2-26-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, baseball and softball, Middle school basketball
By Richard Walker
Crest’s boys and Kings Mountain’s girls on Tuesday won the Tri-County Conference basketball championships.
Both teams finished the season with perfect records as Crest went 12-0 and Kings Mountain 14-0.
The Crest Dragons defeated Kings Mountain 57-32 in their title game and Kings Mountain’s Lady Patriots won 42-34 over R-S Central to take their 3rd straight title.
Harper Hollifield (25 points, 10 steals) and KayNila Waller (10 points, 3 rebounds) were individual standouts for Kings Mountain’s girls.
Crest’s title was its 3rd in the Tri-County tournament title history that dates to 2008; The Dragons previously won in 2013 and 2018.
Kings Mountain’s title was its 5th – 2012, 2016, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Tri-County Conference standings:
-BOYS
(East Division)
Kings Mountain 9-1
West Lincoln 9-1
Lincolnton 5-5
East Lincoln 4-6
Burns 2-8
North Lincoln 1-9
(West Division)
Crest 10-0
East Rutherford 7-2
Shelby 5-4
Chase 3-6
R-S Central 3-8
Thomas Jefferson 0-10
(Thursday, Feb. 19)
Semifinals: East Rutherford at Kings Mountain (KM won), West Lincoln at Crest (Crest won)
(Tuesday, Feb. 24)
Championship: Kings Mountain at Crest (Crest 57-32)
-GIRLS
(East Division)
Kings Mountain 10-0
North Lincoln 8-2
Lincolnton 5-5
East Lincoln 5-5
Burns 2-8
West Lincoln 0-10
(West Division)
R-S Central 10-0
Shelby 8-2
Crest 5-5
Thomas Jefferson 3-7
Chase 2-7
East Rutherford 1-8
(Thursday, Feb. 19)
Semifinals: Shelby at Kings Mountain (KM won), North Lincoln at R-S Central (R-S won)
(Tuesday, Feb. 24)
Championship: Kings Mountain at R-S Central (KM 42-34)
The Gaston County Conference semifinals were played on Thursday and next week’s championship matchups, sites and times have been determined.
In the boys semifinals, top-seeded York Chester beat Holbrook 41-36 to advance to its first title game since 2008. The Cougars will play Belmont, a 43-37 winner over Stanley, on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Huss High School.
In the girls semifinals, top-seeded Holbrook beat Grier 55-25 to advance to its fifth straight title game. The Lions will play Bessemer City, a 34-16 winner over W.C. Friday, on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Ashbrook High School.
The 2026 Gaston County Conference standings thru Feb. 23:
-BOYS
York Chester 10-0
Belmont 9-1
Stanley 8-2
Holbrook 7-3
Grier 5-5
Chavis 4-6
Southwest 5-5
Cramerton 2-8
Mount Holly 3-7
W.C. Friday 2-8
Bessemer City 0-10
-GIRLS
Holbrook 10-0
Bessemer City 8-2
Grier 7-3
W.C. Friday 8-2
Belmont 6-4
Cramerton 6-4
Southwest 3-7
York Chester 3-7
Mount Holly 2-8
Stanley 2-8
Chavis 0-10
(Thursday, Feb. 26)
-BOYS Semifinals
No. 4 Holbrook at No. 1 York Chester – York Chester 41-36: Antonio Monroe had 14 points and Khalil Williams 11 for York Chester and Antonio Surratt (19 points, 6 rebounds), L.J. Sherrill (7 points), Hudaifah Jamal (6 points) and Messiah Patterson (4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, 1 block) led Holbrook.
No. 3 Stanley at No. 2 Belmont – Belmont 43-37: Julian Vickers had 15 points, Conner Ensley 9 and Brody McCarn 8 for Belmont and Jace Johnson had 17 points and Case Conner 8 for Stanley.
-GIRLS Semifinals
No. 4 Grier at No. 1 Holbrook – Holbrook 55-25: Kennedi Johnson (24 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 4 assists), Kyzland Forney (15 points, 12 rebounds, 6 steals, 6 assists, 2 blocks), Caitlyn Lindsay (12 points, 3 steals, 4 assists), Maurihanna Gullatte (2 points, 6 rebounds), Piper Braford (1 point) and Elyon Kana (1 point) led Holbrook.
