0 victory against East Lincoln.

- Cliff Mehrtens

Butler's win streak snapped at 61

Alexander Central beat host Butler, the three-time reigning N.C. 4A softball champion, 3-0 on Wednesday.

Butler (2-1) was limited to one hit, a double by Courtney Moore, by pitcher Chelsea Wilkinson (2-0). The Bulldogs hadn't lost in nearly three seasons.

Wilkinson, a freshman, struck out 13. Alexander Central (3-0) had four hits, and scored single runs in the third, fifth and seventh innings.

- Cliff Mehrtens

West Charlotte charters bus to Saturday's state finals

West Charlotte High has chartered a bus to Saturday’s N.C. 4A girls final in Chapel Hill against Durham Hillside. The bus leaves campus at 1 p.m. A $30 ticket, includes game admission and the bus. Information? 980-343-6060.

All-Southwestern 4A basketball teams

Myers Park's Odell Turner is the Southwestern 4A boys' basketball player of the year, and Rick Lewis (Myers Park) is boys' coach of the year.

Butler's Celeste Stewart is the girls' player of the year, and Stephanie Butler (Butler) is girls' coach of the year.

The all-conference boys' team:
Quan Alexander (Myers Park)
A.J. Evans (Butler)
Justin Cheek (Ardrey Kell)
Jeremy Ingram (East Mecklenburg)
Damon Magazu (Providence)
J.D. Ey (Myers Park)
Alex Watkins (Ardrey Kell)
Cameron McQueen (Ardrey Kell)
Paris Roberts (East Mecklenburg)
Ben Cherry (Myers Park)

The all-conference girls' team:
Jaquaira Forney (Butler)
Monet Tellier (East Mecklenburg)
Danaira Erwin-Spencer (East Mecklenburg)
Cierra Burdick (Butler)
Allie Cashion (Weddington)
Clair Watkins (Butler)
Jessica Blair (Independence)
Briana Chartrand (Providence)
Tiffani Stephens (Myers Park)
Aliyah Kilpatrick (East Mecklenburg)

- Cliff Mehrtens

ME-CA 7 4A names boys' basketball team

Hopewell's Brandyn Curry was named the ME-CA 7 4A boys' basketball player of the year, and Eric Davis (Hopewell) is coach of the year.

The all-conference girls' team won't be released until West Charlotte has completed the state playoffs.

The all-conference boys' team:
DeMon Brooks (Hopewell)
Thomas Cooper (Mallard Creek)
Jordan Downing (Hopewell)
Jonathan Gibbs (Mallard Creek)
Alex Godette (Hopewell)
Andre Marhold (North Mecklenburg)
Kyle Gaillard (North Mecklenburg)
Bernard Sullivan (North Mecklenburg)
Daryl Trayham (Vance)
Marquise Rankin (Vance)
Jacoby Davis (Vance)
Quadarius Fewell (West Charlotte)

- Cliff Mehrtens

All-Queen City 3A/4A basketball teams

The Queen City 3A/4A all-conference basketball teams were released Monday.

Charlotte Catholic's Lauryn Kobiela is the girls' player of the year, and Robert Hollis (Berry) is girls' coach of the year.

Harding's Walt Aikens is the boys' player of the year, and Ty Baumgardner (Olympic) is boys' coach of the year.

The all-conference girls' team:
Lauryn Kobiela (Charlotte Catholic)
Essance Baucom (Berry)
Breonna Lewis (Harding)
Jessica Collins (West Mecklenburg)
Ali Lane (Charlotte Catholic)
Alexius Hampton (Olympic)
Jasmine Pratt (Garinger)
Jasmine Frantz (Charlotte Catholic)
Najmah Tillard (Harding)
Ariel Steel (Waddell)

The all-conference boys' team:
Ricky Perry (Berry)
John Hatton (Charlotte Catholic)
David Johnson (Garinger)
Walt Aikens (Harding)
Markus Lawrence (Harding)
Reggie Arceneaux (Olympic)
Adam Hunt (Olympic)
Tony Menton (Waddell)
Aaron Bennett (West Mecklenburg)
Charles Morrison (West Mecklenburg)
Terrance Williams (West Mecklenburg)

- Cliff Mehrtens

N.C. State Championship Basketball Pairings

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2009

95th ANNUAL MEN¹S NCHSAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS 38th ANNUAL WOMEN¹S NCHSAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

DEAN E.SMITH CENTER--UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL REYNOLDS COLISEUM ­ NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, RALEIGH

