LOCAL ROUNDUP: HPCA beats Hickory Grove, reaches football semifinals

ASHEBORO – Second-seeded High Point Christian topped seventh-seeded Hickory Grove Christian 35-7 on Friday at Cone Health ZooCity Sportsplex in the semifinals of the NCISAA Division II football playoffs.The Cougars will host third-seeded Trinity Christian in the semifinals Friday.Hez Krider ran 21 times for 185 yards and four touchdowns for HPCA, which led 27-0 at halftime. Amsterdam Knox completed 10 of 12 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.Brandon Thomas led the defense with seven tackles. Jackson Adams, who had an interception, and Brenner Russell each had five tackles, while Dorian Parker had four tackles, including a sack.RAGSDALE, PHILLIP O. BERRYJAMESTOWN – No. 15-seeded Ragsdale won 37-6 over No. 18-seeded Phillip O. Berry on Friday at Ragsdale in the first round of the NCHSAA 6A West football playoffs.The Tigers (6-5) will visit second-seeded TC Roberson in the second round Friday.Sion Stevenson completed 13 of 17 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns for Ragsdale, which led 17-0 at halftime. Matthew Dice added 20 rushes for 153 yards and a touchdown.Isaiah Debrew caught five passes for 103 yards, while Amario Armstrong Jr. caught three passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Armstrong and Debrew each added a rushing touchdown.Armstrong had 11 tackles, including three for a loss, to lead the defense. Bryson Covington had nine tackles, including three for a loss. Josh Henderson caused two fumbles and made an interception. Carlos White had two picks.NCHSAAFIRST ROUND2A WEST – No. 15 Swain County 49, No. 18 Bishop McGuinness 433A EAST – No. 9 Wallace-Rose Hill 68, No. 24 Trinity 03A WEST – No. 12 West Davidson 47, No. 21 East Davidson 0; No. 14 East Surry 46, No. 19 Wheatmore 364A EAST – No. 13 Ledford 42, No. 20 Jordan-Matthews 66A WEST – No. 15 Ragsdale 37, No. 18 Phillip O. Berry 6NCISAAQUARTERFINALSDIVISION II – No. 2 High Point Christian 35, No. 7 Hickory Grove Christian 7NCHSAASECOND ROUND3A WEST – No. 12 West Davidson at No. 5 Thomasville4A EAST – No. 13 Ledford at No. 4 West Craven; No. 18 Anson at No. 2 TW Andrews5A WEST – No. 9 Hickory at No. 8 Oak Grove6A WEST – No. 15 Ragsdale at No. 2 TC RobersonNCISAASEMIFINALSDIVSION II – No. 3 Trinity Christian at No. 2 High Point ChristianHIGH POINT UNIVERSITYWOMEN'S BASKETBALLMUNCIE, Ind. – High Point University topped Ball State 78-71 in nonconference women's basketball Saturday at Ball State.Taylor Feldman scored 21 points to lead the Panthers (3-0), who led 42-31 at halftime. Juliann Woodard added 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Meredith Tippner had 11 points and eight rebounds. Rylee Bess had nine points and four assists.High Point shot 46% from the field for the game – including 10 of 22 from 3-point range. The Cardinals (1-1) shot 37%, including 7 of 31 from 3-point range.VOLLEYBALLBOILING SPRINGS – High Point University finished off a key weekend with a 22-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-19 win over Gardner-Webb in Big South Conference volleyball Saturday at Gardner-Webb.The Panthers also beat second-place Winthrop 25-21, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20 on Friday and, with both wins, secured the top seed in the conference tournament later this month.Elodie Lalonde had 19 kills and two aces against Gardner-Webb. Maya Bukovcan had 13 kills, three blocks and an ace, while Aisha Keric had eight kills and two blocks. Remy Catojo had 42 assists, and Kea Whillock had 18 digs.Kinnady Boothe had 14 kills against Winthrop. Lalonde had 12 kills, four blocks and 13 digs, while Bukovcan had 10 kills, five blocks and an ace. Whillock had 15 digs and two aces, while Catojo had 40 assists.High Point improved to 18-6 overall and 12-1 conference and will visit Radford on Friday to end the regular season.MEN'S SOCCERHIGH POINT – Top-seeded High Point University lost 3-1 against fifth-seeded Longwood on Sunday at Vert Stadium in the semifinals of the Big South Conference men's soccer tournament.Daniel Lugo scored off an assist from Alfred Baafi in the 22nd minute for the Panthers (10-4-4). But the Lancers answered with a score in the 28th minute to even the score and added second-half goals in the 74th and 90th minutes.Josh Caron made two saves in goal for High Point, which finished with a 21-13 advantage in shots for the match – including 9-5 on goal.