Daily Roundup: November 17, 2023

COASTAL PREPS THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT

FOOTBALL

***The rankings by each team are their playoff seed***

No. 3 Hoggard 43, No. 11 Laney 10

Third round 4A playoffs

***Click here to view a gallery of 35 photos from the action***

The Vikings forced six turnovers, including five interceptions, and scored 28 points over the final nine minutes of the game to turn what was a close game for a majority of the night into another lopsided victory.

It was the 12th consecutive win for Hoggard (12-1), which is back in the fourth round for the first time since 2017.

“There were some ups and downs, but we knew if we took our foot off the pedal it would turn out badly,” said junior linebacker Rylan Edwards, who finished with three interceptions and a forced fumble. “We did not play as well as we should have in the first half, but in the second half we came out and dominated.”

A trip to No. 2 Cleveland, who handed the Vikings their only loss of the season in the season opener, is up next.

After falling behind 15-0, Laney (10-3) righted things and closed the gap to 15-10 at halftime. The score remained the same entering the fourth quarter.

Back-to-back long pass plays got the Buccaneers down to the Hoggard 16-yard line with a chance to take their first lead of the game. 

On second-and-10, quarterback Kolbe Little was pressured by Jaret Austin. He was forced to get rid of the pass sooner than he wanted to and it sailed over the head of Hampton Roderick and right into the hands of defensive back Josiah Gillespie.

With only green grass in front of him, Gillespie returned the interception 85 yards to flip momentum and increase the home team’s lead to 22-10. 

Four plays later, Little was intercepted again. This time Edwards stepped in front of a pass intended for Ayden Rogers and returned it back to the Laney 20-yard line before fumbling. 

The loose ball was picked up by defensive end Malakahi West, who went the final 20 yards to all but seal the victory.

“The atmosphere was great,” Edwards said. “It was by far one of the most hyped games. The energy was amazing. The student section was on point. I couldn’t have asked for a better crowd.”

West also intercepted a pass early in the second quarter, while Brayden Stephens recovered a fumble just before halftime. 

The first turnover in the game resulted in three points as Tobias Brubaker connected on a 26-yard field goal. Hoggard increased its lead to 9-0 when Tamear Webb capped a five-play, 32-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge.

Following West’s interception, the Vikings threatened to run away with the game when a jet sweep to Blake Edwards resulted in a 9-yard TD. 

Needing a big play, Laney turned to its standout junior wide receiver Hampton Roderick. He made an incredible catch and raced all the way to the end zone for a 82-yard score to get the Buccaneers on the board. 

Hoggard fumbled on its first play of the ensuing possession, but the visitors had to settle for a 23-yard field goal despite getting the ball inside the 5-yard line.

Laney finished with 400 yards of offense, while the Vikings had 220.  

Roderick hauled in nine catches for 183 yards, and Jacob Pace finished with 100 yards on five catches. Laney running back Tyjhere Crudup had 22 carries for 109 yards in his final game. 

Hoggard got a team-high 70 rushing yards and two scores from Webb.

No. 2 West Columbus 42, No. 7 Lakewood 0

Third round 1A playoffs

History was made in Cerro Gordo on Friday night. Not only did the Vikings set a school record with their 11th win, but they also reached the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time. 

Once again, it was the West Columbus (11-1) defense that set the tone. Through 12 games, opposing teams are averaging just 8.3 points against the stout unit that is led by DJ Bryant, Ryder Haynes and Jaylen Bellamy. 

“Our defense has really been consistent week in and week out,” West Columbus coach La Monte Williamson said. “Coaches Preston (Worley) and Brandon (Smith) do a great job with the guys on that side of the ball. They get coached up each week, get their assignments, and stay locked in.”

The Vikings have been rewriting the record books all season long.

They claimed an outright conference title for the first time since 1979. Friday’s game was the first time the program hosted a third round playoff game. 

“The community is really getting behind us, and the more they get behind us the more those guys want to go out there and play,” Williamson said. “I tell the guys every week to keep the book open, so we can keep writing in it.”

Senior quarterback Unique Kelly scored four rushing touchdowns to lead the way offensively.

His first trip to the end zone came from 5-yards out with three minutes left in the opening quarter. The lead doubled with just under five minutes remaining until halftime when Kelly scored on a 3-yard run.  

West Columbus will be back at home next week as they welcome No. 3 Wilson Prep.

No. 6 Whiteville 44, No. 3 SouthWest Edgecombe 8

Third round 2A playoffs

For the second year in a row, the Wolfpack are one of the final four teams remaining in the 2A East. 

Whiteville (11-2) held a slim 9-8 lead early in the second quarter on a safety and a 4-yard run from Amari Best.  