At Chapel Hill
CLASS AA women--noon
GRAHAM HIGH SCHOOL RED DEVILS (28-3)
VS.
SALISBURY HIGH SCHOOL HORNETS (28-3)

CLASS AA men­ 2:30 p.m.
PITTSBORO NORTHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL CHARGERS (20-5) VS.
SHELBY HIGH SCHOOL GOLDEN LIONS (28-2)

CLASS AAAA women ­ 5 p.m.
DURHAM HILLSIDE HIGH SCHOOL HORNETS (26-5) VS.
WEST CHARLOTTE HIGH SCHOOL LIONS (27-3)

CLASS AAAA men ­ 7:30 p.m.
FAYETTEVILLE TERRY SANFORD HIGH SCHOOL BULLDOGS (28-3) VS.
WINSTON-SALEM MOUNT TABOR HIGH SCHOOL SPARTANS (30-1)


At Raleigh
CLASS A women­ noon
EAST BLADEN HIGH SCHOOL EAGLES (26-2)
VS.
KERNERSVILLE BISHOP MCGUINNESS HIGH SCHOOL LADY VILLAINS (28-4)

CLASS A men­ 2:30 p.m.
WELDON HIGH SCHOOL CHARGERS (26-1)
VS.
KERNERSVILLE BISHOP MCGUINNESS HIGH SCHOOL VILLAINS (30-2)

CLASS AAA women ­ 5 p.m.
GREENSBORO DUDLEY HIGH SCHOOL PANTHERS (29-3) VS.
GASTONIA FORESTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL JAGUARS (27-4)

CLASS AAA men‹7:30 p.m.
NORTHERN GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL NIGHTHAWKS (29-3) VS.
GASTONIA FORESTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL JAGUARS (25-6)


Note: the Eastern champion is designated as the home team and will wear the light colored uniform in these NCHSAA championship games.

West Charlotte girls stop Butler move to 4A finals

Christal Caldwell scored 28 points and was named Western Regional MVP for the second straight year. West Charlotte stopped Butler 66-54 to become the first Mecklenburg County girls team to reach back to back N.c. 4A championship games.

The Lions (27-3) outscored Butler 24-14 in the fourth quarter to break open a close game that they led throughout. Butler had its 25-game win streak snapped and lost a bid to reach its first state final. Cierra Burdick had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulldogs (30-1).

4A BOYS: Mount Tabor beat Hopewell 67-51 Saturday to advance to the first state final in school history. Tabor (30-1) will play Fayetteville Sanford Saturday in Chapel Hill for the state title.

Hopewell (29-1) lost a bid for Mecklenburg County's first unbeaten season since West Charlotte in 1986.

The Titans shot 26 percent for the game and star guards Brandyn Curry and Alex Godette were 3-for-18 combined. Tabor's Mike Grace, signed to Yale, scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half.

3A GIRLS: Forestview 66, Roberson 57: Shannon Smith scores 19 of her game-high 28 points in the second half and dominates the game late as Forestview advances to next week's N.C. 3A championship where it will face Greensboro Dudley.

3A BOYS GASTONIA FORESTVIEW 70, CONCORD 68: Gastonia Forestview's boys rallied from nine points down in the fourth quarter to beat Concord 70-68 in the N.C. 3A Western regional final Saturday at the Special Events Center.

Tournament MVP Jack Sumner scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half, when he made four 3-point shots. Sumner hit two free throws with eight seconds left to win it. Concord had a chance to tie with two seconds remaining but the Spiders missed a layup attempt and lost a chance for a second N.C. 3A championship berth in three years.

DeJuan Means had 19 points and 7 rebounds for the Jaquars (25-6). Jacquise Moore had 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for Concord and teammate Chance Rucker had 22 points and 7 rebounds.

2A BOYS SHELBY 53, EAST LINCOLN 45: Shelby eliminated East Lincoln from the playoffs for the second straight year, ended East's 23-game win streak. Shelby (28-2), which beat East Lincoln (27-5) in the regional semifinals last season, got 12 points from Nick Stamp and 10 from Eric Mayo. Keith Rendleman had 18 points and 6 rebounds for East Lincoln, which led 13-5 after the first quarter, but was outscored 28-16 in the next two.

1A BOYS, BISHOP-MCGUINNESS 73, CHERRYVILLE 72: McGuinness got a free throw in the final seconds to prevent Cherryville from making its first state final appearance since 1985.

Lake Norman wins tennis tournament

Lake Norman High won the Huntington Learning Center Invitational tennis tournament for the second straight year Saturday.

The Wildcats defeated host Hopewell 8-1, after winning its first-round match 8-1 against Winston-Salem Mt. Tabor on Friday.

