DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – High Point University topped UIC 90-80 in the first round of the Boardwalk Battle men’s basketball tournament Thursday at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Cam’Ron Fletcher scored 27 points, making 9 of 12 from the field and 7 of 7 from the foul line, to lead the Panthers (5-1), who led 41-39 at halftime. Chase Johnston added 18 points, making six 3-pointers, followed by Rob Martin with 14 points and eight assists and Scotty Washington with 12 points.
High Point shot 46% from the field for the game, making 10 from 3-point range. UIC (3-2), which held a notable advantage in points in the paint (46-28) but trailed in fastbreak points (19-12), shot 49% from the field.
The Panthers finished with a sizable edge at the foul line – making 30 of 37 while UIC made 17 of 24.
High Point led by nine in the first before taking a two-point advantage into halftime. It stretched its lead to double digits nine minutes into the second and got it to 13 three times before UIC pulled within eight down the stretch.
The Panthers, facing University of the Incarnate Word in the tournament final Saturday, will next play at home Saturday, Nov. 29, against Western Carolina.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
HIGH POINT CHRISTIAN BOYS, NEW GARDEN FRIENDS
GREENSBORO – High Point Christian defeated New Garden Friends 61-55 in nonconference boys basketball Thursday at New Garden Friends.
Sonne Williams and Jysen Seymore each scored 17 points to lead the Cougars (2-0). Carter Anderson and Robert Nyamongo each followed with 11 points. Nyamongo also had 15 rebounds, while Seth Crotzer had six assists and Seymore had six steals.
WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN BOYS, CARMEL CHRISTIAN
MATTHEWS – Wesleyan Christian fell 71-54 against Carmel Christian in nonconference boys basketball Thursday at Carmel Christian.
Nick Keith had 25 points while Tyson Thompson had 10 for the Trojans (2-2).
LEDFORD, EAST SURRY
WALLBURG – Ledford topped East Surry 59-42 in nonconference boys basketball Thursday at Ledford. The Panthers opened their season 1-0.
In the girls game, Ledford lost 48-30 to move to 0-1.
WHEATMORE, MONTGOMERY CENTRAL
TROY – Wheatmore fell 50-44 against Montgomery Central in nonconference boys basketball Thursday at Wheatmore.
Avery Ivey scored 12 points to lead the Warriors (0-1). Collin Dodd, Truman Auman and Jordan Starkey each added nine points. Auman also had 13 rebounds, while Dodd had four steals and Ivey had four assists.
In the girls game, Wheatmore won 48-13 to improve to 1-0.
WRESTLING
AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL
HIGH POINT – High Point Central lost 70-12 against Montgomery Central in wrestling Thursday at Central.
Allen Dunn (106, forfeit) and Jaelyn Carlyle (120, fall) won for the Bison.
INDOOR TRACK
NW CABARRUS INVITE
WINSTON-SALEM – Southern Guilford’s boys were fourth while Bishop McGuinness’ girls were eighth to highlight Thursday’s Northwest Cabarrus Invite at JDL Fast Track.
Northwest Cabarrus won the boys team total with 66 points, while Southern was fourth with 43 and Bishop was 13th with 19. Corvian Community won the girls team score with 116 points, while Bishop was eighth with 30 and Southern was 10th with 17.
Iara Silvagnoli (second – girls 1000, 3:17.33), Austin Lemnios (fourth – boys long jump, 19-03.00), Amilliana Brooks (third – girls long jump, 14-03.25) and Grady Long (fourth – boys shot put, 40-01.00), as well as the boys 4×800 (third, 9:42.01) and girls 4×800 (third, 10:53.29) were in the top five for Bishop.
Taylor Price (fifth – girls 55, 7.55), Josiah Alexander (third – boys high jump, 5-06.00) and Joshua Haith (fifth – boys high jump, 5-02.00), Caylin Camp (fourth – girls long jump, 14-03.00) and Ibrahim Barrie (second – boys shot put, 42-03.00), plus the boys 4×200 (third, 1:37.34), girls 4×200 (fourth, 1:52.09) and boys 4×400 (fifth, 3:54.40) were in the top five for Southern.
VOLLEYBALL
WESLEYAN’S CROOKS NAMED AVCA ALL-AMERICAN
HIGH POINT – Wesleyan Christian’s Nejari Crooks has been selected for the AVCA Girls High School All-Americans.
Crooks, a junior right-side hitter/setter who has committed to Penn State, totaled 405 kills, 104 aces, 65 blocks, 215 digs and 351 assists for the Trojans, who went 21-3 overall and 10-0 in the PTAC – reaching the semifinals of the NCISAA 4A volleyball playoffs.
Gracie Kubis and Adele Veach also joined Crooks on the AVCA’s Best and Brightest, which is meant to honor student-athletes’ efforts on and off the court.