No. 3 W.C. Friday at No. 2 Bessemer City – Bessemer City 34-16: Zayana Crawford, Keliah Allison and Lilly Stiffler led Bessemer City.
(Tuesday, March 3)
Boys final- No. 1 York Chester vs. No. 2 Belmont at Huss HS, 5 p.m.
(Wednesday, March 4)
Girls final- No. 1 Holbrook vs. No. 2 Bessemer City at Ashbrook HS, 6 p.m.
College football
The full 2026 schedule for Charlotte 49ers Football, including dates for all 12 games, was officially announced by the American Conference on Thursday.
As previously announced, the Niners begin the 2026 season with 4 non-conference games – at home against The Citadel, at Mississippi and Appalachian and at home against Louisiana.
American Conference action will start at home against Memphis on Oct. 3.
Kickoff times and TV designations for the first three weeks of the season and the Friday game against Tulane will be announced by the American Conference at the end of May. The rest of the kickoff times will operate on the standard 12-day/6-day selection window.
Season tickets for 2026 are currently on sale. Both renewals and new purchases are available HERE. Please contact the 49ers Ticket Office at [email protected] or at 704-687-4949 with any questions regarding ticket information.
The full 2026 Charlotte football schedule:
Sept. 5 The Citadel
Sept. 12 at Mississippi
Sept. 19 at Appalachian State
Sept. 26 Louisiana
Oct. 3 Memphis*
Oct. 10 at North Texas*
Oct. 17 at Temple*
Oct. 30 Tulane*
Nov. 7 at UAB*
Nov. 14 East Carolina*
Nov. 21 at Tulsa*
Nov. 28 Navy*
*-American Conference games
High school basketball
Here’s is the NCHSAA postseason schedule for local teams:
(Tuesday, Feb. 24- 1st round)
1A boys- No. 8 Thomas Jefferson bye
2A boys- No. 13 Mountain Island Charter hosts East Wilkes – East Wilkes 58-56
2A boys- No. 22 Cherryville at Avery County – Avery County 90-55
3A boys- No. 2 Shelby bye
3A boys- No. 6 Piedmont Community Charter bye
3A boys- No. 8 Lincolnton bye
3A boys- No. 14 Bessemer City hosts Owen – Bessemer City 75-69
4A boys- No. 8 Lincoln Charter bye
4A boys- No. 9 Burns hosts Foard – Burns 74-49
4A boys- No. 15 Cramer hosts Ashe County – Cramer 97-83
5A boys- No. 1 Huss bye
5A boys- No. 3 East Lincoln bye
5A boys- No. 5 North Lincoln bye
5A boys- No. 11 Crest hosts North Gaston – Crest 88-67
5A boys- No. 16 South Point hosts Concord – South Point 87-77
5A boys- No. 22 North Gaston at Crest – Crest 88-67
5A boys- No. 24 Forestview at North Buncombe – North Buncombe 71-63
6A boys- No. 12 Kings Mountain hosts St. Stephens – Kings Mountain 67-44
6A boys- No. 14 Ashbrook hosts Olympic – Ashbrook 72-68
1A girls- No. 1 Thomas Jefferson bye
2A girls- No. 10 Highland Tech hosts Alleghany County – Highland Tech 49-29
2A girls- No. 11 Mountain Island Charter hosts Corvian Community – Mountain Island Charter 59-11
2A girls- No. 24 Cherryville at Community School of Davidson – Community School of Davidson 72-10
3A girls- No. 10 Lincolnton hosts Patton – Lincolnton 61-39
3A girls- No. 12 Shelby hosts Trinity – Shelby 65-34
3A girls- No. 13 Piedmont Community Charter hosts Bessemer City – Bessemer City 48-43
3A girls- No. 14 West Lincoln hosts Pine Lake Prep – Pine Lake Prep 43-40
3A girls- No. 20 Bessemer City at Piedmont Community Charter – Bessemer City 48-43
4A girls- No. 3 Cramer bye
4A girls- No. 5 Lincoln Charter bye
4A girls- No. 6 Burns bye
5A girls- No. 4 East Lincoln bye
5A girls- No. 7 Huss bye
5A girls- No. 17 South Point at Carson – South Point 59-50
5A girls- No. 18 Crest at Parkwood – Crest 58-55
5A girls- No. 19 North Gaston at Smoky Mountain – Smoky Mountain 66-44
5A girls- No. 23 North Lincoln at Enka – North Lincoln 73-27
6A girls- No. 20 Kings Mountain at Ben Smith – Ben Smith 67-54
6A girls- No. 22 Ashbrook at Charlotte Catholic – Charlotte Catholic 60-19
(Thursday, Feb. 26- 2nd round)
1A boys- No. 8 Thomas Jefferson hosts Hiwassee Dam – Thomas Jefferson 83-70
3A boys- No. 2 Shelby hosts North Wilkes – Shelby 60-55
3A boys- No. 6 Piedmont Community Charter hosts McMichael – Piedmont Community Charter 73-59
3A boys- No. 8 Lincolnton hosts Providence Grove – Lincolnton 65-51
3A boys- No. 14 Bessemer City at North Stanly – Bessemer City 49-48: Jayveon Miller had 12 points, Tristen Gordon 11 and
Raheem McClure 10 led Bessemer City.
