2-28-22 roundup: High school basketball, Middle school basketball, Pro basketball and soccer, College track and field, basketball and baseball
By Richard Walker
Kings Mountain senior Zeke Cannedy and Crest coach Brad LeVine took top boys honors and Ashbrook junior Kennette Bess and Ashbrook coach Tremayne Booker took top girls honors in Big South 3A Conference 2021-22 basketball honors that were released on Monday.
Cannedy, a 32.3 points per game scorer, was named boys player of the year. Cannedy’s 886 points this season is second all-time in Cleveland County history as it trails only future Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Bell’s 941 points scored in the 1957-58 season for old Cleveland Training School and one point ahead of future Clemson standout Gabe Devoe (885 points for Shelby in the 2013-14 season).
LeVine led Crest to its second straight unbeaten league record and extended its streak to 28 consecutive Big South 3A conference victories. The Chargers finished 24-3 overall after losing in the third round of the N.C. 3A playoffs.
The Big South picked three teams of boys all-conference selections, with Cannedy, Crest’s Mari Adams and Tylik Briscoe, Cramer’s Will Kelly and South Point’s Cooper Ray making up the first team.
Second team selections were Ashbrook’s Kenneth Greene, Cramer’s Jacob Joyner, Crest’s Ray Hall, Huss’ Justin Ross and Kings Mountain’s Maddox James. And third team selections were Crest’s A.J. Adams and Kevin Kollock, Forestview’s Nate Aguilar and Daris Byers and South Point’s Jaquis Rumph.
Bess averaged 23.0 points per game and surpassed 1,000 career points during her junior year to earn player of the year honors.
Booker led Ashbrook to the league’s conference tournament title over Kings Mountain after two schools after the two schools shared the regular season with 13-1 records and the Green Wave finished 20-9 overall after a third round playoff loss.
The Big South picked three teams of girls all-conference selections, with Bess, Ashbrook’s Madison Cole, Huss’ Brooklyn Swann and Kings Mountain’s Khalia King and Saniya Wilson making up the first team.
Second team selections were Cramer’s Hadley Womack, Crest’s Monica Surratt, Forestview’s Kendall Manning, Huss’ Myla Hoover and South Point’s Amya Graham. And third team selections were Ashbrook’s ZaZa Mason, Cramer’s Dasia Harris, Huss’ Savanni Harris, North Gaston’s Whitney Brown and South Point’s Maddie Frank.
Here are some other all-league selections:
(All-Western Foothills 3A)
East Lincoln took top boys and girls honors as Drew Bean won boys player of the year, Madison Self took girls player of the year, Jon Hancock boys coach of the year and Jason Otey co-girls coach of the year with St. Stephens’ Andy Bennett.
Joining Bean on the boys all-league team were East Lincoln’s Jeremiah Jones and Keandre Walker, Hickory’s Jayden Maddox, Jamien Little and Landan Maddox, St. Stephens’ Ji Ikard, Foard’s Sam Hepler, North Iredell’s Jackson Hawkins and John Jackson, Statesville’s Messiah Robinson,
North Lincoln’s Jack Waggoner and West Iredell’s Jermaine Cornelius.
Joining Self on the girls all-league team were East Lincoln’s Ginny Overbay, Hailey McFadden and Taliyah Thomas, Hickory’s Gabriela Greenard and Joselin Turner, St. Stephens’ Molli Harris and Allie Reid, Foard’s Alexis Wolgemuth, North Iredell’s Skylin Guill, Statesville’s Nakayla White-Conner, North Lincoln’s Julia Frantz and West Iredell’s Brooklyn Gibson.
(All-Catawba Shores 1A/2A)
Lincoln Charter’s championship-winning boys and girls teams had 11 total all-conference honorees and the Eagles’ Lauren Horton (player of the year) and Kim Allen (coach of the year) got top honors in that league’s all-league selections.
