1-24-23 roundup: Pro basketball and football, High school basketball and football, Middle school basketball, College basketball and football, Hall of Fame

By Richard Walker

East Lincoln High School’s girls basketball team improved to 19-0 following Tuesday’s 65-23 home win over Statesville.

Coach Jason Otey’s Mustangs improved to 9-0 in the Western Foothills 3A Conference and are one win away from becoming the school’s 10th 20-game winner since 1972.

East Lincoln’s all-time best team – its unbeaten (29-0) 1973 N.C. state championship team – was recognized during a 50th anniversary celebration last week.

The Mustangs’ second-best all-time record was set last season when they went 28-2 and were eliminated in the third round of the N.C. 3A playoffs.

Here’s a look at Tuesday’s other area high school basketball games:

-BOYS
South Point 72, Cramer 52: Greyson Kines (17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals), Jaquis Rumph (15 points, 6 steals), Sean Gore (1 point, 7 rebounds, 7 assists) and Sully Absher (10 points) led South Point.

Forestview 74, North Gaston 71: Daris Byers had 27 points, Brandon Alfonse 20 and Deviyus Harris-Byrd 15 for Forestview and Issac Byers Jr. had 20 points, Key Murrell 19, Stepfon Simmons 16 and Marcus Lomick 9 for North Gaston.

Huss 59, Kings Mountain 46

Bessemer City 73, Thomas Jefferson 59

Shelby 75, Cherryville 57: Drew Hollifield had 20 points, Ja’Keith Hamiliton 18, Daylin Lee 13 and Canden McGill 10 for Shelby.

Burns 77, Highland Tech 40

Carolina International 96, Piedmont CC 56

Hickory 72, North Lincoln 51

East Lincoln 73, Statesville 35: Houston Hartsell (15 points), Palmer Crichton (12 points), Keandre Walker (12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) and Mason Simmons (11 points, 10 rebounds) led East Lincoln.

Lincolnton 47, Newton-Conover 44 (OT)

Maiden 81, West Lincoln 56

Lincoln Charter 87, Langtree Charter 40: Kelan Flowers had 19 points, Kasey Hudson and David Reed 14 points apiece and Elijah Burnett 13 points for Lincoln Charter.

Westminster Catawba 62, Gaston Day 56: Evan Montanari had 18 points and Deshawn Coulter 14 for Gaston Day.

-GIRLS
Cramer 42, South Point 40: Oshauna Holland (21 points, 4 steals, 5 rebounds), Hadley Womack (12 points) and Zion Duncan (8 points, 10 rebounds) led Cramer and Maddie Frank (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Lauren French (13 points, 10 rebounds) led South Point.

Crest 50, Ashbrook 31

Forestview 74, North Gaston 42: Amani Neely (27 points), Megan Baker (12 points, 4 steals), Molly Forgan (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Angel Thompson (8 points, 7 assists) led Forestview and Madison Davis (31 points) led North Gaston.

huss 52, Kings Mountain 40

Bessemer City 55, Thomas Jefferson 21

Shelby 65, Cherryville 21

Highland Tech 34, Burns 31

Piedmont CC 70, Carolina International 6: Kennedy Williams had 23 points, Grace East 21 and Hailey Moore 13 for Piedmont Community Charter.

Hickory 58, North Lincoln 50

Newton-Conover 65, Lincolnton 20

Maiden 44, West Lincoln 42

Northside Christian 61, Gaston Christian 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College basketball

Bessemer City’s Keyshawn Adams announced on social media Tuesday that he was committing to play for Livingstone College.

Also on Tuesday, 2022 Kings Mountain High graduate Ezekiel Cannedy was honored as CIAA men’s basketball rookie of the week for the fourth time this season for Johnson C. Smith. A 6-foot-2 guard, Cannedy averaged 22.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists while leading the Golden Bulls to victories over St. Augustine’s and Livingstone.

(Tuesday’s game)
Davidson 64, LaSalle 57: Sam Mennenga had 27 points and fellow captain Foster Loyer netted his 1,000th career point as the Wildcats (10-10, 3-5) snapped a four-game losing streak with the road victory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

College football

Kings Mountain’s Isaiah Eskridge and A.J. Richardson announced on social media Tuesday that he was committing to play for Norfolk State University.

Shelby’s Ja’Keith Hamilton announced on social media Tuesday that he was committing to play for Furman University.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school football

After helping East Lincoln to its third state title as a defensive coordinator, Ryan Goggio will get a promotion.

On Tuesday, Morganton’s Patton High announced Goggio as its new head football coach.

A 15-year-old school, the Panthers haven’t had a winning season since 2017 and have only three winning seasons all time. Patton was 1-9 overall and 1-5 in the Mountain Foothills 1A Conference last season.

Goggio becomes the third Patton head coach with Lincoln County ties; Former East Lincoln head coach Tom Eanes is the Panthers’ all-time winningest head coach with a 22-26 record from 2014 to 2017 and Joe Glass coached Patton to a 9-14 record in 2012 and 2013 before later becoming Lincolnton’s head coach.

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school basketball

Gaston County Conference standings through Jan. 23:

-BOYS
Belmont 1-0
Chavis 1-0
Grier 1-0
Southwest 1-0
York Chester 1-0
Mount Holly 0-0
Bessemer City 0-1
Cramerton 0-1
W.C. Friday 0-1
Holbrook 0-1
Stanley 0-1

-GIRLS
Belmont 1-0
Chavis 1-0
W.C. Friday 1-0
Holbrook 1-0
Stanley 1-0
Mount Holly 0-0
Bessemer City 0-1
Cramerton 0-1
Grier 0-1
Southwest 0-1
York Chester 0-1

(Thursday’s games)
Bessemer City at Belmont, Chavis at York Chester, Cramerton at Stanley, W.C. Friday at Southwest, Grier at Mount Holly

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro football

The Carolina Panthers head coaching search continues after the team announced it had completed its interview with former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton.