Lake Norman swept all six singles matches in the final, each in straight sets.

Mt. Tabor beat Mallard Creek 5-4 in the third-place match.

----
Huntington Learning Center Invitational

Lake Norman 8, Hopewell 1
(championship match)
Singles
#1 : Andrew McKinnon (LN) d. Anthony Lopez 7-5, 6-1
#2 : Trey McKee (LN) d. Matt Alexander 6-3, 6-3
#3 : Tim Johnson (LN) d. John David Curlis 6-2, 6-4
#4 : Matt Dowell (LN) d. Patrick Howe 6-0, 6-0
#5 : Matt Crisp (LN) d. Jeremy Anderson 6-4, 6-2
#6 : Drew Harmon (LN) d. Adam Stroupe 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
#1 : McKinnon/Dowell (LN) d. Lopez/Alexander 9-8 (6)
#2 : McKee/Crisp (LN) d. Howe/Anderson 8-3
#3 : Curlis/CJ Rapp (H) d. Johnson/David Dyer 9-8 (7)


Mount Tabor 5, Mallard Creek 4
(Third-place match)
Singles
#1 : Patrick Cunningham (MT) d. Tam Tran-Viet 6-0, 6-2
#2 : David Hill (MT) d. Drew Goshorn 6-3, 6-0
#3 : Sean Gartland (MC) d. Ben Sollenberger 6-4, 6-1
#4 : Matt Werner (MC) d. Scott Hill 6-7 (3) 6-4, 10-5
#5 : Jonathan Black (MT) d. Dan Gallo 4-6, 7-6, 10-6
#6 : Holden Rudd (MC) d. James Covington 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
#1 : Tran-Viet/Gortland (MC) d. Cunningham/D. Hill 8-6
#2 : Sollenberger/S. Hill (MT) d. Goshorn/Werner 8-6
#3 : Black/Covington (MT) d. Gallo/Rudd 8-4

- Cliff Mehrtens

Shelby, Gastonia Forestview boys advance to state final

GASTONIA FORESTVIEW 70, CONCORD 68: Gastonia Forestview's boys rallied from nine points down in the fourth quarter to beat Concord 70-68 in the N.C. 3A Western regional final Saturday at the Special Events Center.

Tournament MVP Jack Sumner scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half, when he made four 3-point shots. Sumner hit two free throws with eight seconds left to win it. Concord had a chance to tie with two seconds remaining but the Spiders missed a layup attempt and lost a chance for a second N.C. 3A championship berth in three years.

DeJuan Means had 19 points and 7 rebounds for the Jaquars (25-6). Jacquise Moore had 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for Concord and teammate Chance Rucker had 22 points and 7 rebounds.

SHELBY 53, EAST LINCOLN 45: Shelby eliminated East Lincoln from the playoffs for the second straight year, ended East's 23-game win streak. Shelby (28-2), which beat East Lincoln (27-5) in the regional semifinals last season, got 12 points from Nick Stamp and 10 from Eric Mayo. Keith Rendleman had 18 points and 6 rebounds for East Lincoln, which led 13-5 after the first quarter, but was outscored 28-16 in the next two.

W. Charlotte rallies reaches second straight regional final

We'll have updates throughout the night on the Butler-Mallard Creek and West Charlotte-East Meck regional doubleheader.

West Charlotte East Meck: Despite shooting 18 percent in the first half and not much better in the third quarter, the Lions, down by as many as 11, rallied with defense. East went more than six minutes with only two points.

Danaira Erwin-Spencer made a layup to trim West Charlotte's lead to 42-41, but Trena Moore Smith hit a runner with 40 seconds left and Nikki Burton's steal and layup gave the Lions a 46-41 lead and a second straight N.c. 4A West Regional berth



Butler 58, Mallard Creek 41: In the third quarter, Mallard Creek ran off five straight points to tie the regional semi at 32, and the Mavericks fans got up, the Mavericks bench got up. Butler got up again, too.

The Bulldogs ran off 20 straight points over the next 7 minutes, 34 seconds. Mallard Creek didn't score and missed 16 straight shots. By the time Mallard Creek's Umeka Benson made a layup, with 3:49 to play, Butler was up 52-34 and thinking about tonight's 8 p.m. regional championship against either East Meck or West Charlotte.

Wrestling event Sat. to raise cancer funds

Charlotte Latin wrestler Peter McClelland and assistant coach David Paige will launch a worthy cause Saturday.

They organized the Charlotte All-Star Classic at 7 p.m. at Latin, and all benefits will go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. It will be a dual-team format with wrestlers from throughout Charlotte schools.

