FROM STAFF REPORTS

sports@newstopic.net

William Lenoir Middle's boys basketball team advanced to the finals of the Northwestern Conference tournament with a 43-31 victory over Granite Falls Middle on Tuesday afternoon at Alexander Central High School in Taylorsville.

Trey Harper scored 14 points to lead three players in double figures for second-seeded William Lenoir (9-2), which will play either fifth-seeded East Alexander or No. 1 seed West Alexander in today's championship game at ACHS. Game time is 5:45 p.m.

Zac Walker and T.J. Hendricks each had 10 points for William Lenoir, which led by just three points (20-17) at the half, but pulled away by outscoring Granite Falls 23-14 over the final two quarters.

Phillip Page scored 13 points and Ryan Grainger 11 to lead third-seeded Granite Falls (7-5).

HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING

South Caldwell's boys and girls swim teams beat St. Stephens in a Northwestern 3A-4A meet Tuesday evening at the Lenoir Aquatic Center.

The Spartans girls edged the Indians 147-142, while South's boys dominated for a 108-59 win over SS.

Michael Santos and Rachel Ponti each won two events for the Spartans.

Santos won the boys 50-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly, and was on South's winning teams in the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relay events.

Meanwhile, Ponti took the 50 and 100 freestyle for the Spartans, and anchored South's winning 200 freestyle relay team.

Other event winners for the Spartans were Devin Abernethy (boys 100 backstroke) and Johnny Lok (boys 100 breaststroke).

WRESTLING

South Caldwell's wrestling team fell to Fred T. Foard 53-16 and beat Northside Christian 60-24 in a twi-match Tuesday night in Newton.

The Spartans (12-9) won just four of 14 matches, with three of those coming by pinfall, against the Tigers.

Winning matches for South Caldwell against Foard were David Crouch at 160 pounds, Devin Potter at 171, Charlie Volz at 189, and Matt Blazer at 215.

Against Northside, the Spartans won 10 of 14 matches, with six coming on forfeits and four by pinfall.

Match winners for South were Chancie Cannon (103 pounds), Sean Faro (130), Ezekiel Stamey (135), Aaron Annas (140), Matt Greene (145), Austin Winebarger (152), Crouch (160), Potter (171), Volz (189), and Austin Sigler (heavyweight).

Bunker Hill 66 West Caldwell 18

West Caldwell's wrestling team dropped a 66-18 Catawba Valley 2A decision to Bunker Hill on Tuesday night in Claremont.

The Warriors (3-15, 0-2) won just three of 14 matches, with two coming by pinfall. Meanwhile, of the Bears' 11 wins, eight came on forfeits.

Winning matches for West Caldwell were Brandon Spencer at 103 pounds, Matt Wooten at 135 and Cody Driggers at 140.