10-16-21 roundup: Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame, College football, High school football, Pro basketball and football

By Richard Walker

The Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame added five more members and five others were honored during Saturday’s induction ceremony at the Gastonia Conference Center.

Featured speaker Lou Holtz, a former college football coach at William & Mary, N.C. State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame and South Carolina, entertained the crowd with stories about his coaching career, then Gastonia’s Charlotte Whitesides, Bessemer City’s Phillip Crosby, Belmont’s Stanley Dudko, Belmont’s Mickey Lineberger and Dallas’ Hal White were a part of the 32nd class for an event that began in 1965.

Other honorees were Stanley’s Donna Jonas (Bennie Cunningham Fan of the Year), Lowell’s Michele Dransfield (David Poole Service Award), Lowell’s Bea Barger (Marshall Rauch Humanitarian Service Award), Belmont’s Alexis Henson (Dr. Buddy Whitesides FCA Student-Athlete Award) and Gastonia’s Nathan Hensley (For The Love of the Game Award).

Whitesides, a longtime swimming coach in Gastonia and Charlotte, was inducted on video by Kathie Anthony.

“All of us learned valuable lessons about life and swimming,” Anthony said of Whitesides, who died at 87 in 2017.

Whitesides induction was accepted by her daughters Debbie and Kathie.

“She would be beaming with pride today,” Debbie Curry said. “She loved coaching and teaching swimming and would consider this such a great honor.”

Crosby, the only Shrine Bowler in Bessemer City High history, was inducted with video messages from former Tennessee teammate Peyton Manning and the Tennessee coach that recruited him there (Dan Brooks).

“I want to thank my good friend and teammate Phillip Crosby on his induction into the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame,” said Manning, who quarterbacked the Volunteers in 1997 during Crosby’s sophomore year. “He was the kind of player you want to work with every day you play football.”

Said Brooks, a former Kings Mountain High coach before a long college assistant coaching career: “Phillip helped pave the way (as a blocking fullback) for a the great running game Tennessee had in the late 1990s.”

Crosby, a member of Tennessee’s 1998 national championship team before playing in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills, talked about how being late for practice in the eighth grade at Bessemer City Junior High helped motivate him the rest of his career.

“It provided a longtime motivator for me,” Crosby said. “It taught me how to work hard and work to achieve my goals.”

Dudko, a longtime teacher and soccer coach at Belmont Abbey, was inducted on video by former student Kevin Soden.

“He was a great ambassador for the sport of soccer,” Soden said. “He got people that never played soccer or knew about soccer to enjoy the game. And he was very successful as a coach.”

Dudko played on the Abbey’s first team in 1958 and later coached the Crusaders to nine NAIA District 26 titles in 10 years as head coach from 1967 to 1976.

“I cannot accept this award, but I will accept it on behalf of all the players I had at Belmont Abbey,” Dudko said. “That’s why I’m here.”

Mickey Lineberger, a former South Point High state championship-winning football player who returned to the school to coach the school’s baseball and football teams, was inducted on video by his son Jason Lineberger.

“The impact he had on the players he’s coached is truly why he’s a Hall of Famer,” said Jason Lineberger, who replaced his father as South Point baseball coach in 2006 and had his father as an assistant coach in 2011 when the Red Raiders won a state title.

Mickey Lineberger guided South Point to 362 wins and one state runner-up finish as head baseball coach, then helped the school’s football program to 209 wins and two state titles an assistant coach and 70 more wins and a state title as a head coach.

“This is an honor I’m going to accept on behalf of the entire Red Raider nation,” Mickey Lineberger said. “I’ve been blessed to work with a lot of great coaches. And I’ve been blessed to coach a lot of great players.”

Hal White, the winningest coach in North Gaston High history, was inducted on video by his sons Luke White and Tripp White.

“His love for the game carried on into his adulthood when he coached at North Gaston,” Luke White said of his father, who helped old Dallas High advance to the 1970 N.C. 2A state tournament before a standout career at Lenoir-Rhyne.

Said Tripp White: “His greatest ability was his ability to lead his players to work hard and play better than they thought they could.”

Hal White, whose 327-win boys basketball coaching career includes 13 of North Gaston’s 16 all-time winning seasons, credited his Dallas/North Gaston family for the success he enjoyed.

“I had a great high school coach and great high school teammates,” Hal White said. “And when I got into coaching, it was my family, my teammates, my coaches, the North Gaston family and the North Gaston community that got me here.”

 

 

 

Pro football

With a 3-2 record, the Carolina Panthers are entering a crossroads game against the Minnesota Vikings at home on Sunday at 1 p.m.

If the past is any indication, the team seems likely to wobble down the stretch and finish out of the playoffs.

