Sports (698)
The Catawba Valley Community College men’s basketball team avenged its only loss of the season on Wednesday, knocking off rival Caldwell CC&TI 90-82 on the road.
With the victory, the Red Hawks (6-1) continue their their best start to a season since the 2012-13 campaign.
Five different CVCC basketball players reached double figures in scoring in Wednesday’s non-conference win, including a team-high 16 points from sophomore forward Jordan Powell.
Freshmen Zach De La Cruz (15 points), Dezure Moulden (14) and Sal-Bey Young (12) and sophomore Everett Palmer (14) also reached double figures for the Red Hawks.
Catawba Valley trailed 37-32 at halftime against Caldwell with the Cobras outshooting the Red Hawks 16-4 at the free throw line during the half. CCC&TI made 10 of those free chances, while CVCC was 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
After making just 14 of its 39 free throws in its 68-63 loss on Nov. 7 to the Cobras, CVCC made 15 of its 24 free chances against Caldwell on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Cobras struggled, making just 21 of their 41 free throw opportunities.
Within a few points of the lead, but trailing for most of Wednesday’s contest, CVCC rallied late, taking its first lead of the game with 5:45 remaining after a made 3-pointer by De La Cruz.
The sophomore from Franklin, N.C. made five 3-point baskets during Wednesday’s game, including four during the second half. Palmer added three 3-pointers, including two coming in the second half.
Powell also helped lead the second half scoring surge for CVCC, tallying 14 of his 16 points during the half. The Red Hawks scored a season-high 58 points during the second half en route to the eight-point victory.
The CVCC men’s basketball team returns to the court in exactly a week when it welcomes Davidson County Community College for its first Region X game of the season. Tip off for that contest is set for 7 p.m. at the Tarlton Complex.
Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Falls For First Time This Season
Written by Jason Savage
In a matchup between top 25 teams, the No. 17 Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team dropped a seven point decision to No. 23 Queens on Wednesday evening inside Shuford Gym, 76-69. The loss was the first of the season for the Bears who had won six straight to open the year.
The Bears were led by Cory Thomas who posted a double-double, finishing with 18 points and 10 boards. Thomas went 6-for-15 from the field and added an assist and a steal.
Djibril Diallo added 16 points four rebounds and four assists on the evening.
LR shot a season-low 24 percent from long range, connecting on just 6-of-25 from beyond the arc.
Queens got 19 points from Daniel Carr and another double-double from Shaun Willett.
Lewis Diankulu was a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor and totaled eight boards to go with his 17 points.
The double-double from Thomas was the second of his career.
Queens has now won 10 of the last 12 head-to-head meetings with the Bears. This is the fifth straight loss at home by LR against the Royals.
L-R drops to 7-1 overall and 1-1 SAC. The Bears return to action next week when they travel to Carson-Newman for an 8 p.m. matchup with the Eagles.
Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball Defeats Queens
Written by Jason Savage
The Lenoir-Rhyne University Women's Basketball Team used a strong defensive effort and a big fourth quarter to defeat the Queens Royals, 64-51 at home in South Atlantic Conference action on Wednesday night.
The senior trio of Madi Suddreth (16), Ashley Rodriguez (11) and Kendall Toineeta (10) scored in double-digits tonight for the Bears as only one player, Lade Adepoju (17), was in double-figures for the Royals.
The Bears were suffocating on the defensive end of the floor, holding Queens to just 23.4 percent shooting and only 13.0 percent from beyond the arc.
The biggest difference in the game was each team's depth. LR's bench added 28 points while the Royals only had 15 from their reserves.
The Bears held the advantage down low, out rebounding their opponent, 53-43.
The senior duo of Suddreth and Toineeta both continue to be productive scoring this season. They each have put in double-digit scoring efforts in six of the seven games this season. Rodriguez reached the same feat for the second time this year.
This win increased the team's record at home to 2-1 in the 2018-19 campaign.
Lenoir-Rhyne is 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the South Atlanitc Conference. The Bears end its home stand with a nonconference clash against Johnson C. Smith University on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m.
CVCC Women's Basketball Easily Handles Mount Olive JV's
Written by Jason Savage
Behind 20 points apiece from Ivy Eller and Sherry Johnson, the 16th-ranked Catawba Valley Community College women’s basketball team rolled to a 101-26 road victory against the Mount Olive JV team on Wednesday afternoon.
The Red Hawks (4-1) pulled ahead quickly in the non-conference tilt against the Trojans, leading 51-11 at halftime. CVCC was paced in the first half by 16 points from Johnson and 12 from Eller.
It was more of the same in the third and fourth quarters for Catawba Valley, which outscored Mount Olive 50-15 in the second half. Eller and teammate Milequa Eason led the second-half charge with eight points apiece.
