By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Justin “Weasel” Moore has high hopes of standing on the awards platform during the state wrestling championships.
The Washington Pam Pack sophomore will enter the tournament on a positive note after being crowned champion in the 160-pound weight class of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A East Regional tournament. Moore took a 12-2 major decision over White Oak’s Tyler Marva in the championship match.
Moore (36-5), who went 2-2 at the state meet last year, will open this year’s state tournament against Concord senior Michael Poppiti (39-6).The winner will face the survivor between West Rowan senior Nicholas Mcgorda (31-1) and Webb senior Eric Williams (39-7) in the second round.
Moore, who is 75-13 in two years and rapidly approaching the school-record for wins set by Gerald Lawrence (139-13), will be joined by three Pam Pack teammates at the state meet. The meet will be held Friday and Saturday at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem.
Senior Bryant Gardner took third at 145 pounds in the regional meet, while juniors Martelles Jones and Johnnie Smallwood took fourth at 171 and 189 pounds, respectively.
The Pack had sent 10 to regionals, including Daniel Garcia (112 pounds), Gabriel Gardner (125), Jimmy Harrison (130), Darien Peele (16-9), Gil Broadway (215) and Marquin Hill (285).
They all helped Washington finish sixth out of 30 teams at the regional meet.
Bryant Gardner (32-13) picked up an 11-5 decision over West Carteret’s Cory Wade in the third-place match.
The senior will face Ragsdale junior Blair Fewell (47-9) in the first round of the state meet. The winner will take on the survivor between North Gaston senior Jimmy Moody (23-7) and Rockingham County junior Bradley Merriman (32-12) in the second round.
Jones (23-21) dropped a 6-5 decision to Eastern Wayne’s Brandon Darby in the third-place match. Jones, who entered the tournament as an 11th seed, will battle Southwest Guilford senior Ben Lord (40-2) in the first round at state. The winner will face the survivor between Southern Alamance junior Jason Friddle (29-4) and East Rowan sophomore Thomas Lowe (36-5) in the second round.
Smallwood (25-13) dropped a 3-2 decision to Havelock’s Dave Wilkins in the third-place match.
Smallwood will take on Glenn senior Nick Davila (35-10) in the first round. The winner will battle the survivor between St. Stephens junior Steven Rink (43-8) and Northeast Guilford senior Daniel Patrick (31-7) in the second round.
It will be Smallwood’s second appearance at the state tournament. He went 0-2 in last year’s meet.
Pam Pack to tip off tourney play; Terra Ceia at home
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
While both the Washington boys and girls basketball teams have already locked up spots in the N.C. High School Athletic Association state playoffs, they’ll look to fine tune their games during the Coastal Conference tournament.
The conference tournament tips off tonight at various locations. Washington’s girls earned the No. 4 seed and will be at home against the Havelock Rams in a 7 p.m. contest. The Pam Pack boys, a No. 5 seed, will be on the road at J.H. Rose for a 7 p.m. game.
GIRLS
Washington (12-11, 7-7) and Havelock (15-9, 7-7) split their games earlier this year. Coach Allison Jones saw her Pam Pack take a 55-50 win at home after suffering a 56-36 loss at Havelock earlier in the year.
Hayley Stowe knocked down 19 points and Samantha Smith added 17 in the home win. Alyssa Luebs paced the Rams, the No. 5 seed, with 15 points.
Melissa Thomas, Luebs and Shakira Wilson all scored in double figures for the Rams when they won at their place.
The winner will likely play at unbeaten Coastal Conference champion and fourth-ranked South Central (22-0, 14-0), who plays winless West Craven (0-23, 0-14) tonight, in Wednesday’s second-round game.
The Pack will open state playoff action the following week.
Coach Joe Lawrence and the Pam Pack boys are hoping the third time is the charm.
J.H. Rose (11-13, 8-6), the No. 4 seed, swept No. 5 seed Washington (11-8, 7-7) during the regular season. The Rampants posted a 63-40 win at the Rose Garden behind Marcus McLawhorn’s 19 points. Adonte McCarter added 17.
Daquan Daniels paced the Pack with 10 points.
Rose made it a sweep with a 62-48 win in Washington. McCarter and Matt Steele led the way for the Rampants, while Dakuan Spencer had 15 points and Cor-J Cox 14 for Washington.
The Pack earned the fourth seed with two straight wins to end the regular season, which came on the heels of a five-game skid.
A potential match-up at Coastal Conference champion D.H. Conley (19-3, 11-3) looms for the winner in Wednesday’s second-round game.
The state playoffs begin the following week. Washington and Havelock tied for third among the Class 3-A teams in the conference. Lawrence said that whichever teams goes farthest in the conference tournament earns the higher seed for the state playoffs.
Terra Ceia hoop teams earn home playoff games
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
The Terra Ceia boys and girls basketball teams earned home games for the first round of the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state tournament.
The girls will play at 5:30 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m.
Coach Roger Klaassen’s boys team (23-7) earned the No. 6 seed. The Knights will play host to No. 11 seed Cresset Christian Academy (17-7) on Tuesday.
The winner will face the survivor between No. 3 seed Greenfield School (24-8) and No. 14 seed Ridgecroft (11-17) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Cary Academy. The third-round game will be held Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Cary Academy.
The championship game will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh.
The Knights, who went 14-0 in the Tarheel Independent Conference, are coming off a 70-53 win over Hobgood in the TIC tournament championship. Mychal Parker had 23 points, while Hendrik Van Dorp added 21 points and six assists.
Van Dorp was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Parker and Bradley Van Staalduinen were named to the all-tournament team.
Meanwhile, Parker was named the TIC’s Player of the Year. Van Staalduinen and Van Dorp were named all-conference, while Hunter Davenport and Greg Van Essendelft received honorable mention.
GIRLS
Coach Rod Cantrell’s girls team (17-12) also earned the No. 6 seed. The Knights will play host to No. 11 seed Cresset Christian Academy (12-11) on Tuesday.
The winner face the survivor between No. 3 seed Wayne Country Day (16-7) and No. 14 seed Northeast Academy (12-12) on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Cary Academy. The third-round game will be held Friday at 7 p.m. at Cary Academy.
The championship game will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Ravenscoft School in Raleigh.
Terra Ceia junior Jordan Cantrell was voted the co-Conference Player of the Year, coming after earning the award her sophomore season.
Cantrell was also voted to the all-tournament team and the all-conference team. She was joined by teammate Mariah Van Essendelft on the all-conference team, while Jessica Vanderweit earned honorable mention.
Rachel Cantrell and Katie Jackson were named to the all-conference team for the Terra Ceia junior varsity girls, while Megan Brown earned honorable mention.