Big Day for Boys Tennis, Boys Soccer, Boys Golf

The SJCS boys tennis team is putting the exclamation point on survive and advance.

The Knights had a second straight playoff match come down to No. 1 doubles, and once again, Whit Wilkins and Hampton Norwood came through to push the team into the Class 3A Upper State championship match.

The Knights, seeded sixth in the Upper State, defeated visiting and No. 7 Southside Christian 4-3 in the third round on Monday. Next, the Knights will play on the road against No. 4 Clinton at 5:00 PM Wednesday in the Upper State final.

CLASS 3A BOYS TENNIS BRACKET

On Monday, Clinton beat top-seeded Christ Church 4-3. Clinton knocked out St. Joe's last year in the second round on its way to a state runner-up finish.

The Knights, coming off a 4-3 win over Walhalla that came down to No. 1 doubles, got victories by Wilkins at No. 1 singles, Jeremiah Adams at No. 2 and Norwood at No. 3. But the Sabres won at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 2 doubles, leaving it up to Wilkins and Norwood.

Norwood had already provided the key singles win, having defeated the Sabres' only All-Region player.

SJCS 4, SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN 3
Singles
No. 1-Whit Wilkins won, 6-1, 6-3
No. 2-Jeremiah Adams won, 6-2, 6-0
No. 3-Hampton Norwood won, 6-3, 6-2
No. 4-Charlie Walters lost, 6-1, 6-1
No. 5-Alexander Millener lost, 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1-Wilkins/Norwood won, 6-0, 7-6 (7-3)
No. 2-Brodie Miller/Byron Webb lost, 6-4, 6-3

PHOTO GALLERY

Boys Soccer

Jonny Bunecke recorded a hat trick to lead the SJCS boys soccer team to a 6-1 win over visiting Crescent in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs on Monday night.

The Knights (11-7), seeded seventh in the Upper State, will play on the road against No. 2 Woodruff (16-2), the Region 3 champion, in the second round at 7:00 PM Thursday.

CLASS 3A BOYS SOCCER BRACKET

Bunecke put the Knights on top in the 15th minute, and Torsten Gruenefeld made it 2-0 in the 27th minute. Mateo Rosa scored late in the half, and the Knights went to the break with a 3-0 lead.

Crescent scored early in the second half, but Bunecke found the back of the net twice within the next 10 minutes, giving the Knights a 5-1 advantage. Charlie Baker added a goal midway through the half to make it 6-1.

PHOTO GALLERY

Boys Golf

The Knights lit up Three Pines Country Club in Woodruff on Monday, firing a 305 to finish fourth in the Class 3A Upper State qualifier and advance to next Monday and Tuesday's state championships at Diamondback Golf Club in Loris.

St. Joe's came in behind only Christ Church (293), Powdersville (302) and Mountain View Prep (302).
 

Cael Roberts led the Knights and finished third with a 1-under par 71, one shot out of the medal for the second year in a row at the event. Jackson Porter of MVP and Nate Porter of Powdersville each shot 70.

Clyde Williams followed closely behind Roberts with a 76. Bryce Chapman rebounded from a challenging first nine to finish with 78, and George Covington also rebounded from a slow start to post an 80. Liam Davis played consistent golf to shoot 81.

Middle School Baseball

The Knights fell short against host Christ Church in the Carolina Middle School Conference tournament championship game on Monday, 3-0.

It was a well-played, well-pitched game by both sides. The Cavaliers limited the Knights to two hits, one each by Carter Reinstein and Drew Royal.

Levi Norris pitched the first 3 1/3 innings for the Knights, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits. James Barker blanked the Cavs over the final 1 2/3 innings on three hits.