1-27-22 roundup: Middle school basketball, College basketball, Pro basketball and football
By Richard Walker
Ever since middle school athletic programs began in Gaston County in 1949, basketball seasons had been held every year until last year’s schedule was completely wiped away by the coronavirus pandemic.
That means the 11 schools in the Gaston County Conference are excited to get back in action in 2022 even as uncertainty reigns in preseason projections.
Since there’s been no games since the 2020 championship games – Southwest’s 30-21 girls win over Belmont on March 4 and Stanley’s 43-29 win over Belmont on March 5 – little is known of any of the teams.
In a boys preseason poll, Belmont and Grier have drawn first-place votes from rival coaches while Bessemer City, Cramerton and Southwest received first-place votes in the girls preseason poll.
Here’s a look at each team with information provided by the respective coaches:
(BOYS)
Belmont Wildcats
Head coach: Pet Sumner (3rd year, 18-6)
Assistant coach: Zach Bumgarner
Returning players: K.J. Shouse (PF/C, 8th), Jaishawn Woods, Allen Edwards
Newcomers: Dylan Bradley (SG, 8th)
Bessemer City Tigers
Head coach: Robert Johnson
Chavis Wolverines
Head coach: David Williams (1st year)
Assistant coach: Kaitlyn Hendrix
Returning players: Talon Dalton (PG, 8th), Colton Robinson (PG, 8th)
Newcomers: Cole Kelly (PG, 7th), Kenan Fowler (PG, 7th), Dalien Adams (PG, 6th), Aiden Thomas (F/C, 6th), Trevor Dalton (PG, 6th)
Cramerton Eagles
Head coach: Jason Cabe (7th year, 40-24)
Assistant coach: Ryan Magill
Returning players: Deshawn Patton (G, 8th)
Newcomers: Trendan England (C, 7th), Gavin Jordan (G, 7th), Marcus Rhodes (F, 7th), Semaj Hart (G, 7th), Brady Kahn (G, 8th), Tristan Holt (F, 8th), Sean Barnett (G, 7th), Hampton West (F, 8th), Landin Scronce (C, 8th), Kamarion Dye (G, 7th), Preston Huitt (F, 7th), Jonah Gardner (C, 8th), Cooper McMilan (F, 7th), Aiden Helton (G, 7th), Jordan Littlejohn (F, 7th)
W.C. Friday Cavaliers
No information provided
Grier Knights
Head coach: Terry Benson
Holbrook Lions
Head coach: Jordan Wallace (2nd year, 7-4)
Assistant coaches: John Brown, Bryan Nichols
Returning players: Kendall Southern (G, 8th), Jaylen Dickey (F/C, 8th)
Newcomers: Savion Lindsay (G, 7th), Dyson Britt (G, 7th), Jeric Guthrie-Barber (G, 7th), Xavier Hutchens (G, 7th)
Mount Holly Hawks
Head coach: Ricky Bullock (1st year)
Assistant coaches: none
Returning players: O’Brian Lowery (PG), Braylon Clark (F), Landon Lee (F)
Newcomers: None listed
Southwest Roadrunners
Head coach: Keith Rhodes
Stanley Blue Devils
Head coach: Casey Miller (4th year, 21-11)
Assistant coaches: none
Returning players: none
Newcomers: Jeremiah Benton (G, 8th), R.J. Rowe (G, 7th), Luke Bryant (F, 8th)
York Chester Cougars
Coach: Darius Lindsay (1st year)
Assistant coach: Patrick Adcock
Returning players: Zamarius Gladden (SF, 8th), Tristen Gordon (PG, 8th), Antonio Worthy (SG, 8th)
Newcomers: none listed
(GIRLS)
Belmont Wildcats
Head coach: Carey Galbreath (6th year, 28-24)
Assistant coach: Charles Lari
Returning players: Claire Frank (PG, 8th), Tayler Culbertson (SG, 8th), Bella Goodwin (PF, 8th)
Newcomers: none listed
Bessemer City Tigers
No information provided
Chavis Wolverines
Head coach: Cheryl Houston-Word
Cramerton Eagles
Head coach: Carrie Curtis (6th year, 41-15)
Assistant coaches: none
Returning players: none
Newcomers: none listed
W.C. Friday Cavaliers