“We want this to be a fun even that also has an impact,” McClelland said. “I believe it is time to help our fathers and grandfathers fund and fight their was against prostate cancer. My grandfather is one of the many men quietly, bravely and silently waging a personal battle with this cancer.”

Tickets are $7, and kids age 7 and younger will get in free. For those unable to attend but wanting to donate, go to prostatecancerfoundation.org.

The tentative lineup:

103 pounds: Wesley Patrick (Hopewell) v. Matt Zitsos (Charlotte Christian);
112: Reggie Hogans (Mallard Creek) v. Cameron Hallman (Charlotte Country Day);
119: Micaiah Miller (Mallard Creek) v. Anthony Frazier (Harding);
125: Will Reedhead (Christian) v. Joe Acquarulo (Hopewell);
130: Mark Judy (Ardrey Kell) v. Ross Calhoun (Latin);
135 Andrew Benge (Mallard Creek) v. Kyle Walker (Hopewell);
140: Talique Whitfield (Harding) v. Marshall Sykes (Latin);
145: Tyler Gardner (Waddell) v. Reid Palmer (Country Day);
152: Shuntez Moore (Hopewell) v. James Hicks (Berry);
160: Collin Breeney (Latin) v. Cody Hall (Ardrey Kell);
171: Latham York (North Mecklenburg) v. Tyrell Walker (Mallard Creek);
189: Nick Watson (Hopewell) v. Andrew Leggett (Country Day);
215: Joey Navarra (North Mecklenburg) v. Kip Haddock (Country Day);
285: Derrick Key (Berry) v. Blake Hart (North Mecklenburg)

- Cliff Mehrtens

North Meck soccer star signs with S.C.

North Mecklenburg High's Ryan Goodwin signed to play soccer at South Carolina.

Goodwin, a 5-foot-8, 150-pound midfielder, was All-MECA 7 4A, All-Region and played in the N.C. High School Athletic Association's East-West All-Star game.

He led the Vikings in goals and assists.

Goodwin also plays for the Region III Olympic Developmental team.

- Cliff Mehrtens

Thoughts on the Hopewell-Mount Tabor state semifinal game

Saturday's N.C. 4A regional boys championship between 28-0 Hopewell and 29-1 Mount Tabor could be special. Tabor has three guards who have signed Division I scholarships. Hopewell has two, but I think the game might come down to the other guys -- and to Hopewell's 6-6 junior center DeMon Brooks.

Tabor doesn't have an inside presence and even with the flu weakening him, Myers Park's 6-8 senior center Odell Turner got 15 points and 13 rebounds against Tabor in Thursday's regional semifinals.

But.....Hopewell will also have to think about this. The Titans played six close games with Vance and Myers Park, all nail-biters. Hopewell won all six, but in these playoffs Tabor beat Vance by 18 and Myers Park by 22.

Neither team has been to the state final before, but who is going to taste history Saturday?

-- Langston Wertz Jr.

Mustangs lose, Hopewell advances

Throughout the night, we'll have updates from the Western regionals in Greensboro.

4A Boys, Mount Tabor 72, Myers Park 50: Myers Park was down five at halftime, but scored only 14 points in the first 13 minutes, 32 seconds of the second half. By then, Mount Tabor had stretched its lead to as many as 25 points. Myers Park was trying to reach the state final since 1966. Tabor will play Hopewell Saturday, trying to reach its first state final.

3A Girls: Gastonia Forestview 78, Concord 64: Forestview jumped on Concord early and won easy. Forestview led 48-28 at halftime, eliminating the defending 3A champs and advancing to Staurday's N.C. 3A state semifinal. Shannon Smith had 34 for the Jaguars, whose boys and girls teams are now in the semifinal round.

4A Boys: Hopewell 58, Ardrey Kell 50: Hopewell's 11-0 run to start the third quarter erases Kell's eight-point lead and got the Titans back in the game. Kell made a push late, but made only two of its last 12 shots.
After shooting 28 percent in the first half, Hopewell shot 61.5 percent in the third quarter and 54.5 percent in the second half. Brandyn Curry had 17 points and six rebounds for Hopewell, which reaches its first-ever N.C. 4A regional championship Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center. At 4 p.m., the Titans (28-0) will meet either Mount Tabor or Myers Park for the right to advance to Chapel Hill and the N.C. 4A state championship game.
Cameron McQueen led Kell (21-9) with 13 points and 9 rebounds. Justin Cheek had 14 points and 3 rebounds.

