2-16-23 roundup: Pro basketball, High school basketball, Middle school basketball, College basketball, football and baseball

By Richard Walker

In Friday night’s Big South 3A and Southern Piedmont 1A/2A boys and girls basketball title games, the regular season seeds mostly held in the first two rounds as history will be set in all four championship games.

In the Big South 3A boys game at Huss, South Point will seek its first conference tournament title in school history.

Coach Kody Kubbs’ Red Raiders (21-3) have already won the first-ever regular season title and first 20-win season in school history. But South Point enters Friday’s tournament final with an 0-6 all-time record in championship games with losses in 1972, 1998, 2003, 2012, 2017 and 2020.

Huss (17-8) seeks to win its 17th tournament title and has an impressive 17-5 records in championship games.

In the Big South 3A girls game, Huss (19-6) hosts Cramer (21-5). The Huskies seek their sixth tournament championship game in school history and first since 2003; Huss is in a title game for the first time since 2010.

Cramer is in its first title game in school history and this week has won as many conference tournament games as it had in seven previous tournaments (2).

In the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A boys game, East Gaston (21-2) hosts Bessemer City (17-7). East Gaston seeks its first tournament title since 2005 in its first championship game since 2009 while Bessemer City seeks to snap a five-game title game losing streak that dates to 1988.

While the Yellow Jackets have won seven conference tournament championship games in school history, their last was in 1973 and they’ve lost in finals in 1988, 2014, 2019, 2020 and 2022.

A win by East Gaston coach Gene Farrar’s team also would match the school’s all-time single-season wins mark of 22 set in the 2002 and 2005 seasons when the Warriors went 22-5.

In the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A girls game at East Gaston, Shelby (22-1) meets Bessemer City (19-5). Shelby seeks its 16th tournament championship – and third straight – while Bessemer City seeks its third. The Yellow Jackets won in 1958 and 2014 and lost last year’s final to Shelby.

Here’s the conference tournament pairings and results 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
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
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. 3 North Lincoln 60, No. 2 East Lincoln 57 (OT)

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. 3 North Lincoln, 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. 3 Christ the King 72, No. 2 Community School 69 (OT)
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 43, No. 3 Christ the King 39
Friday’s finals at Christ the King
Girls – No. 1 Lincoln Charter vs. No. 2 Community School of Davidson, 6 p.m.
Boys – No. 1 Lincoln Charter vs. No. 3 Christ the King, 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. 1 Corvian Community 91, No. 4 Piedmont Community Charter 62
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
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 Corvian Community vs. No. 2 Carolina International, 7:30 p.m.

-NCISAA state playoffs
(3A boys)
Saturday: Coastal Christian/Cape Fear Academy winner at Gaston Christian
(2A boys)
Saturday: Sanford Grace Christian at Gaston Day
(3A girls)
Tuesday: Hickory Grove Christian 45, Gaston Christian 33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school basketball

Tri-County Conference playoff pairings:

(Wednesday’s championship games)
-BOYS
Burns 40, Shelby 33: The Eagles won their first Tri-County championship since 2012 as Bokey Surratt had 16 points and Jadon Beam 12. Coached by Tim Branch and Malik Hamrick, Burns finished 11-1 overall.

-GIRLS
Crest 45, North Lincoln 38: The Dragons won their third Tri-County championship in four seasons. Coached by Pauline Merritt, Crest finished 11-1 overall.

Gaston County Conference standings through Feb. 16:

-BOYS
Southwest 8-0
Belmont 6-1
Holbrook 5-2
Mount Holly 5-2
Stanley 4-4
Grier 4-3
Cramerton 3-4
York Chester 3-5
Chavis 2-5
Bessemer City 0-7
W.C. Friday 0-7

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

(Thursday’s games)
-BOYS
Holbrook 46, Grier 44: Savion Lindsay had 27 points and Dyson Britt 10 for Holbrook.

Mount Holly 53, W.C. Friday 24

Southwest 63, Cramerton 45: Zaiyir Phillips had 41 points for Southwest and Semaj Hart had 15 points and Trenden England 12 for Cramerton. Phillips’ 41 points marks the highest reported single-game scoring game since York Chester’s Mun Armstrong had 42 points for York Chester against old Highland Junior High on Feb. 15, 1996.

Stanley 41, Chavis 32: Blake Wilkinson (9 points, 9 rebounds) and Caleb Smith (11 points) for Stanley.

York Chester 55, Bessemer City 23

-GIRLS
Holbrook 45, Grier 14: Shemia McCoy (17 points, 6 steals) and Jakyra Sadler (11 points, 6 steals, 5 assists) led Holbrook.

W.C. Friday defeated Mount Holly

Southwest 37, Cramerton 31: Sa’Ryah McCorkle had 24 points and Aubrey Bennett 7 for Southwest and Priscilla Iyevbele and Jyi’Yanna Watkins had 7 points each for Cramerton.

Stanley 26, Chavis 16

York Chester 22, Bessemer City 19

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school basketball

One player from Bessemer City and one player from Shelby are on the North Carolina rosters of the March 25 Carolinas Classic All-Star Basketball Games that will be played at Wilmington’s Hoggard High School.

North Carolina boys and girls teams, named by the N.C. Coaches Association, will play teams from South Carolina named by the S.C. Athletic Coaches Association.

Bessemer City’s Randall Pettus, a 6-foot-2, 185-pounder, will be on the N.C. boys team and Shelby’s Ally Hollifield, a 6-foot guard, will be on the N.C. girls team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College basketball

On Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Gastonia’s Ashbrook High School gymnasium, the Rhinos will honor seven sophomores, some of whom who have helped lay the foundation of the program, – Kirk Scoggins, Dedrick Givens, Jordan Guthrie, Caleb McCarty, Joshua Johnson, Dee Merriweather and DaMarco Watson.

Scoggins, Givens, Johnson, Merriweather and Watson have been a part of both teams. (Guthrie and McCarty transferred to Gaston College this season from other junior college programs.)

“We’re lucky to have some guys who helped build our foundation and get this program off the ground,” said Gaston College head coach Jamie Rosser, who was associate head coach to David “Dickey” Nutt before Nutt left last summer to be an assistant coach at Missouri.

(Thursday’s games)
Jacksonville State 76, Queens 69: Kenny Dye made 15 of 16 shots and scored 34 points for Queens (16-12, 6-9) in the loss.

Charlotte 68, Western Kentucky 64: Aly Khalifa had 24 points as the 49ers (15-11, 6-9) won for the second time in the last three games.

(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

The Belmont Abbey baseball team is ranked No. 14 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Poll after their 9-0 start.

It’s the Crusaders’ best start since they went 9-0-1 to start the 2013 season.

Belmont Abbey is one of three Conference Carolinas programs ranked in the Top 25 in the national poll. North Greenville tops the poll at No. 1 and UNC Pembroke is No. 18.

The Crusaders open Conference Carolinas play this weekend with a three-game series at No. 18 UNC Pembroke at 3 p.m. Friday. The series concludes with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College football

Crest’s Keyvon Lockhart has committed to play football at Livingstone College.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

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