For the boys, Lincoln Charter’s Elijah Burnett, J.J. Moore, Marcus Farley, Jr., Xavier Crawford and McCall Johnson (honorable mention) were honored along with Community School of Davidson’s Seth Johnson, Matthew Ferguson, A.J. Webb, Josh Steward (honorable mention), Christ the King’s Andrew Baich, Jesse Filiault and Parker Clapp (honorable mention), Mountain Island Charter’s O’Marion Ferguson, Jake Barber and Ben Patton (honorable mention), Pine Lake Prep’s Patrick Schwaba and Langtree Charter’s Jace Harris, Brycen Manns (honorable mention) and Clearance Williams (special circumstance).
Community School of Davidson’s Johnson (player of the year) and Jackie Drakeford (coach of the year) took top league honors.
For the girls, Lincoln Charter’s Lauren Horton, Maddie Lusk, Kallie Lusk, Grace Ronaldo, Kenzie Ross (honorable mention) and Tyler Beller (special circumstance) were honored along with Community School of Davidson’s Mackenzi DeLay, Allison O’Donnell, Mariana Soares and Ruthie Camp (honorable mention), Langtree Charter’s LaRiyah Clark, Dayla Whitley and Kahree Heard (honorable mention), Christ the King’s Kate Tuschong and Elle Gorman, Pine Lake Prep’s Nikki Mullen and Mountain’s Jaida McGraw and Arielle Baker (honorable mention).
(All-Metro 8 1A)
Piedmont Community Charter’s Holly Gibby was named coach of the year and junior point guard Grace East was named player of the year for the league champion Patriots.
High school baseball
The season opened on Monday all around the region and www.CarolinasSportsHub.com will have a preview online on Tuesday.
(Monday’s results)
Highland Tech 19, Piedmont Community Charter 9: Gavin Blackwood and Liam Fulbright combined for four hits, seven runs, three RBIs and five stolen bases for Highland Tech.
Burns 6, Kings Mountain 2: Joseph Webb struck out 16 and he, Ben Mauney and Reid Stroupe had two hits apiece for Burns.
High school softball
The season opened on Monday all around the region and www.CarolinasSportsHub.com will have a preview online on Tuesday.
(Monday’s results)
East Lincoln 6- Mountain Island Charter 3: Leah Correll (9 strikeouts) was the winning pitcher and Jaelyn Freeston (single, 1 run), Betsy Eaton (single, double, 1 RBI), Bailey Hardin (2-run home run), Madison Currence (double, 2 runs), Val Lohr (single, 2-run home run, 3 RBIs), Emery Pether (single) and Taniyah Thomas (single) led East Lincoln’s offense.
Burns 9, Foard 4: Jaycee Bivins was the winning pitcher and Sayge Strange (2 for 3, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs), Hunter Morgan (2 for 4, double, 2 RBIs), Peyton Cook (2 for 4, triple), Meah Ivie (2 for 4) and Esynce Howze (2 for 3) led Burns’ offense.
Crest 5, R-S Central 1: Aidan Ledbetter (eight strikeouts) was the winning pitcher and Riley Parker (2 hits, triple, RBI, run), Hadley Watts (two hits, triple), Jaylen Ledbetter (2 hits, RBI, run) and Jourdan Martin (hit) led Crest’s offense.
High school basketball
Bessemer City’s boys and Shelby’s girls will play N.C. High School Athletic Association Western semifinal basketball playoff games on Tuesday.
Bessemer City (23-4), in the Western semifinals for the first time since 1995, will visit perennial power Winston-Salem Prep in a 1A Western boys semifinal. Tuesday’s winner advances to Saturday’s Western 1A championship game.
Shelby (21-2), the defending state champion, will visit top-seeded Randleman in a 2A Western girls semifinal. Tuesday’s winner advances to Saturday’s Western 2A championship game.
