Five members of the Kings Mountain track team participated in the 3A State Indoor Track and Field Meet last week.
Sophomore Max Thompson was the Mountaineers’ highest finisher. He finished ninth in the 1000 meters in 2:42.22.
Hunter Cruise finished 15th in the pole vault with a vault of 11 feet even.
Senior Nicolas Horn was 21st in the pole vault at 9’6”.
The 4x800 relay team finished 12th. Team members were Hunter Cruise, Marty Lovingood, Elliot Habel and Max Thompson.
The outdoor track and field team will begin practice on February 20.

Programs Include
Recognition of 1963
Men’s Conference Winners
and Title IX Celebration

The Gardner-Webb University Office of Alumni Relations has planned a full week for HOOPSCOMING in February. Alumni, former athletes, and friends are invited to return to campus for two special events on Feb. 11 and 18.
“We are eager to have our alumni and friends back in Paul Porter Arena for Hoopscoming 2023,” asserted Director of Alumni Relations Leah Clevenger. “For our athletes, there is nothing better than having a packed house! The school spirit and energy that our alumni and friends bring, particularly our basketball and cheer alumni, make for an exciting atmosphere for our Runnin’ Bulldogs. We want to see everyone in their red, black, and bulldog for Hoopscoming on Feb. 11 as well as Legacy & Legends on Feb. 18.”
The program on Feb. 11 begins with lunch at noon in Bost Gym. A special feature is the recognition of the men’s team of 1963 on the 60th anniversary of their conference win. During lunch, team member and GWU Trustee, Tom Watson, will speak about the excitement of that big win for Gardner-Webb. Guests will also hear from coaches, Women’s Basketball Alumna, Linda Cody Shelton ’78, as well as Cheer Alumna, Molly McKinney Huss ’12. Then, everyone will attend the men’s game vs. Campbell at 2 p.m. that includes recognition of groups at various timeouts. All men’s basketball alumni will be recognized during one timeout, and the team of ’63 will have a distinct recognition at another. The cost for lunch and the game is $20. Register here.
On Feb. 18, the program is “Legacy & Legends: Women’s Basketball Celebrates Title IX.” The event starts at 2 p.m. in Stewart Hall. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served, and Women’s Head Coach Alex Simmons will speak along with Lauren Bevis, recently named Big South Conference women’s basketball Co-Player of the Week and the program’s all-time leader in career three-pointers made in the Division I era.
Alumni and friends will also have an opportunity to meet all the women’s basketball team members and coaching staff. A behind the scenes tour of the team and facilities will be offered. The game against UNC-Asheville starts at 4 p.m. in Paul Porter Arena. Women’s basketball alumni will have the honor of “building a human tunnel” for the starting five and special seating behind the bench as guests of Simmons. They will be recognized at halftime and receive a Title IX celebration T-shirt. The cost for the program and the game is $20. Register here.
Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 10 working days prior to the event.  Please call 704-406-4270 or email disabilityservices@gardner-webb.edu with your request.

Kings Mountain High senior football player AJ Richardson has signed to continue his education and football career at Norfolk State University. He is pictured, front row center, with his sister Akireona Richardson, left, and his mother Takenya Young. Back row, left to right, are KMHS principal Dustin Morehead, head coach Greg Lloyd, defensive coaches Darrel Wilson and Michael Kennedy, and athletic director Matt Bridges.

