1-11-22 roundup: High school basketball, Pro football, basketball and soccer, College football and basketball

By Richard Walker

Even with a losing overall bowl record, the Southeastern Conference continued its college football dominance since the Bowl Championship Series format was adopted in 1998.

The league won its 14th title in the 24-year history of the format that was increased from two teams to four teams in 2014.

Georgia’s 33-18 victory gave the Bulldogs their first national title since 1980 while also becoming the sixth league team to win a BCS championship; Tennessee (1998), LSU (2003, 2007 and 2019), Florida (2006 and 2008), Alabama (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020) and Auburn (2010) were the others.

For the third time, the title game was an all-SEC affair and no other league had pulled off such a feat.

With four titles, the ACC is second behind the SEC with the Big Ten and Big XII winning two titles each and the American Athletic and Pac-12 one championship each.

Even with the SEC’s 6-8 postseason record – only the fourth losing record in the 24-year history of the BCS – the league is the all-time winner over the power five conferences with a .596 winning percentage and 134-91 record.

Here are the other records: American Athletic (69-63 record, .523 percentage), Big XII (89-85, .511), Big Ten (87-97, .473), Pac-12 (70-80, .467) and ACC (87-105, .453).

Since 2014, when the four-team format was adopted Georgia became the first No. 3 seed to win the championship. The No. 2 seed is the most frequent winner with three titles (2015 Alabama, 2016 Clemson and 2018 Clemson), followed by the No. 1 seed (2019 LSU and 2020 Alabama) and No. 4 seed (2014 Ohio State and 2017 Alabama).

Georgia also remains the only team to play in a postseason bowl game in all 24 seasons; The Bulldogs also are the all-time bowl winner with an 18-6 record.

Wisconsin (14-9), Oklahoma (11-12) and Virginia Tech (10-13) have made 23 appearances and Ohio State (13-9), Clemson (12-10), Florida (12-10) and Oregon (11-11) 22 appearances each.

The top North Carolina school is N.C. State with a 9-7 record in 16 appearances that don’t include this year’s covid-cancelled Holiday appearance against UCLA.

Here are the all-time BCS champions and runner-ups by conference since the format began in 1998:

Champions:
ACC – 1999 Florida State, 2013 Florida State, 2016 Clemson, 2018 Clemson
Big East/American – 2001 Miami
Big Ten – 2002 Ohio State, 2014 Ohio State
Big XII – 2000 Oklahoma, 2005 Texas
Pac-12 – 2004 Southern Cal
SEC – 1998 Tennessee, 2003 LSU, 2006 Florida, 2007 LSU, 2008 Florida, 2009 Alabama, 2010 Auburn, 2011 Alabama, 2012 Alabama, 2015 Alabama, 2017 Alabama, 2019 LSU, 2020 Alabama, 2021 Georgia
Other – none

Runner-ups:
ACC – 1998 Florida State, 2000 Florida State, 2015 Clemson, 2019 Clemson
Big East/American – 1999 Virginia Tech, 2002 Miami
Big Ten – 2006 Ohio State, 2007 Ohio State, 2020 Ohio State
Big XII – 2001 Nebraska, 2003 Oklahoma, 2004 Oklahoma, 2008 Oklahoma, 2009 Texas
Pac-12 – 2005 Southern Cal, 2010 Oregon, 2014 Oregon
SEC – 2011 LSU, 2013 Auburn, 2016 Alabama, 2017 Georgia, 2018 Alabama, 2021 Alabama
Other – 2012 Notre Dame

 

 

 

High school basketball

Cramer senior Will Kelly has been invited to the Carolinas Classic North/South All-Star game that will be played March 26 in Wilmington.

Tuesday’s results:

(Boys)
Ashbrook 55, South Point 44

Kings Mountain 88, Cramer 82: Will Kelly (37 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals, 4 charges taken), Frankie Verdezas (17 points, 4 rebounds), Jacob Joyner (8 points, 4 steals) and Taelen Whitley (8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks) led Cramer and Zeke Cannedy’s 30 points led Kings Mountain.

East Gaston at Shelby (ppd., Wednesday)

Cherryville 76, Highland Tech 48: Carson Kelly had 29 points and Landon Hahn 19 for Cherryville.

West Caldwell 76, West Lincoln 63

Gaston Day 68, Northside Christian 63: Chris Britt had 18 points, Callum Richard 17 and Evan Montanari 14 for Gaston Day.

Gaston Christian 66, Hickory Grove 54: Jashseem Felton had 28 points for Gaston Christian.

