By John Wilson
John.bannernews@gmail.com

It seemed like almost yesterday that South Point, Stuart Cramer, and East Gaston were preparing for the start of the 2022 football season. Now the playoffs are here. First round action would see South Point advance while Cramer and East Gaston would both lose.

South Point 48
Hickory 13
The 9-1 Red Raiders drew the number 11th seed in the 3A West and hosted the 22nd seeded Hickory Red Tornadoes.
Hickory was 6-3 going into this one and for the most part played South Point tough in the first half. The Red Tornadoes went into the locker room at halftime only trailing the Red Raiders 21-13 at the half.
That would all change in the third quarter. South Point made some halftime adjustments and then came out in the second half and blasted the Red Tornadoes scoring 27 unanswered second half points.
South Point would go on to win 48-13.
Offensively South Point played well finishing the game with 490 yards of total offense.  All but three of those yards came from a punishing running game that gouged the Red Tornado defense.  Leading the offense charge was quarterback Patrick Blee and fullback Cam Medlock. Blee and Medlock ran roughshod over the Hickory defense teaming up for 410 yards and six touchdowns.
South Point’s top defensive players were Winter Kincaid and Will Ross. Kincaid ended the game with 13 tackles while Ross finished up with 11.
Also having a good night on defense was Jayden Garrett-Straite who returned an interception for touchdown.
“I was proud of our team,” head coach Adam Hodge said. “Our offense played really well. The defense made some good adjustments in the second half and shut them out. A good win. Now it’s time for the next one.”
This week South Point will have their hands full as they head over to Greensboro to battle the 9-2 Dudley Panthers.
The Panthers are tough, they went undefeated in the Mid-State 3A. A quick scouting of the Panthers shows that Dudley plays well on both sides of the ball. The Panthers pair a potent offense with a stingy defense. The Dudley offense can pass and run effectively while the defense is capable of shutting opposing offenses down.

Community School
  of Davidson 20
East Gaston 14
In 2A action there was a bit of déjà vu as the 29th seeded East Gaston Warriors lined up against the fourth seeded Community School of Davidson in a repeat of last year’s first round playoff action. In that game the Warriors beat the Trojans 57-39.
This year the game was a little bit tighter as Davidson managed to flip the script and squeezed out a 20-14 win.
In the early going things were looking good for East Gaston as the Warriors took a 14-6 lead into the half.
In the second half the Spartans slowly started to chip away at the Warriors lead. EG still led 14-12 at the end of the third, but Davidson kept the pressure on and the Spartans jumped out to a 20-14 lead in fourth. The Warriors just couldn’t find their way back to the end zone in the second half and the Spartans came away with the win.
East Gaston ended the year at 6-5. While head coach JT Postell didn’t like the early exit from the playoffs, he was pleased with the team’s progress these last two years.
“We can look back at this year and see that our guys performed really well,” coach Postell said. “We had to replace a lot of guys on both sides of the ball from last year’s team. We proved a lot of people wrong and that shows what kind of character these guys have and how hard
they worked. We finished with the winning record and had back-to-back playoffs appearances.”

West Charlotte 40
Cramer 13
The Storm pulled the 25th seed in the playoffs and headed over to Mecklenburg County to take on the eighth seeded West Charlotte Lions.
Going into this game both teams finished the regular season with similar records. The Lions ended the regular season at 5-5 while the Storm went into the playoffs at 4-6.
In first half action the Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead.
Cramer finally got on the scoreboard at the beginning of the third quarter and cut the West Charlotte lead down to 14-6.
Unfortunately, that’s about as close as the Storm would get to mounting a comeback.
After the Cramer TD the Lions soon went on a scoring run the Strom just couldn’t match and West Charlotte went on to win 40-13.
“We kind of beat ourselves the other night,” head coach Ben McMillan said. “But we really appreciate our seniors for all of their time and effort.”
On a positive note, Cramer senior quarterback Justin Rocquemore found his way into the record books by breaking the Gaston County passing yardage record.

The next professional golfers from Gaston County Schools could be in the making at Lingerfeldt Elementary.
Through the First Tee program, students learn about the sport of golf.  In addition to learning how to play, the program focuses on life skills and helps children build their strength of character through golf.  Lingerfeldt is the only elementary school integrating the program into its physical education classes.
Teacher Taylon Singleton brought First Tee to the school after seeing its benefits in another school district.  He said, “Students are learning more than just the game of golf.  The First Tee program teaches children character traits such as honesty and sportsmanship.”
Currently, the program is being introduced to fifth grade students, but Singleton said the program will be available to all students.
“I want the older students to grasp more than the ability to understand and enjoy the game of golf,” said Singleton. “The curriculum reinforces life skills such as positive attitude and problem-solving and applies these values to golf.”
By introducing the game of golf with the First Tee core values, the program provides the opportunity for children to see how honesty, judgment, and responsibility in physical education class relates to other areas of their lives.
Student Cameron Mack is having fun learning the basics of golf.  “I only knew of putt-putt,” smiled Mack. “Coach Singleton is teaching us other parts of the game, such as chipping and striking the ball.”
Principal Page Willis is grateful for the program.  She said, “We are really excited to offer our students an array of opportunities through our elective options.  Golf is a lifelong sport that teaches students about persistence, accuracy, and social skills.  Coach Singleton is creating an outstanding physical education program that offers learning experiences for students so they can explore many possible options that could be in their future.”

South Point High School ladies golf team placed 3rd in the NCHSAA 3A state championship held at Longleaf Golf Club in Pinehurst behind Fike and South Central.  Madison Pruden finished 11th overall out of 77 players.  Members of the team are Amelia Connor, Sophia Czerwinsky, Carli Anne Phillips, Madison Pruden, Sophie Travenski, and Chloe Villarreal. They are coached by Kevin Withers. The team also won the Big South 3A Conference championship and finished as runner-up in the West Regional held in Lenoir.

