2-11-23 roundup: Pro basketball, football and soccer, High school basketball, Middle school basketball, College basketball and baseball
By Richard Walker
N.C. High School Basketball Association regular seasons ended on Friday all across the state and conference tournaments are slated to begin on Monday.
Once the league tournaments are completed the NCHSAA will announce state playoff pairings on Feb. 18 and begin play in that tournament on Feb. 21.
Here’s the final regular season standings for teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties:
(Big South 3A boys)
South Point 11-3, 21-3
Crest 10-4, 17-6
Huss 10-4, 15-8
Kings Mountain 10-4, 13-11
Forestview 4-10, 9-14
Cramer 4-10, 8-14
Ashbrook 4-10, 4-20
North Gaston 3-11, 5-19
(Big South 3A girls)
Huss 12-2, 17-6
Cramer 11-3, 19-5
Ashbrook 10-4, 15-9
Crest 10-4, 12-11
South Point 6-6, 12-10
Kings Mountain 4-8, 10-11
Forestview 2-12, 9-15
North Gaston 0-14, 1-23
(Southern Piedmont 1A/2A boys)
East Gaston 11-1, 20-2
Shelby 10-2, 16-6
Bessemer City 8-4, 15-7
Burns 6-6, 11-11
Cherryville 5-7, 12-11
Highland Tech 1-11, 5-18
Thomas Jefferson 1-11, 4-18
(Southern Piedmont 1A/2A girls)
Shelby 12-0, 21-1
Bessemer City 10-2, 17-5
Thomas Jefferson 7-5, 13-9
Burns 5-7, 8-14
East Gaston 5-7, 6-15
Highland Tech 3-9, 7-16
Cherryville 0-12, 3-20
(Western Foothills 3A boys)
Hickory 14-0, 23-1
East Lincoln 10-4, 19-5
North Lincoln 10-4, 16-7
North Iredell 9-5, 16-8
St. Stephens 6-8, 11-13
Foard 4-10, 4-20
Statesville 2-12, 2-16
West Iredell 1-13, 3-21
(Western Foothills 3A girls)
East Lincoln 14-0, 24-0
St. Stephens 11-3, 17-7
North Iredell 10-4, 16-8
Hickory 9-5, 13-10
Foard 5-9, 11-13
Statesville 4-10, 6-15
North Lincoln 3-11, 5-18
West Iredell 0-14, 2-22
(Catawba Valley 2A boys)
West Caldwell 14-0, 21-2
Maiden 12-2, 21-3
Newton-Conover 8-6, 13-11
Lincolnton 6-8, 8-15
Bandys 5-9, 10-13
Bunker Hill 5-9, 7-16
West Lincoln 4-10, 7-16
East Burke 2-12, 4-18
(Catawba Valley 2A girls)
East Burke 14-0, 21-1
Newton-Conover 12-2, 20-4
West Lincoln 8-6, 14-9
Maiden 8-6, 11-13
Bandys 6-8, 11-13
Lincolnton 4-10, 5-17
Bunker Hill 2-12, 3-20
West Caldwell 2-12, 2-17
(Catawba Shores 1A/2A boys)
Lincoln Charter 12-0, 19-11
Community Sch Davidson 9-3, 16-8
Pine Lake Prep 7-5, 14-10
Christ the King 7-5, 12-10
Mtn Island Charter 5-7, 9-11
Bradford Prep 2-10, 11-14
Langtree Charter 0-12, 2-25
(Catawba Shores 1A/2A girls)
Lincoln Charter 8-0, 18-4
Community Sch Davidson 6-2, 11-12
Christ the King 4-4, 13-7
Pine Lake Prep 2-6, 8-14
Bradford Prep 0-8, 6-18
(Metro 8 1A boys)
Corvian Community 11-1, 16-6
Queen’s Grant 8-4, 15-9
Carolina International 8-4, 13-6
Piedmont Comm Charter 7-5, 14-10
Sugar Creek 5-7, 8-10
Cabarrus Charter 3-9, 5-14
Apprentice Academy 0-12, 0-17
(Metro 8 1A girls)
Piedmont Comm Charter 9-1, 17-7
Corvian Community 9-1, 12-9
Queen’s Grant 6-4, 9-12
Sugar Creek 4-6, 4-11
Carolina International 1-9, 1-17
Cabarrus Charter 1-9, 1-19
Here’s the conference tournament pairings for teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties:
(Conference tournament pairings)
-Big South 3A
Monday’s boys quarterfinals
No. 8 North Gaston at No. 1 South Point
No. 5 Ashbrook at No. 4 Kings Mountain
No. 7 Forestview at No. 2 Crest
No. 6 Cramer at No. 3 Huss
Monday’s girls quarterfinals
No. 8 North Gaston at No. 1 Huss
No. 5 South Point at No. 4 Ashbrook
No. 7 Forestview at No. 2 Cramer
No. 6 Kings Mountain at No. 3 Crest
Wednesday’s boys semifinals
No. 8/1 vs. No. 5/4
No. 7/2 vs. No. 6/3
Wednesday’s girls semifinals
No. 8/1 vs. No. 5/4
No. 7/2 vs. No. 6/3
Friday’s finals at Huss
Girls, 6 p.m.