4A boys- No. 8 Lincoln Charter hosts Burns – Lincoln Charter 70-56
4A boys- No. 9 Burns at Lincoln Charter – Lincoln Charter 70-56
4A boys- No. 15 Cramer at Lexington – Lexington 81-77
5A boys- No. 1 Huss hosts South Point – Huss 82-64
5A boys- No. 3 East Lincoln hosts Parkwood – East Lincoln 65-48: Jaxon Dollar (26 points, 12, rebounds, 8 assists) and Christian Atkins (25 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds) led East Lincoln.
5A boys- No. 5 North Lincoln hosts Forest Hills – North Lincoln 101-85
5A boys- No. 11 Crest at Franklin – Crest 65-59
5A boys- No. 16 South Point at Huss – Huss 82-64
6A boys- No. 12 Kings Mountain at Freedom – Kings Mountain 65-58
6A boys- No. 14 Ashbrook at Mount Tabor – Mount Tabor 70-58
1A girls- No. 1 Thomas Jefferson hosts Blue Early College – Thomas Jefferson 61-29
2A girls- No. 10 Highland Tech at Murphy – Murphy 45-21
2A girls- No. 11 Mountain Island Charter at Christ the King – Christ the King 56-47
3A girls- No. 10 Lincolnton at Wheatmore – Wheatmore 59-49
3A girls- No. 12 Shelby at Hendersonville – Shelby 49-40
3A girls- No. 20 Bessemer City at Mountain Heritage – Mountain Heritage 72-43
4A girls- No. 3 Cramer hosts Lexington – Cramer 68-39: Oshauna Holland (34 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 28 points from becoming all-time leading N.C. scorer), Lauren Humphrey (13 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 assists), Amasia McDowell (10 points) and Unique McDowell (9 points, 11 rebounds) led Cramer.
4A girls- No. 5 Lincoln Charter hosts Bandys – Bandys 53-48
4A girls- No. 6 Burns hosts Foard – Foard 56-48
5A girls- No. 4 East Lincoln hosts West Henderson – East Lincoln 63-43
5A girls- No. 7 Huss hosts North Lincoln – North Lincoln 94-64
5A girls- No. 17 South Point at Oak Grove – Oak Grove 71-31
5A girls- No. 18 Crest at West Rowan – West Rowan 76-26
5A girls- No. 23 North Lincoln at Huss – North Lincoln 94-64
(Saturday, Feb. 28- 3rd round)
1A boys- No. 8 Thomas Jefferson at Robbinsville
3A boys- No. 2 Shelby hosts Walkertown
3A boys- No. 6 Piedmont Community Charter hosts Bessemer City
3A boys- No. 8 Lincolnton at East Rutherford
3A boys- No. 14 Bessemer City at Piedmont Community Charter
4A boys- No. 8 Lincoln Charter at East Henderson
5A boys- No. 1 Huss hosts Oak Grove
5A boys- No. 3 East Lincoln hosts Crest
5A boys- No. 5 North Lincoln at Hickory
5A boys- No. 11 Crest at East Lincoln
6A boys- No. 12 Kings Mountain at Roberson
1A girls- No. 1 Thomas Jefferson hosts Robbinsville
3A girls- No. 12 Shelby at Mountain Heritage
4A girls- No. 3 Cramer hosts Foard
5A girls- No. 4 East Lincoln hosts Forest Hills
5A girls- No. 23 North Lincoln at West Rowan
(Monday, March 2- 4th round)
(Wednesday, March 4 thru Saturday, March 7- Western regionals)
at Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory
(Saturday, March, 11 thru Saturday, March 14 – State finals)
at Joel Coliseum, Winston-Salem
-NCISAA boys state playoffs
(Tuesday, Feb. 17- 1st round)
2A: Carolina Friends at Gaston Day – Gaston Day 81-50
3A: Gaston Christian- bye
(Thursday, Feb. 19- 2nd round)
2A: Westminster Catawba at Gaston Day – Gaston Day 72-39
3A: Gaston Christian- bye
(Saturday, Feb. 21- Quarterfinals)