3A Girls, Skyland Roberson 68, Statesville 45: Statesville shot 27 percent and was never in the game. Star guard Keyrra Gillespie, signed to Clemson, had 19 points and 10 rebounds but 12 turnovers. Maria Young had 21 for Roberson which will play Concord or Gastonia Forestview in Saturday's 3A Western regional final

2A BOYS: SHELBY 43, WEST CALDWELL 42
Miles Lawrence’s 3-pointer with 21 seconds left gave the Golden Lions a victory in a deliberate-paced game at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center on Thursday.
Shelby (27-2) will play the East Lincoln in the regional final at noon Saturday.
The Golden Lions, trailing 42-40 with one minute left, got two offensive rebounds to set up Lawrence’s 3-pointer. West Caldwell (22-7) had a chance to win, but missed two shots in the final five seconds.
Lawrence led Shelby with 11 points, and Eric Mayo had nine points and six rebounds. West Caldwell’s K.J. Jones scored a game-high 19, including three 3-pointers. Shaquan Fogle added eight points and eight rebounds.

2A boys: East Lincoln 46, Ashe County 39
Keith Rendleman scores 19 points and grabs 10 rebounds as East Lincoln (27-4) wins its 23rd in a row. East held off a late push from Ashe County (25-4) despite struggling from the free throw line.
Ahead 42-39, East missed two front ends of one-and-one bonus situations. WIth 15.9 seconds left, Austin Davis made two free throws to seal the game.
Ashe County 7 15 11 6 -- 39
East Lincoln 12 9 12 13 -- 46
ASHE COUNTY 39 -- Holman 2, Tammy Spagnolo 14, Tatum Lemly 14, Wells 8, Hamm 1
EAST LINCOLN 46 -- Keith Rendleman 19, Spear 7, Davis 5, Sydney 6, Bethea 2, Decaro 7

N.C. Western Regional Scores

WESTERN REGIONALS -- GREENSBORO
Girls 1A: Bishop McGuinness 54, Robbinsville 29; East Surry 52, Hiwassee Dam 36
Girls 2A: East Davidson 53, Smoky Mountain 33; Salisbury 64, Mitchell 62
Boys 3A: Concord 76, Charlotte Catholic 62
BOys 3A: Gastonia Forestview 60, High Point Andrews 54



NCHSAA EASTERN REGIONALS--GREENVILLE

1A MEN
Weldon 46, South Robeson 40
Pender 45, Camden 43

2A WOMEN
Graham 62, Northside (Jacksonville) 47
Southwest Onslow 56, Orange 46

Shrine Bowl running back signs

Shelby High running back Larry Raper, who played in the Shrine Bowl in December, signed with N.C. A&T on Wednesday.

Raper, one of the state's top recruits, decommitted from Clemson in midseason after Clemson coach Tommy Bowden's resignation.

Raper (5-foot-11, 165 pounds), rushed for 1,042 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He had 1,490 all-purpose yards.

- Cliff Mehrtens

Tennis ignores cold with sizzling opener

Temperatures in the 30s Tuesday didn't wipe out all the spring sports.

Charlotte Latin beat Marvin Ridge 5-4 in the chilly boys' tennis opener at Charlotte Latin.

The Hawks got singles victories from Baris Aldanmaz, Michael Tomlin and Charlie Shaffner, and doubles victories from Aldanmaz/Kristian Perks and Fitz Powers/Tomlin.

"We had a great match that lasted over two and a half hours and finished under the lights," Latin coach C.W. Stacks said. "Despite the cold, several players shed their sweats, played in shorts and came off the courts dripping with sweat. It was unfortunate that two solid teams from top to bottom had to play each other so early in the season and under such conditions but the spectators, and there were many and they stayed until the end, were treated to outstanding tennis along with wonderful sportsmanship by both teams."

Andrew Treske, Joey Hatala and Christian Smith won singles matches for Marvin Ridge, and Smith/Brett Ward won in doubles.

- Cliff Mehrtens

CISAA All-Conference and NCISAA All-State basketball teams

CISAA All-Conference Teams

Janee’ Johnson-Sr. Providence Day 

Nneka Awuruonye-Jr. Providence Day 

Tiffany Mitchell-Fr. Providence Day 

Jordan Carr-Fr. Providence Day 

Cassie Tolliver-Sr. Country Day 

Janice Roberts-Jr. Country Day 

Krista Gross-Sr. Cannon 

Christal Barnett-So. Christian 

3A Girls Basketball NCISAA All-State Team: 

Krista Gross—Sr. Cannon

Janee’ Johnson—Sr. Providence Day 

Tiffany Mitchell—Fr. Providence Day 

Chelsea Douglas—Jr. Hickory Grove 

Lauren White—Jr. Hickory Grove 

Janice Roberts—Jr. Country Day 

Brey Dorsett—Sr. FCDS

Lindsay Cowher—Sr. Ravenscroft 

Ardrey Kell, Myers Park postpone Tuesday athletic events

Because of severely cold temperatures throughout Mecklenburg County, Ardrey Kell has postponed today's spring sports games because the weather could impact students and spectators.