J. Scott Studio photo

By John Wilson
The late Saint Mother Teresa once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.”
Mother Teresa’s quote alludes to the fact that even one person can make a difference.
The late George Kitchen of Belmont was such a man, a man who made a difference in the lives of so many.
Before his passing on October 21st, Kitchen was a fixture in the Belmont sports community for almost half a century.
Kitchen, known as “Coach George” by those that knew him coached Little League baseball, Pop Warner football and was an assistant softball coach at South Point and Belmont Middle for many years. In 2022 we was inducted into the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame. He coached up until his passing at 83 years of age.
Coach George was a decent and caring person. A man who would do anything to help anyone and never asked anything in return. George and his late wife Judy Kitchen had a great love for all things South Point. They were Belmont proud. For years Judy was known as the lady who sold peanut brittle at the Red Raider baseball games.
It’s hard to grasp just how many young people George Kitchen coached. It’s fair to say his impact was generational.
One person who knew Kitchen well is South Point and Belmont Middle School softball coach Leah Brooks.
“He was my grandfather’s best friend,” Brooks said, “He coached my dad, and he coached me.”
Coach Brooks first got to know Kitchen when she was a player at South Point. She remembered Coach George as a true student of the game, a person who understood the nuances of softball inside and out. A man who had so much to give.
After graduating from South Point in 2009 Brooks went on to play college ball at Averett University in Danville Virginia.
In 2012 she returned to Belmont to coach the Belmont Middle School softball team. In 2014 she started coaching at South Point.
It was upon her return to Belmont that she was reunited with Coach George and the two formed a special relationship.
Coach Kitchen was an assistant coach with the middle school and high school softball programs.
As a new coach, Leah Brooks soon found that she had a lot to learn, but George Kitchen was there to help her.
Over the years, Brooks learned that she could rely on Coach George to help her with just about anything. It wasn’t long before the two became more than just co-workers. He became a father figure to her.
While Brooks may have been the head coach, she came to trust Kitchen’s wisdom and knowledge. In a nod to the hit movie Karate Kid, you could say that Kitchen was Mister Miyagi to Brook’s Daniel-san. To Leah Brooks, Coach George was a dear friend and mentor.
“It’s crazy to say that an 83-year-old man was my best friend,” Brooks said. “But if I needed anything he made it happen. He was the most selfless person I knew.”
As the friendship grew Kitchen soon became a big part of the Brook’s household. Coach George was a part of the family. He was there during the good times and the bad. He was especially close to Leah’s young daughters Makinley and Makenzie.
“He had a special knock so my daughters knew it was him,” Brooks laughed. “We talked or he came by the house every day.”
As coach Brooks recalled her memories of her friend you could tell how much Coach George meant to her.
The memories brought smiles, laughter, and even a few tears.
In September George’s health started to decline and he was admitted to the hospital.
His hospitalization also coincided with a playoff run the Belmont Middle softball team was in the midst of.
Even in the hospital, Coach George was able to talk to Brooks to offer his insight as the Lady Wildcats fought for the county title.
On October 6th the Lady Wildcats faced off against Stanley in the championship game. Coach George got to watch the game on live stream from his hospital bed as Belmont beat Stanley 12-2 in five innings.
After the game coach Brooks stopped by the hospital. She brought the championship trophy with her. She wanted to share the victory with the man who helped the team earn it.
The emotions of that special moment were intense.
It was during that visit that Coach George told his protege, “Leah I’m going out like a champion.”
George Kitchen would die two weeks later.
Dealing with Coach George’s death has been hard on not just the Brooks family, but just about everyone that knew him. He was that loved and revered.
While George Kitchen is no longer with us his spirit is. Coach George’s legacy will live on as those he coached pass on what they learned from him to the next generation of players.

After being down 12-6 at halftime, the Belmont Middle School Wildcats fought back in the second half to build a 27-12 lead over the Holbrook Lions.  Holbrook scored twice within the last two minutes of the game, but with 20 seconds to go and trying to convert a 2-point conversion, the Wildcats defense rose up and stopped the Lion runner short of the goal line to preserve a 27-26 victory.
This is Belmont Middle School’s 10th conference title and 6th since 1999.
Belmont last won the conference title in 2016 over Mount Holly, 43-8 when Danny Green was the head coach.
This is Carey Galbreath’s first season as Belmont’s head coach and first title.

See more photos on page 11 (in October 27, 2022 issue of Banner-News)
 

Gaston Schools story/photo
Preston Howell does not let his physical condition get in the way of achieving his goals.
The South Point High School senior recently returned from playing in the Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Thailand where he helped lead the United States U23 team to a sixth-place overall finish against the top teams in the world.
“It was a wonderful experience and privilege to represent the best country in the world,” said Howell, who played in five contests, including one game where he scored 13 points. “There was some great competition, and we had plenty of time to see tourist attractions such as the floating markets and beaches.”
However, what was more meaningful to Howell was the send off he received from his school.  Prior to him leaving for Thailand, students and staff lined the sidewalk to cheer him on.
“I was ecstatic to see everyone,” Howell smiled. “It caught me by surprise, but it meant the world to me to have my fellow classmates and teachers rooting for me.”
Howell points out that he was not too sure of wheelchair basketball when he was introduced to the sport at the age of seven.
“A friend’s mother took me to watch the women’s Team USA team train in the Charlotte area,” said Howell, who currently plays locally for the Charlotte Rollin’ Hornets. “I was scared to death, but I went to a practice a month later and fell in love with the sport.”
Howell was born with skeletal dysplasia, a rare genetic disorder that causes abnormal developments of bones, joints, and cartilage.
“I’ve had numerous leg and jaw surgeries,” he said. “I also have a rod in my back, right femur, and left tibia, in addition to the screws in my hips.”
While most athletes have normal arm, leg, and hand function, wheelchair basketball presents challenges, according to Howell.
“Chair skills are super important,” he explained. “How fast can you accelerate, control your chair, and turn – you also need upper-body strength to shoot the basketball in a sitting position.”
Wheelchair basketball takes up most of his time, but he also enjoys serving as the team manager for the South Point boys basketball team.
“Preston is an amazing young man,’’ said South Point coach Kody Kubbs. “During practice, he often participates in individual drills and helps me instruct the players on the floor.  Additionally, whenever there is something that needs to be done at practice, whether it be getting water, collecting basketballs, or any other task, Preston is always on it.”
Kubbs added, “During games, Preston does our shot chart, which is a vital part of my in-game coaching.  I trust Preston to keep the chart, and it is always done accurately.  I have really enjoyed having Preston be a part of the team and am excited for his future in the sport.”
That future in the sport includes playing wheelchair basketball for either the University of Alabama or Auburn University.  Howell, who plans to study business or computer science, will be eligible for the national team again in 2025 should he decide to continue pursuing his dream.
“I am grateful for the opportunities and the people who helped me in this journey,” he said.  “It’s kind of unreal the way I’m able to travel and have fun.”

