03/28/2024
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By Sonny Jones

Duke and North Carolina had split its last 100 games and its last 20 games, so, it came as no surprise that Saturday night’s first meeting this season between the ACC rivals was close, exciting and intense.

Junior Jeremy Roach scored a game-high 20 points and freshman Dereck Lively II grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked eight shots in Duke’s 63-57 victory inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The Blue Devils won the battle inside, outrebounding the Tar Heels 45-35, controlled the pace, outscoring UNC 20-2 on fastbreak points, and forced North Carolina to shoot from outside. UNC made only 7 of 27 3-point attempts and went to the free throw line only three times.

The Tar Heels tied it at 57-all on a 3-pointer by Pete Nance, then couldn’t score again, missing their final five shots. Duke took the lead for good on Lively’s dunk with 1:35 remaining and sealed it with a basket and two free throws by Roach.

UNC gets its chance to avenge the loss March 4 inside the Smith Center. Looking forward to it.

Bladen Recreation’s Blastball registration is now open and will continue through March 3. Blastball is co-ed for ages 3-5. Age is determined as of April 1, 2023. The fee is $30 to play. Registration can be completed online (Registration Link) or in person at the Bladen County Parks and Recreation Office, 803 West King Street in Elizabethtown. Information: 910-862-6770.

Bladen Recreation’s Adult Co-Ed Volleyball registration continues through February 24. Fee is $30 per person. Players must be 18 years of age by February 1, 2023. Team captains can pick up a registration packet from Bladen County Parks and Recreation, request to be emailed a packet or print the packet from bladeninfo.org under the Parks and Recreation Department. Information: 910-862-6770.

Clarkton Dixie Youth Baseball has scheduled player registration for three Saturdays, February 11, February 18 and Feb. 25, from 10 a.m.-noon at Clarkton DYB Complex. Teams are available for ages 7 through 12. Player evaluations on March 4 at the facility are Coach-Pitch (ages 7-8) at 11 a.m., Minors (ages 9-10) at 1 p.m. and Majors (ages 11-12) at 3 p.m. For more information, call Graham Burney at 910-874-4457.

Elizabethtown Dixie Youth Baseball player registration is available online. At the top of the TeamPass website, choose “select league”, then click Elizabethtown DYB from the drop-down box. Register your player by clicking here. Player evaluations are scheduled Saturday, March 4 at Leinwand Park. Coach-Pitch (ages 7-8) at 11 a.m., Minors (ages 9-10) at 1 p.m. and Majors (ages 11-12) at 3 p.m. For more information, call after 5 p.m. either Mark Gillespie at 910-876-7394 or Kyle Bostic at 910-874-2257.

A pair of area golf courses have planned Super Bowl Scramble tournaments the day before the NFL’s championship game.

Vineyard Golf at White Lake has announced a Super Bowl Two-Man Texas Scramble will be held Saturday with a shotgun start at noon. The cost to participate will be $50 for members and $70 for non-members. Entry deadline is Wednesday. Information: 910-247-6132.

Land ‘O Lakes in Whiteville will have a two-player Super Bowl Texas Scramble on Saturday with a noon shotgun start. Entry fee is $35 for members and $45 for guests. Deadline to enter is Wednesday at 5 p.m. Information: 910-642-5757.

The Lu Mil Wine Run 5k is scheduled Saturday, April 8 at the vineyard located on the outskirts of Dublin. Proceeds will benefit the Dublin Peanut Festival. The event will start at 9 a.m. Registration fee is $25 through Feb. 24 and $60 afterward and includes a T-shirt, wine glass, finisher medal, race bib and, of course, a pour of wine. Click here to register. Lu Mil Vineyard is located at 438 Suggs-Taylor Road, Elizabethtown.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

• 2009 — Tennessee’s Pat Summitt becomes the first Division I basketball coach — man or woman — to win 1,000 career games after her Lady Vols beat Georgia 73-43.

POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY

• SOCCER: Leeds United at Nottingham Forest, 9 a.m., USA

• SOCCER: Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur, 11:30 a.m., NBC

• WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: North Carolina at Louisville, noon, ESPN2

• WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: South Carolina at Connecticut, noon, FOX

• BOWLING: U.S. Open, 2 p.m., FOX

• PGA: Pebble Beach Pro-Am, 3 p.m., GOLF

• NFL: Pro Bowl Games, 3 p.m., ABC, ESPN

• WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Clemson at Wake Forest, 4 p.m., ACCN

• NASCAR CUP: Clash at The Coliseum Heat Races, 5 p.m., FOX

• RODEO: Long Live The Cowboys Classic, 5 p.m., CBSSN

• BASKETBALL: Houston at Temple, 6 p.m., ESPN2

• NBA: Philadelphia at New York, 6 p.m., ESPN

• NASCAR CUP: Clash at The Coliseum, 8 p.m., FOX

Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com.

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