Friday’s roundup: NCISAA football championship is won, SCHSL teams advance to semis, private school basketball and Big South 3A Conference volleyball standings

By Richard Walker

A look at the local sports roundup for Friday, November 20:

NCISAA football
Charlotte Christian 27, Rabun Gap 21: The Knights won their fourth straight N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state championship with a late touchdown against visiting Rabun Gap (7-2).

Charlotte Christian, which finished with a 6-1 record, led 21-7 with nine minutes left before the visitors tied the score at 21.

But the Knights of coach Jason Estep took the win on Henry Rutledge’s 33-yard touchdown run with two minutes left.

Charlotte Christian improved to 9-4 in state title games with championships in 1992, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

S.C. High School League football
T.L. Hanna 34, Gaffney 33: The Indians’ season ended at 6-1 following a one-point Upper State 5A semifinal defeat.

Northwestern 27, Dorman 21: The Trojans improved to 7-0 and advance into next Friday’s 5A Upper State championship game at home against T.L. Hanna.

A.C. Flora 41, South Pointe 14: The Stallions’ season ended at 6-3 with an Upper State 4A semifinal loss.

Catawba Ridge 41, Irmo 21: The two-year-old Copperheads’ season continued and they’ll visit A.C. Flora in next Friday’s 4A Upper State championship game. Catawba Ridge improved to 7-1 following their second state playoff win in six days; The Copperheads won their first-ever postseason game 34-20 at Greer last Saturday.

High school boys basketball
Gaston Day 63, High Point Westchester 35: The Spartans improved to 4-0 with the road victory and their next game on Monday at University Christian.

Gaston Christian 83, Asheville School 68: The Eagles (2-3) won on the road and next play on Dec. 3 at Metrolina Christian.

High school volleyball
Kings Mountain 3, North Gaston 0 (25-6, 25-13, 25-19 – on Thursday): Aaliyah Byers (15 kills, 5 service points, 8 serve receptions), Meile Songaila (5 kills, 13 service points, 4 digs), Paige Bagwell (5 kills, 5 service points, 15 assists), Ashlyn Wood (6 service points, 13 assists) and Kyann Crocker (8 service points, 10 digs, 16 serve receptions) led the Mountaineers, who host Hunter Huss on Monday.

Big South 3A standings

(conference games only)

Crest 2-0
Kings Mountain 2-0
Forestview 1-1
North Gaston 1-1
Ashbrook 0-1
Huss 0-1
Cramer 0-2

Monday’s matches
Ashbrook at Crest
Huss at Kings Mountain
North Gaston at Forestview
South Point at Cramer (non-conference)