Newton Citizen

Harding University's Zach Roddenberry is probably about ready to get back on the basketball court.

The junior from Salem is coming off a career-high 24 points in a loss to St. Edwards (Texas) back on Dec. 19, the last game played by the Division II Bison.

Roddenberry is tied for second on the team averaging 12.3 points, while he leads the Bison with an outstanding 75 percent shooting from the field (43-of-57).

Harding (4-5), which has dropped four consecutive games, hosts Shepherd Tech College (Tennessee) on Tuesday in its final non-conference game before opening Great American Conference play against Southern Arkansas on Jan. 7.

Thompson playing well for Gulf Coast

Freshman guard Bernard Thompson (Rockdale) is coming off two of his finest games of the season as Florida Gulf Coast wrapped up 2011 with a pair of non-conference wins.

Thompson joined three others with a team-high 16 points in a win over Toledo, then nearly had a double-double (15 points and nine rebounds) in the Eagles' 84-72 victory over Maine. Thompson, who leads the team in steals and is second in scoring (11.7) and assists (2.1) and third in rebounding (4.8), returned to his home state as Gulf Coast, 5-7 overall and 1-1 in the Atlantic Sun, continued conference play at Mercer Monday.

Yates off to great start for Hokies

Pete Yates came up just short at the Midlands Wrestling Championships at Northwestern University.

The redshirt junior from Salem finished second at 165 pounds as the No. 6 seed, losing a 12-4 major decision to No. 1 seed Steve Fittery of DCAC in the title bout as the Hokies finished fourth.

Yates, a three-time state champion while at Salem, is 16-2 on the young season.