11-11-22 roundup: Pro basketball and football, High school football and soccer, College football, Middle school soccer, volleyball and wrestling

By Richard Walker

Kings Mountain continued their school-best start to a season with an impressive 42-0 win over Smoky Mountain on Friday in the second round of the N.C. Class 3A state playoffs.

The Mountaineers, now 12-0, got three touchdown passes from Lamont Littlejohn – two to Caleb Holland and one to JaQualyn Sanders – and Holland, A.J. Richardson and Teddy Jeffries added touchdown runs.

Kings Mountain’s best previous start to a season came in 1964 when the Mountaineers started 10-0 before dropping a opening round playoff game.

This weekend’s complete NCHSAA playoff results/pairings:

(1A East)
Tarboro 48, Southeast Halifax 0
Riverside-Martin 44, North Edgecombe 14
#3 West Columbus vs. #21 Washington County; Saturday, 7:30 PM
Northampton County 28, Northside-Pinetown 20
Rosewood 42, Warren County 0
Hobbton 42, Southside 34
Perquimans 48, East Columbus 14
North Moore 13, Pender 12

(1A West)
Eastern Randolph 28, Mountain Heritage 12
Robbinsville 39, Cherokee 12
Hayesville 14, Christ the King 13
Mount Airy 57, North Rowan 7
Thomasville 21, Swain County 0
Draughn 35, Mitchell 10
Murphy 38, East Wilkes 34
Andrews 35, Mountain Island Charter 0

(2A East)
Princeton 71, Heide Trask 34
Cummings 42, Midway 7
Wallace-Rose Hill 35, Northeastern 31
Nash Central 36, Greene Central 28
Whiteville 42, John A. Holmes 35
Hertford County 44, West Craven 43
Clinton 26, South Granville 0
East Duplin 31, James Kenan 17

(2A West)
Reidsville 51, Providence Grove 25
Chase 35, Jay M. Robinson 14
Maiden 46, Mount Pleasant 13
Bunker Hill 41, Community School of Davidson 40
Burns 42, Shelby 0
Salisbury 48, Pine Lake Prep 13
Monroe 55, Lincolnton 7
East Surry 21, Hendersonville 16

(3A East)
Northern Nash 27, Southern Nash 12
Southern Durham 27, Vance County 7
Triton 35, Hunt 16
Jacksonville 49, Havelock 42
Seventy-First 28, J.H. Rose 20
#6 North Brunswick vs. #22 Lee County; Saturday, 6:30 PM
Terry Sanford 58, Scotland 55
Eastern Alamance 27, Williams 24

(3A West)
Kings Mountain 42, Smoky Mountain 0
West Charlotte 56, Hibriten 7
Ledford 42, Northwest Cabarrus 27
East Lincoln 35, Tuscola 7
Crest 42, Oak Grove 15
South Point 74, Dudley 41
Eastern Guilford 62, Erwin 42
West Henderson 56, West Rowan 42

(4A East)
Hillside 46, Apex 43
Pine Forest 16, Holly Springs 10
Millbrook 42, Cardinal Gibbons 30
Southern Alamance 38, New Hanover 32
Wake Forest 45, Leesville Road 21
Rolesville 28, Cleveland 21
Jordan 32, Pinecrest 28
New Bern 21, Hoggard 0

(4A West)
Grimsley vs. #17 Charlotte Catholic; Saturday, 6:00 PM
Independence 55, Olympic 6
Hough 16, Mallard Creek 6
#4 East Forsyth vs. #20 Mount Tabor; Saturday, 3:00 PM
#3 Watauga vs. #14 Northwest Guilford; Saturday, 6:00 PM
Weddington 30, Cox Mill 0
A.C. Reynolds 17, Chambers 16
Butler 41, Mooresville 21

Next week’s third round pairings:
(1A East)
Riverside-Martin at Tarboro
West Columbus-Washington County winner at Northampton County
Hobbton at Rosewood
Perquimans County at North Moore

(1A West)
Robbinsville at Eastern Randolph
Hayesville at Mount Airy
Draughn at Thomasville
Murphy at Andrews

(2A East)
Cummings at Princeton
Wallace-Rose Hill at Nash Central
Hertford County at Whiteville
Clinton at East Duplin

(2A West)
Chase at Reidsville
Bunker Hill at Maiden
Salisbury at Burns
Monroe at East Surry

(3A East)
Southern Durham at Northern Nash
Triton at Jacksonville
North Brunswick-Lee County winner at 71st
Terry Sanford at Eastern Alamance

(3A West)
West Charlotte at Kings Mountain
Ledford at East Lincoln
Crest at South Point
Eastern Guilford at West Henderson

(4A East)
Pine Forest at Hillside
Southern Alamance at Millbrook
Rolesville at Wake Forest
Jordan at New Bern

(4A West)
Independence vs. Grimsley-Charlotte Catholic winner
Houghvs. Mount Tabor-East Forsyth winner
Weddington vs. Watauga-Northwest Guilford winner
Butler at A.C. Reynolds