By John Wilson

Last Friday night the Stuart Cramer High Storm varsity football team hosted the North Gaston Wildcats for Senior Night, the last regular season home game of the season. The game provided the school a chance for one last shout out to all the seniors who helped make Friday night football possible.
This game was important to Cramer for many different reasons. Some sentimental, some based on a bit of football math.
With the playoffs just around the corner, and only two games left in the season every win counts.
Coming off back-to-back loses the Storm needed a win to get back on track in the final run up to the post season.
For the players and coaches game day started long before the 7:30 kickoff.
The team got together right after school let out for a series of meetings and the traditional pre-game meal.
Before each game a different civic group or business sponsors the meal. For the North Gaston game, a youth group from Cramerton Freewill Baptist Church served the meal.
Since it was Senior Night something special was cooked up by the team moms. The seniors had their own table and even chowed down on steak.
After the meal, the team got together to review game assignments and team goals.
Head coach Ben McMillan kicked the meeting off with a power point presentation stressing the importance of family.
The coach explained to the players that Cramer football was about family. He told them that they all shared a special bond. He went on to tell the team that no matter where life took them, they would always be part of the Cramer football family.
“Play for your family,” McMillan said.
One of the highlights of the pre-game meeting was the moment when the team’s 12 seniors got up and addressed their teammates.
The comments ranged from funny to deeply emotional. The seniors told stories and shared memories. Most of all the seniors told their friends to treasure their time together because it would all be over in the blink of an eye.
The most touching address came from senior wide out Tyler Ward. Tyler really seemed to understand the significance of the moment. At times he struggled to get the words out as he told his teammates just how much everyone in the room meant to him. His comments were personal and moving. As Ward was finishing up senior quarterback Justin Rocquemore came over and put his arm around his friend’s shoulder and gave him a reassuring hug.
As the pre-game meeting wrapped up the team headed to the field house to suit up. As the players got ready the coaching staff went over final game preparations.
Before the game coach McMillan talked about what he wanted to see as the game unfolded.
“I want our team to keep getting better and play a complete game,” McMillan said. “It’s kind of the playoffs now. We have to take care of business to make sure we get in.”
Before kickoff the players, cheerleaders and dance team seniors lined up on the sidelines along with their parents for a moment to be recognized. The band seniors would be honored as well during halftime.
After all the pre-game activity wrapped up it was football time.
On the opening drive the Storm marched down the field with a mix of short passes and runs. Justin Rocquemore punched in the first points of the game off of a 10-yard run. A Drew Crotts PAT would put Cramer up 7-0.
Cramer would go on to put up 21 first half points. However, by all accounts they should have put up more.
Defensively Cramer was stout. The Wildcats never mounted a serious drive. In fact, the Storm defense even gave the offense a few short field opportunities that never planned out.
Miscues and turnovers stalled promising drives deep in Wildcat territory.
At halftime coach McMillan went into the locker room and fired the team up.
Cramer may have been up 21-0 but coach McMillan thought the team needed to play better. The missed opportunities were not something he would overlook. So, he laid down the law.
McMillan told the team that it was time started playing to their potential.
“We have to quit shooting ourselves in the foot,” McMillan went on to say. “We’re better than that.”
Coach McMillan’s locker room speech must have hit home because when the Storm took the field for the second half the team played with a renewed sense of urgency.
That sense of urgency was on full display when on North Gaston’s first drive of the quarter John Hall picked off a Wildcat pass and took it 35 yards for a score. That TD, and a Drew Crotts kick put Cramer up 28-0 with only 58 seconds having come off the clock.
When the Wildcats got the ball back the Storm defense stuffed them yet again. This time forcing a turnover when Brison Bazemore dislodged the ball and freshman Chris Wurster recovered the fumble deep in North Gaston territory.
It was clear that the Storm defense had heeded the call, now it was time for the offense to step up and show what they could do.
In the first half Cramer squandered their short field opportunities. This time the offense capitalized on the great field position. It wasn’t long before Justin Rocquemore connected with Tyler Ward on a 16-yard touchdown pass. After another Crotts PAT the Storm was up 35-0.
In the third quarter everything really came together for Cramer. In less than five minutes the Storm had generated two turnovers and a pair of touchdowns. Before the quarter ended Cramer would score 21 unanswered points.
The final points of the third came off a beautiful Rocquemore 46-yard bomb to Hunter Dye.
As the game rolled into the fourth quarter Cramer was up 42-0. At that time coach McMillan started to pull his starters and rotate players.
By the time the game ended the atmosphere on the Storm sideline was electric. Players hugged, jumped around and celebrated a well-earned victory.
As everyone started to leave the field the story comes back to senior Tyler Ward.
Before the game Ward stood in front of his teammates and told them all how important they were to him.
After the game those feelings were still alive as he recapped the events of the game.
“It was an emotional game,” Ward said. “I love this school; I love my teammates. It’s a fun night, a fun night to play out here one more time, and hopefully maybe if things work out, we can be back in a few weeks.”
Ward’s heartfelt comments before and after the game truly encapsulate what Stuart Cramer’s Senior Night was all about. One last chance to be with family.
See more on page 12.

By Jeff Risk

The Belmont Middle Wildcats fastpitch softball team won the county championship last Thursday against Stanley Middle Blue Devils.
The Wildcats completed an undefeated season in impressive fashion by winning both tournament games to finish 11-0. Last Tuesday, the Wildcats beat WC Friday in the semifinal game by a score of 18-8 in 6 innings.  Thursday the Wildcats overwhelmed the Blue Devils in the finals with a 12-2 victory in five innings.
Head coach Leah Brooks expressed her joy that her team’s hard work and dedication paid off with an undefeated, championship season.
“These girls had great chemistry and continued to improve throughout the year,” she said.
Coach Brooks and the team dedicated the season to assistant coach, George Kitchen, a Belmont Sports Hall of Fame inductee, and local legend, who is presently in the hospital with a heart condition. “George has been so important to me and our players,” she said. “He got to watch a livestream of the game, and I’m so happy he was able to see us win it all. This season was for him!”
The Wildcats had a team win, with a balanced attack. Pitcher Stella Absher had twelve strikeouts. Every player contributed at the plate with Absher, Adeleigh Hutchinson, and Evy McKee contributing two hits each. Ella Gibson, Sally Risk, Emma Lineberger, and Allison Neel each had one hit, and Rowan Trexler and Elle Louise Blee both added RBIs.
For the year the team batting average was over .400, they scored 156 runs, and had 10 team home runs.
Coach Brooks was very proud of her Wildcats saying, “This has been a very satisfying year!”

By John Wilson
John.bannernews@gmail.com

There was a lot of excitement this week as East Gaston established a four-game win streak and South Point lost their first game of the year.

