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PETERSBURG, VA.- Even with their less-than-sterling finish in the league's regular season standings, there is something about the Wake Tech Eagles that provides a challenge for the Louisburg College men's basketball squad.
During the two regular season meetings between the clubs, the Hurricanes were never able to blow out the Eagles -- and that trend continued Sunday in the opening round of the Region X Tournament on the campus of Richard Bland College.

Louisburg College's Raekwon Harney runs the show during Sunday's first-round victory over Wake Tech at the Region X Men's Basketball Tournament.

Louisburg College's Deshawn High (left) drives against a Wake Tech opponent during Sunday's opening-round action at the Region X Men's Basketball Tournament on the campus of Richard Bland College in Petersburg, Va.

Louisburg College catcher Seth Spillman (left) tries to come up with the ball as part of a close play at home plate last Friday afternoon.

Louisburg College's Bryce Myers (right) steals third base last Friday against Marshalltown.

BETHEL -- Both in size and status, Bunn's challenge was destined to be a tall one at North Pitt in last Saturday's third round of the Class 2-A Girls Basketball State Playoffs.
The host Lady Panthers entered with just one loss the entire campaign -- a setback against a touted Winston-Salem Prep squad during holiday tournament action.
North Pitt is blessed with some talented, mobile post players to go with some solid performers in the backcourt.

BUNN -- During their football playoff meeting last December, Bunn and Clinton would go down to the wire and into overtime before the Wildcats would pick up an emotional victory in the Eastern Regional Finals.
There would be no such suspense when the schools reunited last Thursday, this time for a second-round matchup in the Class 2-A Girls Basketball State Playoffs.
Bunn took an early lead and never relented en route to delivering a 60-39 decision over the Dark Horses at the Bunn Dome.

LOUISBURG -- Add another night to remember as part of Louisburg College's historic men's soccer season.
The national-champion Hurricanes received their title rings last Thursday as part of a ceremony before a men's basketball game at Taylor Center on the LC campus.
A total of 31 rings were presented. In addition to each player, LC coaches Martin Dell and Ted Awana were given rings along with trainer Mandy Kiger.
"It was a great ceremony,'' said LC Athletic Director Mike Holloman. "The players were very excited to be getting their rings.

LOUISBURG -- Mike Sheldon's first season as Louisburg High School's boys basketball coach featured a series of seconds -- and the potential prospect of even better things to come.
The Warriors finished in the runner-up position in both the Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference regular season and tournament standings before wrapping up their campaign with a second-round appearance in the Class 1-A State Playoffs.

HENDERSON -- On Feb. 23, the Vance-Granville Community College Vanguards men's basketball team honored its departing sophomores, who went out on a high note, leading their team to victory at Aycock Recreation Center in Henderson.
The 90-82 conference win over the Titans of Guilford Tech Community College marked the last home game of the regular season for the Vanguards.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College is represented by two players on the All-Region X Women's Basketball Team for the 2015-16 campaign.
LC's selections are sophomore frontliner Iresha Cooper and freshman supersub Jasmine Covington.
Cape Fear's Chris Harris was tabbed as the Coach of the Year, while Brunswick's Briana Baham is the Player of the Year.
The Region X Tournament will be held this weekend on the campus of Brunswick Community College in Supply.

LOUISBURG -- When he first saw Abigail Ross in action at Nash Central High School, Louisburg College women's soccer coach Andy Stokes knew she had the ability to be the Lady Hurricanes' No. 1 keeper -- and beyond.
After two successful seasons at Louisburg, the 'beyond' part for Ross started recently when she signed a letter-of-intent to join the program at the University of Mount Olive.

WAKE FOREST - Marguerite Chappell Woodlief, 77, died Thursday afternoon, Feb. 25, 2016. Funeral services were held Sunday, Feb. 28, at Richland Creek Community Church. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery in Franklinton.

ROCKY MOUNT--Funeral services for Mattie Lou Evans, 75, who died Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Nashville, with the Rev. Paul Davis officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

FRANKLINTON -- Franklin County got off lucky on Wednesday as a storm packing blistering rain and swirling winds spared life and limb.
It did send a tree crashing into Robert Pendleton's home, though.
He was standing in his hallway just before 6:30 p.m. when it hit the back of the house on Ramey Circle.
Pendleton was not hurt, just shaken up.

Youth and animals go hand-in-hand.
Franklin County's tradition of producing outstanding livestock, along with many outstanding young people interested in raising and showing animals, has prevailed for decades.
As a young agent who began my career as an Agricultural Extension Agent in 1988, I have seen my first 4-H'ers from over two decades ago grow up into responsible, law abiding adults and now their children are raising and showing their own animals.

RALEIGH -- Let the confusion ensue.
Earlier this month, a three-judge panel ruled that the state's Second and Twelfth Congressional Districts were unconstitutional and ordered that state legislators redraw the maps.
The result is that Franklin County will go from having two Congressional representatives, separating the northern and southern end of the county, to one.

Well, no, actually. But that is a drone flying in the upper left corner of this photo and it's taking both still photographs and video of the raging house fire below. But the fire was just a drill for the Louisburg Fire Department, which set the long-vacant house at the corner of South Main Street and NC 56 West in Louisburg afire on Saturday as a training exercise. Once the training was over, the fire was allowed to destroy what was once the home of Buck and Josephine Harris, both of whom are deceased.

FRANKLINTON -- The head of the town's auditing firm told staff that he would handle bookkeeping matters, personally.
During the board's January meeting, Scott May presented commissioners with an audit that was expected to generate a warning letter from the state regarding the town's fiscal practices.
The audit, performed by May and Place, revealed:

FRANKLINTON -- When Chase Villarreal and Toki were deployed to Afghanistan, they had one job -- help sniff out bombs in explosives-ravaged Kandahar.
Actually, Toki had a secret mission.
Before departing, Villarreal's mom, Belinda, whispered something in the K-9's ear -- "Take care of my son."
Mission accomplished.

RALEIGH -- Attorneys for two troopers accused of causing a cadet's debilitating hip injury began their defense last week, arguing that plaintiffs failed to prove that instructors acted with malice or outside the scope of their duties.
The four-week-long court case is the culmination of a worker's compensation legal fight that began in the fall of 2011 when Martin, now a Franklin County sheriff's deputy, filed a suit against Troopers Gregory Gentieu and Susan Moreau, instructors during the 29-week State Highway Patrol training program.

Hoops standouts Bernadette Cooke and Ricky Person

The Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc., Head Start is accepting children for the 2016-17 program year.
Children must be 3 years of age as of Aug. 31, 2016. Parents of children with mental, physical or emotional impairments are being encouraged to apply since the program will make special provisions to serve children with special needs. Those provisions can include but may not be limited to adaptive equipment and transportation.

Despite all the changes and confusion about the upcoming March Primary Election, I trust you're planning to cast your vote!
Early voting begins March 3 -- and the actual Primary Election Day is March 15 for those of us who like to head to the polls and cast votes in person on the traditional election day.
But however you vote, there are two things to do: First, get informed a little about the candidates and second, actually cast a ballot.