1-21-26 roundup: Pro football and basketball, College football and basketball, High school basketball, Middle school basketball
By Richard Walker
The 2026 Gaston County Conference middle school basketball schedule opened on Wednesday highlighted by Holbrook’s county-record girls winning streak reaching 50 games.
 (Wednesday, Jan. 21)
-BOYS
Belmont 47, Stanley 45: Julian Vickers had 17 points for Belmont and Jace Johnson 17 for Stanley.
Bessemer City at Southwest
Chavis 34, Mount Holly 26
Holbrook 47, Cramerton 25: Antonio Surratt (27 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals, 4 assists), Messiah Patterson (6 points), L.J. Sherrill (4 points, 3 steals), Amare Graham (4 points), Hudaifah Jamal (4 points, 10 rebounds) and Ayden Fonville (2 points) led Holbrook.
Grier 38, W.C. Friday 34
BYE – York Chester
-GIRLS
Belmont 30, Stanley 8: Stella McGee had 9 points, Bexley Zinobile 8, Maggie Rhoden 6 and Gemma Norton 4 for Belmont and Avery Price had 4 for Stanley.
Bessemer City at Southwest
Mount Holly 26, Chavis 20 (OT)
Holbrook 43, Cramerton 20: Kennedi Johnson (18 points, 7 rebounds, 6 steals, 5 assists, 1 block), Kyzland Forney (14 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists, 4 blocks), Caitlyn Lindsay (6 points, 4 steals, 3 assists), Cordelia Salalac (2 points), Zah’mia Brooks (2 points) and Malaya Clark (1 point) led Holbrook.
W.C. Friday 26, Grier 19
BYE – York Chester
(Thursday, Jan. 22)
Southwest at York Chester
Mount Holly at Belmont
Holbrook at Bessemer City
Grier at Chavis
W.C. Friday at Cramerton
BYE – Stanley
(Monday, Jan. 26)
Stanley at Mount Holly
York Chester at Holbrook
Belmont at Grier
Bessemer City at W.C. Friday
Chavis at Cramerton
BYE – Southwest
(Thursday, Jan. 29)
Holbrook at Southwest
Grier at Stanley
W.C. Friday at York Chester
Cramerton at Belmont
Chavis at Bessemer City
BYE – Mount Holly
(Monday, Feb. 2)
Mount Holly at Grier
Southwest at W.C. Friday
Stanley at Cramerton
York Chester at Chavis
Belmont at Bessemer City
BYE – Holbrook
(Thursday, Feb. 5)
Holbrook at W.C. Friday
Cramerton at Mount Holly
Southwest at Chavis
Bessemer City at Stanley
York Chester at Belmont
BYE – Grier
(Monday, Feb. 9)
Grier at Cramerton
Holbrook at Chavis
Mount Holly at Bessemer City
Southwest at Belmont
Stanley at York Chester
BYE – W.C. Friday
(Thursday, Feb. 12)
Chavis at W.C. Friday
Bessemer City at Grier
Belmont at Holbrook
York Chester at Mount Holly
Stanley at Southwest
BYE – Cramerton
(Tuesday, Feb. 17)
Cramerton at Bessemer City
W.C. Friday at Belmont
Grier at York Chester
Holbrook at Stanley
Mount Holly at Southwest
BYE – Chavis
(Thursday, Feb. 19)
Belmont at Chavis
York Chester at Cramerton
Stanley at W.C. Friday
Southwest at Grier
Mount Holly at Holbrook
BYE – Bessemer City
(Monday, Feb. 23)
Bessemer City at York Chester
Chavis at Stanley
Cramerton at Southwest
W.C. Friday at Mount Holly
Grier at Holbrook
BYE – Belmont
(Thursday, Feb. 26)
Semifinals: No. 4 at No. 1, No. 3 at No. 2
(Tuesday, March 3)
Boys final
(Wednesday, March 4)
Girls final
High school basketball
The area’s schedule/results:
(Monday, Jan. 12)
-BOYS
East Lincoln 73, Maiden 52
North Lincoln 75, Bunker Hill 37
-GIRLS
Maiden 70, East Lincoln 63
North Lincoln 64, Bunker Hill 13
(Tuesday, Jan. 13)
-BOYS
Huss 77, Crest 74
Kings Mountain 76, Ashbrook 69
South Point 86, North Gaston 68
Bessemer City 78, Cherryville 44
Cramer 80, East Gaston 57
Shelby 72, Burns 70
