HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Maiden beats E. Lincoln, keeps title hopes alive in South Fork 2A volleyball

HobbsDailyReport.com

Faced with a must-have victory to keep their hopes of winning a South Fork 2A volleyball championship alive, Maiden High’s girls delivered it on Thursday night, nipping visiting East Lincoln 3-2.

After East Lincoln won the opening set 25-22, the Blue Devils won 25-23, 25-14. The Mustangs then won 25-19, forcing a fifth set that Maiden won 15-13.

Abbey Smith had 24 kills and 11 digs to lead Maiden’s victory. Isabella Abernathy added 13 kills, Faith Herman had 54 assists and 14 digs, Lauren Xayavong provided 35 digs and Peyton McRee finished with two aces and 11 digs.

The outcome left East Lincoln — which could have won the league title by winning — at 11-1 with two conference matches to go and Maiden is 10-2.

The Mustangs won last year’s South Fork 2A title and the Blue Devils finished second.

East Lincoln faces West Lincoln at East Lincoln on Tuesday at 6 p.m. – and closes the league schedule on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Newton-Conover.

Maiden’s two conference matches, also on Tuesday and Thursday with 6 p.m. starts, are Newton-Conover at Maiden and Lincolnton on the road, respectively.

If East Lincoln wins or Maiden loses on Tuesday, the Mustangs clinch at least a share of the South Fork 2A title.

East Lincoln defeated Maiden 3-1 on Sept. 11 at East Lincoln in their other regular-season match.

Lake Norman Charter 3, Lincolnton 0

The Knights won 25-7, 25-19, 25-7 on the road to even their South Fork 2A record at 6-6.

Liberty Harris sparked Lake Norman Charter (10-7 overall) with 14 kills, one block, three aces and 10 digs.

Taylor Adleman added nine kills and six digs, Hanna Cowles had four kills and four aces and Makayla Martin provided two kills, 17 assists, six digs and five aces for Lake Norman Charter.

Hope Curtis led the Knights defensively with 21 digs, four assists and three aces.

Lake Norman Charter has two league matches to go, Tuesday at 6 p.m. (Senior Night) against Bandys and Thursday at 6 p.m. at West Lincoln.

JUNIOR VARSITY FOOTBALL

Alexander Central 46, Freedom 0

Dayente Calhoun ran for 83 yards on 12 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns as the Cougars (5-0, 2-0) remained unbeaten in a Northwestern 3A-4A game in Morganton.

Daniel Morgan added six carries for 87 yards and a TD run for Alexander Central, which outgained Freedom 310-39.

The Patriots finished with minus 1 yard rushing on 22 carries and 40 yards passing.

Lance Justice had 34 passing yards and ran eight times for 68 yards and a TD for Alexander Central.

The Cougars’ other two scores were a 9-yard run by Russell Frasier and a 49-yard interception return by Josh Stubbs.

Josh Abernathy led Alexander Central’s defense with five tackles while Ethan Robinette and Ibrahim Boston each had four tackles and Fraiser made three, two of those for lost yardage.

Freedom (3-2, 1-2) got 10 tackles from Mekhi Spates and nine by Titus Walker.

Alexander Central faces McDowell next Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in a conference game while Freedom will play a conference game, also at 6:30 p.m., at South Caldwell.