Middle school basketball
Monday’s games:
(BOYS)
Belmont 71, Cramerton 33: Dylan Bradley (22 points, 8 rebounds), K.J. Shouse (17 points, 12 rebounds), Jaishawn Woods (13 points) and Allan Edwards (9 points, 5 assists, 5 steals) led Belmont.
Bessemer City 41, Chavis 35
York Chester 48, W.C. Friday 13: Antonio Worthy had 13 points and Tristen Gordon 11 for York Chester.
Grier 41, Stanley 10: Jonathan Black had 15 points for Grier.
Southwest 50, Holbrook 46: Savion Lindsay had 18 points, Dyson Britt 13 points and Kendall Southern 12 for Holbrook.
(GIRLS)
Belmont 33, Cramerton 0: Claire Frank had 12 points for Belmont.
Bessemer City d. Chavis
W.C. Friday 30, York Chester 6
Stanley 19, Grier 17
Holbrook 61, Southwest 15: Jakyra Sadler had 26 points, O’Shauna Holland 10, Ellia Barajas eight and Nykira Arrington seven for Holbrook.
Gaston County Conference final regular season standings:
(Boys)
Southwest 10-0
Grier 8-2
Belmont 8-2
York Chester 7-3
Holbrook 7-3
Mount Holly 5-5
Cramerton 4-6
Stanley 3-7
Bessemer City 2-8
W.C. Friday 1-9
Chavis 0-10
(Girls)
Holbrook 10-0
W.C. Friday 8-2
Belmont 8-2
Cramerton 6-4
Southwest 6-4
Stanley 5-5
Chavis 5-5
Bessemer City 2-8
Mount Holly 2-8
York Chester 2-8
Grier 1-9
Playoffs
(Thursday’s semifinals)
Boys: York Chester at Southwest, Belmont at Grier
Girls: Cramerton at Holbrook, Belmont at W.C. Friday
College basketball
Big South Conference: The league’s postseason tournament is being played at Charlotte’s Bojangles’ Coliseum:
Here are the pairings:
(Men)
First Round – Wednesday, March 2
Game 1: (8) Radford vs. (9) North Carolina A&T, 11:30 a.m.
Game 2: (5) UNC Asheville vs. (12) Charleston Southern, 2 p.m.
Game 3: (7) High Point vs. (10) Hampton, 6 p.m.
Game 4: (6) Campbell vs. (11) Presbyterian, 8 p.m.
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 4
Game 5: (1) Longwood vs. 8/9 winner, noon
Game 6: (4) USC Upstate vs. 5/12 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 7: (2) Winthrop vs 7/10 Winner, 6 p.m.
Game 8: (3) Gardner-Webb vs. 6/11 Winner, 8 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, March 5
Game 9: Semifinals – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, noon
Game 10: Semifinals – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 2 p.m.
Championship – Sunday, March 6 (ESPN2)
Game 11: Championship – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, noon
(Women)
First Round – Tuesday, March 1
Game 1: (8) Presbyterian vs. (9) Winthrop, noon
Game 2: (5) High Point vs. (12) Charleston Southern, 2 p.m.
Game 3: (7) Hampton vs. (10) Radford, 6 p.m.
Game 4: (6) North Carolina A&T vs. (11) UNC Asheville, 8 p.m.
Quarterfinals – Thursday, March 3
Game 5: (1) Campbell vs. 8/9 winner, noon
Game 6: (4) Gardner-Webb vs. 5/12 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 7: (2) Longwood vs. 7/10 Winner, 6 p.m.
Game 8: (3) USC Upstate vs. 6/11 Winner, 8 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, March 5
Game 9: Semifinals – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 10: Semifinals – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 8 p.m.
Championship – Sunday, March 6 (ESPNU)
Game 11: Championship – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 8:30 p.m.
Conference Carolinas: The league’s tournament began on Sunday.
Here are the pairings:
(Men)
First Round – Sunday, February 27
#7 Lees-McRae 80, #10 Chowan 73 (at Barton)
#9 Francis Marion 90, #8 King 83 (at Mount Olive)
Second Round – Monday, February 28
#6 Barton 94, Lees-McRae 75
#5 Mount Olive 95, Francis Marion 83
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 4 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Mount Olive vs. #4 Southern Wesleyan, 11 a.m.
