2-20-23 roundup: Pro basketball, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball, College basketball and football
By Richard Walker
Whether you have state playoff experience or not, this week offers the opportunity to make history for 27 high school basketball teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties as the N.C. High School Athletic Association tournament begins on Tuesday.
Here are the pairings of area teams for Tuesday’s opening round games:
-BOYS
(Class 3A)
No. 5 South Point hosts No. 28 Thomasville Ledford: South Point (23-4), which won its first-ever regular season conference title and record its first 20-win season, has made the playoffs six of the last seven seasons and seeks its first postseason victory since 2017.
No. 13 Crest hosts No. 20 West Rowan: Crest (18-7) has won its last two first round playoff games and is in the playoffs for the 34th time.
No. 14 Huss hosts No. 19 Northwest Cabarrus: Huss (18-8) is making its 17th playoff appearance in 18 years. The Huskies in 2020 advanced all the way to the Western 3A finals.
No. 17 North Lincoln at No. 16 North Henderson: North Lincoln (18-8) is making its 12th all-time playoff apperaance and has won three straight first round games.
No. 18 East Lincoln at No. 15 Greensboro Dudley: East Lincoln (20-6) is making its Lincoln County-record 19th straight playoff appearance and is 10-1 in its last 11 first round games.
No. 24 Kings Mountain at No. 9 West Henderson: Kings Mountain (13-12) is making its 46th all time appearance and seeks its first win since 2019.
(Class 2A)
No. 4 East Gaston hosts No. 29 West Wilkes: East Gaston (22-2) is one win away from a school record for single-season victories and seeks its first first playoff win since a 2012 Class 4A first round victory.
No. 8 Lincoln Charter at No. 25 Brevard: Lincoln Charter (21-11) has won two or more playoff games in eight straight seasons.
No. 12 Shelby hosts No. 21 Eden Morehead: Shelby (17-7) is making its Cleveland County-record 66th playoff appearance and has won four straight first round games.
No. 24 Burns at No. 9 Southwestern Randolph: Burns (12-12) seeks its first postseason victory since 2012.
No. 31 Lincolnton at No. 2 Reidsville: Lincolnton (9-16) is making its Lincoln County-record 52nd playoff appearance and seeks its first win since 2017.
(Class 1A)
No. 7 Bessemer City hosts No. 26 Cherokee: Bessemer City (17-8) is making its Gaston County-record 52nd playoff appearance and last year advanced to the fourth round for its farthest postseason advance since 1995.
No. 27 Mountain Island Charter at No. 6 Robbinsville: Mountain Island Charter (9-12) has made the playoffs in eight straight seasons and has won a first round game in all previous seven apeparance.
No. 30 Cherryville at No. 3 Eastern Randolph: Cherryville (12-12) is making its 39th all time postseason appearance and the 31st in 33 years. The Ironmen seek their first playoff win since 2020.
-GIRLS
(Class 3A)
No. 2 East Lincoln hosts No. 31 North Buncombe: East Lincoln (27-0) is two wins shy of the school-record 29-0 mark the 1973 Open classification state champion Mustangs had, is making its 32nd playoff appearance all-time and fourth in a row.
No. 7 Huss hosts No. 26 W-S Atkins: Huss (19-7) is coming off its first conference regular season title since 2005 and seeks its first playoff win since 2002.
No. 10 Cramer hosts No. 23 St. Stephens: Cramer (22-5) has the momentum of the Storm’s first conference tournament title in history and 1-3 all time in the postseason with a 2017 first round victory.
No. 15 Ashbrook hosts No. 18 Lake Norman Charter: Ashbrook (16-10) is making its 16th straight playoff appearance and has won its last three first round games.
No. 24 Crest at No. 9 Ashe County: Crest (13-12) is in its 32nd playoff appearance all time and seeks its first playoff win since 2015.
No. 27 South Point at No. 6 Oak Grove: South Point (12-11) is in its 22nd playoff appearance all time, its first since 2014 and seeks its first postseason win since 2011.
(Class 2A)
No. 2 Shelby hosts No. 31 Robinson: Shelby (23-1) is making its Cleveland County-record 41st playoff appearance, its sixth straight and has made the third round each of the last three years.
No. 4 Lincoln Charter hosts No. 29 Brevard: Lincoln Charter (20-4) has won four straight first round playoff games.
No. 18 West Lincoln at No. 15 Southwestern Randolph: West Lincoln (15-10) is making its 19th playoff appearance all time, its first since 2013 and has won in the postseason since 1998.
(Class 1A)
No. 7 Bessemer City hosts No. 26 Swain County: Bessemer City (19-6) is in the playoffs for the fourth straight season and seeks its first win since 2014.
No. 22 Piedmont Community Charter at No. 11 Corvian Community: Piedmont Community Charter (18-8) meets league rival Corvian Community for the fourth time in two weeks – Corvian has won two of the the first three meetings and Piedmont is 1-3 all time in the postseason with a 2018 victory.
No. 30 Highland Tech at No. 3 Cherokee: Highland Tech (7-17) is making its 12th playoff appearance and seeks its first win since 2011.
-NCISAA state playoffs
(3A boys)
Feb. 18 – Gaston Christian 54, Cape Fear Academy 49
Feb. 21 – Gaston Christian at Greensboro Day.
(2A boys)
Feb. 18 – Gaston Day 77, Sanford Grace Christian 56
Feb. 21 – Gaston Day at Raleigh Trinity Academy.
(3A girls)
Tuesday – Hickory Grove Christian 45, Gaston Christian 33
College football
East Lincoln’s Markell Clark has committed to play at Guilford College.
College basketball
(Monday’s game)
Davidson-Davie Community College 91, Gaston College 64: Dee Merriweather had 15 points to lead the Rhinos (16-7) in the road loss at the unbeaten, top-ranked NJCAA Division II Storm (27-0).
(Wednesday’s games)
Belmont Abbey at UNC Pembroke
Liberty at Queens
St. Bonaventure at Davidson
Spartanburg Methodist at Gaston College
(Thursday’s games)
Longwood at Gardner-Webb
North Texas at Charlotte
(Friday’s game)
Queens at Liberty
(Saturday’s games)
Gardner-Webb at USC Upstate
Rice at Charlotte
Richard Bland at Gaston College
(Sunday’s game)
Davidson at Duquesne
Middle school basketball
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
(Tuesday’s games)
Grier at W.C. Friday, Holbrook at Cramerton, Mount Holly at Chavis, Southwest at Bessemer City, Stanley at Belmont
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.
Pro soccer
Here is Charlotte FC’s full 2023 schedule:
Feb. 25 New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
March 4 at St. Louis City SC, 8:30 p.m.
March 11 Atlanta United FC, noon
March 18 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
March 25 New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
April 1 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 8 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.
April 15 Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
April 22 Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
April 29 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
May 6 New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 at Atlanta United FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 Chicago Fire FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 27 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
May 31 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 0.m.
June 3 at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
June 10 Seattle Sounders FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 5 at New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
July 8 FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 20 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 L.A. FC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 at FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 at New England Revoultion, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 Inter Miami CF, TBD
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 (Joey Logano)
Feb 16 Duel No. 2, Daytona Beach FL (Aric Almirola)
Feb 19 Daytona 500, Daytona Beach FL (Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.)
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