Area briefs: Catawba sweeps

From staff reports

Catawba's men's basketball team won 85-75 at Carson-Newman on Wednesday night.

Catawba's Donald Rutherford scored 30 points, and the Indians shot 62.5 percent from the field.

Rutherford, who went 14-for-17 from the field, had 20 points in the first half for the Indians (12-7, 5-3).

Rob Fields hit four 3-pointers and scored 20 points, and Antonio Houston scored 15.

Catawba played without starting point guard Dominick Reid (leg).

Carson-Newman was led by Tray Okoth and Quiche Dowdell with 15 points each.

CATAWBA (85) — Rutherford 30, Fields 20, Houston 15, Williams 6, Coles 6, Huntley 4, Thomson 2, Martin 2, Lovelace, Drakeford, Smogner, Shoemaker.

CARSON-NEWMAN (75) — Okoth 15, Dowdell 15, Maxtion 12, Dixon 10, Sharp 8, Evans 7, Staten 3, Crane 3, Nicolo 2.

Catawba 48 37 — 85

C-Newman 37 38 — 75

- Catawba women win

Catawba's women's basketball team upset Carson-Newman 75-66 in overtime on Wednesday night.

Catawba moved into a four-way tie for first place in the SAC with Carson-Newman, Lenoir-Rhyne and Newberry. It was the second straight loss for the 12th- ranked Eagles, who won their first 16 games.

Dana Hicks had a monster outing for the Indians (13-6, 6-2) with 26 points and 18 rebounds. She shot 10-for-10 from the foul line.

Nisha Long scored 16 points, and Milica Ivanovic had 12.

Kisha Long's jumper with 1:54 remaining in regulation gave Catawba a 59-55 lead, but Carson-Newman rallied to force overtime.

Ivanovic's layup put Catawba ahead to stay in the overtime period. Catawba was 12-for-12 at the foul line in overtime.

Ashley Kyle scored 18 points for the Eagles.

CATAWBA (75) — Hicks 26, N. Long 16, Ivanovic 12, K. Long 8, Welfare 4, Sullivan 3, Dellapenta 2, Merritt 2, Whitley 2.

CARSON-NEWMAN (66) — Kyle 18, Buford 11, Bates 9, Williams 7, Moore 7, Mendenhall 6, Phillips 4, Clear 3, Miles 1.

Catawba 33 26 16 — 75

C-Newman 31 28 7 — 66

- Middle schools

North Rowan's boys edged Knox 55-51 in a Rowan Middle School Conference Tournament semifinal on Wednesday. North built a 15-point lead and held off a Knox rally in the fourth quarter.

Michael Bowman led the Mavericks (13-1) with 25 points, eight rebounds, six steals and three blocks. Michael Bost has 12 points, and Kasaun Coney had seven.

Tradis Wesley led the Trojans (9-5) with 15 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. John Canipe had 12 points and seven boards. Jaquez Finger and Phillip Thompson scored 10 apiece.

North meets Southeast today for the championship at North. The teams split regular-season meetings.

* In a girls semifinal, Erwin topped West Rowan 40-28.

Erwin's 6-foot-3 Karleigh Wike had 11 points, 24 rebounds and five blocks. Lauren Thomas scored 16 points and had eight rebounds. Katie Kepley had five points and eight rebounds. Kendall Brown had seven rebounds. Haley Hepburn scored six points for the Eagles (15-1).

Nycieko Dixon led the Bulldogs (8-7) with 15 points and stellar defense. Michaela White scored eight points.

A 9-0 run late in the third period clinched the win for Erwin.

Erwin meets Knox today for the championship. The teams split regular-season meetings.

- Jayvee girls

East Rowan's jayvee girls beat Carson 34-24 on Tuesday.

Sydney Poole was strong at the foul line, scored 16 points and blocked two shots.

Cacy Honeycutt had 12 points and four steals. Bobbi Thomas grabbed nine rebounds.

- North Hills hoops

Josh Lippard scored 18 points and had four assists for the North Hills varsity boys in 48-39 win against Woodlawn.

Trent Gobble scored eight points for the Eagles. Cameron Beck blocked seven shots.

* The North Hills varsity girls defeated the N.C. School for the Deaf 53-17.

Laura Butner had 19 points, Abbey Lane had 14 and Abbey Cody had six.

* The North Hills Middle girls beat Statesville Montessori 18-9.

Natalie Whicker had six points and 12 rebounds for the Eagles. Candace-Craig Lyerly and Allison VonCanon each had 5 points and Lyerly had six rebounds.

* The North Hills Middle boys beat Statesville Montessori 46-33.

Leonard Murdock had 11 points and 13 rebounds. Luke Humble had 12 points, and Logan Miller added six.

- Sacred Heart hoops

Sacred Heart's varsity boys and girls swept Conover Concord Lutheran at the Boyd Dolphin Tank.

Eric Edwards led the Dolphin boys to a 43-22 romp with 16 points, eight rebounds and 10 steals. Banks Fisher had 13 points and 12 rebounds. Bobby Cardelle had eight points and six steals. Max Fisher had six points.

* Sacred Heart's girls won 18-15. Katie Sullivan led the Dolphins with five points. Carolyn Parrott had six boards.

- Women's hoops

South Carolina State's Sophilia Hipps (North Rowan) had 15 points and 10 rebounds to key a 74-73 win against Norfolk State on Monday.

Hipps hit a go-ahead layup with 35 seconds left.