Kings Mountain 31
South Point 20
This one featured a battle of undefeated teams with the Red Raiders and Mountaineers both coming into the game 6-0.
When it was all said and done Kings Mountain outlasted South Point and walked away with a huge 31-20 win.
This game was close in first half action. Kings Mountain was only up 10-0 at halftime.
South Point cut the lead by six in the third when Cam Medlock scored off a three-yard run. Unfortunately, South Point missed the PAT and the Mountaineers took a 10-6 lead into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter the game broke wide open as both teams started to put points up on the scoreboard.
When the dust settled, Kings Mountain managed 21 fourth quarter points compared to South Point’s 14. That point difference was all the Mountaineers needed to snare the win.
While the score board says differently this one could have gone either way. It all came down to which team made plays when they really needed to. This time around the Mountaineers made the plays and the Red Raiders didn’t.
“They made more critical plays than we did,” head coach Adam Hodge said of the situation.
This was a disappointing loss for South Point.  Now the Red Raiders are going to need to regroup and move forward.
“They have a good team and we made too many mistakes,” coach Hodge added. “We have some work to do. When you play good people you can’t make mistakes. We just have to get better.”
South Point’s top offensive players were fullback Cam Medlock and tight end Jackson Blee. Medlock had 145 yards and two touchdowns while Blee finished the game with three catches for 93 yards and a TD.
Defensively Jaquis Rumph and Will Ross played well. Rumph wrapped up the evening with 18 tackles while Ross had 14.
With the loss South Point is now 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big South play.

East Gaston 49
Bessemer City 0
The Warriors are on a roll after smothering Bessemer City 49-0. EG now moves to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in Southern Piedmont action.
In this game the Warriors came out strong and were already up 35-0 at the half. Midway through the third quarter coach JT Postell started to pull his starters.
Offensively, EG got the win with a very impressive running attack led by senior Nehemiah Stovall. Stovall finished with 203 yards and two scores in less than three quarters worth of work.
Also running hard for East Gaston was Chase Johnson and Destry Ballard. Johnson ended the night with 10 carries for 96 yards and two TDS while Ballard had 71 yards off two carries with a score.
In limited action, quarterback Trenton Sherrill was two for six for 24 yards with a touchdown.
East Gaston’s top receiver was Omarion Pryor who had two catches for 24 yards and a TD.
On defense the Warriors totally shut the Yellow Jackets down. When the game ended Bessemer City had a meager 35 yards of total offense.
Jake Fox led the way defensively with five tackles followed by Payton Parker Kirin Moebes and Ben Summey who all recorded four stops each.
Another player who has a good night was Antonio Ford. Ford finished up with three tackles and three sacks.
Across the board East Gaston head coach JT Postell liked what he saw in this game.
“We had a good win,” Postell said. “It was a much-needed win. I’m really proud of our effort. We played well from start to finish. That’s something we have been looking for all year, and on Friday night we got a complete game.”

Ashbrook 30
Stuart Cramer 22
Stuart Cramer had got a tough break in this game. The Storm was up 15-12 at the half, but back-to-back Green Wave scores in the third quarter helped turn things around for Ashbrook.
The game went into the fourth quarter with the Green Wave up 24-22. The Storm still had a chance, but they were going to need to make something happen if they wanted to get the win.
Ashbrook made any hopes of a comeback even harder when they broke off a big 69-yard touchdown run early in the fourth to push their lead out to 30-22.
As minutes and seconds rolled off the clock, the Storm ran out of time. The Green Wave held, and Cramer never found their way back to the end zone.
Cramer’s offensive standout was senior Justin Rocquemore. Rocquemore had 131 yards of passing offense along with a touchdown. He also 41 yards on the ground.
Mark O’Dell was the Storm’s top runner with 82 yards and a score. Tyler Ward was Cramer’s top receiver with 72 yards and a touchdown.
Letrasky Pressley led the Storm defense with 13 tackles followed by Daimean Fernandez who registered 11 tackles, and freshman Chris Wurster who finished up with 10 stops.
With the loss Cramer drops to 3-4 overall and one in three in league action.
This week Stuart Cramer will be at home against Kings Mountain, South Point will travel to Ashbrook, and East Gaston will host Burns.

Students at Ashbrook High School enjoyed a fun and competitive game of kickball recently with a unique twist!  The game was a Unified Game that included students both with special needs and students without.  The purpose of the game was to promote inclusion, acceptance, and awareness within the school body for those that may have differences and/or unique abilities.  The game lasted approximately one hour and within that time, students from all across the school came out in waves to support all the students playing in the game. Students both in special education as well as general education classes paired up into two teams and played against one another with big grins on their faces and made memories to last a lifetime! Amber Radford, Special Education Teacher, and Aloysius Krieger, Special Education Teacher played a big role in the event.
Photos by Jennifer Hall

By John Wilson
John.bannernews@gmail.com

Last week, Hurricane Ian prompted Gaston County Schools to move all varsity football games up to Thursday night.
The change in schedule didn’t seem to hamper South Point, Cramer, or East Gaston as all three teams won.

Stuart Cramer 22
Hunter Huss 21
This was a real nail biter as the Storm rallied in the fourth quarter to pull out a big 22-21 conference win over Huss.
In the first half things didn’t look good for the Storm. Cramer was down by 11 and the Huskies were in control. Huss led at the half 21-10.
In the second half the Storm got it together and started to rally. The team showed real maturity as they fought to get back in the game.
“I think we kind of grew up in the second half the other night,” head coach Ben McMillan said. “The defense held them scoreless in the second half. We made some big stops and forced some turnovers.”
Despite the second half turn around Cramer was still down 21-16 late in the fourth.
With the clock ticking the Storm needed a big play. They got one when the defense stood tall and shut the Huss offense down on a critical fourth and goal on the Storm two-yard line.
After that stop, the Cramer offense took over, drove down the field and scored off a Justin Rocquemore run with about three minutes left.
The Cramer PAT failed but the Storm had a 22-21 lead.
That big defensive stand and subsequent scoring drive was huge.
“The biggest stop was when we stopped them on the two-yard line,” McMillan said. “Then we drove 98 yards for the go-ahead score.”
In the final minutes of play the Storm defense held their ground and prevented the Huskies from mounting any late game heroics.
Offensively Justin Rocquemore threw for a score and ran for another to lead the Storm offense. In all Rocquemore had 161 yards through the air and 52 yards on the ground.
Running back Mark O’Dell had a productive game running for 45 yards and a score while also catching three passes for 23 yards.
Isaiah Johnson led all Cramer receivers hauling in four catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
On defense Cramer generated three critical turnovers and had three players with double-digit tackle stats.
Letrasky Pressley was the Storm’s top tackler with 17 stops. Following Pressley was freshman Chris Wurster and senior Daimean Fernandez.
Wurster finished the night with 13 tackles while Fernandez had 12.
With the win Cramer is now 3-3 overall and 1-2 in conference action.

