By Sonny Jones
Tropical Storm Nicole has played havoc with the second round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association football playoffs.
Several games have been moved up a day and now will be played Thursday in hopes of avoiding the weather system that may become a hurricane by the time it approaches the Florida coast. Nicole is expected to bring rain to our area Thursday and Friday.
Unfortunately, neither Bladen County high school is playing in the second round, but several teams nearby have advanced.
Here are some of the game that have been moved to Thursday:
• Edenton Holmes at Whiteville, 7 p.m.
• Washington County at West Columbus, 7 p.m.
• South Granville at Clinton, 7 p.m.
• Midway at Burlington Cummings, 7 p.m.
• East Columbus at Perquimans, 7 p.m.
• Pender at North Moore, 7:30 p.m.
• Heide Trask at Princeton, 7 p.m.
• Which would be better to do Thursday night? Attending a nearby high school football playoff game or watching the Carolina Panthers play the Atlanta Falcons on TV. Answer: For me, neither. I’ll be at PNC Arena watching Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers play the Carolina Hurricanes.
• High school basketball season tips off Nov. 18. East Bladen is scheduled to play at home against East Columbus. West Bladen is slated to travel to North Brunswick. Junior varsity boys’ games start at 4:30 p.m. followed by varsity girls and varsity boys.
• For those planning ahead, the first round of the state basketball playoffs are scheduled Feb. 21 and the state championship games March 11.
• The middle school volleyball regular season is scheduled to conclude Thursday with matches at Williams Township, West Columbus and Whiteville Central.
• The middle school boys’ soccer season is set to kick off at 3:45 p.m. Thursday. Games involving Bladen teams have Clarkton School of Discovery at Nakina and Tar Heel at Whiteville. Hope Nicole stays away long enough for the games to be played.
WEDNESDAY’S PICK TO CLICK
Fayetteville’s Dennis Smith Jr. will have a double-double in points and assists as the Charlotte Hornets upset the Portland Trail Blazers and snap a five-game losing streak. Really going out on a limb with this one.
TUESDAY’S PICK: Connor McDavid has a goal and an assist to help Edmonton beat Tampa Bay and snap a three-game losing streak. RESULTS: McDavid had a goal and an assist in the Oilers’ 3-2 victory in Tampa.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
• 2011 — Joe Paterno is fired by the Penn State board of trustees despite saying he would retire as coach after the football season ended. Paterno is brought down by the growing furor over the handling of child sex abuse allegations against assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Penn State President Graham Spanier is also ousted.
POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY
• NHL: Carolina at Florida, 7 p.m., BALLY SOUTH
• FOOTBALL: Buffalo at Central Michigan, 7 p.m., ESPN2
• NBA: LA Lakers at LA Clippers, 10:05 p.m., ESPN
Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com.
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