Boys, 7:30 p.m.
-Southern Piedmont 1A/2A
Monday’s boys quarterfinals
No. 7 Thomas Jefferson at No. 2 Shelby
No. 6 Highland Tech at No. 3 Bessemer City
No. 5 Cherryville at No. 4 Burns
Monday’s girls quarterfinals
No. 7 Cherryville at No. 2 Bessemer City
No. 6 Highland Tech at No. 3 Thomas Jefferson
No. 5 East Gaston at No. 4 Burns
Wednesday’s boys semifinals
No. 5/4 winner at No. 1 East Gaston
No. 6/3 winner vs. No. 7/2 winner
Wednesday’s girls semifinals
No. 5/4 winner at No. 1 Shelby
No. 6/3 winner vs. No. 7/2 winner
Friday’s finals at East Gaston
Girls, 6 p.m.
Boys, 7:30 p.m.
-Western Foothills
Monday’s boys quarterfinals
No. 8 West Iredell at No. 1 Hickory
No. 5 St. Stephens at No. 4 North Iredell
No. 7 Statesville at No. 2 East Lincoln
No. 6 Foard at No. 3 North Lincoln
Monday’s girls quarterfinals
No. 8 West Iredell at No. 1 East Lincoln
No. 5 Foard at No. 4 Hickory
No. 7 North Lincoln at No. 2 St. Stephens
No. 6 Statesville at No. 3 North Iredell
Wednesday’s boys semifinal at North Iredell
No. 8/1 winner vs. No. 5/4 winner, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s girls semifinal at North Iredell
No. 8/1 winner vs. No. 5/4 winner, 6 p.m.
Thursday’s girls semifinal at North Iredell
No. 7/2 winner vs. No. 6/3 winner, 6 p.m.
Thursday’s boys semifinal at North Iredell
No. 7/2 winner vs. No. 6/3 winner, 7:30 p.m.
Friday’s finals at North Iredell
Girls, 6 p.m.
Boys, 7:30 p.m.
-Catawba Valley 2A
boys quarterfinals
No. 8 East Burke at No. 1 West Caldwell
No. 5 Bunker Hill at No. 4 Lincolnton
No. 7 West Lincoln at No. 2 Maiden
No. 6 Bandys at No. 3 Newton-Conover
girls quarterfinals
No. 8 Bunker Hill/West Caldwell at No. 1 East Burke
No. 5 Bandys at No. 4 Maiden/West Lincoln
No. 7 Bunker Hill/West Caldwell at No. 2 Newton-Conover
No. 6 Lincolnton at No. 3 Maiden/West Lincoln
-Catawba Shores 1A/2A
Monday’s boys quarterfinals
No. 7 Langtree Charter at No. 2 Community School of Davidson
No. 6 Bradford Prep at No. 3 Christ the King
No. 5 Mountain Island Charter at No. 4 Pine Lake Prep
Monday’s girls quarterfinal
No. 5 Bradford Prep at No. 4 Pine Lake Prep
Wednesday’s boys semifinals at Christ the King
No. 1 Lincoln Charter vs. No. 5/4 winner, 5:30 p.m.
No. 7/2 winner vs. No. 6/3 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s girls semifinals at Christ the King
No. 1 Lincoln Charter vs. No. 5/4 winner, 4 p.m.
No. 2 Community School of Davidson vs. No. 3 Christ the King, 7 p.m.
Friday’s finals at Christ the King
Girls, 6 p.m.
Boys, 7:30 p.m.
-Metro 8 1A
Monday’s boys quarterfinals
No. 7 Apprentice Academy at No. 2 Carolina International
No. 6 Cabarrus Charter at No. 3 Queen’s Grant
No. 5 Sugar Creek at No. 4 Piedmont Community Charter
Monday’s girls quarterfinals
No. 5 Cabarrus Charter at No. 4 Sugar Creek
No. 6 Carolina International at No. 3 Queen’s Grant
Wednesday’s boys semifinals
No. 5/4 winner at No. 1 Corvian Community
No. 6/3 winner vs. No. 7/2 winner
Wednesday’s girls semifinals
No. 5/4 winner at No. 1 Piedmont Community Charter
No. 6/3 winner at No. 2 Corvian Community
Friday finals at Corvian Community
Girls, 6 p.m.