Payton has already interviewed with the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos and is schedule to interview again with the Broncos in addition to a first interview and the Arizona Cardinals.

Carolina owner David Tepper’s team has either requested or interviewed 12 known candidates.

The Panthers have officially interviewed Payton, interim Panthers head coach Steve Wilks, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

The team is scheduled interviews with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and are expected to interview former Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions and Wake Forest head coach Jim Caldwell.

Also, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson withdrew interest to remain with his team, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans canceled a scheduled interview and New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo declined an interview request to remain with his team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

The Charlotte Hornets fell 128-97 at the Phoenix Suns as their 4-game road trip ended with a 2-2 record.

Terry Rozier (19 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists), Mason Plumlee (17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) and Jalen McDaniels (15 points, 10 rebounds) led the Hornets.

Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:

(13-36 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 (L 106-122)
16 Boston (L 118-130)
18 at Houston (W 122-117)
21 at Atlanta (W 122-118)
23 at Utah (L 102-120)
24 at Phoenix (L 97-128)
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.

 

 

 

 

 

College football

New Charlotte 49ers head coach Biff Poggi has named Baltimore Ravens defensive assistant Ryan Osborn as the 49ers Defensive Coordinator.

“I had the opportunity to work with Ryan last year at the University of Michigan,” Poggi said in a school news release. “Coach Oz brings NFL and major college football experience. He’s coached at Florida, Michigan, and Mississippi State as well as the Baltimore Ravens. He is incredibly bright, understands the entire defense, and helped build Michigan’s defense as one of the best in the nation and has been continuing to do so with the Baltimore Ravens. Players love playing for Coach Oz.”

Said Osborn: “I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to work for Biff Poggi and the 49ers. I look forward to working alongside the great defensive staff we have hired to build a championship caliber defense here at Charlotte.”

Osborn worked this past year as a defensive assistant with the Ravens, who reached for the 2022-23 AFC Playoffs and worked closely with the outside linebackers and defensive linemen. During the regular-season, Baltimore ranked third in the NFL in rushing defense (92.1 rush yards per game) and points allowed (18.1 points per game).

“Ryan played an integral role in what we’ve built both here in Baltimore and at the University of Michigan in 2021,” Ravens’ Defensive Coordinator Mike Macdonald said of Osborn in a school news release. “I’ve learned a lot from him over the last two years and appreciate his friendship, work ethic, and dedication to the players. The Ravens will miss him moving forward but we are excited to see his vision come to life in Charlotte! Their football program is getting a great football coach; but more importantly someone who will work tirelessly to invest in his players every day.”

Before coaching for the Ravens, Osborn was a defensive analyst for Michigan, which produced the nation’s eighth-ranked scoring defense (17.4 points per game), while finishing 20th in yards allowed per game (330.9) and 11th in red zone touchdown efficiency (45.7 percent).

Osborn also guided the defensive line and served as co-Special Teams Coordinator at Tennessee-Martin in 2020, spent two years as a defensive graduate assistant for head coach Dan Mullen at both Florida (2018-19) and Mississippi State (2016-17). He also coached at St. Norbert College (2014-15), Amherst College (2013) and Maine Maritime Academy (2011-12).

 

 

 

 

 

Pro football

Here’s the 2022-23 NFL playoff schedule:

-Wild Card weekend
Jan. 14-16
(AFC)
No. 1 Kansas City – bye
No. 5 L.A. Chargers at Jacksonville – Jacksonville 31-30
No. 7 Miami at No. 2 Buffalo – Buffalo 34-31
No. 6 Baltimore at No. 3 Cincinnati – Cincinnati 24-17

(NFC)
No. 1 Philadelphia – bye
No. 7 Seattle at No. 2 San Francisco – San Francisco 41-23
No. 6 N.Y. Giants at No. 3 Minnesota – N.Y. Giants 31-24
No. 5 Dallas at No. 4 Tampa Bay – Dallas 31-14

-Confererence semifinals
Jan. 21-22
(AFC)
No. 4 Jacksonville at No. 1 Kansas City – Kansas City 27-20
No. 3 Cincinnati at No. 2 Buffalo – Cincinnati 27-10

(NFC)
No. 6 N.Y. Giants at No. 1 Philadelphia – Philadelphia 38-7
No. 5 Dallas at No. 2 San Francisco – San Francisco 19-12

-Conference championship games
Jan. 29
NFC – No. 2 San Francisco at No. 1 Philadelphia, 3 p.m. (FOX)
AFC – No. 3 Cincinnati at No. 1 Kansas City, 6:30 p.m. (CBS)

-Super Bowl
Feb. 12
At Glendale, Ariz., 6:30 p.m. (FOX)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hall of Fame

The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2023 induction class on Tuesday. The 2023 bandquet is slated for April 21 at the Raleigh Convention Center.

The new members, listed alphabetically, are Rick Barnes, Jason Brown, Jeff Davis, Donald Evans, Tom Fazio, Ellen Griffin, Tom Higgins, Clarkston Hines, Bob “Stonewall” Jackson, Trudi Lacey, Ronald Rogers, John Sadri, Jerry Stackhouse, Curtis Strange and Rosie Thompson. Their planned induction will bring the total number of inductees to 400.

Barnes is a current basketball coach, Brown, Davis, Evans, Hines and Jackson are former NFL players, Fazio, Griffin and Strange are giants in golf, Higgins was an award-winning auto racing sportswriter, Lacey is a former All-American basketball player and later a coach, Rogers and Thompson were college basketball stars, Sadri is a former tennis standout and Stackhouse is a former high school, college and pro basketball star.