2A: Gaston Day at Fayetteville Academy – Fayetteville Academy 86-71
3A: Asheville Christian at Gaston Christian – Gaston Christian 73-51
(Tuesday, Feb. 24- Semifinals)
3A: Gaston Christian at Concord Academy – Concord Academy 67-54
-NCISAA girls state playoffs
(Tuesday, Feb. 17- 1st round)
2A: Gaston Day- bye
3A: Gaston Christian- bye
(Thursday, Feb. 19- 2nd round)
2A: Westminster Catawba at Gaston Day – Gaston Day 47-24
3A: Gaston Christian- bye
(Saturday, Feb. 21- Quarterfinals)
2A: Gaston Day at Fayetteville Freedom Christian Academy – Freedom Christian 58-43
3A: Wilmington Cape Fear Academy at Gaston Christian – Gaston Christian 71-62
(Tuesday, Feb. 24- Semifinals)
3A: Gaston Christian at Concord Academy – Concord Academy 52-37
Pro basketball
Charlotte 133, Indiana 109: The Hornets extend their franchise-record road winning streak to 9 as the LaMelo Ball/Brandon Miller/Kon Knueppel/Miles Bridges/Moussa Diabate starting lineup improved to 17-2. Knueppel hit 8 3-pointers to set a new NBA rookie record for made 3-pointers in a season with 208.
The Charlotte Hornets full 2025-26 regular season schedule:
OCTOBER
Wednesday 22 BROOKLYN (W 136-117)
Saturday 25 at Philadelphia (L 121-125)
Sunday 26 at Washington (W 139-113)
Tuesday 28 at Miami (L 117-144)
Thursday 30 ORLANDO (L 107-123)
NOVEMBER
Saturday 1 MINNESOTA (L 105-122)
Sunday 2 UTAH (W 126-103)
Tuesday 4 at New Orleans (L 112-116)
Friday 7 at Miami* (L 108-126)
Monday 10 L.A. LAKERS (L 111-121)
Wed. 12 MILWAUKEE (W 111-100)
Friday 14 at Milwaukee* (L 134-147, OT)
Saturday 15 OKLAHOMA CITY (L 96-109)
Monday 17 at Toronto (L 108-110)
Wednesday 19 at Indiana (L 118-127)
Saturday 22 LA CLIPPERS (L 116-131)
Sunday 23 at Atlanta (L 110-113)
Wednesday 26 NEW YORK* (L 101-129)
Friday 28 CHICAGO* (W 123-116)
Saturday 29 TORONTO (W 118-111, OT)
DECEMBER
Monday 1 at Brooklyn (L 103-116)
Wednesday 3 at New York (L 104-119)
Friday 5 at Toronto (W 111-86 )
Sunday 7 DENVER (L 106-115)
Friday 12 CHICAGO (L 126-129)
Sunday 14 at Cleveland (W 119-111)
Thursday 18 ATLANTA (W 133-126)
Saturday 20 at Detroit (L 86-112)
Monday 22 at Cleveland (L 132-139)
Tuesday 23 WASHINGTON (W 126-109)
Friday 26 at Orlando (W 120-105)
Monday 29 MILWAUKEE (L 113-123)
Wednesday 31 GOLDEN STATE (L 125-132)
JANUARY
Friday 2 at Milwaukee (L 121-122)
Saturday 3 at Chicago (W 112-99 )
Monday 5 at Oklahoma City (W 124-97 )
Wednesday 7 TORONTO (L 96-97 )
Thursday 8 INDIANA (L 109-112)
Saturday 10 at Utah (W 150-95 )
Monday 12 at LA Clippers (L 109-117)
Thursday 15 at L.A. Lakers (W 135-117)
Saturday 17 at Golden State (L 116-136)
Sunday 18 at Denver (W 110-87 )
Wednesday 21 CLEVELAND (L 87-94 )
Thursday 22 at Orlando (W 124-97 )
Saturday 24 WASHINGTON (W 119-115)
Monday 26 PHILADELPHIA (W 130-93 )
Wednesday 28 at Memphis (W 112-97 )
Thursday 29 at Dallas (W 123-121)
Saturday 31 SAN ANTONIO (W 111-106)
FEBRUARY
Monday 2 NEW ORLEANS (W 102-95 )
Thursday 5 at Houston (W 109-99 )
Saturday 7 at Atlanta (W 126-119)
Monday 9 DETROIT (W 110-104)
Wednesday 11 ATLANTA (W 110-107)
Thursday 19 HOUSTON (L 101-105)
Friday 20 CLEVELAND (L 113-118)
Sunday 22 at Washington (W 129-112)
Tuesday 24 at Chicago (W 131-99 )
Thursday 26 at Indiana (W 133-109)
Saturday 28 PORTLAND 1:00 p.m.
