1-28-23 roundup: Pro basketball and football, High school basketball, wrestling and track, Middle school basketball, College football
By Richard Walker
History was made and extended on Saturday during the opening two rounds of the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual team wrestling playoffs.
Lincolnton won its first dual match in history and followed it up with a second straight win to advance into Wednesday’s Class 2A regional finals.
The Wolves, who are making their sixth playoff appearance in school history and first since 2020, won 52-21 over North Wilkes, then knocked off host Trinity 43-32 to continue their historic postseason advance.
Meanwhile, West Lincoln added to its area-best win total in the dual team playoffs with its 62nd and 63rd all-time postseason victories by defeating Owen 43-32 and then host R-S Central 45-27 to advance into the Class 2A regional finals.
Also on Saturday, three other area teams saw their playoff hopes end.
In Class 1A, Cherryville won its opening round match 45-36 over Mitchell County before losing to Swain County 51-22 in the second round.
In Class 3A, North Gaston won its opening match over Big South Conference rival Cramer 36-35 before losing 42-31 to host West Rowan in the second round.
North Gaston is tied for third in area history in playoff appearances with 23 (tied with Kings Mountain) and behind only West Lincoln (29) and East Gaston (26). Ashbrook (20) is fifth and Cherryville (15) is sixth.
High school track
Mountain Island Charter won both 2023 1A/2A Catawba Shores Conference indoor track championships on Thursday at Winston-Salem’s JDL Fast Track.
The Raptors were led by boys field MVP Ian Harrison and girls track MVP Natalie Patton and Mountain Island Charter’s Robert Washington was named boys and girls coach of the year.
Here’s the results of the meet:
Girls team scores
1. Mountain Island Charter- 122
2. Pine Lake Prep- 69
3. Community School of Davidson- 57
4. Christ the King- 32
5. Lincoln Charter- 22
Boys team scores
1. Mountain Island Charter- 124
2. Lincoln Charter- 67
3. Christ the King- 54
4. Community School of Davidson- 40
5. Pine Lake Prep- 21
Individual Awards
Boys Indoor Track MVP- Blake Nicholson- Christ the King
Boys Indoor Field MVP- Ian Harrison- Mountain Island Charter
Boys Indoor Team Coach of the Year- Robert Washington- Mountain Island Charter
Girls Indoor Track MVP- Natalie Patton- Mountain Island Charter
Girls Indoor Field MVP- Stefania Williams- Pine Lake Prep
Girls Indoor Team Coach of the Year- Robert Washington- Mountain Island Charter
Girls individual results (Top 3 are recognized as all-conference performers)
4x800m Relay
1. Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champions)
(Sullivan Strouse, Rylan Breath, Mickayla Belus, Emma Suchenski)
2. Pine Lake Prep
(Caroline Ingram, Allie Barfield, Jordan Kritzinger, Connelly Martin)
3. Lincoln Charter
(Carson Bohen, Julie Malascalza, Megan Hill, Hailey Radin)
55m Hurdles
1. Aniya Hawkins- Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Natalie Patton- Mountain Island Charter
3. Katie Skerpon- Community School of Davidson
55m Dash
1. Jaida McGrew- Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Natalie Patton- Mountain Island Charter
3. Stefania Williams- Pine Lake Prep
4x200m Relay
1. Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champions)
(Olivia Patterson, Natalie Patton, Cheyenne Painter, Jaida McGrew)
2. Pine Lake Prep
(Stefania Williams, Caroline Ingram, Jordan Kritzinger, Sophie Story)
3. Lincoln Charter
(Semira Burnett, Cheyenne Barbato, Olivia Lesniak, Amelia Aganad)
1600m Run
1. Abby Pike- Pine Lake Prep (Conference Champion)
2. Nicole Alfers- Christ the King
3. Marin Sullivan- Community School of Davidson
500m Dash
1. Camryn Burton- Community School of Davidson (Conference Champion)
2. Katie Skerpon- Community School of Davidson
3. Hope Barwick- Mountain Island Charter
1000m Run
1. Abby Pike- Pine Lake Prep (Conference Champion)
2. Ryan Breath- Mountain Island Charter
3. Megan Buchsbaum- Christ the King
300m Dash
1. Alessia Addo- Pine Lake Prep (Conference Champion)
2. Jaida McGrew- Mountain Island Charter
3. Natalie Patton- Mountain Island Charter
3200m Run
1. Nicole Alfers- Christ the King (Conference Champion)
2. Lily Miller- Community School of Davidson
3. Emma Suchenski- Mountain Island Charter
4x400m Relay
1. Community of Davidson- (Conference Champions)
(Camryn Burton, Mary McMillan, Katie Skerpon, Marin Sullivan)
2. Mountain Island Charter
(Hope Barwick, Olivia Patterson, Rylan Breath, Cheyenne Painter)
3. Pine Lake Prep
(Caroline Ingram, Alessia Addo, Jordan Kritzinger, Allie Barfield)
Shot Put
1. Genesis Cooke- Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Serenity Talavera- Lincoln Charter
3. Ava Buck- Mountain Island Charter
Pole Vault
1. Savannah Griffin- Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Genevieve Midthun- Mountain Island Charter
3. Maggie Osterndorf- Mountain Island Charter
High Jump
1. Jasmine Miller- Community School of Davidson (Conference Champion)
