From staff reports

The NCHSAA announced soccer seeds and pairings on Wednesday.

Salisbury (20-2-1) is seeded third in the 32-team 2A West bracket and hosts No. 30 West Davidson, a familiar Central Carolina Conference opponent, on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Salisbury won at home against West Davidson, 3-1, and prevailed in a shootout after a 1-1 all tie at West Davidson.

The strong seeding means at least two more home games for the Hornets as long as they advance. First-round games must be played by Saturday. With potential weather issues and potential football reschedules in the mix, some games are being played as early as tonight.

Five CCC teams are in the 2A West bracket, while two more are in the 2A East bracket. See Scoreboard.

Salisbury was the only Rowan County team to make the playoffs.

•••

A.L. Brown (17-4-1) is seeded 18th in the 3A West bracket and is at No. 15 Statesville to open the playoffs.

The Wonders beat Cox Mill, 4-1, on Tuesday to tie for first place in the South Piedmont Conference at 7-3.

College commitment

Carson senior Eric Turnbull, who plays club soccer and kicks for Carson’s football team, has committed to Radford’s soccer program.

High school tennis

Concord lost to Charlotte Catholic, 6-0, in the 3A West regional final on Tuesday.

High school hoops

Cox Mill’s Caleb Stone- Carrawell has committed to Charlotte.

•••

Official practice started on Wednesday for teams across the state.

High school football

North Rowan’s game at South Davidson has been moved up to Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

•••

Projections for state playoffs by Nick Stevens, HighSchoolOT.com.

3AA West projection

1. Watauga

16. Cuthbertson

——–

8. Central Cabarrus

9. Sun Valley

———–

5. Erwin

12. Southwest Guilford

—————

4. Cox Mill

13. A.L. Brown

—————-

3. Mount Tabor

14. South Iredell

————–

6. Parkland

11. Marvin Ridge

————–

7. Asheville

10. Alexander Central

——————–

2. A.C. Reynolds

15. Ashbrook

3A West Projection

1. Hunter Huss

16. Burns

———————–

8. East Rowan

9. Kings Mountain

————————-

5. Weddington

12. Statesville

————————–

4. West Rowan

13. Hickory

———————

3. Charlotte Catholic

14. Jay M. Robinson

————————–

6. Crest

11. Stuart Cramer

————————–

7. Freedom

10. Tuscola

—————————-

2. Northwest Cabarrus

15. North Buncombe

2A West Projection

1. Reidsville

16. Lexington

—————————–

8. East Rutherford

9. West Lincoln

—————————-

5. Wheatmore

12. Thomasville

————————-

4. Brevard

13. Providence Grove

_______________

3. South Columbus

14. Owen

—————————-

6. West Stanly

11. Hendersonville

—————————-

7. Salisbury

10. Eastern Randolph

—————————-

2. Mountain Heritage

15. Carrboro

—————————-

1AA West Projection

1. Mount Airy

BYE

————-

8. Bessemer City

9. Cherryville

———————

5. East Surry

12. Highland Tech

———————

4. North Rowan

BYE

———————

3. Starmount

BYE

————————

6. East Wilkes

11. Polk County

———————–

7. Swain County

10. Pine Lake Prep

————————

2. North Stanly

Bye

•••

The Charlotte Observer reported the NCHSAA suspended  Hickory Ridge  from participating in the  football playoffs, due to a fight during the Hickory Ridge-East Meck game on Monday.

  East Meck will forfeit its final two games.

Hickory Ridge was fined $1,000. Hickory Ridge, with two home games left on the schedule, plans to appeal the suspension.

College volleyball

William Peace defeated Averett in five sets in a USA South Tournament quarterfinal on Tuesday.

Mady Myers (West Rowan) had five kills and five digs for William Peace.

William Peace (24-5) is coached by former Catawba assistant Nicole Barringer (South Rowan).

College football

Elon is ranked fifth by the FCS Championship Committee.

•••

Kacey Otto (West Rowan) provided most of the excitement for St. Andrews in a 56-14 loss to Cumberlands. Otto threw two TD passes. He ran for 37 yards and passed for 100.

Men’s basketball

The Catawba men’s basketball team was picked sixth in the  South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. Lincoln Memorial has been picked to win the championship.

SAC preseason poll

1. Lincoln Memorial (7), 107

2. Queens (4), 104

3. Carson-Newman, 84

4. Wingate, 76

5. Lenoir-Rhyne, 75

6. CATAWBA, 70

7. Newberry, 58

8. Anderson, 44

9. Coker, 39

10. Tusculum, 34

11. Mars Hill, 22

Women’s basketball

Catawba, under new head coach Terrence Baxter, was picked eighth in the  South Atlantic Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll.

Carson-Newman is the favorite.

SAC preseason poll

1. Carson-Newman (10), 110

2. Wingate (1), 99

3. Anderson, 88

4. Tusculum, 79

5. Lincoln Memorial, 77

6. Newberry, 61

7. Lenoir-Rhyne, 56

8. CATAWBA, 54

9. Coker,37

10. Queens, 34

11. Mars Hill, 20

College soccer

Megan Bolick (Carson) made nine saves as seventh-seeded Barton beat No. 2 seed North Greenville on Tuesday in a  Conference Carolinas Tournament quarterfinal.

College swimming

Freshman Kathryn Morrison (Salisbury) won the 100 backstroke (59.26), was second in 200 back and swam on the winning 200 medley relay team to help  East Carolin’s women defeat UNC Wilmington.   

•••

Ethan Knorr (Salisbury) won the 1000 free and placed third in the 400 IM to help East Carolina’s men defeat UNC Wilmington.

Mid. school football

In the final game of the year for both schools,  Erwin (5-3) beat Southeast, 6-0, in a defensive battle.

  Late in the second quarter, Christian Chalk scored a touchdown for the Eagles.  The PAT was blocked.

Erwin finished 5-3.