Tazah Hardin and Zharia Brown also reached double figures in scoring for Catawba Valley with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Carolina Grey scored eight points to pace Mount Olive in the contest.
The CVCC women’s basketball team takes a week off before returning to action on Wednesday for a road conference match up against USC Salkehatchie. Game time in Allendale, S.C. is set for 5 p.m.
Appalachian State Field Hockey Places Ten on All-Academic Team
Written by Jason Savage
Appalachian State University field hockey placed 10 student-athletes on the Academic All-MAC Team, as the conference office announced on Wednesday.
The 10 players -- Rachel Gaines, Abby Merrill, Melissa Nobile, Chloe Bell, Annette Jarosz, Meghan Smart, Ali Williams, Kaley Selner, Veerle Van Heertum and Michelle Taylor -- earned the academic distinction because of stellar work on and off the field. All 10 student-athletes must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of games to qualify for the honor.
"I'm really proud of this group for all their continued work on and especially off the field," head coach Meghan Dawson said. "They are completely committed to their studies and getting the most out of their careers."
The 10 App State representatives on the Academic All-MAC Team comprise five sophomores and five juniors, all of which were named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad in 2017.
App State was one of four MAC teams to have 10 or more honorees. The list totaled 67 student-athletes from seven different programs.
Academic All-MAC Team
Rachel Gaines
Abby Merrill
Melissa Nobile
Chloe Bell
Annette Jarosz
Meghan Smart
Ali Williams
Kaley Selner
Veerle Van Heertum
Michelle Taylor
Appalachian State's Diabe Named SoCon Wrestler of the Week
Written by Jason Savage
Appalachian State's Randall Diabe has been named the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week following his win by major decision against No. 15 North Carolina on Sunday.
A senior from Greensboro, N.C., Diabe recorded four takedowns en route to a 10-2 victory against UNC's Hunter Queen. The win pushed his record this season to 10-3 overall and 3-1 in dual matches, as he also claimed a victory against then-No. 15 Rutgers.
Diabe will take a 54-39 career record into App State's next dual, a 7 p.m. matchup with Ohio on Friday night at Varsity Gym.
High School Basketball Results From Tuesday, 11/27/18
Written by Jason Savage
Girls
Non-conference:
Bandys: 51
West Caldwell: 50
Bunker Hill: 65
Newton-Conover: 53
Draughn: 55
West Lincoln: 41
McDowell: 67
East Burke: 56, OT
Patton: 44
South Caldwell: 28
St. Stephens: 46
Fred T. Foard: 26
Boys
Non-conference:
Bandys: 72
West Caldwell: 69
Draughn: 78
West Lincoln: 53
McDowell: 73
East Burke: 47
Newton-Conover: 59
Bunker Hill: 52
Patton: 52
South Caldwell: 34
St. Stephens: 75
Fred T. Foard: 65
Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team Crack Top 25 National Poll
Written by Jason Savage
After a scorching start to the season, the Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team (7-0, 1-0 SAC) has been ranked No. 23 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) national poll.
In the first three weeks of the season, LR has won two South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week awards. Senior guards Cory Thomas and Djibril Diallo have both earned the award as the Bears pieced together seven straight W's to open the season. Diallo has been particularly clutch, hitting two game-winning baskets in the final seconds against both Livingstone and Limestone.
A Top-25 showdown occurs inside Shuford Gymnasium on Wednesday evening as the Bears host Queens at 8 p.m. Queens slid from No. 10 to No. 25 in the poll after falling to Belmont Abbey in non-conference action.
This marks the Bears first national ranking since being ranked No. 20 on December 15, 2015.
Harris, Holbrook Represent App State Men's Soccer on NCCSIA All-State Team
Written by Jason Savage
Appalachian State University men's soccer had two athletes represented on the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) All-State Second Team in Zeiko Harris (Sands Parish, Bermuda/South Kent) and Camden Holbrook (Cary, N.C./Green Hope).
The tandem played a pivotal role in a bounce-back season for the Black and Gold. Appalachian posted its first winning season since 2012 with an 8-6-1 mark, its first Sun Belt winning record at 2-1-1 and a third seed in the Sun Belt Tournament. At one point, App was one of 19 undefeated teams in the nation after a 4-0 beginning to the campaign.
Holbrook made a splash for the Mountaineers in his first season, posting a team-high six goals with one assist and an App-best 13 points. He was tied for first among freshmen in the Sun Belt in goals while he was first in points among first-year players. His numbers landed him tied for third overall in goals and fourth overall in points. He was the only freshman and one of two players to net a hat-trick. In the first two games of the season, he scored four goals with one assist en route to a 2-0 start and was named the United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week in addition to his Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week award. Also, he was later mentioned in Top Drawer Soccer's Weekly Freshman Top 10 List with players from Power Five programs such as NC State, Syracuse, Washington, and Northwestern. Because of his stellar year, he was named Second-Team All-Sun Belt.