MARCH
Tuesday 3 DALLAS 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 4 at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Friday 6 MIAMI 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 8 at Phoenix 10:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10 at Portland 10:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11 at Sacramento 10:00 p.m.
Saturday 14 at San Antonio 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday 17 MIAMI 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 19 ORLANDO 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 21 MEMPHIS 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 24 SACRAMENTO 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 26 NEW YORK 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 28 PHILADELPHIA 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 30 BOSTON 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 31 at Brooklyn 7:30 p.m.
APRIL
Thursday 2 PHOENIX 7:00 p.m.
Friday 3 INDIANA 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 5 at Minnesota 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday 7 at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Friday 10 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 12 at New York 6:00 p.m.
Home games in CAPS
All times listed are Eastern
* Denotes Emirates NBA Cup Group Play game
Schedule to be announced following Emirates NBA Cup Group Play: Dec. 9, 10, 13, 16- Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds, Dec. 11, 12, 14, 15- Additional regular-season games for eliminated teams
The Charlotte Hornets 2025 preseason schedule:
Sunday, Oct. 5 Oklahoma City (at N. Charleston Col.) L 114-135
Thursday, Oct. 9 at Oklahoma City L 116-122
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Dallas W 120-116
Wednesday, Oct. 15 Memphis (at First Horizon Col., Gboro) W 145-116
Friday, Oct. 17 at New York L 108-113
Pro soccer
The 2026 Charlotte FC schedule:
Saturday, Feb. 21 at St. Louis (T 1-1)
Saturday, Feb. 28 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 PM
Saturday, March 7 Austin, 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 14 Miami, 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 21 New York Red Bulls, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Apr. 4 Philadelphia, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Apr. 11 Nashville, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Apr. 18 at New York, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Apr. 22 at Orlando, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Apr. 25 at Nashville, 8:30 PM
Saturday, May 2 at New England, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 9 Cincinnati, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, May 13 New York, 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 16 Toronto, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 23 New England, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, July 22 Atlanta, 8:00 PM
Saturday, July 25 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 1 at Chicago, 8:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 15 Columbus, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Aug. 19 at Toronto, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 22 DC, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Aug. 29 at Atlanta, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 5 Houston, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Montreal, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Cincinnati, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 19 at DC, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Sept. 26 Chicago, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 10 Dallas, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Columbus, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 17 at Philadelphia, 2:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 24 at Portland, 10:30 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 28 Montreal, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 31 Orlando, 1:00 PM
Saturday, Nov. 7 at Miami, 4:00 PM
High school baseball
The area’s schedule:
(Wednesday, Feb. 25)