Lincolnton 82, West Lincoln 46
Lincoln Charter 70, Bradford Prep 45
Jackson Day 65, Mountain Island Charter 63
Piedmont Community Charter 64, Carolina International 39
Gaston Christian 79, Davidson Day 67
Gaston Day 76, Westminster Catawba 72
-GIRLS
Huss 59, Crest 25
Kings Mountain 60, Ashbrook 45
South Point 50, North Gaston 12
Bessemer City 56, Cherryville 14
Cramer 71, East Gaston 14
Burns 56, Shelby 51
Lincolnton 63, West Lincoln 45
Lincoln Charter 57, Bradford Prep 20
Jackson Day 50, Mountain Island Charter 23
Piedmont Community Charter 50, Carolina International 17
Gaston Christian 67, Forsyth Country Day 30
Gaston Day 34, Westminster Catawba 18
(Wednesday, Jan. 14)
-BOYS
Shelby 71, Highland Tech 41
North Lincoln 75, Foard 43
Catawba Ridge, S.C. 59, Forestview 58
Roberson 65, East Lincoln 60
Lincolnton 90, South Point 83
-GIRLS
Shelby 49, Highland Tech 37
North Lincoln 63, Foard 15
Catawba Ridge, S.C. 52, Forestview 25
East Lincoln 56, Roberson 44
Lincolnton 70, South Point 62
(Thursday, Jan. 15)
-BOYS
Piedmont Community Charter 78, NCSSM Morganton 29
-GIRLS
Piedmont Community Charter 45, NCSSM Morganton 10
(Friday, Jan. 16)
-BOYS
Ashbrook 85, Forestview 60
South Point 75, Kings Mountain 72
Crest 82, North Gaston 41
Lincolnton 81, Bessemer City 77
Burns 75, Cramer 70
Highland Tech 49, East Gaston 40
Cherryville 87, West Lincoln 77
East Lincoln 83, Newton-Conover 40
North Lincoln 46, North Lincoln 30
Lincoln Charter 77, Christ the King 50
Mountain Island Charter 71, Cone Leadership 58
Piedmont Community Charter 60, Thomas Jefferson 52
Gaston Christian 58, Gaston Day 55
-GIRLS
Ashbrook 54, Forestview 34
South Point 47, Kings Mountain 34
North Gaston 58, Crest 51
Lincolnton 71, Bessemer City 41
Cramer 68, Burns 27
Highland Tech 53, East Gaston 19
West Lincoln 54, Cherryville 18
East Lincoln 57, Newton-Conover 38
Maiden 85, North Lincoln 83
Lincoln Charter 64, Christ the King 56
Mountain Island Charter def. Cone Leadership by forfeit
Thomas Jefferson 61, Piedmont Community Charter 18
Gaston Christian 66, Gaston Day 47
(Saturday, Jan. 17)
-BOYS
Reidsville 82, Lincolnton 59
-GIRLS
Lincolnton 67, Reidsville 28
(Tuesday, Jan. 20)
-BOYS
Crest 60, Ashbrook 45
South Point 72, Forestview 44
Huss 92, Kings Mountain 64
Bessemer City 88, West Lincoln 64
Burns 74, East Gaston 44
Lincolnton 87, Cherryville 72
Shelby 70, Highland Tech 34
Bandys 72, East Lincoln 59
North Lincoln 90, West Iredell 63
Lincoln Charter 81, Lake Norman Charter 56
Piedmont Community Charter 50, Mountain Island Charter 42
Concord Academy 65, Gaston Christian 56
Gaston Day 75, Hickory Grove Christian 70
Cramer 91, North Gaston 56
-GIRLS
Ashbrook 39, Crest 38
South Point 58, Forestview 47
Huss 62, Kings Mountain 27
West Lincoln 58, Bessemer City 51
Burns 47, East Gaston 19
Lincolnton 78, Cherryville 13
Highland Tech at Shelby
East Lincoln 73, Bandys 46
North Lincoln 81, West Iredell 27
Lincoln Charter 54, Lake Norman Charter 49
Mountain Island Charter 45, Piedmont Community Charter 36
Concord Academy 60, Gaston Christian 46
Hickory Grove Christian 52, Gaston Day 34
Cramer 80, North Gaston 44
(Wednesday, Jan. 21)
-BOYS
Shelby 75, Lincolnton 64
North Gaston 71, Highland Tech 59
-GIRLS
Lincolnton 78, Shelby 64
North Gaston 50, Highland Tech 45: Jaelia Littlejohn (24 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals) led North Gaston and Carsyn Redmond (12 points) and Lilly Johnson (11 points) led Highland Tech.