2. Claire Buchsbaum- Christ the King
3. Helayna Myers- Mountain Island Charter
Long Jump
1. Stefania Williams- Pine Lake Prep (Conference Champion)
2. Alessia Addo- Pine Lake Prep
3. Semira Burnett- Lincoln Charter
Triple Jump
1. Stefania Williams- Pine Lake Prep (Conference Champion)
2. Camryn Burton- Community School of Davidson
3. N/A
Boys individual results (Top 3 are recognized as all-conference performers)
4x800m Relay
1. Lincoln Charter (Conference Champions)
(Brandon Wright, Tucker Caulder, Joel McCloskey, Matthew Radin)
2. Christ the King
(Logan Ades, Daniel Burger, Joseph Locke, Blake Nicholson)
3. Mountain Island Charter
(Brayden Jolly, Isaac Thompson, Grayson Tillotson, Ethan Price)
55m Hurdles
1. Seth McEachern- Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Nizon Moore- Mountain Island Charter
3. Amani Benel- Christ the King
55m Dash
1. Benjamin Patton- Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Jonavon Fisher- Mountain Island Charter
3. Nate Eaton- Mountain Island Charter
4x200m Relay
1. Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champions)
(JoTwan Patton, Nate Eaton, Jonavon Fisher, Benjamin Patton)
2. Lincoln Charter
(Dylan Solera, Brennan Dodson, Anthony Lindsey, Luke York)
3. Pine Lake Prep
(Jayden Haynes, Andre’ Malberg, Owyn Chappell, Michael Braun)
1600m Run
1. Blake Nicholson- Christ the King (Conference Champion)
2. Logan Ades- Christ the King
3. Daniel Ahearn- Community School of Davidson
500m Dash
1. Colton Davis- Community School of Davidson (Conference Champion)
2. Joel McCloskey- Lincoln Charter
3. Manix Ferreira- Lincoln Charter
1000m Run
1. Matthew Radin- Lincoln Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Tucker Caulder- Lincoln Charter
3. Daniel Burger- Christ the King
300m Dash
1. Jonavon Fisher- Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Matthew Clark- Community School of Davidson
3. Malachi Davis- Mountain Island Charter
3200m Run
1. Blake Nicholson- Christ the King (Conference Champion)
2. Logan Ades- Christ the King
3. Tucker Caulder- Lincoln Charter
4x400m Relay
1. Lincoln Charter (Conference Champions)
( Manix Ferreira, Brandon Wright, Matthew Radin, Joel McCloskey)
2. Community School of Davidson
(Matthew Clark, Nicholas Calarco, Colton Davis, Daniel Ahearn)
3. Mountain Island Charter
(Nizon Moore, Malachi Davis, Ethan Price, JoTwan Patton)
Shot Put
1. Sam Kern- Pine Lake Prep (Conference Champion)
2. Ashton Miller- Mountain Island Charter
3. Jason Forsythe- Mountain Island Charter
Pole Vault
1. Connor Logue- Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Trae York- Mountain Island Charter
3. Braedon Marshall- Mountain Island Charter
High Jump
1. Reggie Daniel- Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Brandon Wright- Lincoln Charter
3. Amani Benel- Christ the King
Long Jump
1. Ian Harrison- Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Joshua Moses- Mountain Island Charter
3. Amani Benel- Christ the King
Triple Jump
1. Ian Harrison- Mountain Island Charter (Conference Champion)
2. Manix Ferreira- Lincoln Charter
3. Evan Brezicki- Community School of Davidson
College football
Crest’s DaVonyae Pettis announced on social media on Saturday that he has committed to play at The Citadel.
Middle school basketball
Gaston County Conference standings through Jan. 26:
-BOYS
Belmont 2-0
Southwest 2-0
York Chester 2-0
Mount Holly 1-0
Chavis 1-1
Cramerton 1-1
Grier 1-1
Bessemer City 0-2
W.C. Friday 0-2
Holbrook 0-1
Stanley 0-2
-GIRLS
Belmont 2-0
Holbrook 1-0
Mount Holly 1-0
Chavis 1-1
Cramerton 1-1
W.C. Friday 1-1
Stanley 1-1
Southwest 1-1
York Chester 1-1
Bessemer City 0-2
Grier 0-2
(Monday’s games)
Belmont at York Chester, Chavis at Southwest, W.C. Friday at Holbrook, Mount Holly at Cramerton, Stanley at Bessemer City
Pro basketball
Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:
(14-36 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 (W 111-96)
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.
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)
College basketball
(Saturday’s games)
Gardner-Webb 86, High Point 58: D.Q. Nicholas set a career-high with 27 points as the Runnin’ Bulldogs improved to 11-11 overall and 6-4 in the Big South Conference.
Queens 71, Stetson 65: A.J. McKee’s 15 points gave him a double-figure game for the 23rd straight time this season for the Royals (15-8, 5-5 Atlantic Sun).
Converse 71, Belmont Abbey 65: The host Valkyries outscored the Abbey (9-4, 13-8) by a 13-3 margin in the final 2 1/2 minutes to win the Conference Carolinas game.
Gaston College 88, Denmark Tech 69: Dee Merriweather scored 28 points on 8-of-11 3-point shooting as the Rhinos improved to 12-4 overall and 2-1 in Region 10.
Pro basketball
I was honored and humbled to be invited to Saturday’s memorial service for the late Paul Silas. He remains one of the most important professional influences and relationships of my long journalism career and his “Celebration of Life” ceremony was one of the most well done I’ve ever attended.