* Meredith's Brittany Cornelius (East Rowan) had 14 points and nine rebounds in a 79-45 loss to Shenandoah on Sunday.

n Rene Roberson (West Rowan) hit a 3-pointer for Lees-McRae in a 61-45 loss to Belmont Abbey on Monday.

* Katie Wise (South Rowan) had three rebounds, a block and an assist in five minutes of action in UNC Asheville's 77-63 loss to High Point on Monday.

- Men's basketball

Coker's Michael Gore (South Rowan) shot 5-for-6 from the field and scored 12 points as the Cobras upset Barton 86-80 on Monday.

* Fayetteville State's Jamel Carpenter (West Rowan) scored 12 points in an 82-58 loss against Elizabeth City State on Monday.

* Rio Grande's Doug Campbell (Salisbury) scored 12 points in an 88-72 loss to Campbellsville on Sunday.

- College volleyball

Pfeiffer's men's volleyball team made history by playing its first four matches in Buffalo, N.Y., in the Nickel City Invitational. The Falcons went 2-2.

- Elite Combine

Vision Sports Elite will hold a local football combine on Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The cost is $25 per player and $15 per player for a team of eight or more.

Players will participate in drills such as the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle and standing broad jump.

A "Game Plan" recruiting analyst will be at this event. You can drop off film and stats with the analyst for evaluation. The results of the combine will be sent to over 100 colleges and posted on the "Game Plan" Web site.

For more information, go to visionsports4u.com or call Andre« Archie at (704)-232-0801.

- Basketball tryouts

Tryouts will be held on Saturday and Sunday at Hall Gym for the following:

Saturday

11-under girls, 1-3 p.m.

15 boys, 3-5 p.m.

12-under girls, 8-10 a.m.

Sunday

14-under boys, 2-4 p.m.

12-under girls, 4-6 p.m.

Contact Tom McDaniel at 704-637-1261 for information.

- Horseshoes league

The Cabarrus County Ringers Horseshoe League opens its 14th season on April 1. Matches are played on Mondays and Thursdays behind the YMCA on West C Street.

Starting times will be 5:45 p.m. through April and 5:45 and 6:45 p.m. the rest of the season.

For more information, call Gene Argabright at 704-938-0456 or 704-794-8153.

- East Y hoops

The Saleeby-Fisher YMCA, East Rowan Branch, is taking registrations for its high school boys basketball league through Jan. 31.

This league is for students in grades 9-12.

Participants will have an opportunity to travel and play against other Rowan County YMCA high school teams.

Register at the East Rowan YMCA or online at www.rowanymca.org. Contact Joe Finney at 704-279-1742 or jfinney@rowanymca.org.

- China Grove sign-ups

China Grove Youth Baseball and Softball registrations have started at Dale's Sporting Goods in downtown China Grove. Registrations will last until March 20.

Fees are:

Baseball

Coach Pitch (ages 5-6) $40

Coach Pitch (ages 7-8) $50

Junior Division (ages 9-10) $50

Senior Division (ages 11-12) $50

Softball

Coach Pitch (ages 6-9) $45

Senior Division (ages 10-14) $45

League age is as of April 30, 2010. If you have any questions, contact James Solomon at 704-857-1439 or ymcanewhouse@yahoo.com.

- Pfeiffer hoops

Pfeiffer coach Dave Davis' high-powered basketball program and Merner Gym will be in the national spotlight Saturday afternoon.

Pfeiffer's Conference Carolnas game will be televised live at noon in HD on CBS College Sports. Pfeiffer will be showcased to over 40 million people as Fox Sports Carolinas and Fox Sports South will also carry the game live throughout the Southeast.

- Spencer Little League

Spencer Little League and Franklin Ellis Pee Wee League have merged.

Registration for their baseball and softball leagues will be on Friday, 29, from 4-7 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 30, from 9-2 at 8th Street Ballpark in Spencer. You may also register at Franklin Ellis Park during park hours.

Cost is $50 per player for ages 4-12 and $70 for ages 13-16. This is for Coach Pitch, B League, A League, Junior League and Girls Softball.

Contact William Noles at 704-633-0151, Chris Fries at 704-637-2766 or Craige Farmer at 704-216-7783.

- Rowan Little League

Registration for Rowan Little League baseball and softball continue at Godley's Garden Center.

Parents can register online anytime at http://www.rowanlittleleague.com.New this year is a Pre-T-Ball league for 4-year-olds.

Baseball cost is $40 for Coach Pitch and T-ball (ages 4-8). Cost is $60 for ages 9-10, 11-12 and $70 for 13-14.

League age is as of April 30, 2010.

Softball cost is $40 for girls 8U Coach Pitch (ages 6-8). Cost is $60 for ages 10U, 12U, 14U.

League age is as of December 31, 2009.

Contact Jeff Bernhardt at 704-326-5255.

- Tennis clinics

The Catawba spring tennis clinics begin Feb. 28, with beginners from 2-3 p.m. and advanced players from 3-4.

The cost of each clinic is $10.

Please call ahead to reserve your spot in the Sunday afternoon clinics. Space will be limited with no more than six in each group.

Members of the Catawba tennis teams will help serve as the instructors.

Each clinic will consist of conditioning, instruction, games and match play.

Contact coach Jeff Childress at 704-637-4265.

E-mail jchildre@catawba.edu to place yourself on the Catawba tennis clinic/summer camp e-mail list.

Thanks