West Lincoln 12, Bessemer City 0 (5 innings)
Burns 11, East Gaston 0
Cherryville 13, Lincolnton 1 (5 innings)
Shelby 6, Highland Tech 5
Newton-Conover 4, East Lincoln 0
North Lincoln 13, Maiden 1
Palisades 8, Mountain Island Charter 3
Thomas Jefferson 4, Piedmont Community Charter 2
Kings Mountain 7, East Rutherford 4
Gaston Christian 7, Charlotte Latin 0
South Point 11, Lake Norman Charter 3
Lincoln Charter 10, Mallard Creek 1
(Friday, Feb. 27)
East Gaston at Burns
Lincolnton at Cherryville
Shelby at Highland Tech
West Lincoln at Bessemer City
Bandys at East Lincoln
North Lincoln at West Iredell
Piedmont Community Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Charlotte Country Day at Gaston Christian
Crest at Roberson
Gaston Day at Pinnacle Classical
Kings Mountain at A.C. Reynolds
Lincoln Charter at South Point
North Gaston at South Caldwell
(Monday, March 2)
Greensboro Caldwell Academy at Gaston Day
Mountain Island Charter at Sugar Creek Charter
Queen’s Grant at Piedmont Community Charter
(Tuesday, March 3)
Burns at Lincolnton
Cramer at Bessemer City
Highland Tech at Cherryville
West Lincoln at Shelby
East Lincoln at North Lincoln
Corvian Community at Lincoln Charter
Chambers at Ashbrook
Crest at West Henderson
East Rutherford at North Gaston
Forestview at East Gaston
South Point at North Stanly
(Wednesday, March 4)
Piedmont Community Charter at Jackson Day
Burns at Draughn, DH
Cramer at Mount Pleasant
Kings Mountain at West Lincoln
Mooresville at Lincoln Charter
Mountain Island Charter at Lake Norman Charter
Gaston Day at York Prep
(Thursday, March 5)
Bessemer City at Cramer
Tuscola at Crest
West Charlotte at Huss
(Friday, March 6)
Cherryville at Highland Tech
Lincolnton at Burns
Shelby at West Lincoln
West Iredell at East Lincoln
North Lincoln at Newton-Conover
Lincoln Charter at Corvian Community
Carolina International at Mountain Island Charter
A.C. Reynolds at Crest
Ashbrook at Statesville
Bessemer City at Forestview
East Gaston at North Gaston
High Point Westchester Country Day at Gaston Day
Piedmont Community Charter at Chase
South Point at East Rutherford
High school softball
(Wednesday, Feb. 25)
East Lincoln 14, Newton-Conover 1: Winning pitcher Jordyn Aungst (4 innings, 7 strikeouts on mound, double, triple, reach on error as batter), reliever Ava Cook (1 inning, 2 strikeouts on mound, double, walk, 2 runs, RBI as batter), Kaitlyn Gust (double, run, RBI, walk), Keylee Donaldson (double), Maliya Fletcher-McLean (single, RBI), Gabby Vaughn (2 singles, double, reach on error, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, 2 stolen bases), Brylee Belcher (2 singles, stolen base, RBI), Sadie Higgins (3 singles, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Peyton Passmore (2 reach on error, 2 runs, walk) and Olivia Cato (single, run, RBI) led East Lincoln.
College basketball
Here are the recent results/upcoming schedule for area teams:
(Thursday, Feb. 19)
Radford 82, Gardner-Webb 70
Gaston College 81, Wake Tech 76
(Saturday, Feb. 21)
Charlotte 68, East Carolina 56
Gaston College 118, Cape Fear CC 94
Fordham 63, Davidson 59
Claflin 65, J.C. Smith 52
Cleveland CC 86, Louisburg 80
Queens 91, West Georgia 84
Southern Wesleyan 79, Belmont Abbey 69
(Sunday, Feb. 22)
Bryant & Stratton, Va. 91, Cleveland CC 74
(Wednesday, Feb. 25)
Cleveland CC 79, Southwest Virginia 74
Belmont Abbey 83, Lees-McRae 72
Davidson 67, Duquesne 56
Gaston College 104, USC Salkehatchie 89
Charlotte 80, North Texas 79
Queens 96, Eastern Kentucky 79
CIAA tournament at Baltimore, Md.- J.C. Smith 61, Elizabeth City State 60
(Thursday, Feb. 26)
UNC-Asheville 77, Gardner-Webb 71
CIAA tournament at Baltimore, Md. – J.C. Smith 64, Virginia Union 63
(Friday, Feb. 27)
CIAA tournament at Baltimore, Md. – J.C. Smith vs. Fayetteville State, 2 p.m.
(Saturday, Feb. 28)
Gardner-Webb at USC Upstate, 2 p.m.
Queens at Central Arkansas, TBD
CIAA tournament at Baltimore, Md.
(Sunday, March 1)
Brunswick CC at Gaston College, 2 p.m.
La Salle at Davidson, noon
Charlotte at Florida Atlantic, 2 p.m.
Conference Carolinas tournament
(Wednesday, March 4)
Gaston College at Caldwell Tech, 7 p.m.
Saint Joseph’s at Davidson, 7 p.m.
