Area Sports Briefs: East’s Saunders wins tournament title

Published 1:14 am Tuesday, January 13, 2015

From staff  and wire reports

East Rowan competed in a two-day tournament at Dudley with many ranked 3A and 4A teams.

East Rowan’s Shiheem Saunders went 4-0 at 182 and was a tournament champion.

Sam Cornacchione placed fifth at 106. He went 3-2.

Daniel Muncy was 3-3 and placed sixth at 170.

East Rowan (10-1)  wrestles Cox Mill  on Friday at home and will compete in the  Monroe Dual Team Tournament on Saturday.

Men’s hoops

  GRU Augusta sophomore Keshun Sherrill (West Rowan)  was named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week.

Sherrill led the charge in three games for the Jaguars last week, averaging 27 points per game while shooting 61 percent from the field.

The 2014 PBC Freshman of the Year started off with 23 points in an overtime win at Francis Marion, then scored 29 on 11-for-17 shooting in a loss to North Georgia.

He came back with another 29-point performance as GRU handed No. 22 Lander their first loss of the season 97-88.

Sherrill is fifth in scoring in the PBC at 18.8 points per game, and is eighth in the league in assists.

Keshun Sherrill ranks third in scoring in West Rowan history behind Scooter Sherrill and Donte Minter. He scored 1,907 points for the Falcons in four varsity seasons.

8th-grade hoops

North Rowan Middle’s boys defeated Southeast Middle 60-20.

Brevin Goodlett led the Mavericks with 28 points and seven steals. Dajawon Cook chipped in 10 points and Cameron Gill followed with seven points. Quintous Smith had 11 rebounds.

Southeast was led by Bryson Moss with nine points.

North Rowan stayed unbeaten and finishes the  regular season at Corriher-Lipe on Thursday.

• Mooresville Middle’s girls won 32-29 against Corriher-Lipe.

Janiya Downs scored 18 for the Yellow Jackets.

Alexis Allen led Mooresville with nine points.

• Erwin’s boys defeated China Grove 41-33.

Leading the scoring for the Eagles was Gabe Hinceman with 19 points, Christian Bennett had a double-double. Cole Mabry and Taivon Torrence also played well.

The Eagles host Knox on Thursday.

Sacred Heart hoops

Sacred Heart’s varsity girls won 40-22 against  Statesville Christian.

Mary Sobataka scored 30 points for the Dolphins. Lauren Denhard had five.

• Sacred Heart’s girls won 41-22 against Concordia Lutheran. Sobataka scored 25, while Denhard had 12.

• Sacred Heart’s jayvee boys lost 39-22 to Statesville Christian.

Ben Childress led the Dolphins with 10 points. Seth Holland scored 12 for Statesville Christian.

• Sacred Heart’s jayvee girls lost 11-10 against Statesville Christian. Faye Carol Shellhorn led the Dolphins with four points.

• Sacred Heart’s jayvee girls won 21-0 against Concordia.  Rachel McCullough scored 11 points.

Statesville Christian’s Brenna Bentley scored eight.

• Sacred Heart’s varsity boys rallied to beat Concordia Lutheran 39-29.

Bill Fisher led the Dolphins with 10 points and five blocks.   Patrick Taylor scored nine points, Jack Fisher had eight, and Spencer Blackwell scored five.

Rowan Little League

Rowan Little League baseball and softball registrations are from 9 until 3 on Jan. 17, Jan. 31 and Feb. 14 at Godley’s Garden Center on Statesville Boulevard.

Parents can also register online now at http://www.rowanlittleleague.com

New this year is a 50/70 league for ages 11-13.  In the 50/70 league players will be permitted to “lead off” and use “big barrel bats.”

The league will be using a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths.  Players will be allowed to play in both the  50/70  league and the 11-12 A league with standard Little League dimensions.

Baseball cost is $75 for all leagues:

T-ball (ages 4-6), Coach Pitch (ages 7-8), B (ages 9-10), A (ages 11-12) 50/70 (ages 11-13) and JR/SR’s. League age is as of April 30, 2015.

Softball cost is $75 for all leagues:

Girls 8U Coach Pitch (ages 6-8) 10U (ages 9-10), 12U (ages 11-12), 14U (ages 13-14).  League age is as of December 31, 2014.

Contact  Jeff Bernhardt at 704-326-5255 or Dan Wales 704-633-4071 for more information on new Rowan County boundaries or other questions.

NBA

James Harden scored 30 points, carrying Houston on a night when Dwight Howard did little after fighting with Kevin Garnett, and the Rockets beat the slumping Brooklyn Nets 113-99 on Monday.

Garnett was ejected in the first quarter after head-butting Howard in the face and throwing the ball at him, while Howard received a technical foul after appearing to punch or slap Garnett in the neck.

Howard had a quiet night otherwise, finishing with eight points.