Prep notebook: Apex’s Ian Boyd becomes school’s all-time leading scorer

Ian Boyd became Apex boys’ basketball’s all-time scorer Friday, scoring 23 points in a 70-68 overtime loss to Middle Creek. Boyd, who now has 1,784 points, eclipsed former teammate T.J. Evans, who had 1,773 points.

Evans was a senior and Boyd a sophomore when the Cougars won the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A title in 2014. Boyd is committed to play at George Mason next year.

Point marks: Other notable point-marks from the last week include Riverside’s Zaria Rogers topping the 1,000-point plateau in girls’ basketball, while Neuse Charter’s Devante Stevens did the same on the boys’ side. Stevens is the second Cougars player to pass the mark this year, following Jimmy Sanders III.

Rosewood’s Lexi Mercer scored her 2,000th point in girls’ basketball, and Henderson Crossroads Christian’s Jeremiah Green did the same in boys’ hoops. Green’s first two seasons were at Granville Central.

McDonald’s All-American nominees: Only three area basketball players were nominated for the McDonald’s All-American high school boys’ and girls’ basketball games: Word of God’s Jalen Harris in the boys’ game and Southern Vance’s Canaan Dale and Knightdale’s Mikaya Wilson for the girls’ game.

Last week, Wilson, an Appalachian State recruit, became the first Knightdale player to reach 1,000 points for her career.

Apex starting HOF: Apex High will form a sports hall of fame in the coming week, athletic director Del Phillips said. The school is one of the oldest in the area, having opened in 1920. More information on how to nominate someone will become available at a later date.

Football recruiting: Three N&O All-Metro picks have made their college choices. Middle Creek wide receiver/defensive back Johnathan Spencer committed to Elon; Middle Creek offensive lineman Connor Baroniunas, to Wingate; and Wakefield wide receiver Marius Cooper Jr., to Gardner-Webb.

Chang named golf player of the year: Back-to-back 4A state champ Jennifer Chang, a sophomore at Athens Drive, was named the Tarheel Youth Golf Association girls’ junior golf player of the year. Chang won four youth golf tournaments on top of her 4A title.

The Southern Cal recruit finished the year with a 72.5 stroke average and finished top-10 in 14 of 15 events.

All-state golf: The TYGA and Carolinas Golf Association 2015 all-state girls’ golf team included Chapel Hill’s Gina Kim, Cary resident Emilia Migliaccio (who won the 4A title at Athens Drive before Chang arrived, but stopped playing NCHSAA golf after the season), Lee County’s Siranon Shoomee, Northern Durham twins Jessica and Sarah Spicer, and Wake Forst resident Haeley Wotnosky.

The boys’ all-state team included Eric Bae and A.J. Beechler of Pinecrest, Jimbo Stanley of Broughton and Patrick Stephenson of South Johnston.

Indoor track: Several area track athletes own best indoor times in the state this year.

Tops among boys’ categories are: Southeast Raleigh’s Jayon Woodard (500 meters), Green Hope’s Jayquan Williams (1,000) and Henry Pehr (1,600), Broughton’s Jeremy Brown (3,200), Green Hope’s 4x400 meter and 4x800 relay teams, Middle Creek’s Terrell Adams (shot put), Millbrook’s Elijah Cole (pole vault) and Trinity Academy Raleigh’s Christian Pigues (800).

First on the girls’ side include: Chapel Hill’s Anna Passannante (1,000 meters), Leesville Road’s G’Jasmyne Butler (800) and Nevada Mareno (one mile), Apex’s Cara King (wheelchair shot put and 55), Southeast Raleigh’s Charminique Hackney (60) and Southeast Raleigh’s 4x200 meter, 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams.

Wrestling: On Saturday, Bunn took home the title in the Louisburg Duals tournament; in Fayetteville, Cary finished third in the Boneyard Bash tournament behind champ West Brunswick and host Jack Britt. Millbrook went 5-0 in the Firebird Duals at Southern Nash, while Havelock and host Holly Springs went 5-0 at the Hawk Duals.

Crazy finish: Jordan’s boys’ basketball team was down two in the closing seconds of Friday’s home game against PAC-6 Conference foe Hillside when Cheo Craig was fouled on a 3-point attempt with no time left on the clock.

Craig calmly sank all three free throws, and Jordan won 58-57.

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 9:22 PM with the headline "Prep notebook: Apex’s Ian Boyd becomes school’s all-time leading scorer."