 Photos by Gary Smart

Greg Lloyd, the winningest football coach in the 100-year history of Kings Mountain High football, has resigned after 16 years with the Mountaineers.
Lloyd’s accomplishments were many during that time. He compiled a record of 133-71 which included conference championships in 2008, 2017, spring 2021 and 2022. His Mountaineers played for the Western Regional championship in 2008, 2015, 2018 and 2019. Prior to coming here he coached two years at East Gaston and led the Warriors to their conference championship.
His teams here posted a 21-13 record in playoff games and his 2019 team set the all-time school record of 653 points in a season. He was Southwestern Foothills Conference Coach of the Year in 2008 and Big South Conference Coach of the Year in 2017, 2021 and 2022. He served as head coach of the West team in the 2017 NCHSAA East-West game. His 2021-22 team had the second highest GPA in the state. Over 60 of his players went on to play college football. Many of the seniors on his last team (fall of 2022) will be playing college football in the fall.
Lloyd was inducted into the Kings Mountain Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
“I’ll never forget how excited I was to be in Kings Mountain,” he said. “It was such a great opportunity and the support was great. The talent was always very good.”
One of the first things Lloyd did was to bring Kevin Cruise, Dustin Morehead and Craig Short to join his coaching staff.
“We got off to a good start,” Lloyd said. “That second year everything started coming together. We had Michael Roberts (at quarterback) and a lot of other good players and we shutout Shelby 21-0. We went to the playoffs and in the third round we beat Mooresville, who had a 200-yard per game rusher and we held him to just a few yards. That was a phenomenal season.
“We lost out to Kannapolis and Coach (Ron) Massey. Michael Roberts had hurt his ankle the week before but we still made it a close game.”
Lloyd and the Mountaineers had some good teams in the seasons that followed, but beginning in 2015 the team got on a roll that continues to this day.
“We really started to win in 2014,” he noted. “And then 2015 was a really good year. Adding Daryl Wilson and Michael Kennedy to the staff really helped us. We went to Freedom (in the playoffs) and they had B.J. Emmons who was one of the most highly recruited running backs in the nation. They were coming into the game with a 13-0 record and we beat them.
“In the 2018 playoffs undefeated Northwest Cabarrus came in and we had people like Kaylon Wade, Kobe Paysour and Ricaylen Mack and we beat them.
“Another big game I remember was in 2019 at Charlotte Catholic and it was 7-7 after regulation. We went seven overtimes and lost 56-49. We beat Shelby 42-17 that year and that was a really big win for us.
“In 2020 we probably had our most talented players,” he noted. “Kobe Paysour left early to go to Chapel Hill but we swept the county. We broke a long losing streak against Shelby. We hadn’t beaten them since ’86.
“In the ’21 playoffs we drove 98 yards at the end of the game to beat a good Franklin team. Last season we swept the county and beat South Point but we lost in the playoffs to East Lincoln.
“During my time here we had good players and good fans,” he noted. “We always had big crowds. I appreciate the band and cheerleaders and the support of the parents and fans. Everybody did their part.
“I appreciate our principals. Ronny Funderburke gave me the opportunity to come to Kings Mountain. I appreciated Julie Rikard and Dr. (Dustin) Morehead.
“Our athletic directors during my time were really good – Suzanne Grayson, Mark Latham, Dustin Morehead and Matt Bridges. All of them supported me. It’s just been exciting coaching in Kings Mountain. I know I’m going to miss it a lot. I may coach again someday but right now I just need to take the fall off so I can watch Maggie play (at Western) and then Jake wherever he goes.
“I’m very thankful for my time as the football coach at Kings Mountain. It was really special. I think I will get back into coaching someday. I’ve been coaching for 28 falls. You’ll definitely see me coaching again. I hope I’ve got some good years left.
“Football shaped me,” he added. “I hope the players have learned some life lessons from us. I’m grateful for the support of the fans and for all the friends we’ve made in Kings Mountain. Kings Mountain is a great community.
“I can still see (the late) Major Loftin at every practice, and I’ll never forget (the late KMHS equipment manager) Donnie Mace. They were special Mountaineers.
“I had two coaches that are no longer with us – Brent Bagwell and Jeff Putnam. They were excellent men and excellent coaches. And, I want to thank superintendents Bruce Boyles and Stephen Fisher who were great supporters of our program and really good to me. It was an honor to know them and all the other good people in Kings Mountain. I have memories that will last me forever.”
Although he won’t be on the sidelines, Coach Lloyd said he won’t be a stranger.
“I will still be around and will be supporting the program from now on,” he said. “We have a lot of talented players coming back and I expect them to do very well this year. It will be a fun year for the Mountaineers.
“I want to thank Beth. She’s the perfect coach’s wife. She let me live out my dream. And, I want to thank Maggie and Jake. I watched them in sports from the time they were little until they grew up. I’m just thankful for everybody that supported me. I had tons of help. It’s been a great 16 years.”
Mountaineer athletic director Matt Bridges, who was also one of Lloyd’s assistant coaches, said the school planned to begin accepting applications for the head football job this week.
“I would like to thank and congratulate Coach Greg Lloyd for his 16 years of service to our football program, school and community,” Bridges said. “Coach Lloyd and the Lloyd family have dedicated their lives to building a successful program on and off the field, and they will be greatly missed. Coach Lloyd is a great coach and an even better person. The life lessons he taught his student-athletes and coaches will continue to leave a lasting impact for years to come. I wish the best for Coach Lloyd as he steps into the next chapter of his life.”

