Alex Duncan of Chapel Hill High School has been named the Defensive Player of the Year in the Carolina 3A Conference, joined on the all-conference team by eight of his Tiger teammates.

The CHHS defensive back helped Chapel Hill finish 9-4 this fall and win a first-round playoff game for the second straight year.

Chapel Hill native Shawn Stankavage was named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year after helping Cardinal Gibbons go undefeated in Carolina-6 games for the third year in row. Steven Wright of Cardinal Gibbons was named the Coach of the Year.

Conference runnerup Orange placed 12 players on the honors team: wingbacks Jalen Pittman and Pat Pettiford; linemen Taylor Harris, Hunter Wagoner, Artrell Stewart and Dominique McCulley; receiver Matt Gattis; linebackers Jamal Pittman and Shaquille Bolden; and defensive backs Jon Evans and J.D. Brooks.

Chapel Hill players making the team were: Duncan, defensive linemen Brian James and Alex Colson; linebacker Brad Randall, punter Grant DeSelm; offensive linemen Logan Tisch and Saivon Farrington; running back Darius Allen; and receiver Eddie Burgard.

Two Tigers name all-metro in volleyball

Chapel Hill outside hitters Megan Blunden and Perry Ramsey have been selected for the News & Observer’s All-Metro volleyball team.

Ramsey, a 6-0 Maryland recruit, nailed 401 kills this season to help Chapel Hill finish 24-6. Blunden, a 6-3 recruit for the University of Delaware hit 330 kills.

Devils Dawgs take Winter World Series

The Orange County Devil Dawgs wrapped up their fall season with a 5-0 weekend and the 13U Nations Select East Coast Winter World Series championship Nov. 17-18 in Gastonia.

The Devil Dawgs took the championship game with an 11-0 win over the Vikings Baseball Club of Mooresville

The Devil Dawgs finished the fall season as North Carolina’s No. 1 ranked team in the 13U Nations Baseball Select Division — No. 8 nationally in that division.

In the Winter World Series, Davy Morgan had eight hits, scored nine runs and drove in eight to lead the Devil Dawgs’ offense.

Chris Cox also had eight hits, along with five runs and five RBIs.

Tyler Sepulveda pitched a three-hit complete game shutout, and Amren Strigo won the Dawgs’ semifinal game, allowing only three runs on five hits in six innings.

CHHS wrestlers rally for close win at Chatham Central

Chapel Hill High’s wrestlers improved to 5-1 in the early season with a 36-30 victory Thursday at Chatham Central.

The Tigers trailed 21-0 early but rallied with pins from Ethan Martin (160 pounds) and Andrew Hotong (182), and then clinched the match with wins in the final four bouts — the last two excruciatingly close.

Chapel Hill’s Zachary Allen (106) pinned Mario Lopez in 40 seconds. After a forfeit Robert Price at 220 pounds, Nick Stefanadis, (120) decisioned Michael Wolf, 8-7, and Tommy Morrison (126) sealed the win by pinning Mack Shehee at the 3:30 mark.

Tigers rout Southern Nash in opener

Jamella Smith scored 12 points, Laura Musalem 11 and Catherine Romaine 10 (with nine rebounds) as Chapel Hill prepped for Friday night’s showdown with East Chapel Hill by blowing out Southern Nash 61-24 Tuesday in the Tigers’ season opener. Tamia Eatmon had six assists, while Raziyah Farrington and Smith made five steals apiece.

Jaguars splash Jordan

Carrboro High School opened its 2012-13 swimming season with a sweep of 4A Durham Jordan. The Jaguar boys won 148-135 and the girls won 154-126.

Carrboro bounces back

Rebounding from a narrow loss to East Chapel Hill in their season opener, Carrboro routed Bartlett Yancey 60-39 Tuesday in boys basketball. Matt MacKinnon led Carrboro (1-1) with 22 points — most of that scored by hitting all six of his 3-point attempts. McLean Phipps added 14 points.

The Carrboro girls won by an even bigger margin, defeating Bartlett Yancey 46-20.

NCHSAA directors to meet this week

The directors of the N.C. High School Athletic Association is expected to hear recommendations this week about students who transfer to schools across county lines. One possibility is for transfers to be ineligible for 365 days.

The board will hold its annual winter meeting this week in Chapel Hill.

Panthers staying on top of the mats

Orange, the defending state 3A champion, leads the way in the News & Observer's first rankings of the 2012-13 wrestling season. The Panthers were 3-0 last week as they prepared to host their annual Jim King Orange Invitational, one of the early season's best tests every year for 30 visiting teams.

Chapel Hill is No. 10 the rankings released last week at http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/29/2515192/no-high-school-wrestling-rankings.html.

Cary is No. 2 in the N&O rankings, followed by Raleigh Sanderson, Holly Springs and Durham Jordan. Corinth Holders, Cary Panther Creek, Millbrook, Leesville Road and Chapel Hill round out the top 10.

Jordan's PAC-6 neighbor Northern Durham is No. 11, with West Johnston, Cleveland, Durham School of Arts and Knightdale completing the list.

Compiled by W.E. Warnock