No information provided
Grier Knights
Head coach: Dorian Scott
Holbrook Lions
Head coach: Bryan Nichols (2nd year, 4-6)
Assistant coaches: Shamila Roberts, Debbie Eaddy, John Brown, Alex Wallace
Returning players: Ellia Barajas (F, 8th), Nykira Arrington (C, 8th), Amani Neely (F, 8th)
Newcomers: Jakyra Sadler (G, 6th), O’Shauna Holland (G, 8th), Jaleila Littlejohn (F, 7th), Shemia McCoy (G, 6th)
Mount Holly Hawks
Head coach: Remyan Gray (1st year)
Assistant coaches: none
Returning players: Mallory Hall (PG, 8th), Camryn Clawson (SG, 8th)
Newcomers: Ileigh Black (C, 8th), Kyleigh Hawkins (PF, 8th), Reese Hawkins (PF, 8th), Greta Howard (C, 8th), Shy’ Asia Mason (SM, 6th), Ny’Ayzhia Mcgee (PF, 6th), Mia Morton (SG, 7th), Sara Pawlish (SM, 8th), Lydia Tench (PG, 8th), Jordan Black (Manager)
Southwest Roadrunners
Head coach: Tonio Cole
Stanley Blue Devils
No information provided
York Chester Cougars
Head coach: Shane Adcock (4th year, 1-29)
Assistant coaches: none
Returning players: Ti’Kell Garvin (G, 8th)
Newcomers: Unique McDowell (G, 7th), Destiny Lynn (F, 8th)
The season began earlier this week and here are Thursday’s results:
(Boys)
Stanley 25, Bessemer City 23: Parker Stafford had six points, Joshua Norris five and Jackson Messer four for Stanley.
Belmont 44, York Chester 37: K.J. Shouse (20 points, 17 rebounds) and Dylan Bradley (16 points) led Belmont.
Holbrook 56, W.C. Friday 22: Savion Lindsay (12 points, 8 steals) and Kendall Southern (12 points) led Holbrook.
Mount Holly 43, Cramerton 31
(Girls)
Holbrook 53, W.C. Friday 5: O’Shauna Holland (16 points, 6 steals) and Nykira Arrington (13 points, 19 rebounds) led Holbrook.
Belmont 28, York Chester 10
Stanley 25, Bessemer City 22
College basketball
Gardner-Webb 61, UNC-Asheville 55: A Julien Soumaoro 3-pointer gave the Runnin’ Bulldogs a lead with 14:26 left in the first half – and they never trailed again to improve to 10-10 overall and 4-3 in the Big South Conference. Gardner-Webb’s D’Maurian Williams led all scorers with 21 points boosted by a 5-of-8 on 3-pointers.
High school basketball
Gaston Day 69, Gaston Christian 64: Chris Britt had 20 points, Callum Richard 18 and Evan Montanari 10 for Gaston Day and Jahseem Felton had 17 and Isaiah Tate 13 for Gaston Christian.
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 (W 109-98)
Fri. 14 ORLANDO (L 109-116)
Mon. 17 at New York (W 97-87)
Wed. 19 at Boston (W 111-102)
Fri. 21 OKLAHOMA CITY (W 121-98)
Sun. 23 ATLANTA (L 91-113)
Tue. 25 at Toronto (L 113-125)
Wed. 26 at Indiana (W 158-126)
Fri. 28 L.A. LAKERS 7:30
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
Pro football
The 2021-22 NFL playoffs:
(AFC 1st round)
1. Tennessee (12-5) – bye
4. Cincinnati (11-7) 26, 5. Las Vegas (10-8) 19
3. Buffalo (12-6) 47, 6. New England (10-8) 17
2. Kansas City (13-5) 42, 7. Pittsburgh (9-8-1) 21
(NFC 1st round)
1. Green Bay (13-4) – bye
2. Tampa Bay (14-4) 31, 7. Philadelphia (9-9) 15
6. San Francisco (11-7) 23, 3. Dallas (12-6) 17
4. Los Angeles (13-5) 34, 5. Arizona (11-7) 11
(AFC, NFC semifinals)
AFC
Cincinnati (12-7) 19, Tennessee (12-6) 16
Kansas City (14-5) 42, Buffalo (12-7) 36, OT
NFC
San Francisco (12-7) 13, Green Bay (13-5) 10
Los Angeles (14-5) 30, Tampa Bay (14-5) 27
(AFC, NFC championship games)
NFC
San Francisco (12-7) at Los Angeles (14-5), 6:30 p.m.
AFC
Cincinnati (12-7) at Kansas City (14-5), 3 p.m.
(Super Bowl)
Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m.