See more photos on Page 1B of the February 1, 2023 issue of KM Herald

Despite losing to a strong Stuart Cramer team Friday night in Belmont, Kings Mountain High’s senior standout Khalia King passed a personal milestone by topping the 1,000 point mark for her four-year varsity career.
King needed five points to reach thousand but she finished with a game-high 27 in a 70-41 loss. That increased her career point mark to 1,022 points.
King was the only double digit scorer for the Lady Mountaineers. Tyasha Bell, Farri Martin and Mia Bridges added four each and CoRey Simpson added two. Hadley Womack led the Storm with 20.
Kings Mountain’s men kept their conference winning streak going in the nightcap with a 65-53 win over the Purple Storm. That set up a Cleveland County head-to-head battle with the Crest Chargers last night at Crest for sole possession of first place in what was the final first round game of the season.
The Mountaineers stay on the road Friday for a Big South battle with the Ashbrook Green Wave and go to Hunter Huss on Tuesday. They don’t have another home game until they open second round BSC play with North Gaston on January 27 at Parker Gym.
The KM men led most of the way, leading the Storm 17-11 after one period, 30-19 at the half and 44-34 going into the fourth quarter.
The Mountaineers placed four players in double figures, led by Tucker Robinette with 16. Bradley Floyd scored 12 and Curtis Simpson and Bryson Brown 10 each.
The win left the Mountaineers with a 6-0 conference and 9-5 overall mark while Cramer fell to 2-4, 6-10.
GIRLS BOXSCORE
KM (41) – King 27, Bell 4, Bridges 4, Simpson 2, Martin 4.
SC (70) – Womack 20, Holland 12, Duncan 14.
BOYS BOXSCORE
KM (65) – Robinette 16, Floyd 12, Simpson 10, Brown 10, Smith 6, Lenair 4, Osborne 3, Sanders 2, Linney 2.
SC (53) – Rocaqumore 16, Hill 10, Sloan 10, Joyner 9, Rybczyk 4, Whitley 4. 

Kings Mountain’s Mountaineers finished 1-2 in their annual Christmas tournament last week at Parker Gym, getting a 61-53 win over East Rutherford sandwiched around losses of 54-50 to Harding and 66-58 to Rock Hill.
Harding jumped out front 16-12 after the first period and 26-25 at the half in Wednesday’s opening round. The teams were tied at 36-all after three periods but an 18-14 scoring advantage over the final eight minutes gave Harding the win.
KM freshman Bradley Floyd was the game’s top scorer with 20 points. Freshman Tucker Robinette added 11 and junior Curtis Simpson 10. Kendarian Thomas led Harding with 17, Elton Davis scored 16 and Chase Bryson 14.
The Mountaineers bounced back Thursday to edge the East Rutherford Cavaliers 61-53 behind the 1-2 scoring punch of Floyd with 19 points and Charlie Foster with 14.
Dacen Petty led the Cavaliers with 20 points and Tyler Barksdale and Grayson Burleson added 11 apiece.
Friday’s battle with Rock Hill was close before the visitors pulled away in the second half. The Mountaineers were led by Floyd with 19 points, Foster 15 and Robinette 10. Byrd and Huston scored 18 and 11, respectively, to lead the visitors.
The Mountaineers will resume Big South 3A Conference action Friday at Gastonia Forestview and will host a strong South Point five Tuesday, January 10 at Donald L. Parker Gymnasium. They will stay at home on Thursday, January 12 for a non-conference game against county rival Burns.
GAME ONE
KM (50) – Floyd 20, Robinette 13, Simpson 10, Wilson 5, Brown 4.
Harding (54) – Thomas 17, E. Davis 16, Bryson 14, K. Davis 4, Bradshaw 3.
GAME TWO
KM (61) – Floyd 19, Foster 14, Robinette 8, Simpson 4, Cole 4, Wilson 3, Brown 2, Smith 2.
ER (53) – Petty 20, Barksdale 11, Burleson 11, Atkins 5, Pinkerton 2, Hunter 2, Watkins 2.
GAME THREE
KM (58) – Floyd 19, Foster 15, Robinette 10, Sanders 6, Simpson 4, Linney 3, Brown 1.
RH (66) – Byrd 18, Huston 11, Carter 9, Webb 8, Wilson 5, Cormell 3, Young 3, McKinney 2.