(Thursday, Jan. 22)
Bessemer City at Cramer
Burns at South Point
(Friday, Jan. 23)
Forestview at North Gaston
Huss at Ashbrook
Kings Mountain at Crest
Cramer at West Lincoln
East Gaston at Cherryville
Highland Tech at Bessemer City
Shelby at Lincolnton
North Lincoln at East Lincoln
Lincoln Charter at Corvian Community
Piedmont Community Charter at Queen’s Grant
Sugar Creek Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Gaston Christian at Hickory Grove Christian
Asheville Carolina Day at Gaston Day
(Monday, Jan. 26)
Metrolina Christian at Gaston Christian
(Tuesday, Jan. 27)
Forestview at Kings Mountain
North Gaston at Huss
South Point at Ashbrook
Burns at Lincolnton
Cramer at Bessemer City
Highland Tech at Cherryville
West Lincoln at Shelby
Bunker Hill at East Lincoln
North Lincoln at Hickory
Community School of Davidson at Lincoln Charter
Jackson Day at Piedmont Community Charter
Concord Academy at Gaston Day
Gaston Christian at Ambassador Christian
(Wednesday, Jan. 28)
Bessemer City at Kings Mountain
Crest at Shelby
South Point at Huss
Langtree Charter at Mountain Island Charter
(Thursday, Jan. 29)
North Gaston at Highland Tech
(Friday, Jan. 30)
Crest at Forestview
North Gaston at Ashbrook
South Point at Huss
Cherryville at Burns
Highland Tech at West Lincoln
Lincolnton at Cramer
Shelby at East Gaston
East Lincoln at West Iredell
Newton-Conover at North Lincoln
Langtree Charter at Lincoln Charter
Mountain Island Charter at Carolina International
Piedmont Community Charter at Cone Leadership
Gaston Day at Gaston Christian
Pro football
NFL 2025-26 playoff schedule:
-CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
BYES- AFC Denver (14-3), NFC Seattle (14-3)
(Saturday, Jan. 10)
NFC- No. 5 L.A. Rams (12-5) at No. 4 Carolina (8-9) – L.A. Rams 34-31
NFC- No. 7 Green Bay (9-7-1) at No. 2 Chicago (11-6) – Chicago 31-27
(Sunday, Jan. 11)
AFC- No. 6 Buffalo (12-5) at No. 3 Jacksonville (13-4) – Buffalo 27-24
NFC- No. 6 San Francisco (12-5) at No. 3 Philadelphia (11-6) – San Francisco 23-19
AFC- No. 7 L.A. Chargers (11-6) at No. 2 New England (14-3) – New England 16-3
(Monday, Jan. 12)
No. 5 Houston (12-5) at No. 4 Pittsburgh (10-7) – Houston 30-6
-CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
(Saturday, Jan. 17)
AFC- No. 6 Buffalo at No. 1 Denver – Denver 33-30 (OT)
NFC- No. 6 San Francisco at No. 1 Seattle – Seattle 41-6
(Sunday, Jan. 18)
AFC- No. 5 Houston at No. 2 New England – New England 28-16
NFC- No. 5 L.A. Rams at No. 2 Chicago – L.A. Rams 20-17 (OT)
-CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
(Sunday, Jan. 25)
AFC- No. 2 New England at No. 1 Denver, 3 p.m., CBS
NFC- No. 5 L.A. Rams at No. 1 Seattle, 6:30 p.m., FOX
SUPER BOWL
(Sunday, Feb. 8)
At Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara CA, 6:30 p.m., NBC
The Carolina Panthers’ 2025 schedule:
-Preseason
Friday, Aug. 8 Cleveland Browns (L 10-30)
Saturday, Aug. 16 at Houston Texans (L 3-20)
Thursday, Aug. 21 Pittsburgh Steelers (L 10-19)
-Regular season
Sunday, Sept. 7 at Jacksonville Jaguars (L 10-26)
Sunday, Sept. 14 at Arizona Cardinals (L 22-27)
Sunday, Sept. 21 Atlanta Falcons (W 30-0)
Sunday, Sept. 28 at New England Patriots (L 13-42)
Sunday, Oct. 5 Miami Dolphins (W 27-24)
Sunday, Oct. 12 Dallas Cowboys (W 30-27)
Sunday, Oct. 19 at New York Jets (W 13-6)
Sunday, Oct. 26 Buffalo Bills (L 9-40)
Sunday, Nov. 2 at Green Bay Packers (W 16-13)
Sunday, Nov. 9 New Orleans Saints (L 7-17)
Sunday, Nov. 16 at Atlanta Falcons (W 30-27, OT)
Monday, Nov. 24 at San Francisco 49ers (L 9-20)
Sunday, Nov. 30 Los Angeles Rams (W 31-28)
Sunday, Dec. 7 BYE WEEK
Sunday, Dec. 14 at New Orleans Saints (L 17-20)
Sunday, Dec. 21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (W 23-20)
Sunday, Dec. 28 Seattle Seahawks (L 10-27)
Saturday, Jan. 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L 14-16)
-Playoffs
Saturday, Jan. 10 Los Angeles Rams (L 31-34)
Pro basketball
Cleveland 94, Charlotte 87: Brandon Miller had 24 points and Kon Knueppel 21 with 11 rebounds for the Hornets, who never led but closed within 4 points late in the 4th quarter after trailing by 27 points late in the 1st half.