Lincoln Charter 77, Christ the King 50: Elijah Burnett (21 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) and Marcus Farley Jr. (8 points, 7 steals, 6 rebounds) led Lincoln Charter.

(Girls)
Ashbrook 61, South Point 37: Kennette Bess had 30 points for Ashbrook and Maddie Frank (11 points, 5 rebounds), Lexi Birtwhistle (9 points, 8 rebounds) and Toney Milton (7 points, 6 rebounds) led South Point.
South Point won the JV game 24-17 and Emmy Dawe (12 points) and Annie Risk (11 points, 9 rebounds) led South Point.

Kings Mountain 67, Cramer 48: Saniya Wilson (19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals), Khalia King (16 points, 7 rebounds), CoRey Simpson (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Tyasya Bell (12 points, 5 rebounds) led Kings Mountain and Dasia Harris (28 points, 7 rebounds) and Hadley Womack (18 points, 6 steals) led Cramer.

East Gaston at Shelby (ppd., Wednesday)

Cherryville d. Highland Tech

Lincoln Charter 53, Christ the King 27: Lauren Horton had 24 points, Maddie Lusk 11 and Kallie Lusk 10 for Lincoln Charter.

This week’s remaining schedule:

(Wednesday)
Cramer at Crest (ppd., no date)
East Gaston at Shelby
East Lincoln at Lincolnton

(Thursday)
Burns at East Rutherford

(Friday)
Cramer at North Gaston
Huss at Crest
Kings Mountain at Ashbrook
South Point at Forestview
East Gaston at Burns
Corvian Community at Piedmont CC
North Iredell at East Lincoln
West Iredell at North Lincoln
East Burke at West Lincoln
Gaston Day at Concord Academy
Mountain Island Charter at Lincoln Charter

(Saturday)
Columbia, S.C. Newman at Gaston Christian

 

 

 

College basketball

USC Salkehatchie 92, Gaston College 89: USC Salkehatchie 15 3-pointers overall and scored 53 points in the second half in winning the Region 10 game at North Gaston High School. Gaston College (10-6, 1-2), which plays again on Saturday at 2 p.m. at North Gaston against Cape Fear Community College, was led by Jaylen Bates (17 points, 7 rebounds), Damon Davis (16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists), Kalil Camara (16 points, 8 rebounds), Da’marco Watson (15 points, 3 assists) and Dee Merriweather (13 points).

Charlotte 49ers: Following its two-week hiatus, Conference USA has announced the make-up dates for the previously postponed Charlotte men’s basketball contests at FAU at home against Old Dominion; The 49ers will play at FAU on Jan. 17 at 4 p.m. and will host Old Dominion on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. Charlotte snaps its long layoff on Thursday at home at 7 p.m. against UTEP.

 

 

 

 

Pro soccer

Charlotte FC drafted three players in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday, including the number one overall pick announced by 7-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. Charlotte FC selected midfielder Ben Bender (No. 1 Overall; University of Maryland), forward Kyle Holcomb (No. 29 Overall; Wake Forest University) and goalkeeper George Marks (No. 57 Overall; Clemson University).

Charlotte FC now has a total of 23 players on the Club’s inaugural 2022 roster:
Goalkeepers: Kristijan Kahlina, George Marks, Pablo Sisniega
Defenders: Harrison Afful, Adam Armour, Guzmán Corujo, Christian Fuchs, Jaylin Lindsey, Christian Makoun, Joseph Mora, Jan Sobociński, Anton Walkes
Midfielders: Jordy Alcívar, Ben Bender, Brandt Bronico, Alan Franco, Chris Hegardt, Riley McGree, Sergio Ruiz
Forwards: McKinze Gaines, Kyle Holcomb, Vinicius Mello, Yordy Reyna

 

 

Pro football

The 2021-22 NFL playoff schedule:

(AFC 1st round)
1. Tennessee (12-5) – bye
5. Las Vegas (10-7) at 4. Cincinnati (10-7), 4:30 p.m. Saturday
6. New England (10-7) at 3. Buffalo (11-6), 8:15 p.m. Saturday
7. Pittsburgh (9-7-1) at 2. Kansas City (12-5), 8:15 p.m. Sunday

(NFC 1st round)
1. Green Bay (13-4) – bye
7. Philadelphia (9-8) at 2. Tampa Bay (13-4), 1 p.m. Sunday
6. San Francisco (10-7) at 3. Dallas (12-5), 4:30 p.m. Sunday
5. Arizona (11-6) at 4. Los Angeles (12-5), 8:15 p.m. Monday

