12-17-21 roundup: Pro football, basketball and soccer, College football, women’s soccer and softball, High school basketball, Middle school volleyball

By Richard Walker

Wake Forest’s Isaiah Mucius hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for an 82-79 Deacons’ victory over the Charlotte 49ers on Friday to cap the inaugural Basketball Hall of Fame Shootout at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center.

The Deacons (11-1) had led by as many as 19 points before Charlotte (5-5) rallied to tie the score on Clyde Trapp’s 3-pointer with 31 seconds left.

Alondes Williams’ game-high 34 points led Wake Forest with Jahmir Young’s 27 points leading Charlotte. Young’s total pushed him over 1,000 career points.

Liberty 74, East Carolina 64: Darius McGhee had 27 points for the Flames (7-4) in their victory over East Carolina (8-3) in Friday afternoon’s Basketball Hall of Fame Shootout quadrupleheader opener.

Virginia Tech 86, St. Bonaventure 49: Hunter Cattoor had a career-high 21 points for the Hokies (8-4) in the second game of the Basketball Hall of Fame Shootout.

Richmond 83, N.C. State 74: Grant Golden scored 19 points and Jacob Gilyard had 13 points and 10 assists as Richmond (7-4) beat N.C. State (7-4) in the Basketball Hall of Fame Shootout.

Gardner-Webb 79, Converse 46: The Runnin’ Bulldogs snapped a four-game losing streak with a 23-point home win as D’Maurian Williams and Lance Terry scored 19 points apiece. Gardner-Webb (5-7) is off until a Dec. 29 game at Georgia that is its final non-conference game of the year.

 

 

 

High school basketball

Friday’s games
(Boys games)
Ashbrook at Forestview, ppd., Jan. 26

Cramer at Crest, ppd., Jan. 12

North Gaston at Kings Mountain, no report

South Point at Huss, no report

Burns 80, Highland Tech 72

Shelby 95, Cherryville 73: Drew Hollifield had 24 points and Ja’Keith Hamilton 15 for Shelby and Carson Kelly had a game-high 31 points and Landon Hahn close behind with 30 for Cherryville.

Hickory 70, North Lincoln 64

Statesville at East Lincoln, ppd., Jan. 5

Bandys at West Lincoln, no report

Lincolnton 65, Bunker Hill 59

Westminster Catawba at Mountain Island Charter, no report

Gaston Day 75, Westchester Country Day 42: Evan Montanari had 21 points, Callum Richard 14, Colin Fayed 11 and Chase Owens 10 for Gaston Day (9-1).

(Girls games)
Ashbrook at Forestview, ppd., Jan. 26

Cramer at Crest, ppd., Jan. 12

Kings Mountain 61, North Gaston 33: Khalia King (23 points), Saniya Wilson (18 points, 5 assists, 2 steals) and Myracle Davis (7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) led Kings Mountain.

Huss 62, South Point 55: Amya Graham (23 points, 20 rebounds), Claire Hux (15 points) and Toney Milton (11 points, 3 assists) led South Point. Huss won the JV game 31-14 with Annie Risk (9 points, 11 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 blocks) leading South Point.

Burns 49, Highland Tech 24: Tishiona Strong had 27 points for Burns.

Shelby 65, Cherryville 15

Hickory at North Lincoln, no report

East Lincoln 71, Statesville 58

Bandys 47, West Lincoln 43: Chloe Norman had 18 points and Rae Watson eight for West Lincoln.

Bunker Hill 69, Lincolnton 29

Westchester Country Day d. Gaston Day

(Saturday’s games)
Henderson Collegiate at Lincoln Charter

Holiday tournament schedule for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties:

Rock Hill, S.C. tournament (Phenoms Hoops)
(Dec. 17-18, 20-22)
Note: Boys game unless listed
Dec. 17
Weddington 74, Gaston Christian 49
Dec. 18
Ardrey Kell vs Gaston Christian, 9 p.m.
Dec. 20
Gaston Day vs. Calvary Day, 10:30 a.m.
Dec. 22
Gaston Christian vs Moravian Prep, 7:30 p.m.
Chambers vs The Burlington School, 9 p.m.
Dec. 22 court 1
Covenant Day vs Gaston Day, 4:30 p.m.

Cherryville tournament
(Dec. 27-28 boys and girls)
Dec. 27 boys semifinals
Thomas Jefferson vs. Piedmont Community Charter, 4:30 p.m.
Pinnacle vs. Cherryville, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 28 boys placement games
3rd place 4:30 p.m.
Championship 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 27 girls semifinals
Thomas Jefferson vs. South Point, 3 p.m.
Piedmont Community Charter vs. Cherryville, 6 p.m.
Dec. 28 girls placement games
3rd place 3 p.m.
Championship 6 p.m.

