Salisbury’s girls tennis team won 5-1 at Lake Norman Charter on Wednesday at Huntersville’s Holbrook Park to win the Western regional championship.
The match was decided after singles. The Hornets have yet to play a doubles match in the dual team playoffs.
Kayla Honeycutt was first off the court at No. 2 singles, after quickly disposing of LNC’s Sravya Uppalapati 6-1, 6-2.
“I thought the girls did a good job taking care of business — they were hungry to get back to Burlington and that showed today,” Salisbury cocah Scott Maddox said. “Everyone played well, but Kayla really got us off on the right foot, setting the tone by handling their 2 with ease. I think it takes some of the pressure off to look and see one of your teammates walking off a winner.”
Grace Steinman was next, beating Meghan Thomas 6-0, 6-0. Madeline Hoskins was a 6-0, 6-2 winner over Tiffany Onia, while Kathryn Rusher won 6-0, 6-2 over Emily Christman. Anna Flynn then finished off Lauren Loveless 6-3, 6-3 to seal the victory.
Alexandra Drye lost 6-4, 6-1 at No. 1 to LNC’s Hannah Archer.
“I was extremely proud of Alexandra,” Maddox said. “She has been focusing on doubles for the last few weeks but stepped up and played Archer, a state semifinalist, shot for shot. Archer had just beat the individual state champion Monday, and Alexandra really battled her despite playing limited singles recently.”
Salisbury is in the 2A final for the ninth straight year and shoots for its sixth straight championship in Burlington on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The Hornets (17-3) take on N.C. School of Science & Math (17-0).
“We’re looking forward to the challenge of playing a very good team,” Maddox said. “We’ll need to be at our best to bring the title back to Rowan County.”
Lincoln Memorial (117 points) was picked first in the SAC men’s basketball coaches poll that was announced on Wednesday. The Railsplitters are coming off a 25-6 season.
Carson-Newman (114 points) was picked second. SAC Player of the Year Antoine Davis and SAC Coach of the Year Chuck Benson return for the Eagles.
Lincoln Memorial received seven of the 12 first-place votes. Carson-Newman got the other seven.
Anderson (100), Wingate (83), Newberry (71), newcomer Queens (66) and Lenoir-Rhyne (65) were next in the poll. Catawba (60) was picked eighth. After the Indians came Tusculum (36), newcomer Coker (34), Brevard (31) and Mars Hill (15).
The preseason All-SAC team also was announced. Catawba big man Tyrece Little was a first-team pick. Catawba guard Elon Edwards was a second-team pick.
SAC teams will be in action as early as Nov. 9.
Erwin’s seventh-graders won 28-0 against Southeast to win the conference championship.
The Eagles went 8-0.
Justin Smith threw two TD passes to Deiontae Gallmon, and Christian Bennett rushed for two TDs.
Sam Wall added a pair of 2-point conversions. Zack Simpson had a key reception, and the offensive line played well.
Erwin’s defense forced six turnovers. Hassan Biggus had an interception and a fumble recovery, Wall had and interception. Javon Jackson picked up a fumble, and Cody Tidwell pounced on two loose balls.
China Grove 24, Corriher-Lipe 14 (7th)
China Grove got touchdowns from Quay Ford on a 3-yard run, Dylan Johnson on a 12-yard pass from Jeff Bramblett and Michael Sloop on a 4-yard run. Bramblett kicked all three PATs. Defensive standouts were Josh McCurry, Sloop, Dylan Johnson, and Ford. McCurry and Sloop had interceptions.
China Grove 12, Corriher-Lipe 0 (8th)
In the nightcap of a doubleheader, Josiah Williams scored on a 2-yard run and Dane Huneycutt scored on a 5-yard run to lead the Red Devils.
Trey Sloop had a fumble recovery and Levi Boardman had a pass breakup for the China Grove defense. Also playing well were Thomas Borkowski, Patrick Brooks, Andrew Leon-Guerrero and Huneycutt.

The Corbin Hills Women’s Golf Association closed out the season with a game of “Trick or Treat Golf.”
The winners were as follows: Flight 1 — Becky Isenhour; Flight 2 — Faye Cline; Flight 3 — Norma Burgess; Flight 4 — Karla Swanson; Ruth Bowles won putts.
GARS
Seventy GARS members played at Lexington Golf Club. Low ‘A’ Flight player with a net of 65.02 was Donald Martin. Low ‘B’ Flight player with a net of 66.17 was Bob Niekras. Low ‘C’ Flight player with a net of 64.61 was Frank Rowell. Low ‘D’ Flight player with a net of 67.46 was Larry Luther.
Clayton Steele shot four strokes under his age.
Mallard Creek, Havelock, North Rowan and Warsaw Kenan remain atop the AP football polls this week.
North (9-0) again was a unanimous choice for first in 2A. No. 2 Franklin and No. 7 Maiden also are unbeaten in 2A. In 3A, Concord is ranked sixth.
Catawba’s men (8-6-1) fell to Montevallo 4-0 on Tuesday afternoon. Frankie Cardelle (Salisbury) made two saves for the Indians.
Catawba’s women’s team finished 13th in the Flagler Fall Slam in Florida.
Madison Kennedy (Salisbury) led Catawba. She shot 155 for two days and finished 15th overall.

Championship matches are set for Saturday at Raleigh’s Reynolds Coliseum.
The 1A matchup is Raleigh Charter (21-3) against Starmount (26-6) at noon.
In 2A, Wheatmore (27-1) takes on perennial power Hendersonville (23-5) for the championship starting at 2:30. Hendersonville is in the finals for the 13th time, with a stellar 10-2 championship record after winning the 1A title last year but moving up in realignment.
The 3A championship at 5 p.m .will have defending champion Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons (27-0) against Carson (34-0) in the only battle between unbeatens on the weekend. This is a rematch of last year’s championship, which Gibbons won.
Gibbons returns to the championships for the ninth consecutive year (in two different classifications) and is seeking its fifth straight title.
Sophomore Briley Brind’Amour paces Gibbons with 10 kills per match while Carson will counter with seniors Michaela White, Madison Weast and Hannah Elmore.
The 4A final at 7:30 features Raleigh Wakefield (24-2) against Cornelius Hough (32-1)
Time Warner Cable will be providing television coverage of all four state championships. The games will air on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (HD 520) on Time Warner Cable systems in the Carolinas. They will later be available on TWC’s Local On Demand. Patrick Kinase and Lyndsay Rowley will call the games for TWC.

Pitching clinic
Pfeifer is holding a pitching clinic on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 8:30-5 for ages 10-17.
The pitching coaches from Duke, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, UNC-Ashville, Elon, and Pfeiffer will be presenting and providing information.
It will be different than most clinics due to its being overwhelmingly “information driven.”
The idea of the clinic is not a “prospect camp” but is geared more toward pitchers’ health, saving their arms and teaching routines.
Email dusty.blake@pfeiffer.edu or call 910.220.2130.