(AFC, NFC semifinals)
Jan. 22-23

(AFC, NFC championship games)
Jan. 30

(Super Bowl)
Feb. 13

 

 

 

Pro basketball

Here is the Charlotte Hornets’ full regular season schedule (with results):

OCTOBER
Wed. 20 INDIANA (W 123-122)
Fri. 22 at Cleveland (W 123-112)
Sun. 24 at Brooklyn (W 111-95)
Mon. 25 BOSTON (L 129-140, OT)
Wed. 27 at Orlando (W 120-111)
Fri. 29 at Miami (L 99-114)
Sun. 31 PORTLAND (W 125-113)
NOVEMBER
Mon. 1 CLEVELAND (L 110-113)
Wed. 3 at Golden State (L 92-114)
Fri. 5 at Sacramento (L 110-140)
Sun. 7 at LA Clippers (L 106-120)
Mon. 8 at L.A. Lakers (L 123-126, OT)
Wed. 10 at Memphis (W 118-108)
Fri. 12 NEW YORK (W 104-96)
Sun. 14 GOLDEN STATE (W 106-102)
Wed. 17 WASHINGTON (W 97-87)
Fri. 19 INDIANA (W 121-118)
Sat. 20 at Atlanta (L 105-115)
Mon. 22 at Washington (W 109-103)
Wed. 24 at Orlando (W 108-99)
Fri. 26 MINNESOTA (W 133-115)
Sat. 27 at Houston (L 143-146, OT)
Mon. 29 at Chicago (L 119-133)
DECEMBER
Wed. 1 at Milwaukee (L 125-127)
Sun. 5 at Atlanta (W 130-127)
Mon. 6 PHILADELPHIA (L 124-127, OT)
Wed. 8 PHILADELPHIA (L 106-110)
Fri. 10 SACRAMENTO (W 124-123)
Mon. 13 at Dallas (L 96-120)
Wed. 15 at San Antonio (W 131-115)
Fri. 17 at Portland (L 116-125)
Sun. 19 at Phoenix (L 106-137)
Mon. 20 at Utah (L 102-112)
Thu. 23 at Denver (W 115-107)
Mon. 27 HOUSTON (W 123-99)
Wed. 29 at Indiana (W 116-108)
JANUARY
Sun. 2 PHOENIX (L 99-133)
Mon. 3 at Washington (L 121-124)
Wed. 5 DETROIT (W 140-111)
Sat. 8 MILWAUKEE (W 114-106)
Mon. 10 MILWAUKEE (W 103-99)
Wed. 12 at Philadelphia 7:00
Fri. 14 ORLANDO 7:00
Mon. 17 at New York 1:00
Wed. 19 at Boston 7:30
Fri. 21 OKLAHOMA CITY 7:00
Sun. 23 ATLANTA 7:00
Tue. 25 at Toronto 7:00
Wed. 26 at Indiana 7:00
Fri. 28 L.A. LAKERS 7:00
Sun. 30 LA CLIPPERS 1:00
FEBRUARY
Wed. 2 at Boston 7:30
Fri. 4 CLEVELAND 7:00
Sat. 5 MIAMI 7:00
Mon. 7 TORONTO 7:00
Wed. 9 CHICAGO 7:30
Fri. 11 at Detroit 7:00
Sat. 12 MEMPHIS 7:00
Tue. 15 at Minnesota 8:00
Thu. 17 MIAMI 7:00
Fri. 25 TORONTO 7:00
Sun. 27 DETROIT 7:00
Mon. 28 at Milwaukee 8:00
MARCH
Wed. 2 at Cleveland 7:00
Sat. 5 SAN ANTONIO 7:00
Tue. 8 BROOKLYN 7:00
Wed. 9 BOSTON 7:00
Fri. 11 at New Orleans 8:00
Mon. 14 at Oklahoma City 8:00
Wed. 16 ATLANTA 7:00
Sat. 19 DALLAS 7:00
Mon. 21 NEW ORLEANS 7:00
Wed. 23 NEW YORK 7:00
Fri. 25 UTAH 7:00
Sun. 27 at Brooklyn 7:30
Mon. 28 DENVER 7:00
Wed. 30 at New York 7:30
APRIL
Sat. 2 at Philadelphia 12:30
Tue. 5 at Miami 7:30
Thu. 7 ORLANDO 7:00
Fri. 8 at Chicago 8:00
Sun. 10 WASHINGTON TBD