Cardinal Gibbons won a division of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Cheerleading Invitational on Saturday at N.C. State's Reynolds Coliseum.

The Crusaders captured the super varsity division (squads with 20 or 21 members), piling up 258 points in one of the 11 divisions.

Gibbons has 10 seniors among its 20 competing cheerleaders and finished sixth in a national championship during the 2005-06 season.

"Our squad has worked very hard for the competition," Gibbons coach Jennifer Marks said. "They have been practicing since early August."

The team won a major regional competition earlier in the fall at Carowinds in Charlotte. The event included teams from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Gibbons won its class there and had the highest score of the day overall.

The Crusaders plan to compete in a national tournament on Feb. 16-18 in Atlanta.

North Gaston won the large varsity (17 to 19 members) and took the Carolina Cup as the top overall squad in the NCHSAA Invitational, which had more than 100 squads.

Spring Lake Overhills won small varsity co-ed (two to four males) and Fuquay-Varina won the small junior varsity (five to 15 members.)

WHY GIBBONS? The NCHSAA was bombarded with questions last week after Cardinal Gibbons successfully defended its 2-A volleyball championship and swept the 2-A boys and girls cross country championships.

Supporters of teams that lost want to know how Gibbons -- a private parochial school -- possibly can be a member of the NCHSAA.

The NCHSAA Articles of Incorporation are clear: "Any North Carolina public or non-boarding parochial high school is eligible for membership."

Gibbons has been highly successful in NCHSAA competition.

The Crusaders won championships in boys cross country, girls cross country and volleyball, lost in the dual-team tennis final and are in the state boys soccer semifinals.

FALCON TO LENOIR-RHYNE: Durham Jordan's Bobby Connelly, a 6-foot-4 basketball forward, signed with Lenoir-Rhyne on Tuesday.

Connelly averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists per game last season. He had six double-doubles and a career-high 37 points against Roxboro Person last season.

"He is an outstanding shooter who can scored inside and outside," Jordan coach Kim Annas said.

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