In his sophomore season, Harris continued to be a key cog in the Mountaineers' top-ranked defense in the Sun Belt. Appalachian allowed a league-best 15 goals and posted a conference-high seven shutouts. The Black and Gold allowed just three scores in eight home contests, finishing 4-1-2 at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex. Harris was one of five student-athletes to score multiple goals after turning in his first career multi-goal game in a 3-0 win at George Mason. Harris' performance led to his first Sun Belt Offensive Athlete of the Week honor. The Sandys Parish, Bermuda native's solid year led to an All-Sun Belt First Team nod.
Founded in 2002, the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) is comprised of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina. The purpose of the organization is to promote collegiate athletics at all schools. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information.
App State Women's Soccer Has a Pair of Players Earn More Postseason Awards
Written by Jason Savage
Appalachian State University women's soccer placed a pair of seniors in Jessica Easley (Waxhaw, N.C./Marvin Ridge) and Kat Greer (Cayce, S.C./Brookland Cayce) on the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA).
Both players landed on the second team after having their best seasons as a Mountaineer, helping the Black and Gold more than double their win total from 2017 to a 9-9-1 mark and six victories in the Sun Belt for the most league victories since joining the league.
Greer led the team with four goals and two assists for 10 points, which was also a team high and came during conference play. Greer started and finished league action strong, as in the first weekend she registered three goals in back-to-back road wins including her first multi-goal performance in a 2-1 win at Georgia Southern. It led to her first-ever Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week award. They Cayce, S.C., native scored four points over the final four games of the season with one goal and two assists.
Easley posted a personal-high five points with one goal and three assists, which was second on the team. She scored all five points in conference play and record her first Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year award after collecting an assist in a 2-0 win over Coastal Carolina. Her goal against Troy from 60 yards outgained national attention on social media, as her video received over 12,000 views on NCAA Soccer's Twitter account.
Nominations were submitted by North Carolina sports information professionals and voted on by NCCSIA members.
Founded in 2002, the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) is comprised of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina. The purpose of the organization is to promote collegiate athletics at all schools. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information.
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App's Van Heertum Lands on National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Region Team
Written by Jason Savage
Sophomore Veerle Van Heertum earned NFHCA Division I South Region Second Team honors, as the National Field Hockey Coaches Association office announced on Monday.
Van Heertum's honor adds to what was a breakout campaign for the Valkenswaard, Netherlands native. The sophomore also earned First Team All-MAC honors and was named to the MAC All-Tournament team earlier this season.
"Veerle has constantly kept growing from last year and really took on a major role within our team to not only produce on the field, but to also bring her teammates up with her," head coach Meghan Dawson said. "It's a tribute to her continued hard work. I'm incredibly proud of all her work and can't wait to see what the future brings."
Van Heertum started all 21 games for Appalachian this season, finishing 2018 as the team leader in points (27), goals (11) and shots (50). The sophomore notched a point in seven of her final nine games, tallying 17 total points during that span.
The Mountaineers' leading goal scorer helped propel Appalachian to the program's first-ever MAC Tournament victories. App State defeated Central Michigan 5-2 in the opening round and then upset No. 3 seed Longwood 2-0 to advance to the semifinals. Van Heertum recorded two goals and an assist between the two triumphs.
In regular season competition, Van Heertum placed third in the MAC in points. The sophomore also ranked fourth in points per game (1.22) and tied for fourth in goals per game (0.50).
Van Heertum is one of 16 players from North Carolina to be named to an all-region team. She joins six players from Duke, five from UNC and four from Wake Forest. The sophomore tallied a goal and an assist against the Demon Deacons on Oct. 10.
South Region First Team
Megan Anderson (Wake Forest)
Veerle Bos (Wake Forest)
Greta Ell (Virginia)
Julianne Grashoff (Wake Forest)
Ashley Hoffman (UNC)
Erin Huffman (Old Dominion)
Estelle Huffman (William & Mary)
Yentl Leemans (UNC)
Erin Matson (UNC)
Emily McNamara (VCU)
Agueda Moroni (Liberty)
Margaux Paolino (Duke)
Sammi Steele (Duke)
Rose Tynan (Duke)
Christie Van de Kamp (William & Mary)
Eva Van't Hoog (UNC)
South Region Second Team
Veerle Van Heertum (Appalachian State)
Caroline Andretta (Duke)
Rebecca Birch (Old Dominion)
Jill Bolton (Liberty)
Ashley Dykema (Liberty)
Malin Evert (UNC)
Kimi Jones (William & Mary)
Colleen Norair (Virginia)
Shannon Pereira (VCU)
Rachel Robinson (Virginia)
Erin Scherrer (Duke)
Annie Snead (William & Mary)
Maite Sturm (VCU)
Anne Van Hoof (Wake Forest)
Leonie Verstraete (Longwood)
Jillian Wolgemuth (Duke)
Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Soccer Garners Three to United Soccer Coaches All-Region Team
Written by Jason Savage
The United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Women's Soccer Teams were announced, and three Lenoir-Rhyne players made the list: senior Abbie Brown, junior Christina Shimshock and junior Aqsa Mushtaq.