Catawba Ridge, S.C. tournament
(Dec. 28-30 boys)
North Gaston

East Lincoln tournament (Winter Jam)
(Dec. 28-30 boys and girls)
Dec. 28 boys first round
No. 2 Lake Norman vs. No. 7 Ashbrook, 1 p.m.
No. 4 Lake Norman Charter vs. SouthLake Christian, 2:30 p.m.
No. 3 Robinson vs. 6 Hough, 5:30 p.m.
No. 1 East Lincoln vs. No. 8 Huss, 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 29 boys consolations, semifinals
Consolations 1 and 2:30 p.m.
Semifinals 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 30 boys placement games
7th place 1 p.m.
5th place 2:30 p.m.
3rd place 5:30 p.m.
Championship 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 28 girls first round
No. 4 Cox Mill vs. No. 5 Central Cabarrus, 1 p.m.
No. 1 Mallard Creek vs. No. 8 West Cabarrus, 2:30 p.m.
No. 3 Lake Norman Charter vs. No. 6 Robinson, 4 p.m.
No. 2 East Lincoln vs. No. 7 Hough, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 girls consolations and semifinals
Consolations at 1 and 2:30 p.m.
Semifinals at 4 and 7 p.m.
Dec. 30 girls placement games
7th place 10 a.m.
5th place 11:30 a.m.
3rd place 4 p.m.
Championship 7 p.m.

Kings Mountain tournament
(Dec. 28-30 boys)
Dec. 28 first round
Independence vs. East Rutherford, 3 p.m.
Gaston Day vs. Cox Mill, 4:30 p.m.
Shelby vs. Harding, 6 p.m.
Kings Mountain vs. Davidson Day, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29 consolations, semifinals
Consolations 3 and 4:30 p.m.
Semifinals 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 30 placement games
7th place 3 p.m.
5th place 4:30 p.m.
3rd place 6 p.m.
Championship 7:30 p.m.

Lincolnton tournament (People’s Bank Holiday Clash)
(Dec. 28-30 boys and girls)
Dec. 28 boys first round
East Gaston vs. Highland Tech, 3 p.m.
Cramer vs. Bandys, 3 p.m.
Lincolnton vs. North Lincoln, 7 p.m.
West Lincoln vs. Forestview, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 boys consolations, semifinals
Consolations 3 and 7 p.m.
Semifinals 3 and 7 p.m.
Dec. 30 boys placement games
7th place 4 p.m.
5th place 8 p.m.
3rd place 4 p.m.
Championship 8 p.m.
Dec. 28 girls first round
East Gaston vs. Highland Tech, 1 p.m.
Cramer vs. Bandys, 1 p.m.
Lincolnton vs. North Lincoln, 5 p.m.
West Lincoln vs. Forestview, 5 p.m.
Dec. 29 girls consolations, semifinals
Consolations 1 and 5 p.m.
Semifinals 1 and 5 p.m.
Dec. 30 girls placement games
7th place 2 p.m.
5th place 6 p.m.
3rd place 2 p.m.
Championship 6 p.m.

North Henderson tournament
(Dec. 28-30 boys and girls)
Dec. 28 first round
Crest girls vs. Clyde Erwin, 10 a.m.
Crest boys vs. East Henderson, 12:40 a.m.

Watauga tournament (High Country Holiday Classic)
(Dec. 28-30 girls)
Dec. 28 first round
Ashe County vs. Huss, 10 a.m.
Bishop McGuinness vs. Covenant Day, 1 p.m.
Providence Academy vs. North Davidson, 4 p.m.
Watauga vs. Surry Central, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 consolations, semifinals
Consolations 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Semifinals 4 and 7 p.m.
Dec. 30 placement games
7th place 10 a.m.
5th place 1 p.m.
3rd place 4 p.m.
Championship 7 p.m.

 

 

 

College men’s soccer

Crest’s Madison Setzer, the 2021 Big South 3A Conference offensive player of the year, has signed a college scholarship to play at Wingate.

 

 

 

 

Pro football

The Carolina Panthers will be without a veteran cornerback and could be without their leading receiver in Sunday’s game at Buffalo.

Cornerback A.J. Bouye (foot) is out and D.J. Moore (hamstring) is listed as questionable.

Additionally, offensive guards Michael Jordan (hamstring) and John Miller (ankle) are listed as questionable and quarterback Matt Barkley won’t be with the team after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

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 (L 28-34, OT)
Oct. 24 at New York Giants (L 3-25)
Oct. 31 at Atlanta (W 19-13)
Nov. 7 New England (L 6-24)
Nov. 14 at Arizona (W 34-10)
Nov. 21 Washington (L 21-27)
Nov. 28 at Miami (L 10-33)
Dec. 5 BYE WEEK
Dec. 12 Atlanta (L 21-29)
Dec. 19 at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Dec. 26 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Jan. 2 at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

With its full complement of players available for the first time in nearly a month, the Charlotte Hornets were hopeful of winning at the slumping Portland Trail Blazers.

Instead, Portland blitzed the Hornets in the first half and had enough to hold on for a 125-116 victory to ruin LaMelo Ball’s first game since Dec. 1.

Charlotte (16-15) fell behind 41-24 and 81-55 after the first two quarters before outscoring the Trail Blazers (12-18) 61-44 in the second half.

Ball had 27 points, four rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes as a starter. Other Hornets standouts were Kelly Oubre (18 points), P.J. Washington (16 points) and Miles Bridges (14 points, 10 rebounds).

