From staff reports
The Catawba women’s basketball team opens tonight at 7 p.m. against Queens at Goodman Gym.
All-conference and all-region performer Dana Hicks returns to lead the Indians. Elizabeth Merritt is also a returning starter, and Nisha Long was a standout in 2009-10.
Former North Iredell whiz Santana Morrison (East Tennessee State) is on this year’s roster, as well as junior forward Taylor May, a South Rowan product.
Queens (0-1) lost 72-63 to Johnson C. Smith on Saturday. Shonice Pettaway scored 20 points for the Royals.
College swimming
Catawba traveled to East Carolina University for a dual meet on Saturday afternoon.
On the women’s side for the Indians, Katia Kruglov won the 500, Lindsay Yarborough claimed victory in the 200 IM, and Janin Kassner won the 50 breast. Britney Tomsula placed second in the 50 breast and 200 IM.
For the Catawba men, Andrew McCollister (Salisbury) won the 500 free (5:54.27), placed third in the 400 IM (4:16.72) and was fourth in the 100 breast (1:03.18). Theo Zatterstrom won the 100 fly, and Magnus Lundgren placed first in the 200 IM.
The swim teams will be in action Nov. 18-20 at the Wingate Invite.
Prep football
While it hasn’t been officially announced yet, reliable sources indicate North Rowan will be headed back to the 2A ranks — barely — when schools are realigned for the 2013-14 academic year.
South Rowan is expected to remain 3A by the slimmest of margins, but the Raiders will be one of the smallest schools in that classification.
A.L. Brown will be 4A for the first time since the 1980s.
The CCC is in for a shakeup as Central Davidson and East Davidson appear headed to the 3A ranks.
The NCHSAA’s proposed conference alignments are expected to be presented in March. At that point, they’ll be approved — or appealed.
Prep soccer
Salisbury’s soccer team will play at Shelby on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in the 2A Western final.
A preview of the matchup will be in Wednesday’s edition.
Local runners
The YMCA Salisbury Speedsters competed on a hilly course in the North Carolina AAU Cross Country Championship in Gastonia.
All the Speedsters medaled and qualified for AAU Nationals to be held at Disney World on Dec. 3.
Times were as follows:
Jaxon Evans, sub bantam, 3K, 18.56
Aubree Cain, bantam, 3K, 16.55
Lauren Cain, bantam, 3K, 18.59
Andrew Burgess, sub midget, 3K 13.09
Jonah Evans, midget, 3K, 14.19
Lindsay Dorman, sub youth, 4K, 21.47
Julianna Evans, sub youth, 4K, 21.24
Tyler Cain, sub youth, 4K, 33.30
Local golf
Salisbury resident Frank Adams III will play today in the first round of the PGA Qualifying School’s second stage at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, Fla.
The 72-hole tournament continues through Friday.
Adams had rounds of 67-68-73-70 -— 278 (6 under) in the first stage at Irish Creek in Kannapolis. He tied for 12th to advance to the second stage. It’s the second time in his career he has advanced to the second stage.
The annual inter-club match between Rolling Hills and McCanless known as the “Rolling / Mac Cup” was played over the weekend.
The matches had 11 different two-person teams on each side.
Each match consisted of six holes of Best Ball, six holes of Modified Alternate Shot, and six holes of Captain’s Choice.
Each six-hole contest was worth a point. Three points were available in each match.
Results:
Saturday, at McCanless
McCanless 261/2, Rolling Hills 61/2
Sunday, at Rolling Hills
McCanless 22, Rolling Hills 11
Total
McCanless 481/2, Rolling Hills 171/2
Local volleyball
The Cabarrus Stallions varsity volleyball team won the MSAC Tournament. The Stallions beat Woodlawn 25-20, 25-18, 25-23 in the championship game.
Emily Messisco and Anna Messisco were named all-conference and Jessica Chapman and Rebecca Bare were named all-tournament.
For the NCHEAC Tournament, Kendyl Parker (varsity), Brandy Parker (JV), and Mikhaela McClary (middle school) made all-tournament.
Youth football
The Salisbury 49ers football team for ages 7-8 won the Eastern Division championship by beating the Charlotte Dolphins 18-14 on Saturday.
The 49ers play for the championship of the 26-team Southland Conference Saturday at Newton-Conover.
The winner advances to the national tournament in Orlando.
Middle school basketball
8th-grade girls
Corriher-Lipe 51, China Grove 8
Kamryn Stamey poured in 24 points for the Yellow Jackets. Caitlyn Chabala scored eight points, while Madyson Campbell had six. The Yellow Jackets led 20-0 after a quarter.
Four Red Devils scored two points each.
Erwin 36, Southeast 25
Erwin opened by winning a rematch of the seventh-grade championship game played last March, when Erwin topped the Patriots 50-31.
Brittany Small and Shenique Pharr paced the Eagles with 10 points apiece, while Jocelyn Lowe and Melonye McCree added eight and six , respectively. Small also had 10 rebounds and six blocked shots. McCree and Pharr added nine and eight rebounds, respectively.
Southeast, which rallied within two points in the final quarter, was paced by Shanice Miller’s 16 points and solid rebounding. Taylor Martin added five points.
8th-grade boys
China Grove 43, Corriher-Lipe 41
Michael Morrison scored 20 points to lead China Grove to an exciting 43-41 win against Corriher-Lipe. Austin Corriher added nine points for the Red Devils.
Christian Holbrook scored 22 to lead the Yellow Jackets. Tre Littlejohn added eight.
Erwin 39, Southeast 36
Erwin’s boys rallied from a 12-point deficit. The Eagles took the lead for keeps on Austin Love’s two free throws with 10 seconds to play.
Love led the Eagles with 15 points. Logan Shuping scored eight. Cody Meadows grabbed nine boards.
Southeast was led by Austin Russ’ 13 points and strong rebounding. Bryson Collins scored eight points, and Alex Yang added five.
West Rowan 55, Mooresville 28
The Bulldogs’ pressure defense keyed a 28-11 halftime lead.
Kreshon Alexander led the Bulldogs with 16 points. Devon Morrison had nine points and four assists. Jalyn Cagle had six points and four steals. K.J. Wilson blocked five shots and pulled down seven rebounds. Joshua Lindsey grabbed 15 rebounds and made five steals. Hezekiah Banks had eight boards.
West plays at home Thursday against Southeast.