ELKIN — NCSSM-Â鶹´«Ã½ senior Manya Nallagangu won the NCHSAA 1A West Regional in individual girls tennis action on Saturday at Elkin Park.
The Lady Dragons’ doubles team of Ananya Sriram/Will Levine also performed well enough to join Nallagangu at the individual 1A state championships at Cary Tennis Center this Friday through Saturday.
In the 2A West Regional at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont on Saturday, East Burke senior Braelyn Stilwell placed fourth, falling 6-2, 6-2 in the third round before losing the third-place match 6-3, 6-3. On Friday, Stilwell reached the 2A state championships at Holly Springs’ Ting Park this weekend by winning her first-round match 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) and her second-round match 6-2, 6-0.
And at the 3A West Regional at Hickory City Park on Friday, Freedom’s Emily Kania lost in the first round, 6-3, 6-2.
People are also reading…
Pair of local teams reach state playoffs
Two Burke County squads advanced to the dual-team state playoffs as the NCHSAA released brackets on Friday.
NCSSM-Â鶹´«Ã½ (6-0) is the No. 5 West seed and Draughn (6-4) is the No. 13 West seed in the 1A dual-team state postseason.
The Lady Dragons will host No. 12 West seed Elkin at Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Freedom park in the first round on Wednesday. The winner of that match will advance to play either Draughn or No. 4 West seed Polk County in the second round next Monday.
The Lady Wildcats will travel to Columbus to play the Lady Wolverines in the first round on Wednesday, setting up a potential second-round matchup either in Â鶹´«Ã½ or Elkin.
Patton loses twice to Brevard
The Lady Panthers (0-9, 0-7 Mountain Foothills 7 1A/2A Conf.) finished up a winless season with a pair of conference losses in a home doubleheader versus Brevard in Â鶹´«Ã½ on Thursday, 8-1 and 7-2.
In the first match, PHS’ lone win came at No. 3 doubles with London Berry/Madi Norman 9-8 (10-8).
And in the second match, Patton won No. 5 singles with Norman 8-6 and No. 2 doubles with Kadin Scism/Coley Berry 8-5.
VOLLEYBALL
Two local squads make state playoffs
A pair of Burke County teams made the postseason as the NCHSAA released its playoff brackets on Sunday afternoon.
Draughn (14-7), the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference champion, was awarded the No. 9 West seed in 1A while Patton (16-7) earned the No. 21 West seed in the 2A bracket.
The Lady Wildcats will host No. 24 West seed Eastern Randolph (9-14) for Tuesday’s first round in Valdese. The winner of that match will advance to face either No. 8 West seed Union Academy (13-9) or No. 25 West seed Bradford Prep (7-13) in the second round this coming Thursday.
The Lady Panthers will visit No. 21 West seed Pine Lake Prep (19-4) in Mooresville for Tuesday’s first round. The winner of that contest will take on either No. 5 West seed East Surry (19-4) or No. 28 West seed Mount Pleasant (9-13) in this Thursday’s second round.
Patton 3, East Rutherford 1
The Lady Panthers (6-6 MF7) ended the regular season with a conference win at home in Â鶹´«Ã½ on Thursday, winning 19-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-15.
The PHS offense was led by Hannah Huggins (nine kills), Anna Lynn Ripley (seven kills, two aces, assist), Soraya Hartman (five kills), Reece Edwards (four kills), Kynzlee Worley (three kills), Kate Clark (two kills), Abigail Carpenter (kill, two aces, 18 assists), Chesney Hensley (kill), Emma Griffin (two aces, eight assists) and Carly Setterlind (ace).
On the defensive side, Patton's leaders were Clark (13 digs, block, eight receptions), Setterlind (13 digs, 37 receptions), Ripley (12 digs, 16 receptions), Carpenter (four digs), Hartman (four digs, block), Huggins (four digs, three blocks), Griffin (three digs), Jolann Buff (three digs), Hensley (dig, two blocks), Kayla Morris (dig) and Edwards (two blocks, four receptions).
Rosman 3, Draughn 0
The Lady Wildcats (8-1 WHC) suffered their first and only conference loss in a sweep on the road in Rosman on Thursday, falling 25-21, 26-24, 25-23.
No more details were available at press time.
Alexander Central 3, Freedom 0
The Lady Patriots (3-18, 0-9 Northwestern 3A/4A Conf.) wrapped up their season with a straight-sets conference loss on the road in Taylorsville on Thursday, 25-13, 25-14, 26-24.
No more details were available at press time.
NCSSM-Â鶹´«Ã½ falls twice
The Lady Dragons (1-13, 0-6 WHC) lost a pair of four-set home conference matches to end the season on Tuesday and Wednesday in Â鶹´«Ã½.
NCSSM-Â鶹´«Ã½ fell to Rosman, 10-25, 25-22, 12-25, 16-25, on Tuesday before losing to Madison, 20-25, 25-15, 17-25, 10-25, on Wednesday.
FOOTBALL
Lincolnton 38, East Burke 0
The Cavaliers (1-5, 0-3 Catawba Valley 2A Conf.) were blanked in conference play on Friday night at home in Icard.
EBHS’ rushing attack was led by Darren Hammons (4-38) and Zayne Newman (9-15). Quarterbacks Carter Bennett (5 of 27 for 27 yards) and Calvin Vue (5 of 9 for 11 yards, interception) distributed the ball to Nathan Rees (2-11), Barger Shook (1-10) and Tyler Brown (1-6).
Defensively, EB was led by Jordan Fox (19 tackles, two for loss), Cannon Morrison (nine tackles, one for loss), Daniel Cook (six tackles, three for loss, two sacks), Ossie Burkeen (five tackles, one for loss), Brown (five tackles) and Kendale Cook (interception).
BOYS SOCCER
Madison 1, NCSSM-Â鶹´«Ã½ 0 (OT)
The Dragons (5-4-1, 2-2-1 WHC), playing for the first time since Sept. 23, battled to a scoreless tie through regulation before the visiting Patriots broke through in overtime to win Thursday’s conference match in Â鶹´«Ã½.
The Patriots outshot on goal NCSSM-Â鶹´«Ã½ 10-5.
JV FOOTBALL
Lincolnton 24, East Burke 22
The JV Cavaliers (1-5, 0-3 CVAC) narrowly missed out on their first conference win on the road in Lincolnton on Thursday.
EBHS was led by rushers Izan Hang (14-61) and Jesiah Rees (13-42-1). Quarterback Nathan Martin completed 5 of 7 passes for 9 yards and a touchdown, with the score going to Rees (4-8-1).
Defensively, EB was led by Tucker Gantt (eight tackles, forced fumble), Easton Wilson (six tackles, interception), Hunter Martin (five tackles, fumble recovery), Jaxson Wiley (five tackles, one for loss), Gabe Metcalf (four tackles, one for loss) and R.J. Williams (interception).
South Caldwell 16, Freedom 14
The JV Patriots (4-3, 0-2 NWC) remained winless in the conference with a close loss on the road in Sawmills on Thursday.
The teams battled to an 8-8 halftime tie before a successful two-point conversion for the JV Spartans was the difference after the intermission.
East Rutherford 6, Patton 0
The JV Panthers (2-3, 0-1 MF7) lost their conference-opener in a shutout on the road in Bostic on Thursday.
The JV Cavaliers scored from 70 yards out on the game’s first play from scrimmage before both defenses held serve the rest of the way.