South Point 35
Crest 13
In a matchup that was viewed by many to be the game of the week the South Point Red Raiders made a powerful statement in the Big South by beating the Crest Chargers 35-13.
Fullback Cam Medlock scored the only points of the first quarter when he ripped of a 41 yards TD. After the Medlock score, a Charlie Birtwistle PAT kick put the Red Raiders up 7-0.
In the second quarter, Crest tried to claw their way back into the game, but South Point nixed those plans.
The Red Raiders held the Charger offense at bay for the rest of the half and scored an additional 14 points. Big Red touchdowns came off a four-yard Cam Medlock run and a 43-yard Patrick Blee to Aaron Chaney TD strike.
South Point took a 21-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The second half opened up with a bit of trickery as the Chargers recovered an onside kick that they soon turned into a touchdown.
That score put Crest back in the game as the Chargers narrowed the South Point lead to 21-13.
However, the Chargers comeback proved to be short lived as the Red Raider defense rose up and kept Crest out of the end zone for the rest of the game.
While the Chargers may have been stopped from scoring any more points the Red Raider offense wasn’t done just yet. Patrick Blee scored rushing touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters.
Blee’s scores along with a pair of successful Charlie Birtwistle PAT kicks were enough to increase the Red Raider lead and secure a 35-13 victory.
You could say that the Red Raiders won this game in the trenches. South Point finished the game with 382 yards of total offense with 339 of those yards on the ground.
Quarterback Patrick Blee led in offensive stats running for 158 yards and two scores. Blee also had one touchdown pass.
Fullback Cam Medlock ran hard ending the evening with 154 yards and a pair of TDs.
Defensively the Red Raiders are playing solid ball this year. In six games South Point has limited opposing offenses to 14 points or less.
That trend continued as Big Red harried Crest’s quarterback and effectively grounded the Charger aerial attack.
The Red Raiders stymied the Crest passing attack with relentless quarterback pressure. South Point had 20 QB pressures and four sacks. Contributing to that effort was Josh Crowder, Aiden Ramirez, Hunter Jackson, and Jack Milford.
Leading in the tackling department in this game were Chaynce Ford and Jaquis Rumph. Ford finished the game with 12 tackles while Rumph had 10.

East Gaston 28
Thomas Jefferson 16
With a nice win over the Gryphons the Warriors move to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in Southern Piedmont league play.
The EG victory was in no small part due to a potent offensive display. The Warriors ended the night with 402 yards of total offense.
The bulk of that production came from an effective ground attack led by Nehemiah Stovall. Stovall had 202 yards off of 14 carries with a touchdown. Stovall was also EG’s top receiver with five catches for 52 yards.
Junior quarterback Trenton Sherrill kept the Warrior aerial attack in play with his accuracy. Sherrill went 10 for 14 with 87 yards and one pick.
Other players who added to the East Gaston offensive effort were Chase Johnson and Ben Summey.
Summey had 51 rushing yards and a score while Johnson finished up running for 46 yards and a score of his own.
While the East Gaston offense did a fantastic job, the Warrior defense deserves kudos as well. Throughout the game the EG defense played heads up opportunistic football.
The Warriors generated four turnovers including a five-yard scoop and score by Austin Price.
EG’s top tackler was Kirin Moebes who finished the game with 12 tackles.
This week, South Point, Cramer and EG will all suit up for games with conference implications.
East Gaston will travel to Bessemer City in Southern Piedmont action while Cramer heads to Ashbrook in Big South play.
And for the second time in two weeks South Point will be in a prime-time showdown. This time the 6-0 Red Raiders will travel to Kings Mountain to battle the 6-0 Mountaineers in a battle of undefeated teams. The winner of this game will walk away with sole possession of first place in the Big South 3A.

By Charlotte Sautner
At the Gaston County meet held on Tuesday, Sept. 13th at Forestview High School both teams finished first.  The men’s team was led by Mason Braswell who finished first with a time of 18:59.8.  Other South Point runners finishing in the top 10 were Davis Adcock, 3rd - 19:26.8; Ruffin Johnson, 4th - 19:45.4 and Chris Mingo, 9th - 21:03.3.  Leading the women’s team was Lexi Birtwistle who finished first with a time of 22:10.5.  Other runners from South Point Point who finished in the top 10 were Maddie Frank, 3rd - 23:34.5; Claire Frank, 5th - 24:83.6 and Rachel Tolbert, 9th - 24:59.7.
Both of South Point’s teams finished first at the Shelby Invitational held at Shelby High School on Tuesday, Sept. 20th.  In the Championship Boys 5000-meter run Mason Braswell finished 3rd with a time of 19:17.5 Finishing in the top 10 for South Point were Davis Adcock, 5th - 19:50.0; Ruffin Johnson, 9th - 20:19.0 and Chris Mingo, 10th - 20:21.0.
In the Open Boys 5000-meter run Elijah Murray finished second with a time of 24:08.8.  Others finishing in the top 10 for South Point were Alex Millspaw,3rd- 24:29.2; Dhruv Patel, 4th - 24:27.9 and Jack Fangman, 9th - 26:55.5.
In the women’s 5000 meter run those South Point runners finishing in the top 10 were Lexi Birtwistle, 3rd - 22:21.5; Maddie Frank, 4th - 23:56.80 and Claire Frank, 9th - 25:03.2.
Coach Ziemer says, “These kids have been training hard all season and are super motivated after winning the Gaston County championship last week.  We knew the Shelby course would be tougher this season due to some construction, but we came mentally prepared.  We came to win and that is what we did.  The friendships they have formed with each other and other school’s runners is refreshing to see.”
Congratulations to all the runners and to Coach Kay Ziemer for their outstanding showings.