UAB at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Atlantic Sun tournament at Jacksonville, Fla.
Big South tournament at Johnson City, Tenn.
Conference Carolinas tournament
(Thursday, March 5)
Big South tournament at Johnson City, Tenn.
Region 10 Division II tournament at Wake Tech
(Friday, March 6)
Atlantic Sun tournament at Jacksonville, Fla.
Big South tournament at Johnson City, Tenn.
Conference Carolinas tournament at Spartanburg, S.C.
Region 10 Division II tournament at Wake Tech
(Saturday, March 7)
Davidson at St. Bonaventure, noon
Atlantic Sun tournament at Jacksonville, Fla.
Big South tournament at Johnson City, Tenn.
Conference Carolinas tournament at Spartanburg, S.C.
Region 10 Division II tournament at Wake Tech
(Sunday, March 8)
Charlotte at South Florida, 2 p.m.
Atlantic Sun tournament at Jacksonville, Fla.
Big South tournament at Johnson City, Tenn.
Conference Carolinas tournament at Spartanburg, S.C.
(Tuesday, March 10)
ACC tournament at Charlotte
(Wednesday, March 11)
American tournament at Birmingham, Ala.
ACC tournament at Charlotte
Atlantic 10 tournament at Pittsburgh, Pa.
(Thursday, March 12)
American tournament at Birmingham, Ala.
ACC tournament at Charlotte
Atlantic 10 tournament at Pittsburgh, Pa.
Region 10 Division I tournament at TBA
(Friday, March 13)
American tournament at Birmingham, Ala.
ACC tournament at Charlotte
Atlantic 10 tournament at Pittsburgh, Pa.
Region 10 Division I tournament at TBA
(Saturday, March 14)
American tournament at Birmingham, Ala.
ACC tournament at Charlotte
Atlantic 10 tournament at Pittsburgh, Pa.
Region 10 Division I tournament at TBA
(Sunday, March 15)
American tournament at Birmingham, Ala.
Atlantic 10 tournament at Pittsburgh, Pa.
Auto racing
Here is the full 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule with race winners in parentheses:
Feb. 4 — Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (Ryan Preece)
Feb. 15 — Daytona 500 (Tyler Reddick)
Feb. 22 — Atlanta (Reddick-2)
March 1 — Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas
March 8 — Phoenix
March 15 — Las Vegas
March 22 — Darlington, South Carolina
March 29 — Martinsville, Virginia
April 5 — off weekend
April 12 — Bristol, Tennessee
April 19 — Kansas
April 26 — Talladega, Alabama
May 3 — Texas
May 10 — Watkins Glen, New York
May 17 — All-Star Race (Dover)
May 24 — Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)
May 31 — Nashville, Tennessee
June 7 — Michigan
June 14 — Pocono in Long Pond, Pennsylvania
June 21 — San Diego
June 28 — Sonoma, California
July 5 — Chicagoland
July 12 — Atlanta
July 19 — North Wilkesboro
July 26 — Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis)
Aug. 2 — off weekend
Aug. 9 — Iowa
Aug. 15 — Richmond, Virginia
Aug. 23 — New Hampshire
Aug. 29 — Daytona, Florida
Sept. 6 — Darlington
Sept. 13 — Gateway in Madison, Illinois
Sept. 19 — Bristol
Sept. 27 — Kansas
Oct. 4 — Las Vegas
Oct. 11 — Charlotte Roval
Oct. 18 — Phoenix
Oct. 25 — Talladega
Nov. 1 — Martinsville
Nov. 8 — Homestead, Florida
Rodeo
Professional Bull Riding Unleash the Beast tour schedule for Greensboro-based Carolina Cowboys:
Feb. 1 – Golden 1 Center Sacramento- Austin Gamblers (L 173.90-256.90)
Feb. 21 – Progressive PBR Jacksonville- Florida Freedom (L 158.70-169.25)
Feb. 28 – PBR Bridgeport
March 7 – PBR Kubota PBR Little Rock
March 14 – PBR Florida State
March 22 – Ram Trucks PBR Indianapolis
March 29 – PBR Albuquerque
April 12 – First Premier Bank PBR Sioux Falls
April 18 – PBR Billings
April 24 – Cooper Tires PBR Tacoma
May 10 – PBR World Finals at Cowtown Coliseum
Sept. 18-20 – Greensboro First Horizon Coliseum Complex