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Butler football offense: Bulldogs' 63 points in first half of Friday's 70-16 win against West Forsyth was the ninth-most ever scored by a team in one half nationally. The record is 101, set by Eugene (Oreg.) in 1919. Butler ranks no. 19 in the National Prep Poll. UP
Concord First Assembly football: The Eagles, who graduate 13 seniors, finished 13-0 and won the Division II NCISAA state title Saturday, beating Harrell's Christian 32-12. Coach Mike Minter, the former Panther, thinks his team will be better in 2010.
Junior offensive guard Christian Little, 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, returns. He helped senior Tony Moore rushed for 2,300 yards this season. Also returning is sophomore linebacker Easton Straybury (6-0, 210), who had 110 tackles this season, and junior cornerback Tyler Ryan (5-10, 190), who had seven interceptions. Minter's son, Mike Jr. (6-0, 185 sophomore), will also join the team and play running back and safety. He played on the junior varsity this season.
In all, six starters return on offense and five on defense. "Watch out for us next year," Minter said. UP
Caroline Plyler, Country Day field hockey: Plyler was part of the Bucs N.C. Independent Schools state championship last month. Her older sister, Katie, a former Bucs star and redshirt freshman at North Carolina, was part of the Tar Heels' NCAA national championship 3-2 win over Maryland Sunday. The Tar Heels scored twice in the final five minutes. UP
Kelsey Newman, Charlotte Catholic volleyball: Named ME-GA 7 player of the year. Olympic's Julie Blackwelder and West Mecklenburg's Chris Cooper shared coach of the year honors. UP
Charlotte Christian boys basketball: 11 of 12 players scored in a win against Covenant Day last week. UP
Players of the week
Eric Howell, Kennedy Charter: Scored 19 points, including 17 in the second half, to lead his team to a 75-74 upset against Sweet 16 No. 12 Olympic last week. Howell, a 6-9 post player, played for the Trojans last year.
Jamie Williams, Lake Norman Charter: Williams, a sophomore, averaged 20.7 points, 8.3 steals and 6.3 assists in three games last week. Lake Norman Charter beat Queen Grant 48-27, beat 3A Northwest Cabarrus 43-39 and beat Lincoln Charter 49-47.
Hot Players
Justin Cheek, Ardrey Kell boys basketball: Averaging 16 points and had four 3-pointers against Porter Ridge. Teammates Cameron McQueen (11 ppg, 9 rpg) and Prince Shembo (7 ppg, 9 rpg) are also off to good starts for Knights, No. 6 in the Sweet 16. Ardrey Kell was 2-0 before Monday's game against Hickory Ridge.
Ali Ford, Elon: Former Morganton Freedom star is a freshman averaging 19.3 points after three games, which leads the Southern Conference in scoring. She also tops the league in 3-pointers made and steals. She's second in assists.
Mike Huff and Sean Hubbard, Olympic football: Hubbard, a running back, was named ME-GA 7 offensive player of the year after becoming his school's all-time leading rusher. Hubbard was defensive player of the year. Trojans coach Barry Shuford was picked as a conference coach of the year after leading Olympic to its first league title in a decade. The all-conference team is in Scoreboard on page 5C. Makenzi McAteer, Monroe Parkwood softball: Signed with Western Carolina on Monday. She's ranked in the top five percent of her class and is a National Honor Society student. She's a two-time all-district, all-conference and all-state pick.
Tonight's Key Matchups
No. 16 Harding boys basketball at No. 8 West Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.: Two teams that could go deep into the playoffs - West Charlotte in 4A and Harding in 3A - renew a traditional rivalry at West Charlotte. Lions senior J.T. Terrell had 21 points in a season-opening win against East Mecklenburg last week. Terrell, a top 100 national recruit, has committed to Wake Forest.
Providence boys basketball at No. 3 Gastonia Forestview,7:30 p.m: The Panthers have two of the area's better players in Damon Magazu and Terrance Hampton. The pair combined to average 34 points per game last season. Forestview, upset by No. 4 Lake Norman last week, reached the N.C. 3A championship game last season.
North Lincoln wrestling at North Mecklenburg, 7 p.m.: Vikings freshman Tanner Russ, who has heavy AAU experience, is expected to be an impact wrestler this season.
Note
North Mecklenburg's basketball game at Anson County scheduled for Wednesday has been moved. The teams will play Dec. 18 at Anson.
