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Butler football: Big weekend for the Bulldogs family. Friday night, the 2009 team beat Independence in a showdown of nationally ranked teams. Saturday afternoon, two former Butler stars had big games: Ryan Houston rushed for 164 yards on 37 carries in North Carolina's 19-6 win against Duke. Illinois freshman quarterback Jacob Charest replaced injured Juice Williams and sparked a 35-32 win against Minnesota. Charest was 10-for-19 for 185 yards and one touchdown. UP
Independence, CMS: Wonderful job with game management at Friday's Butler-Indy game, which CMS officials simply called T.G., or The Game. Felt like I was at a Janet Jackson concert or something with all the security people parking cars and directing you inside the venue. UP
Playoff pairings: Defending state champ West Rowan gets a No. 2 seed in the 3A West and half of the matchups in 4AA are rematches from earlier this year. It's time for a change in how the state handles the postseason. May we suggest five classes and fewer teams? DOWN
Playoff pairings, part II: More than 60 teams have losing records. Several have one or two wins. What is 2-9 Union going to get out of playing at 11-0 Southwest Onslow, besides spending gas money? Why are there so many games played between two teams with losing records? Why is a one-win 3A team in the playoffs at all? DOWN
Player of the Week
Cierra Burdick, Butler girls' basketball
Burdick, one of the nation's top-ranked girls' basketball players, committed to Tennessee on Sunday.
Burdick, ranked among the nation's top 5 in the junior class, visited the school Saturday and attended Tennessee's football game, a 56-28 victory over Memphis.
Burdick said she spent time with some of the school's players and felt at home. But when she walked into coach Pat Summitt's office for a postvisit meeting Sunday morning, she didn't plan to commit.
"I planned to go on and check out my other choice, South Carolina, and compare after that," Burdick said, "but they got me. They said all the right stuff - and the numbers there don't lie."
In 35 years, Summitt is 1,005-193. Her teams have won 14 of 29 SEC championships and eight national titles. Burdick, a 6-3 junior guard, thinks Summitt - and her staff - will fully develop her game. Burdick averaged 12.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, four blocks and 2.1 steals last year for Butler, which reached the N.C. 4A Western Regional championship, losing to eventual state champ West Charlotte.
In the summer, she played for a 16-and-under USA Basketball national team that won a FIBA Americas U16 championship in Mexico City. In the Gold Medal game, when the U.S. beat Canada 103-52, Burdick had six points, a team-high seven rebounds, five assists and a team-high five steals.
As the 2009-10 season begins next week, she is North Carolina's top player, regardless of class. And she's excited to get her college decision out of the way.
"I just think Coach Summitt can bring the best out of me," Burdick said. "I want to continue to get better and be the best on the next level and the level after that. I think they can bring out my full potential."
Hot performers
Ron Howard, East Meck football: Rushed for 149 yards on 18 carries in 38-7 win against South Meck on Friday.
Justus Pickett, Ardrey Kell football: 113 yards rushing, 25 yards receiving and a 100-yard kickoff return in 21-14 loss to Providence on Friday. That's 278 total yards.
Patrick Harrow, North Meck soccer: One goal and one assist in 2-0 second round playoff win against archrival Vance on Saturday.
Mark your calendars
Prep Soccer third round: Four Mecklenburg County 4A teams are still alive and three will play at home this week. Ardrey Kell (16-3-2) is at Greensboro Page (18-0-2). Myers Park (15-2-3) will host Greensboro Grimsley (17-4-1) and if the Mustangs and Knights win, the Southwestern 4A rivals would face each other in a big regional semifinal Saturday.
On the other half of the bracket, Asheville Reynolds (19-3-1) is at Olympic (18-4-2) and Skyland Roberson (22-1-1) is at North Mecklenburg (17-4-2). The winners of those two games will also meet in a Saturday regional semi.
In the 3A bracket, Concord Robinson (20-2-1) visits Charlotte Catholic.
Concord Cannon Basketball Tip-Off Tournament, Friday-Saturday: Cannon and nationally ranked senior forward Jarell Eddie start the season against Northside Christian and all-state guard Travis Liner, who averaged 27 points last season (Friday, 8 p.m.). The winner plays Durham Mount Zion or Fayetteville Academy on Saturday.
Olympic High Jamboree, Saturday: At 9 a.m., some of the area's top boys' basketball teams will play in a daylong event to get ready for the season. Teams participating are Providence, Harding, Hopewell, Independence, Indian Trail Sun Valley, Lake Norman, Olympic, Providence, Greensboro Smith, South Meck, Statesville and Vance.
Super Saturday at Morganton Freedom: Some of the region's top girls' basketball teams, including Observer-area powers Butler, Charlotte Catholic, Concord, East Meck, Gastonia Forestview, Freedom, Harding, Providence Day, South Caldwell and Statesville will play in three gyms in an all-day scrimmage that tips at 9 a.m.
Prep soccer pairings
Third round must be completed by Wednesday.
4A West: Ardrey Kell at Greensboro Page, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.; Greensboro Grimsley at Myers Park ; Asheville Reynolds at Olympic; Skyland Roberson at N. Meck.
3A West: Concord at Marvin Ridge; Concord Robinson (20-2-1) at Charlotte Catholic (20-1-3); Belmont South Point (10-10-2) at Hickory (25-1); Gastonia Forestview (14-8) at Asheville (15-6-4).
2A West: East Lincoln (18-6-1) at Salisbury (22-1-1); Shelby (19-3-1) at Cuthbertson (16-4-1); Starmount at Surry Central; Forbush at Wilkes Central (18-3-1).
1A: Albemarle (17-4) at Hendersonville (17-4-1); Bishop McGuinness (12-9-1) at Monroe (17-4), Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
