Today’s Sandhills Scoreboard
Pinecrest, Union Pines girls host opening round, Grace Christian eyes another title
Area high schools head into playoff action as postseason basketball starts for area teams. There are lots of great area home contests for Pinecrest, Union Pines and Grace Christian girls teams.
First up let’s talk Lady Patriots. Hough was the first team Coach Pride played against with Pinecrest when she started with the program in 2023. And this will be redemption of that 40-point loss that still stings. That roster is a bit different now of course. Pinecrest girls finished the season 8-1 over this last month. The Patriots are looking for their first home playoff win in 4 years and the first one under Coach Pride. Tipoff is 6 p.m. in Pinecrest.
Over in Union Pines, the girls host South View with tipoff at 6 pm. The hosting Vikings are 9-2 at home which could be the big advantage here as the visitors are just 2-9 on the road. Union Pines finished the season at 15-8 while South View has won just six contests this year.
And of course, the No. 1 ranked girls team in the state, Grace Christian, hosts Asheville School at 5:30 tipoff in Sanford. This is in semifinal action. Last time the two teams met was in NCISAA 3A semifinals where grace Christian earned a 70-54 win en route to its title win last season.
Union Pines boys travel to Harnett Central with tipoff slated for 7:30. That series is 1-1 during the regular season. The Trojans bested the Vikings in the first meeting, 73-66 but Union Pines got the better of them last Monday, 79-77 in double overtime action. There will be no love lost in this game and it should be a good one. A win for the Vikings would be the first postseason win for the program in more than 15 years.
My top matchups here for sure are going to be Pinecrest girls and Union Pines boys with the storylines. I am looking at Union Pines and Grace Christian girls as wins in my book, not to get ahead of myself!
Here’s a look around the Sandhills at teams in action:
Lee, Southern Lee and Richmond Senior boys programs are hosting playoff games tonight. Lee County will host Southeast Guilford while Southern Lee will welcome East Chapel Hill and Ballantyne Ridge travels to Richmond Senior. Teams on the road: Scotland County travels to West Brunswick while Jack Britt will visit Page.
Hoke County girls will be on the road in Wakefield.
Trimble scores 30 in UNC win over Louisville, 77-74
No. 18 UNC won their 16th-straight win at home, this time in a huge ACC matchup against No. 24 Louisville, 77-74. The Tar Heels did it all with their leading scorer Caleb Wilson nursing his injury on the bench.
Seth Trimble scored a team-high 30 points in the contest.
A 17-2 run to open the second half powered the Tar Heels but Louisville came back to challenge the hosts in the final minutes. The Cardinals were 8-of-11 from the charity stripe as the Tar heels shot just 47% shooting 9-of-19 from the free throw line.
NC State is coming off its 82-58 win against North Carolina and hopes to bring that energy to tonight’s game against hosting No. 11 Virginia. Another win against a top 25 team would make an argument for their poll presence. Tipoff is 7 p.m.
Also playing tonight is the new No. 1 Duke. The win against the reigning No. 1 Michigan team has given them the top spot again. They play at Notre Dame at 7 p.m. Though an unranked ACC opponent, the Fighting Irish are 9-5 at home.
Rivers to Raleigh, a new generation
Gunnar Rivers, son of thee Phillip Rivers and 4-star 2027 quarterback, will follow in his father’s footsteps as he verbally committed to the Wolfpack yesterday. His father and future hall of famer, won ACC Player of the Year and ACC Athlete of the Year between 2003 and 2004. Rivers was selected fourth overall in the 2004 NFL draft by the New York Giants, who traded him to the San Diego Chargers during the draft.