N.C. Independent School Athletic Association playoffs

Division 1
(Nov. 4 first round results)
Charlotte Providence Day 56, Charlotte Country Day 7
Asheville Christ School 36, Charlotte Latin 35
Rabun Gap 45, Cannon/Concord Academy 14

(This weeek’s semifinals)
Asheville Christ School at Charlotte Providence Day, Saturday at 7:00 PM
Charlotte Christian 33, Rabun Gap 31

(Next week’s championship game)
Charlotte Christian vs. Asheville Christ School-Charlotte Providence Day winner

Division 2
(Nov. 4 first round results)
High Point Christian 19, Hickory Grove Christian 7
Trinity Christian 50, Harrells Christian 0

(This week’s semifinals)
Asheville School 47, High Point Christian 3
Covenant Day 21, Trinity Christian 18

(Next week’s championship game)
Covenant Day at Asheville School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College football

Charlotte 49ers fans have to wonder what else can go wrong for their football program.

It seems that after a five-game winning streak to end the 2019 landed Charlotte in its first postseason game, nothing but bad luck has followed.

In truth, the 49ers are 9-20 since that late-season surge.

That includes a 31-9 blowout loss to Buffalo in the 2019 Bahamas Bowl, the ill-fated pandemic season of 2020 (2-4 record), a 5-7 finish in 2021 and a current 2-8 record this season entering Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. game at Middle Tennessee.

Last week’s 59-7 blowout home was another low in a season that’s been filled with them.

The point total was the lowest since a 14-3 loss at Tennessee late in the 2018 season in addition to dropping Charlotte to 0-5 at home this season with blowout losses in three of those games.

Interim head coach Pete Rossomando knows that negativity has overwhelmed social media about the 49ers’ struggles.

That’s why he’s leaning on his team’s work ethic and professionalism to close out the season as strong as it can.

“The only thing we can do right now is look ahead and fix the things that we can fix,” Rossomando said during Tuesday’s weekly news conference. “I’m proud of our team’s leaders. And right now it hasn’t been easy to be a leader with all that’s out there on social media.”

Charlotte athletic director Mike Hill fired head coach Will Healy after three years following the previous home blowout loss – a 34-15 homecoming defeat against Florida International in a game that started with a 34-0 deficit.

Rossomando guided Charlotte to an impressive 56-23 win at Rice in his first game as interim head coach before last week’s disappointing home defeat.

Saturday’s game will be played after the school received its upcoming American Athletic Conference league opponents for the next four seasons.

The 49ers also released their non-conference opponents four the next four years with one non-league apiece slated to be added to the 2025 and 2026 schedules.

Here’s a look at Charlotte’s football schedules for each of the next four seasons:

2023
(non-conference games)
Sept. 2 S.C. State
Sept. 9 at Maryland
Sept. 16 Georgia State
Sept. 23 at Florida
(American Athletic Conference, dates TBA)
Home – Florida Atlantic, Memphis, Navy, Rice
Away – East Carolina, SMU, South Florida, Tulsa

2024
(non-conference games)
Aug. 31 James Madison
Sept. 7 at North Carolina
Sept. 14 Georgia State
Sept. 21 at Indiana
(American Athletic Conference, dates TBA)
Home – East Carolina, SMU, South Florida, UAB
Away – Florida Atlantic, Memphis, North Texas, Temple

2025
(non-conference games)
Sept. 6 North Carolina
Sept. 13 Monmouth
Nov. 22 at Georgia
(American Athletic Conference, dates TBA)
Home – Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UTSA
Away – East Carolina, Navy, Rice, UAB

2026
(non-conference games)
Sept. 5 The Citadel
Sept. 12 Mississippi
Sept. 19 at App State
(American Athletic Conference, dates TBA)
Home – East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Navy, North Texas
Away – South Florida, Tulane, Tulsa, UTSA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school volleyball

Seven players from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties were honored by the N.C. Volleyball Coaches Association with selection to the All-Region 6 team.

Cherryville’s Rileigh Kiser, Crest’s Addison Beaver and Kensley Haneline, East Lincoln’s Katie Cook and Kendall Fisher and Kings Mountain’s Meile Songaila and Myracle Davis were honored.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro football

Here’s the full Carolina Panthers schedule for the 2022 season:

Week 1, Sept. 11, Cleveland (L 24-26)
Week 2, Sept. 18, at N.Y. Giants (L 16-19)
Week 3, Sept. 25, New Orleans (W 22-14)
Week 4, Oct. 2, Arizona (L 16-26)
Week 5, Oct. 9, San Francisco (L 15-37)
Week 6, Oct. 16, at L.A. Rams (L 10-24)
Week 7, Oct. 23, Tampa Bay (W 21-3)
Week 8, Oct. 30, at Atlanta (L 34-37, OT)
Week 9, Nov. 6, at Cincinnati (L 21-42)
Week 10, Nov. 10, Atlanta (W 25-15)
Week 11, Nov. 20, at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Week 12, Nov. 27, Denver, 1 p.m.
Week 13, Dec. 4, BYE
Week 14, Dec. 11, at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.
Week 15, Dec. 18, Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Week 16, Dec. 24, Detroit, 1 p.m.
Week 17, Jan. 1, at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Week 18, Jan. 7 or 8, at New Orleans, TBD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school boys soccer