The first team selection, Brown (Leeds, ENGLAND), was the Bears' most dynamic offensive weapon all season, leading the team and ranking third in the South Atlantic Conference in goals scored (16), fifth in assists (six) and fourth in overall points (38). Just a few weeks ago the senior was honored to the All-SAC First Team and North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association First Team All-State.
The second team selection for the Bears is Shimshock. The All-SAC Second Team and NCCSIA Second Team selection was a dynamic defender for Lenoir-Rhyne and was an elite ball distributor, adding four assists in her junior campaign.
The final selection and third team member is junior midfielder Mushtaq. The Bradford, ENGLAND native finished third on the team with five goals this season while finishing second on the team with 14 points and added four assists to her stat line in 2018. She was previously tabbed as NCCSIA Second Team selection as well.
This trio of Bears helped the Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Soccer Team to an 11-6-1 record and a 7-3 record in the SAC.
Appalachian State Men's Basketball Picks Up Second Win of Season
Written by Jason Savage
Six players scored at least seven points as Appalachian State men's basketball posted a 91-64 victory over Winston-Salem State on Monday evening inside the Holmes Center.
Isaac Johnson paced the Mountaineers (2-4) with a game-high 19 points on 8-of-10 (80.0 percent) shooting, a game-high seven rebounds and a career-high six assists. Adrian Delph added a career-high 18 points, including a 4-of-6 (66.7 percent) mark on three-pointers, and a career-best five rebounds.
Ronshad Shabazz finished with 10 points and a season-high tying five assists. Bennett Holley drained three triples and tallied a season-high nine points, while Tyrell Johnson and Hunter Seacat each had seven points.
Robert Colon had 15 points for the Rams (2-3), while Jamel McAllister added 10 points.
Shabazz hit a pair of trifectas to cap an 8-1 run in the first half and give App State a 30-18 lead. The Mountaineers pushed their lead to 18 points at 40-22 on back-to-back threes from Isaac Johnson and Nick Hough. App State took a 44-24 edge into the break.
Early in the second half, the Black and Gold used a 7-0 spurt to push its lead to 53-27 with 16:44 to go. Winston-Salem State pulled to within 18 points at 57-39, but the Mountaineers pushed their lead back up to 72-45 with just over 10 minutes to play on threes from Delph and Holley. The Rams would get no closer than 21 points the rest of the way.
In all, App State went 15-of-34 (44.1 percent) from beyond the arc. The 15 made three-pointers mark a new season best for the Black and Gold. In addition, the Mountaineers assisted on 18 of their 33 made baskets and held a 43-34 advantage in the rebounding battle.
Appalachian State will be back at it on Friday evening, taking on East Carolina in a road contest at 7 p.m. on ESPN3. Following that game, the Mountaineers return to the Holmes Center for two consecutive games, hosting Howard on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. and North Carolina Central on Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+. Season tickets and individual game tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the Appalachian State ticket office at 828-262-2079. Single game tickets can be purchased by clicking here or by contacting the Appalachian State ticket office at 828-262-2079.
L-R's Diallo Named South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Written by Jason Savage
Lenoir-Rhyne guard Djibril Diallo has been named the South Atlantic Conference AstroTurf Men's Basketball Player of the Week for games played November 19 through November 25, the Conference announced today.
Diallo, a senior from Conakry, Guinea, led the Bears to a perfect 2-0 week and extended their winning streak to seven games with victories over Newberry and Limestone. He poured in 20 points with four rebounds, shooting 64.3 percent from the field in Lenoir-Rhyne's 88-82 win over Newberry. Diallo followed that performance with 16 points and three rebounds, including the game-winning basket in the Bears' 76-75 win over previously unbeaten Limestone. For the week, Diallo averaged 18 points and 3.5 rebounds, while shooting 55.6 percent from field and 38.5 from three-point range.
This is Diallo's first Player of the Week selection this season and the second for the Bears. Cory Thomas was named Player of the Week for the first week of the season.
