By MONTE DUTT0N

Jonah Pierce was dominant, but that was the general rule in Presbyterian’s 92-55 ransacking of Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C., on Saturday.

Pierce scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Triston Wilson added 19 points and six assists. Jaylen Peterson scored 18 and Kahlon Hudson 17.

 Only Spence Sims scored in double figures for the Bulldogs, who dug themselves deeper into the Big South cellar.

Quinton Ferrell’s men’s basketball team outrebounded Gardner-Webb (2-18, 0-5), forced 17 turnovers while committing nine, and shot the lights out at Paul Porter Arena with an overall percentage of .583, .417 from three-point range and .773 from the foul line.

“You work on your identity, offensively and defensively, every single day,” Ferrell said. “For this game, our identity was at its highest level. We were really sharp, and I told the guys that if we play at a high level, this is what it looks like.

Presbyterian (10-10, 2-2) dominated inside, outscoring the Bulldogs 56-22 in the paint.

Gardner-Webb shot .367 overall, .318 from deep and .600 in free throws.

It’s a great time to build momentum as the Blue Hose play at Templeton Center on Wednesday against Charleston Southern (11-9, 2-3) (7 p.m.) and Saturday versus Winthrop (4:30). The Eagles are 13-8 and 5-1 entering their Wednesday home game against Radford.

Matt Rahl’s shopping spree continued with the hiring of two more assistant coaches on the Presbyterian College football staff.

Del Howard is the coach of safeties and special teams. Howard accepts the PC position after spending the last two seasons coaching defensive backs at Angelo State (Texas).

“I have followed Del’s career for many years and was thrilled to be able to hire him on my initial staff,” said Rahl. “Coach Howard has a strong reputation as someone who pours into his players, builds meaningful relationships and is an excellent recruiter.”

 Howard has also coached at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, Abilene Christian, Lyon (Ark.), Wisconsin–Stout and Memphis.

Howard played for Gary Pinkel at Mizzou.

The new running backs coach is Brandon Linney, who worked alongside Rahl in the 2022 season at Missouri Southern State. He comes to PC after a year at B0ryant University.

Presbyterian becomes the fourth FCS institution that Linney will lend his services, following on from earlier segments at Norfolk State, Richmond and East Central (Okla.)

“Coach Linney was one of the first calls I made after being named head coach,” said Rahl, who was Missouri Southern’s Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator during Linney’s stay there. “I have so much respect for the way that he builds relationships with his players and the production he gets from them. He also brings a great reputation as a recruiter in key areas of Georgia and Florida to our staff.”

Chester (4-8, 2-1), which won its first two Region 3-2A girls’ basketball games, stopped dead in its (Cyclone) track in Clinton, where the top-ranked Red Devils (18-1, 3-0) pulverized it, 67-17, on Friday.

The Clinton boys (9-8, 3-0) also snuffed out the Cyclones’ wind, prevailing 78-32.  Chester is 1-12 and 0-3.

Yes. The NFL playoffs are at full song. Still, I admit to being unable to distinguish Mike McDonald from Mike McDaniel, although I know that one of them was fired by the Dolphins.

Where once U.S. presidents were known by initials – FDR, JFK, LBJ – now they are mainly athletes: SJA, OBJ, JSN, KAT … because there are so many hyphens and last names like Njigba.

I run into lots of people who claim they don’t watch the NFL. They must leave their TVs on.

Much is going on in my life. Things should lighten a tad by the end of next week. For now, I apologize for losing in a game of catch-up. I’ll soon have more time to devote to my modest craft.

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