Kings Mountain’s Mountaineers placed nine players on the All-Big South Conference team, including three that were Players of the Year, and Coach Greg Lloyd was voted BSC Coach of the Year for the recently-completed 2022 football season.
First team selections were offensive linemen Isaiah Eskridge and Michael Lubas. First team defensive selections were linemen AJ Richardson and Curtis Simpson and defensive back Jake Lloyd. Richardson was also selected Defensive Player of the Year, Eskridge was selected Offensive Lineman of the Year and Simpson was named Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Making the second team were running back/defensive back Bryson Brown, running back Teddy Jeffries, quarterback Lamont Littlejohn and receiver/defensive back and return specialist Zavian Smith.
Simpson, who has already received numerous major college offers, Brown, Jeffries and Smith will return next season to lead the Mountaineers to another run for the conference championship. Richardson, Lubas, Eskridge, Littlejohn and Lloyd will graduate in the spring and hopefully continue their football exploits in the collegiate ranks.
Hunter Huss sophomore Jayden Gash, whose father Daryl played for the Mountaineers in the late eighties and early nineties, made the first team as a return specialist and was also named Special Teams Player of the Year. He returned the opening kickoff in the Huss at Kings Mountain game which was the only time the Mountaineers were behind in a regular season game.
The Offensive Player of the Year was Ny’Tavious Huskey of Crest.
First team All Conference:
QB, Ny’Tavious Huskey, Crest.
RB – Carmelo Bess, Ashbrook.
OL – Isaiah Eskridge, Kings Mountain; Michael Lubas, Kings Mountain; Sullivan Absher, South Point; Tymon Childs, Ashbrook; Myles Jackson, Forestview; Trent Mitchell, Ashbrook.
Athletes – Malachi Addison, Crest; Javarius Green, Crest; Christian Holland, Forestview; Isaiah Johnson, Cramer; Cam Medlock, South Point, Justin Rocquemore, Cramer.
DL – AJ Richardson, KM, Curtis Simpson, KM, Devon Biggers, Ashbrook, Davonyae Pettus, Crest.
LB – Daimean Fernandez, Cramer, Dezmun Porter, Crest, James Taylor, Huss.
DB – Jake Lloyd, KM, Gene Neely, Huss, Will Ross, South Point, Sincere Sanders-Moss, Ashbrook.
Specialists – Charlie Birtwistle, SP, Jayden Gash, Huss, JJ Gordon, North Gaston.
Second team:
Bryson Brown, KM, Teddy Jeffries, KM, Lamont Littlejohn, KM, Zavian Smith, KM, AJ Adams, Crest, Nathaniel Aguilar, Forestview, Patrick Blee, South Point, Noah Comer, Forestview, Chaynce Ford, South Point, Derek Mitchell, Crest, Christian Mixter, Forestview, Kenneth Odugba, Forestview, Jaquis Rumph, South Point, Josh Smith, North Gaston, Hudson Spargo, South Point, Tyler Ward, Cramer.