Knights athletic officials hoped to reschedule these events:

Cancelled March 3 athletic events:

Varsity Baseball vs. WMeck at AK

Varsity Softball vs. WMeck at AK

(JV Baseball vs. AK at West Meck

JV-V Soccer vs. Olympic at AK

Varsity Tennis vs. Berry at AK

Myers Park has canceled a track meet scheduled for today.

NCHSAA Western Basketball Regionals: New schedules released

Games scheduled for Tuesday in the N.C. High School Athletic Association's Western Regional basketball tournament have been postponed and rescheduled.

The 1A girls were moved from Tuesday to Wednesday. The 2A boys, scheduled for Tuesday, will now play Thursday.

In the 1-A women¹s Western bracket, Hiwassee Dam (28-5) will now face East
Surry (25-5) at UNC-G's Fleming Gymnasium on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., while
Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (26-4) plays Robbinsville (25-2) at the
Greensboro Special Events Center at the same time.

On Thursday in 2-A men¹s Western action, the schedule now has Shelby (26-2)
against West Caldwell (22-6) at the Special Events Center in a 5:30 p.m.
game while East Lincoln (26-4) takes on Ashe County (25-3) at UNC-G at the
same time.

The finals for both of those classifications remain unchanged.

University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, the city of Greenville and
the Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau are the Eastern Regional
primary sponsors. The Greensboro Sports Commission and the Greensboro
Convention and Visitors Bureau assist with the Western Regional.

The winners from the regional tournament games will advance to the state
championship contests. The 95th men's championships and the 38th renewal of
the women's finals will be held at the Dean E. Smith Center on the
University of North Carolina campus and Reynolds Coliseum at North Carolina
State University, scheduled for March 14. The 2-A and 4-A finals will be at
the Smith Center while the 1-A and 3-A championships are set for Reynolds
Coliseum.

On Monday, March 9, a press conference for the state championships will be
held at the Radisson Research Triangle Park. The head coaches of each of the
competing teams and other school officials will on
hand to preview the upcoming games.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2009 REGIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE--REVISED

Western Regional-- Men

Class 1-A‹Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Friday, March 6, 7 p.m.: Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (28-2) vs.
Hendersonville (17-9)
Friday, March 6, 8:30 p.m.: Cherryville (22-8) vs. South Stokes (12-15)
Saturday, March 7, 4 p.m.: championship

Class 2-A
Thursday, March 5, 5:30 p.m.: Shelby (26-2) vs. West Caldwell (22-6) at
Greensboro Special Events Center
Thursday, March 5, 5:30 p.m.: East Lincoln (26-4) vs. Ashe County (25-3) at
UNC-G
Saturday, March 7, noon: championship at Greensboro Special Events Center

Class 3-A --Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m: Concord (28-1) vs. Charlotte Catholic (13-15)
Wednesday, March 4, 8:30 p.m.: High Point T.W. Andrews (24-4) vs. Gastonia
Forestview (23-6)
Saturday, March 7, 2 p.m.: championship

Class 4-A‹ Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Thursday, March 5, 7 p.m.: Huntersville Hopewell (27-0) vs. Charlotte Ardrey
Kell (21-8)
Thursday, March 5, 8:30 p.m.: Winston-Salem Mount Tabor (28-1) vs. Charlotte
Myers Park (24-6)
Saturday, March 7, 4 p.m.: championship at Greensboro Coliseum Special
Events Center

Western Regional -- Women

Class 1-A: Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Wednesday, March 4, 5:30 p.m.: Hiwassee Dam (28-5) vs. East Surry (25-5) at
UNC-G
Wednesday, March 4, 5:30 p.m.: Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (26-4) vs.
Robbinsville (25-2) at Greensboro Special Events Center
Saturday, March 7, noon: championship at Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro

Class 2-A: Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m.: East Davidson (30-0) vs. Sylva Smoky Mountain
(24-3)
Wednesday, March 4, 8:30 p.m.: Mitchell (27-2) vs. Salisbury (26-3)
Saturday, March 7, 2 p.m.: championship