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 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

 

 

Pro soccer

Charlotte FC on Friday announced it had signed free agent forward Yordy Reyna to a contract until 2023 with an option for 2024. Reyna will occupy an international roster slot.

The 28-year-old Peruvian international has spent the last six seasons in MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps and D.C. United. Reyna has played 100 regular season matches where he has added 24 goals and 19 assists.

 

 

 

 

 

College football

Here’s the full college bowl schedule:

Friday, Dec. 17
Bahamas Bowl: Middle Tennessee 31, Toledo 24
Cure Bowl: Coastal Carolina 47, Northern Illinois 41

Saturday, Dec. 18
Boca Raton Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Western Kentucky, 11 a.m.
Celebration Bowl: Jackson State vs. South Carolina State, noon
New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State vs. UTEP, 2:15 p.m.
Independence Bowl: No. 13 BYU vs. UAB, 3:30 p.m.
LendingTree Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. Liberty, 5:45 p.m.
LA Bowl: Oregon State vs. Utah State, 7:30 p.m.
New Orleans Bowl: No. 23 Louisiana vs. Marshall, 9:15 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 20
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Tulsa vs. Old Dominion, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 21
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Kent State vs. Wyoming, 3:30 p.m.
Frisco Bowl: No. 24 San Diego State vs. UTSA, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 22
Armed Forces Bowl: Missouri vs. Army, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 23
Frisco Football Classic: Miami, O. vs. North Texas, 3:30 p.m.
Gasparilla Bowl: Florida vs. Central Florida, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 24
Hawai’i Bowl: Memphis vs. Hawaii, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 25
Camellia Bowl: Ball State vs. Georgia State, 2:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 27
Quick Lane Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Nevada, 11 a.m.
Military Bowl: East Carolina vs. Boston College, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 28
Birmingham Bowl: No. 20 Houston vs. Auburn, noon
First Responder Bowl: Air Force vs. Louisville, 3:15 p.m.
Liberty Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Mississippi State, 6:45 p.m.
Holiday Bowl: No. 18 N.C. State vs. UCLA, 8 p.m.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Minnesota vs. West Virginia, 10:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 29
Fenway Bowl: Virginia vs. SMU, 11 a.m.
Pinstripe Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Maryland, 2:15 p.m.
Cheez-It Bowl: No. 19 Clemson vs. Iowa State, 5:45 p.m.
Alamo Bowl: No. 14 Oregon vs. No. 16 Oklahoma, 9:15 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 30
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: North Carolina vs. South Carolina, 11:30 a.m.
Music City Bowl: Tennessee vs. Purdue, 3 p.m.
Peach Bowl: No. 10 Michigan State vs. No. 12 Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Las Vegas Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Arizona State, 10:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 31
Gator Bowl: No. 17 Wake Forest vs. No. 25 Texas A&M, 11 a.m.
Sun Bowl: Washington State vs. Miami, Fla., noon
Arizona Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Boise State, 2 p.m.

(College Football Playoff semifinals)
Cotton Bowl: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Cincinnati, 3:30 p.m.
Orange Bowl: No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 Georgia, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 1
Outback Bowl: No. 21 Arkansas vs. Penn State, noon
Citrus Bowl: No. 15 Iowa vs. No. 22 Kentucky, 1 p.m.
Fiesta Bowl: No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State, 1 p.m.
Rose Bowl: No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Utah, 5 p.m.
Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Baylor vs. No. 8 Mississippi, 8:45 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 4
Texas Bowl: Kansas State vs. LSU, 9 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 10
(College Football Playoff championship game)
At Indianapolis: Cotton/Orange bowl winners, 8 p.m.

 

 

 

College softball

Gaston College’s first-year softball program has announced a 40-game schedule of 20 doubleheaders for head coach Michael Steuerwald. The Rhinos will play 10 home doubleheaders at Gastonia’s Martha Rivers Park. Here is the full 2022 schedule:

Feb. 19 USC Union, 1 p.m. DH
Feb. 23 at William Peace, 1 p.m. DH
Feb. 26 at Spartanburg Methodist, 1 p.m. DH
Mar. 5 Cleveland CC, 1 p.m. DH
Mar. 7 Monroe-Bronx NY, noon DH
Mar. 12 Southwest Virginia, noon DH
Mar. 18 Camp CC, 2 p.m. DH
Mar. 20 Bryant and Stratton, noon DH
Mar. 25 at Wake Tech, 4 p.m. DH
Mar. 26 at Pitt County CC, 3 p.m. DH
Apr. 1 at Brunswick CC, 3 p.m. DH
Apr. 2 at Southeastern CC, noon DH
Apr. 6 Catawba Valley CC, 3 p.m. DH
Apr. 9 Caldwell Tech, 3 p.m. DH
Apr. 13 Louisburg, 2 p.m. DH
Apr. 15 Richard Bland, 3 p.m. DH
Apr. 19 at Surry CC, 3 p.m. DH
Apr. 23 at Patrick Henry, 2 p.m. DH
Apr. 27 at Fayetteville Tech, 1 p.m. DH
Apr. 30 at Florence Darlington Tech, 1 p.m. DH
May 12 Conference tournament, TBA