2-15-23 roundup: Pro basketball and football, High school basketball, Middle school basketball, College basketball

By Richard Walker

Gardner-Webb basketball pioneer Laurence “Sonny” Johnson will be honored by his hometown in August.

Johnson, the first African-American basketball player in Gardner-Webb history during the 1966-67 season, is part of the 2023 induction class of the Real Harlem Basketball Hall of Fame with 14 others on Aug. 12 at Salem United Methodist Church in New York City.

Among the other inductees are two of Johnson’s Laurinburg Institute teammates.

Johnson averaged 16.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for Gardner-Webb in the 1966-67 season as the Bulldogs went 25-5 overall and 11-1 in conference play before winning a third straight Western Carolinas Junior College Conference tournament title and second straight Region 10 runner-up finish.

Johnson left the program following the 1966-67 season but he was instrumental in recruiting future Bulldogs stars (and African-Americans) Artis Gilmore and Ernie Fleming. Gilmore and Fleming led coach Eddie Holbrook’s Bulldogs to back-to-back Region 10 titles and National Junior College Athletic Association championship tournament appearances in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Gilmore was a NJCAA and NCAA All-American, an ABA and NBA All-Star and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer.

Holbrook recruited Johnson out of the Laurinburg Institute basketball program that has produced 14 eventual NBA players, among them Basketball Hall of Famers Sam Jones and Charlie Scott and No. 1 overall NBA pick Jimmy Walker.

A private African-American boarding school, Laurinburg Institute opened in 1904 and was run by the McDuffie family. The school provided industrial training and education to African-American students and also had begun developing into a basketball power when head master Frank McDuffie – the son of husband-and-wife founders Emmanuel and Tinny McDuffie – was coaching the team.

The Tigers played in four state championship games in the old African-American North Carolina Athletic Conference from 1947 to 1954 – with two titles.

In the 1964-65 season, Johnson was like many of Laurinburg’s basketball players who were New Yorkers who had come to the school to get their academics in line to attend colleges all across the country.

Johnson came to Laurinburg Institute after playing with or against Walker and other basketball legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (he was known as Lew Alcindor in those days) and Richard “Pee Wee” Kirkland.

Johnson’s 1964-65 Tigers were arguably their best team in history as the legendary Earl “The Goat” Manigault, future Hall of Famer Scott (who integrated the University of North Carolina’s program) and future Wake Forest standout Charlie Davis were among Johnson’s teammates. (Scott referenced Johnson and their time at Laurinburg Institute during his 2018 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame speech.)

Johnson will be inducted with two other Laurinburg Institute players – his roommate Kenny Williamson and future ACC star Charlie Davis.

Williamson will be inducted posthumously as he died at 65 on Nov. 13, 2012 after a yearlong battle with cancer. A Vietnam veteran and basketball legend at New York City’s Rucker Park, Williamson coached 21 seasons collegiately at St. John’s, Seton Hall, Columbia, Louisville, Iona and Florida State where Lou Carnesecca, Denny Crum and Jim Valvano were among the coaches he worked for before he worked as a NBA scout and administrator for the New York Knicks, Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) and Memphis Grizzlies.

Davis is one of the greatest players in Wake Forest history after being honored as three-time first team All-ACC selection from 1969 to 1971 and 1971 ACC player of the year. After a two-year NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Davis returned to his alma mater where he has worked as an administrator before becoming athletic director at Bowie State and North Carolina A&T.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hall of Fame

The 56th annual Cleveland County Sports Hall of Fame banquet, sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, has been set for May 22, 2023 at the Shelby City Park.

The 6:30 p.m. event will have Appalachian State head caoch Shawn Clark as the featured guest speaker.

The event recognizes those in the Cleveland County community who have made outstanding contributions in the field of Sports and Recreation. Tickets are $10 apiece for the barbecue dinner and can be purchased at Shelby City Park, Medical Arts Pharmacy in Shelby plus the offices of the four public senior high schools in Cleveland County.

