By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
The area athletes update …
Gordy Witte Jr. (Salisbury) closed out his college career in Appalachian Stateís 34-12 loss to Maine in the FCS playoffs on Saturday.
It was an abrupt ending for the Mountaineers, who failed to win a playoff game for the first time in seven seasons.
As a senior, Witte (6-foot-6, 315 pounds) played in all 12 games for the Mountaineers on the defensive line and started twice.
Witte contributed tackles for loss against Elon and Chattanooga, and he batted down a pass in the game against Maine.
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Appalachian Stateís Jamill Lott (A.L. Brown) racked up 13 tackles in the Mountaineerís last three games, including seven against Maine.
Lott, who starred at quarterback as a high school senior, was moved from receiver to defensive back during the season. The sophomore could be an impact player in 2012.
Menís basketball
K.J. Sherrill (West Rowan) contributed four points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes of action in Charlotteís 76-64 win at East Carolina on Saturday.
nDarius Moose (Carson) had a career game for Brevard in Saturdayís SAC loss to Tusculum.
The sophomore scored 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting. He nailed three 3-pointers and added five rebounds.
Moose ranks second in scoring for the Tornados at 11.3 points per game. Heís shooting 90 percent (27-for-30) from the foul line.
n VMIís Drew Absher (Davie) played eight minutes and scored two points in a loss to Charleston Southern on Saturday.
Pro basketball
The well-traveled Shamari Spears (Salisbury) signed with the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada last month. He lit up Moncton for 31 points in a Lightning victory Saturday.
nCarlos Dixon (South Rowan) is starring for the Fukoka Rizing team in Japan. He scored 18 points on Saturday.
nJunior Hairston (West) is playing hoops in Finland and averages 13.3 points per game for the Salon Vilpas Vikings.
nDonte Minter (West) scored 10 points on Saturday for Stepco Weert in the Dutch Basketball League.
Womenís hoops
Rashonda Mayfield (West) swished a game-winning fadeaway jumper in the lane with three seconds left on Friday to lift Voorhees to a 61-60 win against St. Thomas. Mayfield, a senior, had 23 points and five assists and blocked a shot.
Gardner-Webb freshman Jessica Heilig (Salisbury) produced 11 points and seven rebounds in a 58-50 loss to Wofford on Saturday.
DeíRya Wylie (Salisbury) helped Elizabeth City State beat Mount Olive 66-53 by scoring seven points off the bench with 3-for-3 field-goal shooting.
n Charlotte freshman Ayanna Holmes (Salisbury) scored three points in a 64-62 loss at Florida State on Sunday.
nAshia Holmes (Salisbury) made five steals for Radford in an upset loss against Longwood. Ayana Avery (West) hit a 3-pointer for the Highlanders.
n Tallahassee Community Collegeís Bubbles Phifer (Salisbury) scored 16 points in a win against Brevard (Fla.) Community College on Saturday. Phifer scored 10 in a loss to Miami Dade CC on Friday.
nOlivia Sabo (East Rowan) has averaged 6.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in her first 10 games for Catawba Valley Community College.
Indoor track
The Appalachian Invitational helped kick off the indoor track season over the weekend, and local athletes performed well for Western Carolina.
Keith Leonard (East) was third in the pole vault at 14 feet, 6 inches. Olivia Jacobs (South) was third in the 3000 meters in 11:00.96, and Alisha Bradshaw (Salisbury) was ninth in the shot (38-71/2) and eighth in the weight throw (47-41/4).
Chase Fisher (NW Cabarrus) was third in the menís 3000.