The Charlotte Hornets full 2025-26 regular season schedule:
OCTOBER
Wednesday 22 BROOKLYN (W 136-117)
Saturday 25 at Philadelphia (L 121-125)
Sunday 26 at Washington (W 139-113)
Tuesday 28 at Miami (L 117-144)
Thursday 30 ORLANDO (L 107-123)
NOVEMBER
Saturday 1 MINNESOTA (L 105-122)
Sunday 2 UTAH (W 126-103)
Tuesday 4 at New Orleans (L 112-116)
Friday 7 at Miami* (L 108-126)
Monday 10 L.A. LAKERS (L 111-121)
Wed. 12 MILWAUKEE (W 111-100)
Friday 14 at Milwaukee* (L 134-147, OT)
Saturday 15 OKLAHOMA CITY (L 96-109)
Monday 17 at Toronto (L 108-110)
Wednesday 19 at Indiana (L 118-127)
Saturday 22 LA CLIPPERS (L 116-131)
Sunday 23 at Atlanta (L 110-113)
Wednesday 26 NEW YORK* (L 101-129)
Friday 28 CHICAGO* (W 123-116)
Saturday 29 TORONTO (W 118-111, OT)
DECEMBER
Monday 1 at Brooklyn (L 103-116)
Wednesday 3 at New York (L 104-119)
Friday 5 at Toronto (W 111-86 )
Sunday 7 DENVER (L 106-115)
Friday 12 CHICAGO (L 126-129)
Sunday 14 at Cleveland (W 119-111)
Thursday 18 ATLANTA (W 133-126)
Saturday 20 at Detroit (L 86-112)
Monday 22 at Cleveland (L 132-139)
Tuesday 23 WASHINGTON (W 126-109)
Friday 26 at Orlando (W 120-105)
Monday 29 MILWAUKEE (L 113-123)
Wednesday 31 GOLDEN STATE (L 125-132)
JANUARY
Friday 2 at Milwaukee (L 121-122)
Saturday 3 at Chicago (W 112-99 )
Monday 5 at Oklahoma City (W 124-97 )
Wednesday 7 TORONTO (L 96-97 )
Thursday 8 INDIANA (L 109-112)
Saturday 10 at Utah (W 150-95 )
Monday 12 at LA Clippers (L 109-117)
Thursday 15 at L.A. Lakers (W 135-117)
Saturday 17 at Golden State (L 116-136)
Sunday 18 at Denver (W 110-87 )
Wednesday 21 CLEVELAND (L 87-94 )
Thursday 22 at Orlando 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 24 WASHINGTON 6:00 p.m.
Monday 26 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 28 at Memphis 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 29 at Dallas 8:30 p.m.
Saturday 31 SAN ANTONIO 3:00 p.m.
FEBRUARY
Monday 2 NEW ORLEANS 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 5 at Houston 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 7 at Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Monday 9 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11 ATLANTA 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 19 HOUSTON 7:00 p.m.
Friday 20 CLEVELAND 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 22 at Washington 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 24 at Chicago 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 26 at Indiana 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 28 PORTLAND 1:00 p.m.
MARCH
Tuesday 3 DALLAS 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 4 at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Friday 6 MIAMI 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 8 at Phoenix 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10 at Portland 10:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11 at Sacramento 10:00 p.m.
Saturday 14 at San Antonio 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday 17 MIAMI 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 19 ORLANDO 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 21 MEMPHIS 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 24 SACRAMENTO 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 26 NEW YORK 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 28 PHILADELPHIA 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 30 BOSTON 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 31 at Brooklyn 7:30 p.m.
