2-25-23 roundup: Pro basketball and soccer, High school basketball, Middle school basketball, College basketball and baseball
By Richard Walker
Five area high school basketball teams advanced to next Tuesday’s Western semifinals.
In Class 3A boys, Crest won 85-70 at South Point to advance the No. 13-seeded Chargers into a matchup at top-seeded Central Cabarrus.
In Class 2A boys, East Gaston won its first-ever third round game 58-40 over visiting Hendersonville and will host Lincoln Charter after the Eagles rallied from a 20-point deficit to win 85-82 in overtime at top-seeded North Surry.
In Class 3A girls, East Lincoln improved its record to 30-0 with a 55-33 victory over St. Stephens. The No 2-seeded Mustangs will host No. 14 Freedom.
And in Class 2A girls, Shelby cruised past Monroe 60-36 and the No. 2-seeded Golden Lions will host No. 14 Salisbury.
Here are the area’s state playoff results and upcoming pairings:
(Feb. 21 first round)
-BOYS
(Class 3A)
No. 5 South Point 73, No. 28 Thomasville Ledford 56
No. 13 Crest 75, No. 20 West Rowan 69
No. 19 Northwest Cabarrus 68, No. 14 Huss 58
No. 16 North Henderson 75, No. 17 North Lincoln 73
No. 15 Greensboro Dudley 56, No. 18 East Lincoln 49
No. 24 Kings Mountain 67, No. 9 West Henderson 60
(Class 2A)
No. 4 East Gaston 85, No. 29 West Wilkes 61
No. 8 Lincoln Charter 88, No. 25 Brevard 58
No. 12 Shelby 73, No. 21 Eden Morehead 47
No. 24 Burns 56, No. 9 Southwestern Randolph 50
No. 2 Reidsville 80, No. 31 Lincolnton 59
(Class 1A)
No. 7 Bessemer City 76, No. 26 Cherokee 60
No. 6 Robbinsville 46, No. 27 Mountain Island Charter 45
No. 3 Eastern Randolph 95, No. 30 Cherryville 60
-GIRLS
(Class 3A)
No. 2 East Lincoln 66, No. 31 North Buncombe 39
No. 7 Huss 54, No. 26 W-S Atkins 44
No. 23 St. Stephens 36, No. 10 Cramer 33
No. 15 Ashbrook 53, No. 18 Lake Norman Charter 45
No. 9 Ashe County 54, No. 24 Crest 41
No. 6 Oak Grove 67, No. 27 South Point 57
(Class 2A)
No. 2 Shelby 69, NO. 31 Robinson 33
No. 4 Lincoln Charter 60, No. 29 Brevard 43
No. 15 Southwestern Randolph 60, No. 18 West Lincoln 40
(Class 1A)
No. 7 Bessemer City 59, No. 26 Swain County 34
No. 22 Piedmont Community Charter 50, No. 11 Corvian Community 49
No. 3 Cherokee 78, No. 30 Highland Tech 25
(Feb. 23 second round)
-BOYS
(Class 3A)
No. 5 South Point 67, No. 12 Concord 58
No. 13 Crest 64, No. 4 Enka 63
No. 8 Southern Guilford 65, No. 24 Kings Mountain 33
(Class 2A)
No. 4 East Gaston 71, No. 12 High Point Andrews 54
No. 8 Lincoln Charter 99, No. 24 Burns 64
No. 5 Hendersonville 74, No. 12 Shelby 64
(Class 1A)
No. 7 Bessemer City 56, No. 23 Starmount 52
-GIRLS
(Class 3A)
No. 2 East Lincoln 55, No. 15 Ashbrook 35
No. 23 St. Stephens 64, No. 7 Huss 50
(Class 2A)
No. 2 Shelby 61, No. 15 Southwestern Randolph 27
No. 13 Newton-Conover 53, No. 4 Lincoln Charter 35
(Class 1A)
No. 7 Bessemer City 46, No. 23 Uwharrie Charter 39
No. 6 East Wilkes 63, No. 22 Piedmont Community Charter 28
(Feb. 25 third round)
-BOYS
(Class 3A)
No. 13 Crest 85, No. 5 South Point 70
(Class 2A)
No. 4 East Gaston 58, No. 5 Hendersonville 40
No. 8 Lincoln Charter 85, No. 1 North Surry 82, OT
(Class 1A)
No. 2 South Stokes 70, No. 7 Bessemer City 62
-GIRLS
(Class 3A)
No. 2 East Lincoln 55, No. 23 St. Stephens 33
(Class 2A)
No. 2 Shelby 60, No. 10 Monroe 36
(Class 1A)
No. 2 Bishop McGuinness 62, No. 7 Bessemer City 55
(Feb. 28 fourth round)
-BOYS
(Class 3A)
No. 13 Crest at No. 1 Central Cabarrus
(Class 2A)
No. 4 East Gaston hosts No. 8 Lincoln Charter
-GIRLS
(Class 3A)
No. 2 East Lincoln hosts No. 14 Freedom
(Class 2A)
No. 2 Shelby hosts No. 3 Salisbury
-NCISAA state playoffs
(3A boys)
Feb. 18 – Gaston Christian 54, Cape Fear Academy 49
Feb. 21 – Greensboro Day 30, Gaston Christian 27
(2A boys)
Feb. 18 – Gaston Day 77, Sanford Grace Christian 56
Feb. 21 – Gaston Day 72, Raleigh Trinity Academy 55
Feb. 23 – Burlington School 53, Gaston Day 49
(3A girls)
Feb. 14 – Hickory Grove Christian 45, Gaston Christian 33
Pro basketball
The Charlotte Hornets won their season-high fourth straight game in a 108-103 victory over the Miami Heat.
