Mark Parker, a 6-foot-6 basketball guard, committed Sunday to Longwood University in Farmville, Va.

Parker averaged more than 17 points per game in 2008-2009 and was an all-Greater Neuse all-conference selection.

He chose Longwood, a Division I school, over Bucknell, South Carolina-Upstate, Air Force Academy and Elon University.

"I felt a really good connection with the head coach [Mike Gillian]," Parker said. "I loved the college and the coaching staff and the environment sold me. The biggest thing was just the connection I felt with the coaches." 

Highlights from the Knightdale vs West Johnston conference championship game.

The schedules for this week's Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference basketball tournaments:

Tonight's (Monday) Girls' Quarterfinals: 

(No. 8) West Johnston at (No. 1) Southeast Raleigh, 7

(No. 5) Smithfield-Selma at (No. 4) Clayton, 7

(No. 7) Knightdale at (No. 2) Holly Springs, 7

(No. 6) Garner at (No. 3) East Wake, 7 

Tuesday's Boys' Quarterfinals:

(No. 8) Smithfield-Selma at (No. 1) Garner, 7

(No.  5) Southeast Raleigh at (No. 4) West Johnston, 7

(No. 7) Holly Springs at (No. 2) Knightdale, 7

(No. 6) East Wake at (No. 3) Clayton, 7

See a photo gallery of the West Johnston High School Marching Band in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Several Johnston County readers complained that the paper did not cover the participation of the West Johnston marching band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Only 10 bands from around the country were invited to perform in, arguably, America's best known parade.

"Please give the kids here in Johnston County some recognition regarding their accomplishments and put the actual event in the paper!" wrote Elizabeth Benton Mencia, of Smithfield. "The band looked gorgeous in their beautiful uniforms and when they were on the Macy's logo they really stood out. Our kids get so much bad news, how about some good news reported for a change?” 

Actually, The N&O did report the band's recognition with a nice story before the parade.   Metro Editor Thad Ogburn said the newspaper tried to find a band member or parent to write a blog about the parade, but without success. He has invited parents to send pictures and will publish them this week. The N&O also linked today to a photo gallery from the website of the Smithfield Herald, an N&O subsidiary. I agree with Ms. Mencia – we’ve reported a lot of bad news about all the teenage deaths in Johnston County; the parade was an opportunity for a good news story.

Cap 7 dominates N&O football rankings; Leesville makes a bid for the top

West Johnston 42, North Johnston 14 

    WJO    NJO
Rushes-yards    31-318    51-164
Comp-Att-yards    5-7-184    2-8-21
WJO    20    8    14    7    —    49
NJO    0    6    0    8    —    14
SCORING SUMMARY
WJO—D.Greene 37 pass from L.Morton (kick failed); WJO—D.Anderson 55 pass from L.Morton (M.Umphrey run); WJO—M.Umphrey 38 run (kick failed); NJO—E.Knight 2 run (kick failed); WJO—M.Umphrey 70 pass from L.Morton (M.Umphrey run); WJO—M.Umphrey 86 run (kick); WJO—C.Frederick 36 run (kick); WJO—D.Ray 5 run (kick); NJO—G.Watson 9 run (G.Watson run)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: WJO—K.Cox 1-(-2), C.Frederick 15-140, R.Harrington 4-(-15), D.Ray 5-54, C.Umphrey 1-(-1), M.Umphrey 5-142; NJO—J.Alston 3-32, B.Grey 9-22, J.Harned 5-(-11), W.Johnson 1-2, E.Knight 27-91, I.Trevino 2-12, G.Watson 4-16.
Passing: WJO—L.Morton 5-7-184-0; NJO—J.Harned 1-7-3-1, I.Trevino 1-1-18-0.
Receiving: WJO—D.Anderson 3-77, D.Greene 1-37, M.Umphrey 1-70; NJO—B.Grey 1-18, J.Lewis 1-3.
 

Wake Forest-Rolesville and Millbrook remain Nos. 1 and 2.

The N&O will have writers scattered throughout the area tonight for the start of the high school football season.

We plan to have boxscores on all of the games, but we expect to have reporters at:

Millbrook at Garner, David Justice, who is starting his 36th year covering high school sports

Chapel Hill at Cedar Ridge, Bonita Best

Clayton at Sanderson, Clay Best

Middle Creek at Northern Durham, Terry Hill

West Johnston at Athens Drive, Dave Malenick

Southern Vance at Durham Hillside, Javier Serna

Scores and boxscores should be available at High School Extra throughout the night, along with the night's most outstanding performances.

 In addition, Tucker Frazier will be at Green Hope's boys soccer game today in Wilson against 2007 4-A champion Broughton.