Kings Mountain freshman Bradley Floyd’s running jumper from the baseline with five seconds remaining in the game, along with his steal of Ashbrook’s inbounds pass capped an exciting 50-48 victory over Ashbrook’s Green Wave in the two teams’ opening Big South 3A Conference battle Friday night at KM’s Donald L. Parker Gymnasium.
A big defensive steal by KM’s Zay Smith with 27.3 seconds remaining resulted in a timeout by the Mountaineers to set up the winning shot and KM’s third win in four games overall.
Kings Mountain’s girls weren’t as fortunate in the opener. Leading by just 38-33 going into the fourth quarter, Ashbrook outscored the Lady Mountaineers 22-5 to cap a 60-38 victory.
Floyd would finish with 13 points to lead the Mountaineer scoring against a veteran Ashbrook five. Priest Wilson scored 10, Tucker Robinette eight, Charlie Foster seven, Smith and Kee’Donn Linney four each and Bryson Brown and Ja’Qualyn Sanders two each. Ashbrook was led by Kenneth Greene with 13 and Jashuan Clark with 10.
The game was close throughout. Neither team could get anything going in the first period. Two free throws by Foster gave the Mountaineers an 11-9 lead heading into the second stanza. KM held the lead most of the second period but Ashbrook’s Gabriel June ran the baseline for a basket that put the Wave on top 22-21 at the half.
After the Wave built a 32-25 lead in the first three minutes of the third period, the Mountaineers got late baskets by Tucker Robinette and Floyd to go into the final quarter up 37-34.
Ashbrook scored the first two baskets of the fourth quarter to take a 38-37 lead. KM got even at 43-all on a basket by Floyd with three minutes remaining, and went on top 46-43 on a bucket by Sanders with 2:14 left.
Ashbrook regained the lead at 48-46 on a bucket by Jashuan Clark with 1:13 remaining but Brown’s baseline runner knotted the score at 48-all with 1:13 to play. Ashbrook was whistled for a charge with a minute left but got the ball back following a KM missed shot. The Green Wave was running the clock down for a last shot of their own but Smith made the steal of the game to set up a time out and Floyd’s late heroics.
The girls’ game was just as close and exciting in the first three periods, but Ashbrook proved itself to be a championship contender by dominating the fourth quarter.
After KM got off to a 5-3 lead on two baskets by Khalia King, the visitors got on track and led 18-15 at the quarter break. Consecutive threes by King got the KM ladies back on top 21-19 but Ashbrook answered with buckets by Tori Brooks and Madison Cole to regain the lead at 23-21. The visitors wouldn’t trail again.
Down 37-26 at the half, KM rallied behind buckets by King, CoRey Simpson and Alayna Patrick to pull to within 38-33 heading into the fourth period. Ashbrook began pressing on defense and turned the game into a rout.
King led the KM scoring with 13 points. Simpson had a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds. Patrick added seven points, Bell two and Myracle Davis four.

By Loretta Cozart

Coach Greg Lloyd and 32 of the Kings Mountain High School football players visited North Elementary School on November 10.
The high schoolers partnered with North students to read with them as part of our PALS program. Football players visited the classrooms and read to the students.
North students lined the hallway and cheered on the Mounties who are in the state playoffs and ranked number one in their division this year.

Kings Mountain’s Caleb Holland returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to spark a 42-point first quarter and a 42-6 victory over St. Stephens in the opening round of the state 3A playoffs Friday night at John Gamble Stadium.
Before four minutes were gone off the clock, the Mountaineers had built a 21-0 lead and it was evident the Indians would be no match for the top-ranked KM eleven.
Following Holland’s return and Jaden Ellis’s PAT for a quick 7-0 lead, the Mountaineer defense held the Indians to three and out and Xzorion Lenair returned a punt to the visitors’ 44. Teddy Jeffries took a handoff from quarterback Lamont Littlejohn and went off right tackle for a 14-0 lead.
With the Indians facing third and 22 from their own 21 on the next series, Jake Lloyd broke in front of the Indians’ intended receiver for an interception and a 36-yard burst down the visitors’ sideline for a 21-0 lead with just 3:55 gone off the clock.
Following another three and out highlighted by a five yard tackle for loss by AJ Richardson and a nine yard loss on Antonio Armstrong’s sack, the Indians had to punt again and Lenair returned it 42 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-0 with 6:25 still left in the first period.
Another three and out forced the Indians to punt again. This time, the Mountaineers took possession at their own 49. Following two carries by Holland for 17 and five yards – sandwiched around a 13-yard reception by Ja’Qualyn Sanders - Littlejohn hit Bryson Brown on a slant for a 35-0 lead with 3:38 on the clock.
The Indians picked up their initial first down on a face mask penalty against the Mountaineers, but the defense quickly took charge again and held them at midfield. After a holding penalty on KM, Littlejohn hit Jake Lloyd with a pass for 19 yards and a first down at the Indians’ 41 and Jeffries took care of the rest for a 42-0 lead with still 1:17 left on the first quarter clock.
That would be the end of the Mountaineer scoring, largely because the home team did not wish to run up the score. The coaching staff began substituting and all starters were on the sidelines in the second half supporting the second unit.
“We got everybody in the game and that’s good,” noted Coach Greg Lloyd. “We were able to rest some people. I doubt if the first team offense played maybe 12 plays. They didn’t get a lot of work but getting the lead helped us keep people fresh for this week. Simpson rolled his ankle but otherwise we’re pretty healthy. I think he’ll be able to play Friday.”
The Indians were able to finally get into KM territory late in the half but Lloyd’s interception stopped them at the 43, and after another change of possession the Indians were able to make it from their own 26 to the KM 46 but Micah Ward’s interception ended their hopes on the last play of the first half.
With the running clock rule in effect, the Indians ate up most of the third quarter on a 15-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a quarterback Peyton Young’s 11 yard TD run with 35 seconds on the clock.  Facing fourth and seven at the KM 22, the Indians first went for a field goal, which was good, but KM was penalized on the play for roughing the kicker which set up Young’s TD.
Josiah Hill gained 37 yards on five carries and Ward 22 on four totes to take the game clock down to 5:11 and guys like Dariyon Black, Jason Melton and Jakarri Roberts held St. Stephens at bay the rest of the night.
Because of the outstanding defensive and special team efforts, the Mountaineers had very few running plays by the first unit. Jeffries had just two carries for 89 yards and Holland two for 22. Lloyd had one reception for 19 yards, Brown one for 16, Zay Smith one for 14 and Sanders one for 13.

