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Super Bowl
Well, a league leading defense is now 10-2 in the Super Bowl, unfortunately, it wasn't the Panthers who led that category. Denver dealt Carolina a heartbreaking 24-10 loss in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday
Carolina (17-2) had too many turnovers (4-2), penalties (12-6) and just flat out made mistakes in this one. Not that Denver didn't deserve to win. Denver sacked Cam Newton a Super Bowl record seven times, which has been unusual to happen for the league MVP. The Broncos won in the trenches, played relatively mistake free football and took advantage of situations better than the Panthers.
Sunday may also have been the last game in Peyton Manning's career. If it is, what a way to go out...Super Bowl Champion. Manning didn't do anything special, but he did manage the game well despite leading Denver's offense to 120 less yards of total offense.
The Panthers do have plenty to be proud of in that this was the best season in franchise history. They were NFC South Champs, the overall NFC Champs and they never lost at home. Despite not having Kelvin Benjamin all season, they really outdone themselves and showed that they are a top team to contend with week in and week out.
High School Basketball
R-S Central
Games in the SMAC are all Monday-Thursday this week, with Conference tourney starting Friday.
The Lady Hilltoppers battled for first in the SMAC this past Friday, but not much of a battled was had. R-S Central (19-3, 14-0) ran out to a 42-14 lead at the half and easily beat East Burke. They will become SMAC regular season champs no matter what happens this week since they beat East Burke twice and hold a two game lead over them in the standings.
R-S Central's Men (14-8, 9-5) fell twice this past week and by five point margins. Right now they are tied for fourth in the SMAC and will finish no worse than fifth despite what happens this week against East Rutherford and Burns.
East Rutherford's Men split last week and will finish no worse than sixth in the SMAC this season. They hold the tie breaker over Burns and Chase who sit tied for seventh.
East Rutherford (15-6, 9-5) ladies swept last week's games and sit third in the SMAC with a one game lead over Kings Mountain.
Chase Men were defeated twice last week and have officially been ruled out of postseason play this season. They do get East Rutherford on Feb. 11 at home before facing Draughn in the conference tourney.
Thomas Jefferson
The Gryphon Men's basketball team lost close twice this past week. The Gryphons still have the Southern Piedmont Conference Tourney before finding out their postseason fate. For the moment, Thomas Jefferson should get a wildcard invite, but would be on the road in the first round. Thomas Jefferson ends the regular season at Cool Springs Gym as they host Cherryville on Thursday (2/11). They still have a good chance to make a wildcard spot in the 1A playoffs.
Wrestling
Congrats to Chase and the R-S Central wrestling team's. Chase (33-7) made the fourth round of the state brackets in 2A, while R-S Central (19-4) fell in the third round. Both fell to Newton Conover (43-2) respectively as the Red Devils make the Championship round. Chase fell by three points, while R-S Central lost by one point. Both teams will have individuals that qualify for state regionals, which occurs this weekend.