Barton vs. #3 Belmont Abbey, 1:30 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, March 5 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of #4-#5-#8-#9 vs. #1 UNC Pembroke, 12 p.m.
Winner of #3-#6-#7-#10 vs. #2 Emmanuel, 2:30 p.m.
Final – Sunday, March 6 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2, 1 p.m.
(Women)
First Round – Sunday, February 27
#7 Francis Marion 76, #10 North Greenville 63 (at King)
#8 Emmanuel 72, #9 Lees-McRae 57 (at UNC Pembroke)
Second Round – Monday, February 28
Francis Marion 87, #6 King 84
Emmanuel 69, #5 UNC Pembroke 67
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 4 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Francis Marion vs. #4 Chowan, 6 p.m.
Emmanuel vs. #3 Belmont Abbey, 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, March 5 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of #4-#5-#8-#9 vs. #1 Barton, 5 p.m.
Winner of #3-#6-#7-#10 vs. #2 Mount Olive, 7:30 p.m.
Final – Sunday, March 6 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2, 4 p.m.
Gaston College 106, Hosanna Bible College 93: You could not have scripted Gaston College’s final game of its first season any better as the Rhinos finished with an 18-10 overall record on a night in which four honored sophomores all had big nights – Jaylen Bates (36 points, 5 rebounds), Damon Davis (14 points, 4 assists), Kalil Camara (13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocked shots) and Zavion Jackson (8 points, 7 rebounds).
Pro basketball
The slumping Charlotte Hornets lost for the 11th time in 13 games as the Milwaukee Bucks led by as many as 35 points before winning 130-106 on Monday night.
The visiting Hornets (30-33) were led by LaMelo Ball (24 points), Kelly Oubre (17 points, 7 rebounds) and Terry Rozier (17 points).
Giannis Antetokounmpo (26 points, 16 rebounds) led the Bucks.
Here is the Charlotte Hornets’ full regular season schedule (with results):
OCTOBER
Wed. 20 INDIANA (W 123-122)
Fri. 22 at Cleveland (W 123-112)
Sun. 24 at Brooklyn (W 111-95)
Mon. 25 BOSTON (L 129-140, OT)
Wed. 27 at Orlando (W 120-111)
Fri. 29 at Miami (L 99-114)
Sun. 31 PORTLAND (W 125-113)
NOVEMBER
Mon. 1 CLEVELAND (L 110-113)
Wed. 3 at Golden State (L 92-114)
Fri. 5 at Sacramento (L 110-140)
Sun. 7 at LA Clippers (L 106-120)
Mon. 8 at L.A. Lakers (L 123-126, OT)
Wed. 10 at Memphis (W 118-108)
Fri. 12 NEW YORK (W 104-96)
Sun. 14 GOLDEN STATE (W 106-102)
Wed. 17 WASHINGTON (W 97-87)
Fri. 19 INDIANA (W 121-118)
Sat. 20 at Atlanta (L 105-115)
Mon. 22 at Washington (W 109-103)
Wed. 24 at Orlando (W 108-99)
Fri. 26 MINNESOTA (W 133-115)
Sat. 27 at Houston (L 143-146, OT)
Mon. 29 at Chicago (L 119-133)
DECEMBER
Wed. 1 at Milwaukee (L 125-127)
Sun. 5 at Atlanta (W 130-127)
Mon. 6 PHILADELPHIA (L 124-127, OT)
Wed. 8 PHILADELPHIA (L 106-110)
Fri. 10 SACRAMENTO (W 124-123)
Mon. 13 at Dallas (L 96-120)