Boys, 7:30 p.m.
-MAC (NCISAA)
Tuesday’s boys 1st round
No. 3 Northside Christian 64, No. 6 Metrolina Christian 47
No. 4 Gaston Day 69, No. 5 Westminster Catawba 60
Thursday’s boys semifinals at Hickory Grove Christian
No. 1 Gaston Christian 50, No. 4 Gaston Day 35
No. 2 Concord Academy 92, No. 3 Northside Christian 73
Friday’s boys championship
No. 2 Concord Academy 61, No. 1 Gaston Christian 47
College basketball
(Saturday’s games)
Bellarmine 88, Queens 84: A.J. McKee had 24 points but visiting Bellarmine spoiled homecoming for the Royals (16-11, 6-8).
Chowan 98, Belmont Abbey 90: The Crusaders (16-9, 12-5) were led by Wade Jackson’s 21 points and Mason Taylor’s 20 in the loss.
Gardner-Webb 77, Campbell 73 (2OT): The Bulldogs (15-11, 10-4) won their seventh straight game with a double overtime victory as Lucas Steiber had the go-ahead driving layup with a minute to play and Julian Soumaoro converted a pair of free throws with seven seconds to play to seal the win.
North Texas 67, Charlotte 43: Aly Khalifa was the 49ers’ lone double-digit scorer with 14 points as Charlotte fell to 14-11, 5-9.
Fordham 73, Davidson 71: A late rally cut a double-digit deficit to one before Davidson fell to 11-13 and 4-8 following its seventh loss in nine games. Foster Loyer led the Wildcats with 26 points.
(Sunday’s game)
Denmark Tech at Gaston College
College baseball
(Saturday’s games)
Belmont Abbey 9, Trevecca Nazarene 7 (11 innings): Connor Tucker’s two run walk-off home run lifted the Crusaders to victory and 8-0 record on the season. The Abbey next hosts Wingate at 4 p.m. on Tuesday before starting their Conference Carolinas schedule next weekend with a three-game series at UNC Pembroke.
Gaston College 14-16, Combine Academy 0-1: Pitching led the Rhinos (9-1) as right-handers Nolan Straniero and Tyler Parks combined on the school’s second no-hitter of the season in the opener and starter Kyle McKernan and reliever Dusty Sanderlin limited the visitors to three hits in the night cap. Gaston College remains at home next week as the Rhinos host Caldwell Tech on Wednedsay at 2 p.m., then host Catawba Valley Community College and USC Sumter in the first Rhinos Invitational next weekend.
Middle school basketball
Gaston County Conference standings through Feb. 9:
-BOYS
Southwest 6-0
Belmont 5-1
Mount Holly 4-1
Grier 4-1
Holbrook 3-2
Chavis 2-3
Cramerton 2-3
Stanley 2-4
York Chester 2-4
W.C. Friday 0-5
Bessemer City 0-6
-GIRLS
Holbrook 5-0
Belmont 5-1
Mount Holly 4-1
Southwest 4-2
Cramerton 3-2
W.C. Friday 2-3
York Chester 2-4
Stanley 2-4
Chavis 1-4
Grier 1-4
Bessemer City 1-5
(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 final regular season standings and upcoming playoff pairings:
-BOYS
(East Division)
Burns 9-1
Kings Mountain 8-2
North Lincoln 6-4
Lincolnton 4-6
East Lincoln 3-7
West Lincoln 0-10
(West Division)
Shelby 9-1
Thomas Jefferson 8-2
Crest 7-3
East Rutherford 3-7
R-S Central 3-7
Chase 0-10
-GIRLS
(East Division)
North Lincoln 10-0
East Lincoln 7-3
Kings Mountain 5-5
Lincolnton 4-6
Burns 3-7
West Lincoln 1-9
(West Division)
Crest 9-1
Thomas Jefferson 9-1
Shelby 6-4
East Rutherford 3-7
R-S Central 3-7
Chase 0-10
(Monday’s semifinal pairings)
-BOYS
Kings Mountain at Shelby
Thomas Jefferson at Burns
-GIRLS
East Lincoln at Crest
Thomas Jefferson at North Lincoln
(Wednesday’s finals)
-BOYS
KM-Shelby winner vs. TJ-Burns winner
-GIRLS
EL-Crest winner vs. TJ-NL winner
Pro basketball
Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had a 30-point, 16-rebound, 10-assist triple double on Saturday as he led the Denver Nuggets back from a 15-point first half deficit to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 119-105.
The Hornets, who led by 15 points in the first and second quarters, were led by P.J. Washington (22 points, 4 rebounds), Gordon Hayward (21 points), LaMelo Ball (18 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists), Dennis Smith Jr. (15 points) and Terry Rozier (12 points) as they lost their seventh straight game.
Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:
(15-43 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 (W 122-117)
31 at Milwaukee (L 115-124)
February
2 at Chicago (L 98-114)
3 at Detroit (L 112-118)
5 Orlando (L 113-119)
8 at Washington (L 104-118)
10 at Boston (L 116-127)
11 Denver (L 105-119)
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 soccer
The Charlotte FC got goals from Enzo Copetti, Ben Bender and Nuno Santos in Saturday’s preseason match against the visiting Charleston Battery.
Charlotte FC’s next plays Birmingham Legion FC in a closed-door match at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium next Saturday in its preseason finale.
The club opens its 2023 season on Feb. 25 at home against the New England Revolution at 7:30 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 – Philadelphia 31-7
AFC – No. 3 Cincinnati at No. 1 Kansas City – Kansas City 23-20
-Super Bowl
Feb. 12
At Glendale, Ariz. – Philadelphia vs. Kansas City, 6:30 p.m. (FOX)
Auto racing
The 2023 NASCAR schedule (with winners in parentheses):
Feb 5 Clash at The Coliseum, Los Angeles CA (Martin Truex, Jr.)
Feb 16 Duel No. 1, Daytona Beach FL, 7 p.m. on FS1
Feb 16 Duel No. 2, Daytona Beach FL, 8:45 p.m. on FS1
Feb 19 Daytona 500, Daytona Beach FL, 2:30 p.m. on FOX
Feb 26 NASCAR Cup Series at California, Fontana CA 3:30 p.m. on FOX
Mar 5 NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas, Las Vegas NV, 3:30 p.m. on FOX
Mar 12 NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix, Avondale AZ, 3:30 p.m. on FOX
Mar 19 NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta, Hampton GA, 3:30 p.m. on FOX
Mar 26 NASCAR Cup Series at Circuit of the Americas, Austin TX, 3:30 p.m. on FOX
Apr 2 NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond, Richmond VA, 3:30 p.m. on FS1
Apr 9 NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol, Bristol TN, 7 p.m. on FOX
Apr 16 NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville, Martinsville VA, 3 p.m. on FS1
Apr 23 NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega, Lincoln AL, 3 p.m. on FOX
Apr 30 NASCAR Cup Series at Dover, Dover DE, 2 p.m. on FS1
May 7 NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas, Kansas City KS, 3 p.m. on FS1
May 14 NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington, Darlington SC, 3 p.m. on FS1
May 21 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open Race, North Wilkesboro NC, 6 p.m. on FS1
May 21 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race, North Wilkesboro NC, 8 p.m. on FS1
May 28 NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte, Concord NC, 6 p.m. at FOX
Jun 4 NASCAR Cup Series at World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison IL, 3:30 p.m. on FS1
Jun 11 NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma, Sonoma CA, 3:30 p.m. on FOX
Jun 25 NASCAR Cup Series at Nashville, Lebanon TN, 7 p.m. on NBC
Jul 2 NASCAR Cup Series at Chicago, Chicago IL, 5:30 p.m. on NBC
Jul 9 NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta, Hampton GA, 7 p.m. on USA
Jul 16 NASCAR Cup Series at New Hampshire, Loudon NH, 2:30 p.m. on USA
Jul 23 NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono, Long Pond PA, 2:30 p.m. on USA
Jul 30 NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond, Richmond VA, 3 p.m. on USA
Aug 6 NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan, Brooklyn MI, 2:30 p.m. on USA
Aug 13 NASCAR Cup Series at Indianapolis Road Course, Speedway IN, 2:30 p.m. on NBC
Aug 20 NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen, Watkins Glen NY, 3 p.m. on USA
Aug 26 NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona, Daytona Beach FL, 7 p.m. on NBC
(Cup Playoffs)
Sep 3 NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington, Darlington SC, 6 p.m. on USA
Sep 10 NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas, Kansas City KS, 3 p.m. on USA
Sep 16 NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol, Bristol TN, 7:30 p.m. on USA
Sep 24 NASCAR Cup Series at Texas, Fort Worth TX, 3:30 p.m. on USA
Oct 1 NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega, Lincoln AL, 2 p.m. on NBC
Oct 8 NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte, Concord NC, 2 p.m. on NBC
Oct 15 NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas, Las Vegas NV, 2:30 p.m. on NBC
Oct 22 NASCAR Cup Series at Miami, Homestead FL, 2:30 p.m. on NBC
Oct 29 NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville, Martinsville, 2 p.m. on NBC
Nov 5 NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix, Avondale AZ, 3 p.m. on NBC