A 65-yard drive that was capped by an 11-yard touchdown from Best gave the Wolfpack all the momentum and they continued to pile up points. 

The advantage grew to 23-8 at halftime after fullback Jamal Faulk found the end zone from short yardage.  

“We played really well and executed at a high level, which you have to do in the playoffs,” Whiteville coach JP Price said. “I thought last week’s win (over defending state champion East Duplin) took our confidence to the next level.”

The Wolfpack had another impressive defensive effort, holding a SouthWest Edgecombe team that was averaging 40.2 points to just one touchdown.

Only East Bladen has scored more than eight points against Whiteville since October 6.

Next up will be a game at No. 2 Northeastern next Friday night. 

No. 13 East Bladen 47, No. 12 Rosewood 14

Third round 1A playoffs

Senior standout running back Masion Brooks increased his season touchdown total to 39 by finding the end zone four times in the lopsided road victory.

With the win, East Bladen (8-5) moved into the fourth round for the first time since 2010. They will travel to top-seeded Tarboro next week.

Brooks’ first touchdown run came from 8-yards out with 9:41 remaining in the opening quarter. Na’Toren Corbett ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Eagles a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

A 4-yard run from Brooks early in the second quarter increased the advantage to 15-7, which was the score at halftime.

East Bladen pulled away with a dominant third quarter. Xavier Best had a 52-yard interception return, while Malaki Moore hauled in a 39-yard TD pass from Kewone Maynor. 

Brooks added his other two scores in the fourth quarter. The final touchdown came on an 18-yard run from Jamere Stephens. 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

***The rankings by each area team come from the Coastal Preps Power Rankings***

No. 4 Ashley 39, White Oak 19

A terrific defensive effort helped the Screaming Eagles secure a season-opening win. 

Ashley (0-0) led 7-0 after the opening quarter and never trailed. Bella Cook led the way with 12 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.

Sawyer Rigdon added seven points and seven rebounds, while Reagan Norris drained all three of the team’s shots from beyond the arc for her nine points. 

The Screaming Eagles will host Coastal Christian on Tuesday night at 6.

No. 3 Topsail 48, New Bern 38

After both teams scored 10 points over the opening eight minutes, Topsail outscored New Bern 35-22 over the middle two quarters to pull away.

Brianna Jones paced Topsail (1-0) with 10 points. Reed Garofano added nine points, while Jaelyn Dabideen finished with six.

The Pirates, who host Trask at 6 p.m. Tuesday, went 12-for-21 from the free throw line. 

No. 17 Wilmington Christian Academy 56, Southeastern Christian Academy 6

The Patriots exploded for 20 points in the first quarter and continued to stretch the lead.

Hannah Pollard scored 12 of her game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter. 

Emma Johnson added 12 points, while Emily Bloom also reached double figures with 10 for WCA (2-0).

Next up for the Patriots is a road game at Coastal Christian on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Wake Christian Academy 43, No. 13 Coastal Christian 39

Evie Munroe finished with 13 points, but the Centurions weren’t able to hold on to a second-half lead.

Joining Munroe in double figures was freshman Paige Everett, who finished with 11 points in her high school debut. 

Coastal Christian (0-1) led 30-29 after three quarters, but got outscored 14-9 over the final eight minutes.

The Centurions will try to bounce back when they host Wilmington Christian Academy at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Other scores

No. 16 South Brunswick 54, West Bladen 30

No. 8 Whiteville 39, Aynor (S.C.) 15

Jacksonville 56, No. 15 Trask 9

BOYS BASKETBALL

***The rankings by each area team come from the Coastal Preps Power Rankings***

No. 9 Coastal Christian 54, Wake Christian Academy 44

Three Centurions reached double figures, led by 17 points from senior forward Aidan Davies.

Davies did all his work in the opening half to help Coastal Christian (1-0) build a 30-29 lead. A 14-5 third quarter allowed the home team pull away.

George Robertson made four 3-pointers and finished with 13 points, while Ethan Adgent chipped in 10 points. 

The Centurions welcome Southeastern Homeschool on Monday at 7 p.m.

White Oak 63, No. 5 Ashley 45

Senior point guard Coen Locklear knocked down three 3-pointers and scored a team-high 18 points, but the Screaming Eagles fell at home.

Ashley (0-1) scored just six points in the opening quarter and trailed 27-18 at halftime.

Keyon Jones went 6-for-6 from the field en route to his 13 points. Quinn Bentley and Alijah Miller both chipped in six points. 

Next up is a home game against Coastal Christian on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Other scores

New Bern 73, No. 12 Topsail 71

West Bladen 65, No. 14 South Brunswick 26

 

 

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