Wed. 15 at San Antonio (W 131-115)
Fri. 17 at Portland (L 116-125)
Sun. 19 at Phoenix (L 106-137)
Mon. 20 at Utah (L 102-112)
Thu. 23 at Denver (W 115-107)
Mon. 27 HOUSTON (W 123-99)
Wed. 29 at Indiana (W 116-108)
JANUARY
Sun. 2 PHOENIX (L 99-133)
Mon. 3 at Washington (L 121-124)
Wed. 5 DETROIT (W 140-111)
Sat. 8 MILWAUKEE (W 114-106)
Mon. 10 MILWAUKEE (W 103-99)
Wed. 12 at Philadelphia (W 109-98)
Fri. 14 ORLANDO (L 109-116)
Mon. 17 at New York (W 97-87)
Wed. 19 at Boston (W 111-102)
Fri. 21 OKLAHOMA CITY (W 121-98)
Sun. 23 ATLANTA (L 91-113)
Tue. 25 at Toronto (L 113-125)
Wed. 26 at Indiana (W 158-126)
Fri. 28 L.A. LAKERS (W 117-114)
Sun. 30 LA CLIPPERS (L 90-115)
FEBRUARY
Wed. 2 at Boston (L 107-113)
Fri. 4 CLEVELAND (L 101-102)
Sat. 5 MIAMI (L 86-104)
Mon. 7 TORONTO (L 101-116)
Wed. 9 CHICAGO (L 109-121)
Fri. 11 at Detroit (W 141-119)
Sat. 12 MEMPHIS (L 118-125)
Tue. 15 at Minnesota (L 120-126, OT)
Thu. 17 MIAMI (L 107-111, 2 OT)
Fri. 25 TORONTO (W 125-93)
Sun. 27 DETROIT (L 126-127, OT)
Mon. 28 at Milwaukee (L 106-130)
MARCH
Wed. 2 at Cleveland 7:00
Sat. 5 SAN ANTONIO 7:00
Tue. 8 BROOKLYN 7:00
Wed. 9 BOSTON 7:00
Fri. 11 at New Orleans 8:00
Mon. 14 at Oklahoma City 8:00
Wed. 16 ATLANTA 7:00
Sat. 19 DALLAS 7:00
Mon. 21 NEW ORLEANS 7:00
Wed. 23 NEW YORK 7:00
Fri. 25 UTAH 7:00
Sun. 27 at Brooklyn 7:30
Mon. 28 DENVER 7:00
Wed. 30 at New York 7:30
APRIL
Sat. 2 at Philadelphia 12:30
Tue. 5 at Miami 7:30
Thu. 7 ORLANDO 7:00
Fri. 8 at Chicago 8:00
Sun. 10 WASHINGTON TBD
Pro soccer
Here’s the full Charlotte FC schedule for the 2022 season (with results):
Feb. 26 at D.C. (L 0-3)
March 5, L.A., 7:30 p.m.
March 13, at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m.
March 19, New England, 7 p.m.
March 26, Cincinnati, 6 p.m.
April 4, at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
April 10, Atlanta, 1:30 p.m.
April 16, at New England, 7:30 p.m.
April 23, at Colorado, 9 p.m.
April 30, at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
May 7, Miami, 3:30 p.m.
May 14, Montreal, 7 p.m.
May 22, Vancouver, 5 p.m.
May 29, at Seattle, 9:30 p.m.
June 11, New York, 3 p.m.
June 18, at Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
June 25, at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
June 30, Austin, 7 p.m.
July 3, at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
July 9, Nashville, 7 p.m.
July 16, at Miami, 8 p.m.
July 23, at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
July 30, Columbus, 7 p.m.
August 3, D.C., 7 p.m.
August 6, Chicago, 7 p.m.
August 13, at LAFC, 10:30 p.m.
August 17, at New York City, TBD
August 21, Orlando, 7 p.m.
August 27, Toronto, 7 p.m.
September 3, at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
September 10, New York City, 7 p.m.
September 17, at Chicago, 8 p.m.
October 1, Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
October 9, at New York, TBD