By John Wilson
John.bannernews@gmail.com

There are a few things that can bring a high school sports team together like a road trip. Road trips are a sports rite of passage. A chance for a team to bond.
Last Friday the East Gaston Warriors football team took the bonding experience to the next level.
The team boarded a chartered bus and headed to The Qualla Boundary, home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, for a non-conference game against the Cherokee Braves.
It was a long three-hour drive by direct route, but the Warriors stopped off at the Golden Corral in Hendersonville for their customary pre-game meal.
After lunch, the team loaded back up, hit I-40 West and continued on to Cherokee. The players and staff loved the charter bus. It sure beat the standard school buses the team normally takes to games.
“Can we do this all the time?” sports trainer Lauren Koontz joked. “This is awesome.”
As the EG bus rolled into the Cherokee area just after 5PM the realization of where they were sunk in. The team suffered a momentary delay when the bus had to stop to let a pair of elk cross the road about a mile from Cherokee Central School
When the team arrived at the stadium they unloaded and started to get ready. The atmosphere on campus was truly special. The school grounds are massive. The school system hosts grades K-12 all in one area. The community nature of the school makes the Friday night football games a big deal for everyone in Cherokee.
As the Warriors took the field for warmups the team was greeted with an assortment of Native American themed music blaring over the stadium PA. The music included local pow wow songs and a beat pounding techno number called Electric Pow Wow from the Canadian First Nations group The Halluci Nation.
The music set the tone. East Gaston was in the heart of Cherokee territory.
During warmups Cherokee head coach David Napert expressed how proud he was of his school and how happy he was that East Gaston had made the long trip.
“Anytime we get someone to come from far away it’s great,” coach Napert said. “This is one of the most beautiful schools I’ve ever worked in.”
While this game is special it wasn’t the first time these two teams met. Last year Cherokee travelled to Mt Holly to play in an exciting 35-26 East Gaston win.
Before heading back to prep his team coach Napert shared his respect for Warriors head coach JT Postell. Postell had coached in the mountains for years before coming to East Gaston and is still well thought of by all.
“My younger son Joe played for him,” Napert said of coach Postell. “He’s a great coach, but an even better person.”
After pregame wrapped up the players took the field and the game got rolling.
The Warriors received the opening kickoff and on their first possession moved all the way down to the Cherokee one-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
When the Braves got the ball, they pushed hard with a power running game
The first quarter ended scoreless with both teams were trying to figure each other out.
The first points of the game were scored early in the second when the Braves powered it in on a 3rd and goal from the EG one yard line
The Warriors quickly responded when Nehemiah Stovall took it to the house on a 50-yard shovel pass from Trenton Sherrill.
After a successful Tripp Abernathy PAT the score was tied up 7-7 with 6:27 on the clock in the second quarter.
For the rest of the second quarter the two teams battled to set the tone. EG with a diverse offensive set, and Cherokee with a strong running game.
Both teams hit the locker room with the score tied up 7-7.
At halftime the coaching staff went over game footage and made some adjustments.
Defensively the Warriors needed to figure out the Braves running game. On offense, EG needed to change things up a bit because the deep passing game wasn’t connecting.
Just before heading out to the field for the second half coach Postell summed, it all up.
“Offensively we need to execute when we have the opportunities,” Postell said. “Defensively we need to get off the field.”
When the second half opened up the Braves took the opening kickoff and went right back to the running game.
The Cherokee opening drive was killed when the Braves tried to catch the Warriors napping on a 4th down
See EAST GASTON, Page 11

The Belmont Abbey field hockey team wrapped up a season-opening stretch of three games in five days as the Crusaders faced Slippery Rock last Monday at Limestone.
It took overtime to decide the winner but it was Slippery Rock who came away with the 3-2 victory over the Crusaders.
Belmont Abbey is now 1-2 on the season while Slippery Rock is 1-1.
How It Happened- The Crusaders withstood some early pressure from Slippery Rock after facing four shots in the first quarter. Freshman Kaylee Wenzel (pictured) scored her first career goal in the second quarter to put the Crusaders up 1-0 before halftime. Slippery Rock scored two goals in the first five minutes of the third quarter to take a 2-1 lead. Belmont Abbey pulled even at 2-2 in the third thanks to the first goal of the season from Jessica Rybicki off an assist from Wenzel. Belmont Abbey finished with eight shots for the game and five on goal.

Belmont Abbey photo/story

South Point tennis player James Dover has been named to the North Carolina Tennis Coaches Association All-State Men’s Tennis team for 2022.  The Big South 3A Conference MVP wrapped up his freshman season with undefeated conference play in both singles and doubles and a final four finish at states in singles.  With this selection, Dover becomes the First Red Raider in school history, male or female, to be named All State in tennis. Go Big Red!!!!!!  James is the son of Amy and Stan Dover.                                                                 Photo provided

By John Wilson
John.bannernews@gmail.com

The bond between a parent and their child is something special. It’s one of those things that define human existence.
Even when a parent passes away, all the talks, the life lessons, and wisdom that they imparted on their child will remain.
Such is the case with 16-year-old East Gaston quarterback Trenton Sherrill and his mother Jennifer Walker.
Trenton had a special relationship with his mother. The two were close, very close.
Sadly, Trenton’s mother passed away suddenly after a brief illness on August 20, 2021.
Jennifer’s passing came fourteen hours before Trenton was set to take the field as the Warriors were set to play the North Gaston Wildcats in the season opener.
How Trenton dealt with that loss in the hours after his mother’s death is a testament to the values Jennifer Walker taught to her son.
To Trenton Sherrill, his mother was a steadfast fixture in his life. She was his rock. Someone he could always count on. Someone he could talk to about just about anything.
“She was my right-hand person no matter what,” Trenton recalled. “We knew everything about each other. We talked and texted back and forth every day.”
Trenton credits his mother, a Pre-K teacher at Springfield Elementary School, with always teaching him and his brothers Jordan and Brandon the importance of doing the right thing.
Jennifer wanted her sons to grow up and be decent people. In the case of Trenton, she did her best to keep her son grounded as he excelled in high school sports earning varsity letters in football and basketball.
Jennifer taught Trenton humility and the value of hard work. She instilled in him how important it is to never forget where you came from.
“She would always tell me to remember where I started,” Trenton added. “Then to look at where I am now.”
If you go around any high school campus you will find that most everyone knows who the school’s student athletes are. They tend to garner a lot of attention. Some more than others.
That attention brings with it a unique set of rewards and pitfalls.
For the most part most people are kind and decent. However, at times others can be downright hateful.
The popularity of social media has only magnified the good and the bad.
Jennifer Walker taught her son to be gracious when complimented and polite when exposed to pettiness.
“She wanted me to be the bigger person,” Trenton said. “She always said kill them with kindness.”
So, it with that backdrop that Trenton found his world had changed on that August morning of last year.
How people choose to deal with the loss of a loved one differs from person to person.
In the case of Trenton Sherrill, he decided that he would share his grieve on the field with his teammates.
“I owed it to her,” Trenton said explaining his decision to play. “She would not have wanted me to miss it.”
There is no telling what ran through Trenton’s mind as he worked out his emotions in front of hundreds of screaming spectators.
However, the magnitude of the moment really hit him when the Warriors were driving deep into Wildcat territory hoping to score.
“We were inside the red zone when coach called a running play for Justin Hill,” Trenton recalled. “I remembered that Justin and my mom used to kid around a lot. So, when we walked up to the line I told Justin, ‘Do it for Jen,’ That’s what he called her.”
Trenton took the snap and handed the ball off to Hill and watched as Justin took it around the right side and punched it in for an East Gaston touchdown.
It was at that moment that Trenton knew that he had made the right call in deciding to play.
In an unscripted instant in time not only was Trenton honoring his mother, but his teammates were also honoring her as well.
Trenton handled it all with class and dignity. He also turned in a fantastic performance leading the Warriors to a big 51-0 opening day win.
These days Trenton never stops thinking about his mother. She is still, and always will be a big part of his life.
When asked what he would say to his mom if they had a minute to talk Trenton takes the question in and thinks for a moment. Then with a gleam in his eye he responds.
“I talk to her all the time,” He explained. “I would tell her I’m okay. I’m going to keep being okay, and I’m going to make sure that everyone that was here when she passed will be okay.”
Trenton’s response shows the impact his mom had on his life. He will go on, just like Jennifer would have wanted him to.
Since he’s only a junior, Trenton still has a lot of high school yet. But when he looks at all the possibilities that lay before him, he has a positive outlook.
“I want to be successful in whatever I choose to do,” Trenton went on to say. “If it’s sports or going to college and getting some kind of a degree.”
Anyone who happens to get a chance to talk to Trenton will likely come away from the conversation with the belief that he is a remarkable young man.
You also can’t help but notice something else. Something subtle, yet very special.
As Trenton talks about his mother, it becomes clear that before she died Jennifer Walker prepared her son for the road ahead.
Despite enduring such a horrible loss, it looks like Trenton Sherrill really will be okay. Trenton will be alright because in the end he will never be alone.
As Trenton makes his way in the world, he will be taking the best parts of his mother with him every step of the way.