Class 3-A: Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Thursday, March 5, 7 p.m.: Statesville (26-3) vs. Asheville T.C. Roberson
(25-4)
Thursday, March 5, 8:30 p.m.: Gastonia Forestview (25-4) vs. Concord (26-4)
Saturday, March 7, 6 p.m.: championship

Class 4-A: Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Friday, March 6, 7 p.m.: Matthews David Butler (29-1) vs. Charlotte Mallard
Creek (22-6)
Friday, March 6, 8:30 p.m.: West Charlotte (25-3) vs. East Mecklenburg
(25-4)
Saturday, March 7, 8 p.m.: championship

Eastern Regionals-Men
Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum, East Carolina University

Class 1-A
Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m.: Weldon (26-1) vs. South Robeson (17-6)
Wednesday, March 4, 8:30 p.m.: Camden (25-3) vs. Pender (23-6)
Saturday, March 7, 3 p.m.: championship

Class 2-A
Thursday, March 5, 7 p.m.: South Brunswick (24-5) vs. Pittsboro Northwood
(18-5)
Thursday, March 5, 8:30 p.m.: East Duplin (21-6) vs. Burlington Cummings
(21-6)
Saturday, March 7, 5 p.m.: championship

Class 3-A
Friday, March 6, 7 p.m.: Northern Guilford (27-3) vs. Bertie (22-4)
Friday, March 6, 8:30 p.m.: Kinston (26-3) vs. Greensboro Dudley (26-3)
Saturday, March 7, 7 p.m.: championship

Class 4-A
Tuesday, March 3, 7 p.m.: Cary Panther Creek (28-2) vs. Fayetteville Jack
Britt (24-6)
Tuesday, March 3, 8:30 p.m.: Raleigh Enloe (28-2) vs. Fayetteville Terry
Sanford (26-3)
Saturday, March 7, 1 p.m.: championship

Eastern Regionals--Women
J.H. Rose High School, Greenville

Class 1-A
Tuesday, March 3, 7 p.m.: Weldon (25-2) vs. Manteo (24-5)
Tuesday, March 3, 8:30 p.m.: East Bladen (24-2) vs. East Columbus (24-4)
Saturday, March 7, 1 p.m.: championship

Class 2-A
Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m.: Graham (26-1) vs. Jacksonville Northside (25-3)
Wednesday, March 4, 8:30 p.m.: Southwest Onslow (25-3) vs. Orange (20-6)
Saturday, March 7, 3 p.m.: championship

Class 3-A
Thursday, March 5, 7 p.m.: Winterville South Central (28-0) vs. Rockingham
County (25-5)
Thursday, March 5, 8:30 p.m.: Greensboro Dudley (27-3) vs. Wilson
Beddingfield (26-3)
Saturday, March 7, 5 p.m.: championship

Class 4-A
Friday, March 6, 7 p.m.: Hope Mills South View (28-1) vs. Durham Hillside
(24-5)
Friday, March 6, 8:30 p.m.: Wilmington Hoggard (25-2) vs. Southeast Raleigh
(24-2)
Saturday, March 7, 7 p.m.: championship

N.C. Western Regional Basketball Tournament postponed

The Tuesday games that were scheduled in the North Carolina High School
Athletic Association Western Regional basketball tournament have been
postponed.

The games postponed include the 1-A women's games, featuring Hiwassee
Dam (28-5) against East Surry (25-5), and Kernersville Bishop McGuinness
(26-4) against Robbinsville (25-2).

The 2-A men's games that were scheduled for Tuesday included Shelby
(26-2) against West Caldwell (22-6) and East Lincoln (26-4) facing Ashe
County (25-3).

The adjusted schedule and sites for the postponed games will be
announced as soon as the details have been finalized.

N.C. regional basketball pairings

Western Regional-- Boys'

Class 1A
Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Fri., March 6, 7 p.m.: Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (28-2) vs.Hendersonville (17-9)
Fri., March 6, 8:30 p.m.: Cherryville (22-8) vs. South Stokes (12-15)
Sat., March 7, 4 p.m.: championship

Class 2A
Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Tue., March 3, 7 p.m.: Shelby (26-2) vs. West Caldwell (22-6)
Tue., March 3, 8:30 p.m.: East Lincoln (26-4) vs. Ashe County (25-3) Sat., March 7, noon: championship

Class 3A
Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Wed., March 4, 7 p.m: Concord (28-1) vs. Charlotte Catholic (13-15)
Wed, March 4, 8:30 p.m.: High Point Andrews (24-4) vs. Gastonia Forestview (23-6)
Sat, March 7, 2 p.m.: championship