Of the nine previous 3-2 starts in franchise history, only in 1996, 2005 and 2014 did the team advance to the playoffs.

And in the last three seasons, the Panthers finished with losing records after starting 3-2 – 7-9 in 2018 and 5-11 in 2019 and 2020.

Carolina enters the game with two of its top players – running back Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) and linebacker Shaq Thompson (foot) – out due to injury.

They made more news Saturday by placing McCaffrey on injured reserve, which means he won’t be eligible to return until Week 9 at home against New England.

Here is the Carolina Panthers’ 2021 schedule (with results):

Sept. 12 New York Jets (W 19-14)
Sept. 19 New Orleans (W 26-7)
Sept. 23 at Houston (W 24-9)
Oct. 3 at Dallas (L 28-36)
Oct. 10 Philadelphia (L 18-21)
Oct. 17 Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Oct. 24 at New York Giants, 1 p.m.
Oct. 31 at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Nov. 7 New England, 1 p.m.
Nov. 14 at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Nov. 21 Washington, 1 p.m.
Nov. 28 at Miami, 1 p.m.
Dec. 5 BYE WEEK
Dec. 12 Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Dec. 18 or 19 at Buffalo, TBD
Dec. 26 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Jan. 2 at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m

 

 

College football

Here’s the Carolinas Division I schedule this week:

(Tuesday)
Louisiana 41, Appalachian State 13

(Friday)
Clemson 17, Syracuse 14

(Saturday)
Virginia 48, Duke 0
Samford 27, Wofford 24
North Carolina 45, Miami 42
Monmouth 34, Campbell 17
S.C. State 37, Morgan State 14
South Carolina 21, Vanderbilt 20
Kennesaw State 14, N.C. A&T 0
Furman 24, The Citadel 14
Charleston Southern 35, Hampton 5
Davidson 70, Presbyterian 35
N.C. State 33, Boston College 7

Here’s the Carolinas Division II schedule this week:

(Saturday)
Lincoln, Pa. 17, Elizabeth City State 14
Lenoir-Rhyne 59, Carson-Newman 0
Virginia Union 38, Chowan 31
Winston-Salem State 41, St. Augustine’s 0
Shaw 14, Livingstone 3
Fayetteville State 55, J.C. Smith 12
North Greenville 42, Delta State 34
Erskine 24, Bluefield State 19
Newberry 14, Catawba 7
Mars Hill 32, Limestone 3
UNC-Pembroke at West Virginia State, 6 p.m.
Barton 26, Wingate 20 (OT)

 

 

 

 

High school football

Friday’s scores:

Kings Mountain 41, Cramer 28
Crest 30, Forestview 0
North Gaston 20, Huss 19
Burns 45, East Gaston 38 (2 OT)
Shelby 63, Bessemer City 0
Thomas Jefferson 20, Cherryville 12
East Lincoln 42, St. Stephens 6
North Lincoln 49, Foard 3
Lincolnton 35, East Burke 20
West Lincoln 35, West Caldwell 12
Mountain Island Charter 47, Bishop McGuinness 0
Ashbrook at South Point, ppd., Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Other area games:

Hickory 63, West Iredell 0
Statesville 44, North Iredell 0
Newton-Conover 40, Bandys 6
Maiden 62, Bunker Hill 13
Community School of Davidson 52, Lake Norman Charter 14
Chambers 29, North Meck 0
West Meck 32, Hopewell 0
Hough 31, Mallard Creek 7
West Charlotte 45, Berry Academy 20
Kell 49, Harding 6
South Meck 31, Olympic 29
Butler 28, Catholic 21
Independence 51, East Meck 0
Providence 35, Rocky River 16
Chase 31, Polk County 13
A.C. Reynolds 52, R-S Central 21
Clover, S.C. 17, Boiling Springs, S.C. 7

Here are standings through Oct. 15 with conference record listed first followed by overall record:

BIG SOUTH 3A
Kings Mountain 5-0, 7-1
Crest 5-0, 5-2
Forestview 3-2, 4-4
South Point 2-2, 4-3
Cramer 2-3, 4-4
Ashbrook 1-3, 1-4
North Gaston 1-4, 1-7
Huss 0-5, 0-6

WESTERN FOOTHILLS 3A
Statesville 5-0, 7-0
North Lincoln 4-1, 6-2
Hickory 4-1, 5-3
East Lincoln 3-2, 6-2
North Iredell 2-3, 2-5
West Iredell 1-4, 1-5
St. Stephens 1-4, 1-6
Foard 0-5, 0-7

CATAWBA VALLEY 2A
Maiden 5-0, 8-0
Bunker Hill 4-1, 7-1
Lincolnton 4-1, 4-4
West Lincoln 3-2, 6-2
Newton-Conover 3-2, 3-4
Bandys 0-4, 2-4
East Burke 0-4, 1-5
West Caldwell 0-5, 0-7

SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A/2A
Shelby 4-0, 7-1
Burns 4-0, 6-2
East Gaston 3-1, 5-3
Thomas Jefferson 2-3, 4-3
Cherryville 1-3, 2-6
Bessemer City 1-4, 2-7
Highland Tech 0-4, 0-7

QUEEN CITY 3A/4A
Hough 5-0, 8-0
Chambers 3-1, 7-1
West Charlotte 2-2, 6-2
North Meck 2-2, 4-3
Mallard Creek 2-2, 3-3
West Meck 1-4, 4-5
Hopewell 0-4, 1-7

SOUTH MECK 4A
Myers Park 3-0, 6-2
South Meck 2-1, 6-2
Olympic 2-1, 5-2
Kell 2-1, 5-2
Berry Academy 1-3, 2-5
Harding 0-4, 2-7

SOUTHWESTERN 4A
Butler 5-0, 6-2
Catholic 4-1, 6-2
Providence 2-2, 4-4
Independence 2-2, 3-4
Rocky River 1-3, 2-6
East Meck 1-3, 1-7
Garinger 0-4, 0-7

OTHERS
Chase 2-1, 7-1
Clover 2-0, 3-3
Mtn Island Charter 4-1, 7-1
R-S Central 2-2, 2-5
Lk Norman Charter 0-0, 5-2

Next week’s schedule:

(Monday)
Ashbrook at South Point

(Friday)
Cramer at North Gaston
Huss at Crest
Kings Mountain at Ashbrook
South Point at Forestview
Burns at Cherryville
Highland Tech at Thomas Jefferson
Shelby at East Gaston
North Iredell at East Lincoln
West Iredell at North Lincoln
Maiden at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at East Burke
Mountain Island Charter at W-S Carver

Foard at Hickory
Statesville at St. Stephens
Bandys at West Caldwell
Bunker Hill at Newton-Conover
North Meck at Hopewell
West Cabarrus at Hough
West Charlotte at Chambers
West Meck at Mallard Creek
Olympic at Kell
South Meck at Myers Park
East Meck at Catholic
Providence at Garinger
Rocky River at Independence
Patton at Chase
Gaffney, S.C. at Clover, S.C.

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

Here is the Charlotte Hornets’ full regular season schedule:

OCTOBER
Wed. 20 INDIANA 7:00
Fri. 22 at Cleveland 7:00
Sun. 24 at Brooklyn 4:00
Mon. 25 BOSTON 7:00
Wed. 27 at Orlando 7:00
Fri. 29 at Miami 7:30
Sun. 31 PORTLAND 7:00
NOVEMBER
Mon. 1 CLEVELAND 7:00
Wed. 3 at Golden State 10:00
Fri. 5 at Sacramento 10:00
Sun. 7 at LA Clippers 9:00
Mon. 8 at L.A. Lakers 10:30
Wed. 10 at Memphis 8:00
Fri. 12 NEW YORK 7:00
Sun. 14 GOLDEN STATE 7:00
Wed. 17 WASHINGTON 7:00
Fri. 19 INDIANA 7:00
Sat. 20 at Atlanta 7:30
Mon. 22 at Washington 7:00
Wed. 24 at Orlando 7:00
Fri. 26 MINNESOTA 7:00
Sat. 27 at Houston 8:00
Mon. 29 at Chicago 8:00
DECEMBER
Wed. 1 at Milwaukee 8:00
Sun. 5 at Atlanta 6:00
Mon. 6 PHILADELPHIA 7:00
Wed. 8 PHILADELPHIA 7:00
Fri. 10 SACRAMENTO 7:00
Mon. 13 at Dallas 8:30
Wed. 15 at San Antonio 8:30
Fri. 17 at Portland 10:00
Sun. 19 at Phoenix 8:00
Mon. 20 at Utah 9:00
Thu. 23 at Denver 9:00
Mon. 27 HOUSTON 7:00
Wed. 29 at Indiana 7:00
JANUARY
Sun. 2 PHOENIX 7:00
Mon. 3 at Washington 7:00
Wed. 5 DETROIT 7:00
Sat. 8 MILWAUKEE 7:00
Mon. 10 MILWAUKEE 7:00
Wed. 12 at Philadelphia 7:00
Fri. 14 ORLANDO 7:00
Mon. 17 at New York 1:00
Wed. 19 at Boston 7:30
Fri. 21 OKLAHOMA CITY 7:00
Sun. 23 ATLANTA 7:00
Tue. 25 at Toronto 7:00
Wed. 26 at Indiana 7:00
Fri. 28 L.A. LAKERS 7:00
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