Gordon Hayward (21 points), LaMelo Ball (19 points, 7 rebounds, 13 assists), Mark Williams (18 points, 20 rebounds), Kelly Oubre (15 points, 8 rebounds), Dennis Smith Jr. (15 points) and Terry Rozier (14 points) led the Hornets.
Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:
(19-43 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 (W 121-113)
25 Miami (W 108-103)
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.
College basketball
(Saturday’s games)
USC Upstate 75, Gardner-Webb 69
Charlotte 70, Rice 54
Richard Bland 64, Gaston College 62
(Sunday’s game)
Davidson at Duquesne
(Conference tournaments)
-2023 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Men
First Round – Sunday, February 26
No. 10 King vs. No. 7 Francis Marion at Converse, 5 p.m.
No. 8 Mount Olive vs. No. 9 Lees-McRae at Chowan, 7 p.m.
Second Round – Monday, February 27
Winner of 7/10 at No. 6 Converse, 7 p.m.
Winner of 8/9 at No. 5 Chowan, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 3 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of 5/8/9 vs. No. 4 Belmont Abbey, 6 p.m.
Winner of 6/7/10 vs. No. 3 Barton, 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, March 4 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of 4/5/8/9 vs. No. 1 UNC Pembroke, 5:15 p.m.
Winner of 3/6/7/10 vs. No. 2 Emmanuel, 7:30 p.m.
Final – Sunday, March 5 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.
-2023 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Women
First Round – Sunday, February 26
No. 10 North Greenville vs. No. 7 Southern Wesleyan at Mount Olive, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Barton vs. No. 9 King at Chowan, 5 p.m.
Second Round – Monday, February 27
Winner of 7/10 at No. 6 Mount Olive, 5 p.m.
Winner of 8/9 at No. 5 Chowan, 5 p.m.
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 3 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of 5/8/9 vs. No. 4 Emmanuel, 11 a.m.
Winner of 6/7/10 vs. No. 3 UNC Pembroke, 1:30 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, March 4 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of 4/5/8/9 vs. No. 1 Belmont Abbey, 12:30 p.m.
Winner of 3/6/7/10 vs. No. 2 Francis Marion, 2:45 p.m.
Final – Sunday, March 5 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
-2023 Hercules Tires Big South Men (at Bojangles’ Arena, Charlotte)
First Round – Wednesday, March 1
Game 1: No. 8 High Point vs. No. 9 Charleston Southern, 6 p.m.
Game 2: No. 7 Campbell vs. No. 10 Presbyterian, 8 p.m.
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 3
Game 3: No. 1 UNC Asheville vs. 8/9 winner, noon
Game 4: No. 4 USC Upstate vs. No. 5 Gardner-Webb, 2 p.m.
Game 5: No. 2 Longwood vs 7/10 Winner, 6 p.m.
Game 6: No. 3 Radford vs. No. 6 Winthrop, 8 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, March 4
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, noon
Game 8: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 2 p.m.
Final – Sunday, March 5 (ESPN2)
Game 9: Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
-2023 Hercules Tires Big South Women (at Bojangles’ Arena, Charlotte)
First Round – Wednesday, March 1
Game 1: No. 8 UNC Asheville vs. No. 9 Winthrop, noon
Game 2: No. 7 USC Upstate vs. No. 10 Charleston Southern, 2 p.m.
Quarterfinals – Thursday, March 2
Game 3: No. 1 Gardner-Webb vs. 8/9 winner, 11:30 a.m.
Game 4: No. 4 Radford vs. No. 5 Presbyterian, 2 p.m.
Game 5: No. 2 High Point vs. 7/10 Winner, 6 p.m.
Game 6: No. 3 Campbell vs. No. 6 Longwood, 8 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, March 4
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 8: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 8 p.m.
Final – Sunday, March 5 (ESPNU)
Game 9: Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.
College baseball
(Saturday’s games)
Army 11, Charlotte 10
Gaston College 14, Lenoir Community College 6
Belmont Abbey at Erskine, ppd.
Gardner-Webb 7, Michigan State 3
Middle school basketball
Gaston County Conference standings through Feb. 23:
-BOYS
Southwest 10-0
Belmont 8-1
Holbrook 7-2
Grier 6-3
Mount Holly 6-3
Cramerton 4-5
Stanley 4-5
York Chester 3-6
Chavis 2-7
Bessemer City 0-9
W.C. Friday 0-9
-GIRLS
Holbrook 9-0
Southwest 8-2
Belmont 7-2
W.C. Friday 6-3
Mount Holly 6-3
Cramerton 4-5
Stanley 3-6
York Chester 3-6
Grier 2-7
Bessemer City 1-8
Chavis 1-8
(Monday’s games)
Cramerton at Chavis, W.C. Friday at Bessemer City, Grier at Belmont, Holbrook at York Chester, Mount Holly at Stanley
END REGULAR SEASON
Pro soccer
In front of a crowd of 69,345 at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte FC dropped its 2023 Major League Soccer season-opener to the New England Revolution.
Here is Charlotte FC’s full 2023 schedule:
(0-1 record)
Feb. 25 New England Revolution (L 0-1)
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