Class 4A
Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Thur., March 5, 7 p.m.: Huntersville Hopewell (27-0) vs. Charlotte Ardrey Kell (21-8)
Thur., March 5, 8:30 p.m.: Winston-Salem Mount Tabor (28-1) vs. Myers Park (24-6)
Sat., March 7, 4 p.m.: championship at Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
----
Western Regional -- Girls'
Class 1A: Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Tue., March 3, 7 p.m.: Hiwassee Dam (28-5) vs. East Surry (25-5)
Tue., March 3, 8:30 p.m.: Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (26-4) vs.Robbinsville (25-2)
Sat., March 7, noon: championship

Class 2A: Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Wed., March 4, 7 p.m.: East Davidson (30-0) vs. Sylva Smoky Mountain(24-3)
Wed., March 4, 8:30 p.m.: Mitchell (27-2) vs. Salisbury (26-3)
Sat., March 7, 2 p.m.: championship

Class 3A: Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Thur., March 5, 7 p.m.: Statesville (26-3) vs. Asheville T.C. Roberson(25-4)
Thur., March 5, 8:30 p.m.: Gastonia Forestview (25-4) vs. Concord (26-4)
Sat., March 7, 6 p.m.: championship

Class 4A: Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Fri., March 6, 7 p.m.: Butler (29-1) vs. Mallard Creek (22-6)
Fri., March 6, 8:30 p.m.: West Charlotte (25-3) vs. East Mecklenburg(25-4)
Sat., March 7, 8 p.m.: championship

---
Eastern Regionals-Boys'
Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum, East Carolina University

Class 1A
Wed., March 4, 7 p.m.: Weldon (26-1) vs. South Robeson (17-6)
Wed., March 4, 8:30 p.m.: Camden (25-3) vs. Pender (23-6)
Sat., March 7, 3 p.m.: championship

Class 2A
Thur., March 5, 7 p.m.: South Brunswick (24-5) vs. Pittsboro Northwood
(18-5)
Thur., March 5, 8:30 p.m.: East Duplin (21-6) vs. Burlington Cummings
(21-6)
Sat, March 7, 5 p.m.: championship

Class 3A
Fri., March 6, 7 p.m.: Northern Guilford (27-3) vs. Bertie (22-4)
Fri., March 6, 8:30 p.m.: Kinston (26-3) vs. Greensboro Dudley (26-3) Sat., March 7, 7 p.m.: championship

Class 4A
Tue., March 3, 7 p.m.: Cary Panther Creek (28-2) vs. Fayetteville Jack Britt (24-6)
Tue, March 3, 8:30 p.m.: Raleigh Enloe (28-2) vs. Fayetteville Terry Sanford (26-3)
Sat., March 7, 1 p.m.: championship
------
Eastern Regionals--Girls'
J.H. Rose High School, Greenville

Class 1A
Tue., March 3, 7 p.m.: Weldon (25-2) vs. Manteo (24-5)
Tue., March 3, 8:30 p.m.: East Bladen (24-2) vs. East Columbus (24-4) Sat., March 7, 1 p.m.: championship

Class 2A
Wed., March 4, 7 p.m.: Graham (26-1) vs. Jacksonville Northside (25-3) Wed., March 4, 8:30 p.m.: Southwest Onslow (25-3) vs. Orange (20-6) Sat., March 7, 3 p.m.: championship

Class 3A
Thur., March 5, 7 p.m.: Winterville South Central (28-0) vs. Rockingham County (25-5)
Thur., March 5, 8:30 p.m.: Greensboro Dudley (27-3) vs. Wilson Beddingfield (26-3)
Sat., March 7, 5 p.m.: championship

Class 4A
Fri., March 6, 7 p.m.: Hope Mills South View (28-1) vs. Durham Hillside
(24-5)
Fri., March 6, 8:30 p.m.: Wilmington Hoggard (25-2) vs. Southeast Raleigh
(24-2)
Sat., March 7, 7 p.m.: championship
---

Video of Ian Miller's championship-winning buzzer beater

Here's two videos from last night's thrill-a-minute United Faith vs. Raleigh Word of God N.C. Independent Schools' 1A championship. One features a slo-mo replay that seems to show the shot did not get off in time, however to the human eye, at real speed, it was hard to judge.



Sitting directly behind Miller when he let the shot go, I thought it came just as the buzzer sounded. There's no replay in high school because usually there are not TV cameras at games. This game will be shown on Time Warner Cable's on demand channels starting Tuesday afternoon. Whether you were at Charlotte Latin or not Saturday, it's worth a view.


-- Langston Wertz Jr.