One of Kings Mountain High’s all-time great athletes was in the stands and pulling for St. Stephens in the Indians’ opening round 3A playoff game Friday against the Mountaineers at John Gamble Stadium.
Chris Johnson, who was assistant principal at St. Stephens for many years before being recently moved to the Alternative School as its principal, was one of the Mountaineer greats in both football and baseball during his youth. He played football under Coach Bob Jones and baseball for Coach Barry Gibson. He was very versatile in football playing tailback,  defensive  back,  wide receiver, corner and safety and returning kickoffs and punts. He made trips to Kings Mountain and to their opponent’s field every Friday night when his son Xavier was playing for Coach Greg Lloyd’s Mountaineers in mid-teens. Xavier is now living in Raleigh.
Before going into administration, Johnson taught and coached some in Bessemer City and schools in Catawba County.
A member of the Kings Mountain Sports Hall of Fame, Johnson was three-time All-SAC8 and Honorable Mention All-American during a great four-year career at Gardner-Webb. He intercepted 25 passes that’s still a school record. He is the only football player ever to be named Kings Mountain’s most valuable player two years straight.
“Sports has been good to me,” Johnson said prior to Friday’s playoff game. “It made me what I am today. What lessons you learn as an athlete come back to you. You go through rigors and it makes you a better person.”
He recalled that the 1975 and ’76 KMHS baseball teams won the conference championship. He played in the outfield and was one of the team’s best all-around players standing out in the field, at bat and on the base paths.
“I had a lot of good teammates,” he noted. “The 1975 team went to the state tournament. That’s the year we had David Lancaster, Tony Payne and a lot of other good players. We went deep in the third round. We beat Shelby twice during the regular season and then lost to them in the playoffs.”
He also played on some good basketball teams under Coach Allen Dixon.
“I had good teammates in basketball, too,” he noted. “People like Jim Thompson, Tommy Manning, Charles Bell and Butch Blalock. They were really good athletes.
“My son Xavier played football for Greg Lloyd at Kings Mountain,” he noted. “I saw a lot of their games then. 2014 was his senior year and we went up to West Henderson in the playoffs and almost froze to death. I think that’s the coldest I’ve ever been.
“Just to be on the ball field is great,” he said. “That’s where my heart was. Sports is still a family thing for me. I grew up without a dad and people in sports really embraced me. It’s always been a tradition for me.”
Friday was the first time Johnson has been back to Gamble Stadium since the new Brinkley Field was built and artificial turf put down on the playing field.
“This is very nice,” he said.