APRIL
Thursday 2 PHOENIX 7:00 p.m.
Friday 3 INDIANA 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 5 at Minnesota 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday 7 at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Friday 10 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 12 at New York 6:00 p.m.
Home games in CAPS
All times listed are Eastern
* Denotes Emirates NBA Cup Group Play game
Schedule to be announced following Emirates NBA Cup Group Play: Dec. 9, 10, 13, 16- Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds, Dec. 11, 12, 14, 15- Additional regular-season games for eliminated teams
The Charlotte Hornets 2025 preseason schedule:
Sunday, Oct. 5 Oklahoma City (at N. Charleston Col.) L 114-135
Thursday, Oct. 9 at Oklahoma City L 116-122
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Dallas W 120-116
Wednesday, Oct. 15 Memphis (at First Horizon Col., Gboro) W 145-116
Friday, Oct. 17 at New York L 108-113
College basketball
Here are the recent results/upcoming schedule for area teams:
(Thursday, Jan. 8)
Queens 77, Jacksonville 51
J.C. Smith 71, Elizabeth City State 52
(Saturday, Jan. 10)
Gaston College 109, Converse JV 80
Queens 89, North Florida 82
Rhode Island 70, Rhode Island 45
Cleveland CC 91, Pitt CC 73
UNC Pembroke 70, Belmont Abbey 51
Virginia State 83, J.C. Smith 61
(Sunday, Jan. 11)
Charlotte 74, Rice 73
(Monday, Jan. 12)
Cleveland CC 86, Johnston CC 70
Bluefield State 66, J.C. Smith 64
(Tuesday, Feb. 13)
Ferrum 78, Belmont Abbey 75 (OT)
(Wednesday, Jan. 14)
Davidson 84, George Washington 79
Forsyth Tech 93, Cleveland CC 81
Gaston College 122, Denmark Tech 73
Radford 89, Gardner-Webb 80
Tulsa 86, Charlotte 74
Virginia Union 75, J.C. Smith 73
(Thursday, Jan. 15)
Queens 85, Florida Gulf Coast 74
(Saturday, Jan. 17)
Queens 87, Stetson 81
Presbyterian 92, Gardner-Webb 55
Forsyth Tech 84, Cleveland CC 71
Brunswick CC 68, Gaston College 63
Chowan 90, Belmont Abbey 69
Fayetteville State 95, J.C. Smith 83
(Sunday, Jan. 18)
Charlotte 73, East Carolina 70
(Monday, Jan. 19)
Mount Olive 64, Belmont Abbey 61
(Wednesday, Jan. 21)
Davidson 68, Fordham 63
Longwood 91, Gardner-Webb 56
Cleveland CC 90, Guilford Tech 86
Queens 87, North Alabama 62
J.C. Smith 90, Shaw 77
Gaston College 72, Caldwell Tech 62
(Thursday, Jan. 22)
Belmont Abbey at Emmanuel, 7 p.m.
(Friday, Jan. 23)
Gaston College at Cape Fear CC, 3 p.m.
Tulane at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
(Saturday, Jan. 24)
USC Upstate at Gardner-Webb, 2 p.m.
Cleveland CC at Fayetteville, 3 p.m.
J.C. Smith at Livingstone, 4 p.m.
Queens at West Georgia, 4:30 p.m.
VCU at Davidson, 5 p.m.
(Tuesday, Jan. 27)
Belmont Abbey at King, 7:30 p.m.
(Wednesday, Jan. 28)
Central Arkansas at Queens, 7 p.m.
Davidson at George Mason, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Temple, 7 p.m.
J.C. Smith at Winston-Salem, 7:30 p.m.
USC Salkehatchie at Gaston College, 8 p.m.
(Thursday, Jan. 29)
Gardner-Webb at UNC-Asheville, 6:30 p.m.
(Friday, Jan. 30)
Cleveland CC at Catawba Valley CC, 7 p.m.
(Saturday, Jan. 31)
Gardner-Webb at Charleston Southern, 2 p.m.
Queens at Bellarmine, 2 p.m.
Gaston College at Wake Tech, 3 p.m.
Cleveland CC at Southwest Virginia, 4 p.m.
Erskine at Belmont Abbey, 4 p.m.
J.C. Smith at Claflin, 4 p.m.
Davidson at Richmond, 4:30 p.m.
Rice at Charlotte, 6 p.m.