Six individuals will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year and will be announced at a later date.

In addition to the Hall of Fame introductions, special awards to be handed out include the Honor athletes at Burns, Crest, Shelby and Kings Mountain High along with Gardner-Webb University; the WOHS Sports Fan of the Year, plus the Paris Yelton Memorial Service award. In addition, Certificates of Merit for accomplishments in a wide range of sporting endeavors will be presented.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school basketball

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. 1 South Point 80, No. 8 North Gaston 72
No. 5 Ashbrook 52, No. 4 Kings Mountain 40
No. 2 Crest 79, No. 7 Forestview 62
No. 3 Huss 73, No. 6 Cramer 53
Monday’s girls quarterfinals
No. 1 Huss 64, No. 8 North Gaston 17
No. 4 Ashbrook 52, No. 5 South Point 51
No. 2 Cramer 70, No. 7 Forestview 38
No. 3 Crest 49, No. 6 Kings Mountain 42
Wednesday’s boys semifinals
No. 1 South Point 74, No. 5 Ashbrook 62: Jaquis Rumph (14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals), Dylan Bradley (14 points), Greyson Kines (11 points, 8 rebounds) and Sully Absher (10 points, 9 rebounds) led South Point and Gavin Fields (26 points) led Ashbrook.

No. 3 Huss 77, No. 2 Crest 72

Wednesday’s girls semifinals
No. 1 Huss 33, No. 4 Ashbrook 27

No. 2 Cramer 47, No. 3 Crest 40: Oshuana Holland (22 points, 6 steals, 3 assists), Zion Duncan (12 points, 15 rebounds) and Hadley Womack (11 points, 3 steals) led Cramer and Nevaeh Blackwell (13 points) and Monica Surratt (12 points) led Crest.

Friday’s finals at Huss
Girls – No. 1 Huss vs. No. 2 Cramer, 6 p.m.
Boys – No. 1 South Point vs. No 3 Huss, 7:30 p.m.

-Southern Piedmont 1A/2A
Monday’s boys quarterfinals
No. 2 Shelby 70, No. 7 Thomas Jefferson 44
No. 3 Bessemer City 83, No. 6 Highland Tech 48
No. 4 Burns 66, No. 5 Cherryville 65
Monday’s girls quarterfinals
No. 2 Bessemer City 74, No. 7 Cherryville 27
No. 3 Thomas Jefferson 56, No. 6 Highland Tech 41
No. 4 Burns 58, No. 5 East Gaston 26
Wednesday’s boys semifinals
No. 1 East Gaston 80, No. 4 Burns 61

No. 3 Bessemer City 56, No. 2 Shelby 54

Wednesday’s girls semifinals
No. 1 Shelby 55, No. 4 Burns 24

No. 2 Bessemer City 62, No. 3 Thomas Jefferson 32

Friday’s finals at East Gaston
Girls – No. 1 Shelby vs. No. 2 Bessemer City, 6 p.m.
Boys – No. 1 East Gaston vs. No. 3 Bessemer City, 7:30 p.m.

-Western Foothills 3A
Monday’s boys quarterfinals
No. 1 Hickory 79, No. 8 West Iredell 29
No. 4 North Iredell 64, No. 5 St. Stephens 51
No. 2 East Lincoln 81, No. 7 Statesville 60
No. 3 North Lincoln 65, No. 6 Foard 61
Monday’s girls quarterfinals
No. 1 East Lincoln 70, No. 8 West Iredell 18
No. 4 Hickory 59, No. 5 Foard 31
No. 2 St. Stephens 49, No. 7 North Lincoln 25
No. 3 North Iredell 70, No. 6 Statesville 49
Wednesday’s boys semifinal at North Iredell
No. 1 Hickory 71, No. 4 North Iredell 51

Wednesday’s girls semifinal at North Iredell
No. 1 East Lincoln 59, No. 4 Hickory 48

Thursday’s boys semifinal at North Iredell
No. 2 East Lincoln vs. No. 3 North Lincoln, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday’s girls semifinal at North Iredell
No. 2 St. Stephens vs. No. 3 North Iredell, 6 p.m.
Friday’s finals at North Iredell
Girls – No. 1 East Lincoln vs. No. 2/3 winner, 6 p.m.
Boys – No. 1 Hickory vs. No. 2/3 winner, 7:30 p.m.

