Titans getting a lift from new shoes

Coach Mike Pennington of West Forsyth kidded last Friday after a win against Reynolds that the Titans' new shoes played a part in the victory.

The green and yellow Nike Air Jordans — custom editions given as a gift from former West standout Chris Paul — might have carried a little magic after all. On Tuesday, West ran its winning streak to three games — the last two with the new shoes — by handing Mount Tabor its first loss in the Central Piedmont 4-A.

"I thought that was cool that (Paul) was able to do that and wanted to do that," Pennington said. "The kids opened them and it was kind of like Christmas. But if we are going to wear them, let's play with some heart and a will to win. He gave us the shoes, so let's honor him by trying to play like he did and refuse to lose."

Jon Adams, one of Pennington's assistants, is a former player at Reynolds and a friend of Paul's. Pennington said that Adams and Paul spoke on the phone last Friday before the game, and Pennington said Paul told Adams: "You know Reynolds is going to take an L, don't you?"

Area standouts decide to play for Campbell

Four football players at area high schools, including three who were selected to the Journal's All-Northwest team, have committed to play at Campbell starting this fall. Austin Fleming and DeMarion Jones, two of the key players on West Stokes' Class 2-A state-championship team, as well as Damien Booe of Reynolds and Connor Jarvis of West Forsyth, all committed last weekend.

Fleming, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback who was the MVP of West's state-championship game, has a torn labrum in his right (passing) shoulder and will have surgery this spring after West has completed its basketball season. Jimmy Upchurch, West's football coach, said that Fleming plans to rehabilitate the shoulder through the summer and fall and enroll at Campbell in January 2013.

Jones, who along with Fleming and Booe were selected All-Northwest, is a 6-2, 180-pound defensive back and receiver. Booe is a 5-8, 190-pound running back, and Jarvis, an all-conference pick in the Central Piedmont 4-A, is a 6-5, 275-pound offensive lineman.

The players can sign NCAA letters of intent when the football signing period will open Wednesday.

Mount Tabor girls remain unbeaten

The streaking Mount Tabor girls basketball team kept its unbeaten record intact on Tuesday night with a 47-45 victory against rival West Forsyth. Freshman Celeste Burgess scored seven of her 18 points in the fourth quarter, when the Spartans (18-0, 5-0 Central Piedmont 4-A) erased a five-point deficit.

It was Mount Tabor's second win against West this season, with the first coming in the championship of the Mary Garber Tipoff Classic in December. West fell to 15-3 overall and 4-1 in the CPC.

AD Quesnel will leave FCD

Ray Quesnel, the athletics director at Forsyth Country Day since 2009, will resign at the end of the school year and become the head of school at Fayetteville Academy, he said yesterday. Quesnel was assistant headmaster at FCD for five years and also coached girls basketball and baseball during his 12 years at FCD. He said he will remain on staff until June 30.

Quesnel said that he didn't know exactly how the hiring of a new AD would work.

"I know I have some suggestions," Quesnel said. "It's a great position at a great school and they shouldn't have any trouble finding someone qualified. Not sure how much involvement I will have.

"I obviously care a lot about the school and if they need me to help, I will be there for whatever they need me. We have such a great staff here that if I were looking for an AD's job, I would put my name in."

Villains name new baseball coach

Pat Bowen, an assistant baseball coach at Bishop McGuinness for the past four seasons, has been promoted to head coach, said Jeff Stoller, McGuinness' athletics director. Bowen will replace Glen Hunt, who resigned after finding a new job.

Bowen, who was a minor-league pitcher in the Anaheim Angels organization, started his coaching career as the junior-varsity coach at Greensboro Day and became the head softball coach at McGuinness in 2005.

He coached softball for two seasons before becoming Hunt's assistant.