Running for the Cleveland Community College Yetis, 2022 Kings Mountain graduate Kohen Johnson made the NJCAA all region 10 cross country team. Kohen held off regional champion Spartanburg Methodist's fourth runner by 6 seconds to make the all-region team.   Region 10 consists of junior colleges from NC, SC, and Virginia.  Kohen Johnson is a freshman at Cleveland Community College and will be competing in the National Junior College cross country championship this Saturday, November 12th in Tallahassee Florida.                                                                           

The Lady Mountaineers defeated East Lincoln 25-14, 25-18 and 25-10 in second round action last Tuesday night at Parker Gym.
Meile Songaila had 13 kills, eight serve receptions, 20 digs and two service points.
Myracle Davis had 17 kills and two blocks.
Paige Bagwell had 12 assists, seven kills and four digs.
Camden Pasour dished out 25 assists and had 21 service points, two kills, two serve receptions and 12 digs.
Carolina Barber had 21 serve receptions, eight service points, three assists and 14 digs.
On Thursday, the Lady Mountaineers defeated a good West Henderson team in a close match 25-16, 22-25, 25-23 and 25-19.
Songaila had nine service points, 20 serve receptions, 21 digs and 18 kills.
Davis had 23 kills, five blocks and two digs.
Pasour had 12 service points, 24 assists, eight digs and three kills.
Bagwell had six service points, 24 assists, 19 digs and 12 kills.
Barber had six serve receptions, 29 service points and 27 digs.
The Lady Mountaineers fell 3-1 to Fred T. Foard Saturday afternoon in a match to decide the Western Regional representative for the state tournament.
 

The 3A West Regional cross country championship was held at Freedom High School in Morganton last week.
The Big South Conference individual champion Isaac Watts of Kings Mountain High School had another personal best time of 16.59 to finish 13th overall and qualify as the third individual form the West for the State 3A Championship meet Saturday in Kernersville.
Other scores for the Mountaineers were Max Thompson who finished 47th with an 18:37, Marty Lovingood finishing 75th with a 19.31, Nathan Inthavong 99th with a 20:22, Elliot Habel 140th with a 22:08, Hunter Cruise 153rd with a 23:08, and Nicholas Horn 155th with a 23:31.
For the KM women, Divinity Ervin finished 36th overall with a 20:57 but a heartbreaking eighth place as an individual just missing the seventh spot by two seconds. Brooke Waseman finished 56th with a 22:24, Sarah Eagle 73rd with a 23:16, Nicole Poston 115th with a 25:40, Kinley Putnam 117th with a 25:52, Kallie Hope 118th with a 25:53 and Cindy Ulloa 126th with a 26:51.
Both teams finished 15th out of the 29 in the region. ‘
“There were six seniors running for Kings Mountain,” noted Coach Rayvis Key. “Their leadership, faithfulness and perseverance will truly be missed next year.”

Kings Mountain High’s cross country teams finished second to South Point in last week’s Big South Conference championship and the Mountaineers’ Isaiah Watts won the individual championship.
Watts took an early lead and never looked back as he controlled the race with a consistent 20-second lead for a final time of 17:54.
Max Thompson and Stuart Cramer’s Jordan Granados were in a photo finish for second at 18:05 with Granados winning by a lean. South Point finished with 39 points, KM had 45, Hunter Huss 81, Crest 113 Forestview 114 and Ashbrook 130.
Also finishing with All-Conference honors for the Mountaineers were Hunter Cruise, who ran eighth with a 19:38 and Marty Lovingood running 16th with a 20:40. Other KM finishes were Nathan Inthavong 21st, Elliot Habel 25th, Nicholas Horn 31st, Luis Cedillo 36th, Nathaniel Kiser 45th, Marcus Williams 46th, Eric Bell 54th and Hayden Huss 57th.
The girls race was a huge surprise as Forestview’s Emily Raspanti finished first in 21:13.71, barely edging out Kings Mountain’s Divinity Ervin with a 21:23.90
Again, South Point poured in the numbers with six All-Conference girls to win the team championship with 28 points to KM’s 54. Forestview ran third with 57, Crest 96, and Ashbrook 144.
Other Kings Mountain runners making All-Conference were Brooke Waseman with a sixth place finish in 22:58, and Sarah Eagle who was 12th in 23.55. KM’s other finishers were Sindy Ulloa 23rd, Nicole Poston 29th, Kallie Hope 30th, Parker Wilson 32nd, Wren Ballard 40th and Emily Phelps 43rd.
The next race for the Mountaineers will be the NCHSAA West 3A Regional Saturday, October 29 at Freedom High School in Morganton.