Prep notebook: Cherryville's Lovelace going to North Florida
Cherryville guard Cameron Lovelace on Sunday committed to the University of North Florida to play basketball there next season.
Lovelace had narrowed his options to North Florida and Mercer before making his final decision. He was recruited as a shooting guard.
"I just felt like the program is best for me," Lovelace said. "I felt at home the first time I met (head) coach (Matt) Kilcullen."
Lovelace planned to visit the campus Tuesday and sign a binding national letter of intent Thursday.
North Florida competes in the Atlantic Sun with Gardner-Webb among other schools. The Ospreys' road schedule next season includes a game at nearby Clemson.
Lovelace averaged 22.8 points and 7.0 assists for the Southern Piedmont Conference champions last season. He left as the school's second all-time leading scorer.
On the bandwagon
Three more schools have offered football scholarships to Ashbrook wide receiver Jheranie Boyd.
Colorado, Ohio State and Virginia Tech have extended offers recently, the junior said. Boyd now has 18 offers on the table but doesn't plan to announce his college destination until the first day of the signing period on Feb. 4.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Boyd led the Big South 3A/4A Conference with 47 catches for 1,151 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
Soccer playoffs begin tonight
Five area teams will open the girls state soccer playoffs tonight at home.
Big South champion Forestview, in addition to East Gaston, South Point, Kings Mountain and Cher-ryville will enjoy home field advantage in the first round. Ashbrook, Hunter Huss, Lincolnton and East Lincoln will open on the road. North Lincoln received a first-round bye.
Tonight's local pairings:
Class 1A
Central Academy Tech (8-11-1) at Cherryville (5-7-5)
Class 2A West
North Lincoln (12-3-2), bye
Lincolnton (6-5-1) at Brevard (14-4-1)
East Lincoln (10-7-1) at Patton (10-10-2)
Class 3A West
Tuscola (10-6-2) at Forestview (14-4-2)
North Buncombe (12-4-3) at South Point (12-8-2)
Statesville (12-9-2) at Kings Mountain (20-1-2)
Hunter Huss (4-15-1) at Asheville (14-5-1)
Class 4A West
Freedom (9-11-2) at East Gaston (12-4-3)
Ashbrook (8-9) at West Mecklenburg (7-10)
Soccer State Games
Danny Sassano and Taylor Hendrick of Forestview made the West team for the high school soccer showcase as part of the North Carolina State Games this summer.
Competition dates are June 21 and 22 at UNC Greensboro.
Brian Jillings of Hickory High School is the head coach of the West team.
All-conference Spartans
Gaston Day placed six on the all-Southern Piedmont Athletic Association girls soccer team.
Seniors Catherine Nason and Alena Hall and junior Olivia Hammond made the first team while Jessie Boloyan, Erin Meyer-Cuno and Crawford Rhyne earned second-team honors.
Nason also made the all-tournament team and Molly Gibson received her team's Christian Character Award.
You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.
