1-12-23 roundup: Pro basketball and football, College football and basketball, High school basketball

By Richard Walker

Gaston College athletic director and head baseball coach Shohn Doty has announced his 2023 baseball schedule that features 28 Region 10 Division I matchups and a non-conference slate that includes games against two National Junior College Athletic Association World Series participants.

The Rhinos went 41-9 last year, were ranked as high as No. 2 in the NJCAA national polls and won the Region 10 Division II West Division regular season title. As a first-year school, Gaston College was ineligible for NJCAA national competition.

This season, the Rhinos are competing for the Region 10 Division I title alongside Florence-Darlington Tech, Louisburg, Spartanburg Methodist, USC Lancaster, USC Salkehatchie, USC Sumter and USC Union.

Gaston College’s non-conference schedule includes games against NJCAA 2022 Division I 3rd-place World Series finisher Walters State of Tennessee and NJCAA 2022 Division III 3rd-place World series finisher Caldwell Tech. (Walters State finished 60-7 and lost to eventual NJCAA Division I champion Central Arizona while Caldwell Tech finished 44-9 and lost twice to eventual NJCAA Division III runner-up Dallas-Eastfield.)

The Rhinos also play non-league games against NJCAA Division I opponent Roane State of Tennessee, Region 10 Division II opponents Brunswick Community College, Catawba Valley Community College, Guilford Tech, Lenoir Community College, Patrick & Henry Community College, Southeastern Community College and Region 10 Division III opponent Surry Community College. (Catawba Valley Community College finished 37-26 and was South Atlantic District runner-up.)

Gaston College will again use Gastonia’s Sims Legion as its homefield.

The Rhinos will be pursuing a Region 10 Division I regular season title which would allow the Rhinos to host the Eastern District from May 11-14 at Sims Legion Park. The winner of that district tournament advances to the May 27 through June 3 NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Col.

Here’s the full 2023 Gaston College baseball schedule:

Jan. 29 Roane State (DH), 1 p.m.
Feb. 4 Southeastern CC (DH), 1 p.m.
Feb. 5 Walters State (DH), 1 p.m.
Feb. 8 at Caldwell Tech, 3 p.m.
Feb. 11 Combine Academy (DH), 1 p.m.
Feb. 12 Combine Academy, 1 p.m.
Feb. 15 Caldwell Tech, 3 p.m.
Feb. 17 Catawba Valley CC, 2 p.m.
Feb. 18 USC Sumter, 1 p.m.
Feb. 18 Catawba Valley CC, 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 19 USC Sumter, Noon
Feb. 19 Catawba Valley CC, 3 p.m.
Feb. 22 Guilford Tech, 3 p.m.
Feb. 25 at Lenoir CC (DH), Noon
Feb. 26 at Lenoir CC (DH), Noon
March 1 Surry CC (DH), 3 p.m.
March 7 Brunswick CC, 2 p.m.
March 11 at USC Sumter (DH), 1 p.m.
March 12 at USC Sumter (DH), 1 p.m.
March 14 at Brunswick CC, 2 p.m.
March 18 USC Lancaster (DH), 3 p.m.
March 19 USC Lancaster (DH), 1 p.m.
March 22 at Guilford Tech, 7 p.m.
March 25 at USC Salkehatchie (DH), 1 p.m.
March 26 at USC Salkehatchie (DH), 1 p.m.
March 28 Patrick & Henry CC, 4 p.m.
April 1 at Spartanburg Methodist (DH), 1 p.m.
April 2 at Spartanburg Methodist (DH), 1 p.m.
April 4 at Patrick & Henry CC, 4 p.m.
April 7 USC Union (DH), 3 p.m.
April 8 USC Union (DH), 1 p.m.
April 15 Louisburg (DH), 3 p.m.
April 16 Louisburg (DH), 1 p.m.
April 22 at Florence-Darlington Tech (DH), 1 p.m.
April 23 at Florence-Darlington Tech (DH), 1 p.m.
April 26 at Walters State (DH), 2 p.m.
May 5-8 Region 10 tournament
May 11-14 Eastern District tournament
May 27-June 3 NJCAA World Series

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

The Charlotte Hornets never led on Thursday in a 124-114 loss at the Toronto Raptors.

It was the team’s sixth loss in the last seven games.

LaMelo Ball (32 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists), Terry Rozier (21 points, 5 assists), Mason Plumlee (16 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists), P.J. Washington (11 points, 6 rebounds) and Jalen McDaniels (10 points, 5 rebounds) led Charlotte.

Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:

(11-32 record)
October
19 at San Antonio (W 129-102)
21 New Orleans (L 112-124)
23 at Atlanta (W 126-109)
26 at New York (L 131-134, OT)
28 at Orlando (L 93-113)
29 Golden State (W 120-113, OT)
31 Sacramento (L 108-115)
November
2 at Chicago (L 88-106)
4 at Memphis (L 99-130)
5 Brooklyn (L 94-98)
7 Washington (L 100-108)
9 Portland (L 95-105)
10 at Miami (L 112-117, OT)
12 at Miami (L 115-132)
14 at Orlando (W 112-105)
16 Indiana (L 113-125)
18 at Cleveland (L 122-132, 2 OT)
20 at Washington (L 102-106)
23 Philadelphia (W 107-101)
25 Minnesota (W 110-108)
28 at Boston (L 105-140)
December
2 Washington (W 117-116)
3 Milwaukee (L 96-105)
5 L.A. Clippers (L 117-119)
7 at Brooklyn (L 116-122)
9 New York (L 102-121)
11 at Philadelphia (L 113-131)
14 Detroit (L 134-141, OT)
16 Atlanta (L 106-125)
18 at Denver (L 115-119)
19 at Sacramento (W 125-119)
21 at L.A. Clippers (L 105-126)
23 at L.A. Lakers (W 134-130)
26 at Portland (L 113-124)
27 at Golden State (L 105-110)
29 Oklahoma City (W 121-113)
31 Brooklyn (L 106-123)
January
2 L.A. Lakers (L 115-121)
4 Memphis (L 107-131)
6 at Milwaukee (W 138-109)
8 at Indiana (L 111-116)
10 at Toronto (L 120-132)
12 at Toronto (L 114-124)
14 Boston, 7 p.m.
16 Boston, 1 p.m.
18 at Houston, 8 p.m.
21 at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
23 at Utah, 9 p.m.
24 at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
26 Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
29 Miami, 1 p.m.
31 at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
February
2 at Chicago, 8 p.m.
3 at Detroit, 7 p.m.
5 Orlando, 1 p.m.
8 at Washington, 7 p.m.
10 at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
11 Denver, 7 p.m.
13 Atlanta, 7 p.m.
15 San Antonio, 7 p.m.
24 at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
25 Miami, 7 p.m.
27 Detroit, 7 p.m.
March
1 Phoenix, 7 p.m.
3 Orlando, 7 p.m.
5 at Brooklyn, 6 p.m.
7 at New York, 7:30 p.m.
9 at Detroit, 7 p.m.
11 Utah, 7 p.m.
12 Cleveland, 5 p.m.
14 Cleveland, 7 p.m.
17 Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
20 Indiana, 7 p.m.
23 at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
24 at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
26 Dallas, 1 p.m.
28 at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
31 Chicago, 7 p.m.
April
2 Toronto, 1 p.m.
4 Toronto, 7 p.m.
7 Houston, 7 p.m.
9 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school basketball

(Thursday’s games)
-BOYS
Hickory 79, North Lincoln 74

Burns 59, Kings Mountain 54

-GIRLS
Hickory 56, North Lincoln 27

Kings Mountain 55, Burns 36

Piedmont CC 72, Cabarrus Charter 14: Grace East had 35 points and Hailey Moore 13 for Piedmont.

 

 

 

 

 

 

College football

With the Biff Poggi era underway and the the American Athletic Conference debut coming this fall, 2023 Charlotte 49ers football season tickets are now on sale.

It’ll will allow fans to purchase season tickets to secure their spot in Jerry Richardson Stadium for Poggi’s first year as head coach and the 49ers historic first season in The American.

Poggi, coming off his second consecutive College Football Playoff appearance as the Associate Head Coach at Michigan, has made an immediate impact at Charlotte with the announcement of an impressive recruiting class during the early signing period.

In his first season at Charlotte, the 49ers will host a six-game home schedule that includes meetings with AAC opponents Memphis, Navy, Florida Atlantic and Rice whose dates will be announced at a later date in addition to scheduled non-conference games against South Carolina State (Sept. 2) and Georgia State (Sept. 16).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College basketball

(Thursday’s game)
Central Arkansas 92, Queens 91: A.J. McKee had 22 points for Queens (12-6, 2-3) as the Royals lost for the third time in four games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro football

The Carolina Panthers requested interviews with two more NFL coaches on Thursday.

Reports indicated the Panthers had requested permission to interview San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and New England Patriots linebacker coach Jerod Mayo.

Ryans also has been contacted by the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans for head coaching interviews.

And the Patriots on Thursday evening announced they were beginning discussions to sign Mayo to a long-term contract.

Previously, the Panthers have either interviewed or requested interviews with the following: Current Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks, former Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions and Wake Forest head coach Jim Caldwell, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich

Here’s the 2022-23 NFL playoff schedule:

(AFC)
No. 1 Kansas City – bye
No. 5 L.A. Chargers at Jacksonville, 8:15 p.m. Saturday (NBC)
No. 7 Miami at No. 2 Buffalo, 1 p.m. Sunday (CBS)
No. 6 Baltimore at No. 3 Cincinnati, 8:15 p.m. Sunday (NBC)

(NFC)
No. 1 Philadelphia – bye
No. 7 Seattle at No. 2 San Francisco, 4:30 p.m. Saturday (FOX)
No. 6 N.Y. Giants at No. 3 Minnesota, 4:30 p.m. Sunday (FOX)
No. 5 Dallas at No. 4 Tampa Bay, 8:15 p.m. Monday (ABC ESPN)