Here are Thursday’s fourth round results:
(Class 2A)
No. 17 Lincoln Charter at No. 5 Newton-Conover – LC 3-1

(Class 3A)
No. 4 East Lincoln at No. 1 Asheboro – A 1-0

Here is next Tuesday’s Western final pairing:
(Class 2A)
No. 17 Lincoln Charter at No. 10 Owen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

Here is the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:

(3-9 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, 8 p.m.
14 at Orlando, 7 p.m.
16 Indiana, 7 p.m.
18 at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
20 at Washington, 6 p.m.
23 Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
25 Minnesota, 5 p.m.
28 at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
December
2 Washington, 7 p.m.
3 Milwaukee, 6 p.m.
5 L.A. Clippers, 7 p.m.
7 at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.
9 New York, 7 p.m.
11 at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.
14 Detroit, 7 p.m.
16 Atlanta, 7 p.m.
18 at Denver, 8 p.m.
19 at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
21 at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
23 at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
26 at Portland, 10 p.m.
27 at Golden State, 10 p.m.
29 Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.
31 Brooklyn, 7 p.m.
January
2 L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m.
4 Memphis, 7 p.m.
6 at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
8 at Indiana, 5 p.m.
10 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
12 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
14 Boston, 7 p.m.
16 Boston, 1 p.m.
18 at Houston, 8 p.m.
21 at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
23 at Utah, 9 p.m.
24 at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
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

(This weekend’s NCAA Division I Carolinas schedule:)
-Friday
Cincinnati 27, East Carolina 25
-Saturday
Virginia Tech at Duke, noon
Charleston Southern at North Carolina A&T, noon
Western Carolina at East Tennessee State, 1 p.m.
Elon at Hampton, 1 p.m.
South Carolina State at Howard, 1 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at Campbell, 1 p.m.
VMI at Wofford, 1:30 p.m.
North Carolina Central at Norfolk State, 2 p.m.
Virginia Lynchburg at The Citadel, 2 p.m.
Furman at Mercer, 3 p.m.
Louisville at Clemson, 3:30 p.m.
Boston College at N.C. State, 3:30 p.m.
Appalachian State at Marshall, 3:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Middle Tennessee, 3:30 p.m.
South Carolina at Florida, 4 p.m.
Davidson at San Diego, 4 p.m.
North Carolina at Wake Forest, 7:30 p.m.
Southern Miss at Coastal Carolina, 7:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school basketball

(Boys)
Gaston Day 78, Lincoln Charter 47: Callum Richard had 25 points, Evan Montanari 19, Colin Fayed 13 and Chase Owens 11 for Gaston Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

College basketball

Wingate 98, Belmont Abbey 81: The start of the David Belfield era as Crusaders’ head coach ended with a loss in the SAC/CC Tip-Off at Mars Hill despite 26 points from Mario Lacy, Jr., and 21 from K.J. Garrett.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle School boys soccer

GASTON COUNTY CONFERENCE
Standings through Nov. 10:

Cramerton 5-0
Belmont 4-1
Holbrook 4-1
Mount Holly 3-1
Stanley 4-2
York Chester 2-2-1
Southwest 2-3
Bessemer City 2-4
Chavis 1-3-1
Grier 0-5
W.C. Friday 0-5

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

 

 

 

 

 

Middle School volleyball

GASTON COUNTY CONFERENCE
Standings through Nov. 10:

Chavis 5-0
Mount Holly 4-0
Stanley 5-1
Belmont 4-1
Cramerton 4-1
W.C. Friday 2-3
Holbrook 2-3
York Chester 1-4
Bessemer City 1-5
Grier 0-5
Southwest 0-5

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

TRI-COUNTY CONFERENCE

Kings Mountain def. West Lincoln 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23 on Thursday): Campbell Benton (16 kills, 1 assist, 1 dig), Avery Cruise (13 service points, 2 aces, 16 digs, 2 kills), Ava Broome (7 kills, 1 assist, 8 digs, 7 service points, 3 aces), Jillian Patton (24 assists, 8 service points) Avaclaire Moss (6 assists, 19 service points, 2 aces), Kaylee Mull (11 digs) and Addy Carpenter (7 service points, 3 aces, 16 digs) led Kings Mountain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle School wrestling

GASTON COUNTY CONFERENCE
Standings through Nov. 9:

Stanley 4-0
W.C. Friday 3-0
Belmont 3-1
Chavis 3-1
Cramerton 3-1
Grier 1-2
Holbrook 1-2
Mount Holly 1-2
York Chester 1-3
Bessemer City 0-4
Southwest 0-4

(Thursday’s matches)
W.C. Friday at Chavis

Grier def. Bessemer City

Belmont 78, Holbrook 24

York Chester def. Mount Holly 60-30

Stanley 96, Southwest 12

(Nov. 15 matches)
Belmont at W.C. Friday, Bessemer City at Cramerton, Southwest at Mount Holly, Stanley at Holbrook, York Chester at Grier