(See more photos on page 11 in this week's Banner-News, Sept. 8, 2022)

By John Wilson
John.bannernews@gmail.com

South Point athletics has a long history of honoring those that choose to serve.
That tradition continued when the football team designated Friday night’s game against R-S Central Military and First Responder Appreciation Night.
Veterans, active-duty military, police, fire, and EMS personnel were all admitted to the game for free.
Fans were treated to a host of static displays arrayed inside of Lineberger Stadium. The displays included various emergency vehicles and some military equipment.
South Point came into this game undefeated at 2-0 while the Hilltoppers rolled in with a 1-1 record.
A pre-game review of the stats going into this one proved interesting.
On paper, the matchup between the Red Raider defense and the Hilltopper offense looked to be one to watch. Which unit controlled the line of scrimmage would
probably determine who had the upper hand.
R-S Central runs a high-octane triple option offense that has put up 76 points in two games. On the other side of the coin the South Point defense has only allowed 19 points in two games.
When you flip the script and match up the Central defense against the Red Raiders Redbone things didn’t look so rosy for the Hilltoppers.
Like Central, the South Point offense has also put up 76 points in two games. However, the Hilltopper defense has yet to prove that they can stop anyone. In two games they’ve given up 76 points.
Before the players took the field there was a lot of energy in the stadium. Yet, 15 minutes before the game the atmosphere in the South Point locker room was subdued.
Instead of getting pumped up players and coaches sat in quiet reflection or in small groups going over last-minute adjustments. You could say that it was reminiscent of the quiet before the storm.
However, by the time the players left the locker room they were ready to rumble.
As part of the pre-game program all active-duty military, veterans and first responders were asked to come on to the field and assemble along the South Point sideline to be honored.
As the team entered the field the players along with the coaches, cheerleaders and members of the dance team all came to the sidelines and personally thanked each and every vet and first responder for coming.
For this game the Red Raiders donned the black and grey camouflage jerseys they first wore in the 2019 Patriotism Bowl.
Just before kickoff the Red Raiders asked retired Trooper Chris Wooten to be an honorary captain at the coin toss at mid-field.
As the pre-game activity came to an end the student section of the stadium started to get fired up. Everyone was ready for some football.
The game started a bit slow with the Red Raiders only up 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second things began to open up as South Point took control of the line of scrimmage and started to dictate which way the game would go.
Throughout the second quarter the Red Raider offense pushed Central all over the field.
On the other side of the ball the South Point defense did a good job containing what should have been a potent Hilltopper offensive unit.
The Central offense tried to take on the Red Raiders. They hit South Point on the ground and in the air. Yet no matter what the Hilltoppers did they just couldn’t get any traction.
In a nutshell, R-S Central got no breaks, even the South Point special team units pummeled them.
If you could have summed up Central woes in one play it would have come late in the second quarter when senior Will Ross fielded a punt at mid-field and took it 57 yards for a score.
South Point went into the half up 35-0.
In the third quarter the Red Raiders started to rotate players yet still scored another touchdown to make it 42-0
The Hilltoppers scored twice in the fourth, but that proved to be a case of too little too late.
In the end South Point would leave the field with a big 42-14 win and a 3-0 record.
Looking back at how things worked out head coach Adam Hodge was good with the effort he saw.
“It was a lot like last week,” Hodge said. “A lot of kids got to play. We looked good offensively, defensively and on special teams.”
Up until the game against Central, the South Point punting game had seen limited action. This game provided the Red Raiders with a chance to give that unit some work.
“I don’t like to punt,” coach Hodge went on to say. “But I like that we punted the ball well. Aiden Ramirez did really well.”
Several players turned in noteworthy performances for the Red Raiders.
Cam Medlock showed that he is a classic South Point fullback. Medlock ran hard and kept moving forward every time he carried the ball.
Medlock had 16 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the game with an impressive 7.5 yard per carry average.
After a solid performance last week against East Gaston, freshman quarterback Patrick Blee showed that he may not be a one hit wonder. Blee delivered a solid performance for Big Red finishing with 81 yards off seven carries and going two for two through the air with a touchdown.
Another special teams standout was kicker Charlie Birtwistle. Birtwistle was Mr. Automatic going six for six on PAT attempts.
All in all, this turned out to be an awesome event. The crowd at Lineberger Stadium was treated to not just a good football game, but an evening that proved to be so much more.
It’s no secret that today we live in a nation divided. People with opposing views struggle to find ways to communicate with each other. Yet on this night there was no division. A real sense of unity hung in the air.
It was truly special to see people take a moment to come together for more than just a football game. It was nice to see folks from all walks of life take time to honor those that have given up so much so that a night like this was possible.