-Catawba Valley 2A
Tuesday’s boys quarterfinals
No. 1 West Caldwell 75, No. 8 East Burke 55
No. 4 Lincolnton 66, No. 5 Bunker Hill 59
No. 2 Maiden 79, No. 7 West Lincoln 67
No. 3 Newton-Conover 78, No. 6 Bandys 71
Tuesday’s girls quarterfinals
No. 1 East Burke 78, No. 8 Bunker Hill 26
No. 4 West Lincoln 45, No. 5 Bandys 30
No. 2 Newton-Conover 64, No. 7 West Caldwell 30
No. 3 Maiden 61, No. 6 Lincolnton 23
Wednesday’s boys semifinal at CVCC
No. 1 West Caldwell 57, No. 4 Lincolnton 42

Wednesday’s girls semifinal at CVCC
No. 1 East Burke 55, No. 4 West Lincoln 31

Thursday’s boys semifinal at CVCC
No. 2 Maiden vs. No. 3 Newton-Conover
Thursday’s girls semifinal at CVCC
No. 2 Newton-Conover vs. No. 3 Maiden
Friday’s finals at CVCC
Girls – No. 1 East Burke vs. No. 2/3 winner, 6 p.m.
Boys – NO. 1 West Caldwell vs. No. 2/3 winner, 7:30 p.m.

-Catawba Shores 1A/2A
Monday’s boys quarterfinals
No. 2 Community School of Davidson 74, No. 7 Langtree Charter 32
No. 3 Christ the King 59, No. 6 Bradford Prep 41
No. 5 Mountain Island Charter 51, No. 4 Pine Lake Prep 47
Monday’s girls quarterfinals
No. 4 Pine Lake Prep 54, No. 5 Bradford Prep 30
Wednesday’s boys semifinals at Christ the King
No. 1 Lincoln Charter 77, No. 5 Mountain Island Charter 42

No. 2 Community School of Davidson vs. No. 3 Christ the King, 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s girls semifinals at Christ the King
No. 1 Lincoln Charter 46, No. 4 Pine Lake Prep 26

No. 2 Community School of Davidson vs. No. 3 Christ the King, 7 p.m.

Friday’s finals at Christ the King
Girls – No. 1 Lincoln Charter vs. No. 2/3 winner, 6 p.m.
Boys – No. 1 Lincoln Charter vs. No. 2/3 winner, 7:30 p.m.

-Metro 8 1A
Monday’s boys quarterfinals
No. 2 Carolina International 92, No. 7 Apprentice Academy 38
No. 3 Queen’s Grant 71, No. 6 Cabarrus Charter 67
No. 4 Piedmont Community Charter 77, No. 5 Sugar Creek 57
Monday’s girls quarterfinals
No. 4 Sugar Creek 50, No. 5 Cabarrus Charter 19
No. 3 Queen’s Grant 56, No. 6 Carolina International 22
Wednesday’s boys semifinals
No. 4 Piedmont Community Charter at No. 1 Corvian Community

No. 2 Carolina International 82, No. 3 Queen’s Grant 44

Wednesday’s girls semifinals
No. 1 Piedmont Community Charter 61, No. 4 Sugar Creek 27: Hailey Moore had 20 points, Kennedy Williams 19 and Grace East 14 for Piedmont Community Charter, which set a school record for single-season wins (18).

No. 2 Corvian Community 53, No. 3 Queen’s Grant 29

Friday finals at Corvian Community
Girls – No. 1 Piedmont Community Charter vs. No. 2 Corvian Community, 6 p.m.
Boys – No. 1/4 winner vs. No. 2 Carolina International, 7:30 p.m.

