The Union Pines wrestling team won its league opener Wednesday in Fayetteville against the Douglas Byrd Eagles.

With the 66-15 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference victory, the visiting Vikings improved to 2-6 on the season in dual competition.

Prior to the conference clash, Union Pines was coming off a 1-4 showing at the Lake Norman Duals last weekend.

At the Lake Norman Duals the Vikes lost 55-14 to Fred T. Foard; 50-12 to Croatan; 55-24 to Christansburg; and 37-24 to Newton Conover.

Union Pines captured its first dual team meet win under first-year head coach Chris Vondruska at the event via a 40-25 victory over Fort Dorchester.

The Vikings are participating in the Bull Durham Holiday Classic, an individual team tournament, Saturday in Durham. Union Pines returns to dual team action this coming Wednesday (Dec. 12) against CFVC foe Overhills at 6 p.m. in Spring Lake.

Union Pines 66, Douglas Byrd 15

106 pounds: Dylan Barber (UP) forfeit. 113: Mike Fedowitz (UP) pinned Miguel Fee, 1:58. 120: Mack Allen (UP) forfeit. 126: Paul Ambrose (UP) pinned Christian Hinson 3:17. 132: Ryan Hull (UP) forfeit. 138: Tim Squires (UP) pinned Christian Morrison 3:07. 145: Connor Van Cleave (UP) forfeit. 152: Dylan Duncan (UP) pinned Garrett Butler 4:27. 160: Ian Burch (UP) forfeit. 170: Darrius Cox (DB) dec. Zach Yates 6-3. 182: Justin Hall (UP) pinned Eliezer Canedo 1:27. 195: Jabbril Jarvis (DB) pinned Grant Jefferson 1:06. 220: Byron Cousin (DB) pinned Garrett Jefferson 0:42. 285: Gregory Reaves (UP) pinned Ceron Francisco, 1:33.

Flyers Get Two More Wins

The Sandhills Community College basketball team completed a four-game road sweep with a 132-72 victory over the St. Andrews junior varsity team in Laurinburg Wednesday evening.

The No. 1 in NJCAA Division III ranked Flyers take an 11-0 record into Saturday’s 2 p.m. contest against Rockingham CC (3-4) at The O’Neal School Gym.

They are scheduled to entertain Louisburg College (10-0), the No. 2 team in Division II, at 7 p.m. on Monday.

Jarrett Foster was 11-for-13 from the field and scored 22 points to lead the Flyers in the win at St. Andrews.

Coach Mike Apple got strong guard play from Devonte Herring with 12 points, five assists and five steals, and Juwan Jones with six points, seven assists and six rebounds.

On Monday the Flyers defeated Peace College 88-71. Kermeriaz Harrington led the way with 20 points and 15 rebounds.

PHS JV Girls Go 4-0

The Pinecrest junior varsity girls’ basketball team improved to 5-0 with a 44-12 victory over Fayetteville Christian at home Wednesday evening. Freshman guard Brianna Embler led the Patriots with 10 points, nine assists and eight steals. She turned the ball over only one time. Sophomore Te’ara Harrington was a force inside, scoring six points to go with 12 rebounds and eight blocked shots.

Trailing 4-0, the Pats got going on a three by Ashanti Harris and then took the lead at 5-4 on a floater by Embler. They doubled up the visitors on a basket by Veronica Stringfield to make it 22-11 at halftime.

The Patriots did not allow a field goal in the second half. Early in the fourth period, Micahia Kitchen converted three-point plays on consecutive possessions, extending the margin to 38-12.

Patriot Boys Get JV Win

Stephon Stephens scored 17 points as the Pinecrest junior varsity boys’ basketball team defeated Jack Britt 58-48 at home on Tuesday. Logan Crisp added 10 points, Jerryn Liles contributed nine and Lamel McGee put in eight as the Patriots moved to 3-2 on the season.

O’Neal Boys Fall to Grace

Grace Christian beat O’Neal 57-51 Tuesday in a boys’ basketball game played at O’Neal.

Garrett Klumpar led O’Neal with 15 points and three rebounds. Jack Johnston had 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, while Jacob Talbert added 10 points and 10 boards.

Grace was led by Mark Riches with 21 points and B.J. Harrison added 15.

O’Neal (2-3) was scheduled to open Cape Fear Independent Conference action against Fayetteville Academy on Thursday.