The Belmont Middle School Wildcats football squad met Southwest Middle last week and ended up with a 10-8 win thanks to a field goal with 11 seconds to go in the game.  The Wildcats ended Southwest’s 31 game winning streak.  The kicker who won the game was Tanner Layman. The earlier touchdown was scored by Jeremiah Holt who had a pick-six and returned the ball for 67 yards for the earlier score.  


Photos by Calvin Craig

By John Wilson
John.bannernews.com

High school football is back and let’s just say the local action has already started off with a bang.
In Week One South Point and East Gaston won big in their openers. East Gaston topped North Gaston 28-8 while the Red Raiders outpaced the Lincolnton Wolves 28-13.
Stuart Cramer had a wild home opener but fell short 47-35 in a shoot-out against Bunker Hill.
Despite the loss Storm quarterback Justin Rocquemore played well.
Roquemore finished the evening with 341 yards of total offense and four touchdowns.
In Week Two action the pace of play didn’t slow down as East Gaston and South Point faced off while Cramer traveled to Bessemer City to take on the Yellow Jackets.

East Gaston
at South Point
Rivalry games are always special, and the rivalry between South Point and East Gaston goes back for decades. Yet you would have to go back to 2008 to find the last time the Warriors beat the Red Raiders on the gridiron.
When the gates opened there was a buzz in the air as a big crowd filed into Lineberger Stadium for South Point’s Black Friday/Senior Night.
Many on the East Gaston side of the stadium were cautiously optimistic. There was hope that with the progress the Warriors had made in the last few years this might be the game where the streak ended.
There were other reasons for Warrior fans to feel good about this one.
Injuries forced the Red Raiders to go with freshman quarterback Patrick Blee under center.
However, as the game unfolded it soon became clear East Gaston would have to wait another year if they hoped to break the streak.
South Point jumped out to an early 27-0 halftime lead. EG fought hard but the Warriors just couldn’t hold back the Red Raider onslaught.
By the third quarter South Point started to pull their starters and put other players in.
The Red Raiders racked up 425 yards of total offense as they walked away with a big 48-6 win.
“I thought we played well in all phases,” head coach Adam Hodge said. “Offensively we played really well. Then on defense we looked good. It was a good team win.”
Frosh QB Patrick Blee sure did his part. By all accounts Blee did a solid job executing the offense and avoiding mistakes.
The freshmen ended the game with 109 yards off seven carries and two touchdowns. He also tossed a 46-yard second quarter touchdown strike to Aaron Chaney.
When asked about Blee’s performance coach Hodge was straight and to the point.
“I thought he handled the moment well,” Hodge noted. “A freshman quarterback on Black Friday/Senior Night. It was a packed house.”
Other top performers for South Point included fullback Cam Medlock, safety Will Ross and defensive end Aiden Ramirez
Medlock ran for 152 yards and a pair of TDs while Ross led the Red Raiders in tackles with nine stops.
Ramirez was a turnover machine snaring two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Overall, it was a good weekend for both the varsity and JV football programs as the Red Raider JV beat EG 40-6 on Thursday.
“We have 104 players in our football programs including JV,” coach Hodge went on to say. “All got to play Thursday and Friday. Everyone that suited up got to play and I thought that was great.”

Stuart Cramer
at Bessemer City
Starting the season off on the right track is what every team strives for at the beginning of the year.
After a tough loss to Bunker Hill the Storm bounced back strong rolling past Bessemer City 48-28 in a non-conference matchup.
In this one, the Cramer offense was on fire as the Storm burned out 520 yards in total offense.
Senior quarterback Justin Rocquemore had a record setting day going 21 for 29 with 387 yards and seven touchdowns. Rocquemore threw TD passes to five different receivers.
Rocquemore’s seven touchdowns tied the county record and set a new mark at Cramer.
Cramer’s top receiver against Bessemer City was Tyler Ward. Ward ended the night with an impressive eight catches, 132 yards and three scores.
Another player who had a good night was sophomore running back Mark O’Dell.
The 5’11” 190 pound back ran hard. He also showed that he has no problem catching passes out of the backfield.
O’Dell rushed for 74 yards and caught five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown.
While the offense was churning out yardage the Storm defense held their own
Bessemer City put up some decent stats but the Storm defense held the line.
Cramer’s top defensive players were Daimean Fernandez and Lavonte McCorbin. Fernandez had 17 tackles on the night while McCorbin finished up with 14.
Looking back at the game head coach Ben McMillan was satisfied with the win, but he also saw areas the team needs to work on.
“I’m proud of the way our guys bounced back from last week,” McMillan said. “We had some new guys step in and other step up for some guys that were out. We also gave the ball up a few times that led to scores and we have to correct that.”
This week East Gaston hosts Cramer while South Point will be home at home against R-S Central.

Story by Charlotte Sautner
The NCHSAA Scholar Athlete Program is a voluntary program sponsored by the Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s “Click It or Ticket.” It recognizes varsity teams and individual athletes for their excellence in the classroom. To be a scholar athlete team, the team must maintain a 3.1 unweighted grade point average for the designated semester and have at least five members.
The NCHSAA presents a plaque to the top team in each sport, based on an unweighted team GPA. The top three teams in each sport are recognized. With an unweighted GPA of 3.868, the South Point High School men’s 2021-2022 soccer team was named the top NCHSAA Scholar Athlete for their sport. They had the highest grade point average of all the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s men’s soccer teams nominated for the award. This is the tenth South Point team to be named the state NCHSAA Scholar Athlete team in their sport.  The other teams were Women’s Cross Country (2002-03), Men’s Cross Country (2005-06), Men’s Swimming and Diving (2008-09), Men’s Tennis (2010), Women’s Golf (2010 and 2012), Men’s Cross Country (2012-13 and 2013-14), and Men’s Basketball (3,705).
The members of this year’s NCHSAA State Scholar Athlete men’s soccer team are Ronald Baker, Charles Birtwistle, Andrew Cheshire, Aiden Crill, Ethan Crosby, Henry Eisenhuth, Domenic Feduniec, Noah Gosnell, Colin McAlister, Carson McClure, Ian McGinnis, Cole Miller, Dylan Nicks, Conner Proud, Emilio Saiz, Henry Southard, Aidan Tobin, Graham Williams, Garett Ziemer.
Kent Hyde, South Point Athletic Director wrote this about this team.  “These young men are indicative of the quality of kids at South Point.  They work as hard in the classroom as well as on the field. “
Coach Baity said that “one of the biggest things about this team is their hard work and their competitive nature, not just on the soccer field, but in the classroom.  I am very proud of their many accomplishments on the field and off the field.”