-NCISAA state playoffs
(3A boys)
Saturday: TBD at Gaston Christian
(2A boys)
Saturday: TBD at Gaston Day
(3A girls)
Tuesday: Hickory Grove Christian 45, Gaston Christian 33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro football

Former East Lincoln and Lincolnton high school star Sage Surratt has signed a contract with the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL.

Surratt was on the 2022 USFL champion Birmingham Stallions’ roster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College basketball

Here’s the week’s men’s basketball schedule:

(Wednesday’s games)
Saint Louis 78, Davidson 65: The Wildcats’ slump continued as they fell to 11-14 overall and 4-9 in the Atlantic 10.

Belmont Abbey 99, Erskine 76: Wade Jackson had 27 points as the Crusaders (17-9, 13-5) won a Conference Carolinas game on “Senior Night” at the Wheeler Center.

Gaston College 68, Richard Bland 65: The visiting Rhinos (14-7, 4-4) got 18 points from Dee Merriweather in the Region 10 victory.

Winthrop 86, Gardner-Webb 78: The visiting Eagles took a 20-point halftime on their way to ending a seven-game winning streak for the BUlldogs (15-12, 10-5).

(Thursday’s games)
Queens at Jacksonville State
Western Kentucky at Charlotte

(Saturday, Feb. 18)
Belmont Abbey at Lees-McRae
Charlotte at Louisiana Tech
Gardner-Webb at UNC Asheville
Hosanna Bible College at Gaston College
Queens at Kennesaw State
St. Joseph’s at Davidson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College baseball

For the ninth straight year, the Charlotte Knights’ Truist Field will be hosting mid-week games involving teams from the Carolinas in the 2023 Charlotte Knights College Baseball Series.

Here’s the 2023 schedule:

Tuesday, March 21: South Carolina vs. Charlotte (home team), 6:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 29: Appalachian State vs. Queens (home team), 6:05 p.m.
Tuesday, April 4: North Carolina vs. South Carolina (home team), 7:04 p.m.
Tuesday, April 18: Davidson vs. N.C. State (home team), 6:05 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19: East Carolina vs. Charlotte (home team), 6:05 p.m.

For information on tickets for each of those games, check http://www.CharlotteKnights.com or call 704-274-8282.

(Wednesday’s game)
Gaston College 7, Caldwell Tech 0: Four Rhinos pitchers combined on a four-hitter with 15 strikeouts and no walks as Gaston College improved to 10-1 on the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school basketball

Gaston County Conference standings through Feb. 14:

-BOYS
Southwest 7-0
Belmont 6-1
Grier 4-2
Holbrook 4-2
Mount Holly 4-2
Cramerton 3-3
Stanley 3-4
Chavis 2-4
York Chester 2-5
Bessemer City 0-6
W.C. Friday 0-6

-GIRLS
Holbrook 6-0
Belmont 6-1
Southwest 5-2
Cramerton 4-2
Mount Holly 4-2
W.C. Friday 3-3
Stanley 2-5
York Chester 2-5
Bessemer City 1-5
Chavis 1-5
Grier 1-5

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

 

Tri-County Conference playoff pairings:

(Monday’s semifinals)
-BOYS
Shelby defeated Kings Mountain
Burns defeated Thomas Jefferson
-GIRLS
Crest defeated East Lincoln
North Lincoln defeated Thomas Jefferson

(Wednesday’s championship games)
-BOYS
Burns 40, Shelby 33
-GIRLS
Crest 45, North Lincoln 38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

The Charlotte Hornets head to the All-Star break on a two-game winning streak following Wednesday’s 120-110 win over the visiting San Antonio Spurs.

LaMelo Ball (28 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists), P.J. Washington (22 points, 10 rebounds), Gordon Hayward (16 points, 5 rebounds), Mark Williams (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Dennis Smith, Jr. (10 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists) led Charlotte.

Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:

(17-43 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 (W 144-138)
15 San Antonio (W 120-110)
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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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