2-5-23 roundup: Pro basketball and football, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball, College basketball and baseball

By Richard Walker

There’s been shift in the fortunes on three programs that have usually struggled in area high school basketball.

East Gaston, Gaston Christian and South Point are enjoying historic seasons – and all three have either won or have a chance to win rare league titles.

Gaston Christian clinched the first conference regular season basketball title of any kind its history following Friday’s 104-53 win over Hickory Grove Christian to wrap up the Metrolina Conference championship. The Eagles started the season 3-5 after losing their league opener at Metrolina Christian on Nov. 29.

Since then, coach Gabe Blair’s team has won 18 of 21 games and losing only league game – at rival Gaston Day. Gaston Christian has five double-figure scorers – Cameron Newman (16.1 average), Joe Rhyne (13.7), Corey Gaines (13.5), Gabriel Mabor (13.0) and Preston Shuford (10.3) – that had led its run to the first league title in school history.

South Point (19-3) moved into first place in the Big South 3A race after Friday’s 61-47 win over Kings Mountain; The Red Raiders and Mountaineers are both 9-3 in league play entering the final week of the regular season.

If South Point wins it final two regular season games – Tuesday at home against Ashbrook and Friday at North Gaston – it would claim the school’s first ever league title. Friday’s win already gave the Red Raiders their highest win total in school history.

South Point’s only three losses were to league rivals Huss, Crest and Kings Mountain to leave the Red Raiders at 2-3 in league play before the current seven-game winning streak began. Greyson Hines (14.4), Sean Gore (9.1) and Jaquis Rumph (8.3) lead a balanced South Point offense for coach Kody Kubbs’ team.

East Gaston improved to 18-2 overall and 9-1 in the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference after Friday’s 61-61 win at Shelby (14-6, 8-2). The Warriors close at Burns on Tuesday and at home against Highland Tech on Friday while Shelby closes at Thomas Jefferson Classical on Tuesday and at home against Shelby on Friday.

East Gaston has won two regular season league titles in school history (1973 and 2005) and had two 20-win seasons (2002 and 2005). Coach Gene Farrar’s team has been led by McCaskill Rivers (21.1), Trenton Sherrill (16.3) and Connor Rankin (12.3).

Here are area high school basketball standings with conference record followed by overall record through Feb. 3:

(Big South 3A boys)
South Point 9-3, 19-3
Kings Mountain 9-3, 12-9
Crest 8-4, 15-6
Huss 8-4, 13-8
Cramer 4-8, 8-14
Ashbrook 4-8, 4-18
Forestview 3-9, 8-12
North Gaston 3-9, 5-17

(Big South 3A girls)
Huss 10-2, 15-6
Cramer 9-3, 17-5
Ashbrook 9-3, 14-8
Crest 8-4, 10-11
South Point 6-6, 12-10
Kings Mountain 4-8, 10-11
Forestview 2-10, 8-13
North Gaston 0-12, 1-21

(Southern Piedmont 1A/2A boys)
East Gaston 9-1, 18-2
Shelby 8-2, 14-6
Bessemer City 7-4, 14-7
Burns 6-4, 11-9
Cherryville 4-7, 11-11
Highland Tech 1-9, 5-15
Thomas Jefferson 1-9, 4-16

(Southern Piedmont 1A/2A girls)
Shelby 10-0, 19-1
Bessemer City 9-2, 16-5
Thomas Jefferson 6-4, 12-8
Burns 4-6, 7-13
East Gaston 4-6, 5-14
Highland Tech 3-7, 7-14
Cherryville 0-11, 3-19

(Western Foothills 3A boys)
Hickory 12-0, 21-1
East Lincoln 9-3, 18-4
North Lincoln 9-3, 15-6
North Iredell 7-5, 14-8
St. Stephens 4-8, 9-13
Foard 4-8, 4-18
Statesville 2-10, 2-14
West Iredell 1-11, 3-19

(Western Foothills 3A girls)
East Lincoln 12-0, 22-0
St. Stephens 9-3, 15-7
North Iredell 9-3, 15-7
Hickory 7-5, 11-10
Foard 5-7, 11-11
Statesville 4-8, 6-13
North Lincoln 2-10, 4-17
West Iredell 0-12, 2-20

(Catawba Valley 2A boys)
West Caldwell 12-0, 19-2
Maiden 10-2, 19-3
Newton-Conover 8-4, 13-9
Lincolnton 6-6, 8-13
Bandys 5-7, 10-11
West Lincoln 3-9, 6-15
Bunker Hill 3-9, 5-16
East Burke 1-11, 3-17

(Catawba Valley 2A girls)
East Burke 12-0, 19-1
Newton-Conover 10-2, 18-4
West Lincoln 7-5, 13-8
Maiden 7-5, 10-12
Bandys 5-7, 10-12
Lincolnton 4-8, 5-15
Bunker Hill 2-10, 3-18
West Caldwell 1-11, 1-16

(Metrolina boys)
Gaston Christian 12-2, 21-8
Concord Academy 12-2, 27-6
Northside Christian 9-5, 18-13
Gaston Day 8-6, 15-8
Westminster Catawba 6-8, 15-14
Metrolina Christian 5-9, 13-20
Hickory Grove Chr 3-11, 10-14
SouthLake Christian 1-13, 8-22

(Metrolina girls)
Concord Academy 13-0, 19-7
Northside Christian 10-2, 19-9
Metrolina Christian 7-5, 14-9
Hickory Grove Chr 7-5, 10-7
Gaston Christian 2-9, 3-14
Westminster Catawba 2-10, 9-16
SouthLake Christian 1-10, 3-18

(Catawba Shores 1A/2A boys)
Lincoln Charter 11-0, 18-11
Community Sch Davidson 7-3, 14-8
Pine Lake Prep 7-4, 14-9
Christ the King 6-5, 10-10
Mtn Island Charter 4-6, 8-10
Bradford Prep 1-8, 10-12
Langtree Charter 0-10, 2-23

(Catawba Shores 1A/2A girls)
Lincoln Charter 7-0, 17-4
Community Sch Davidson 5-2, 10-11
Christ the King 4-4, 11-7
Pine Lake Prep 2-5, 8-13
Bradford Prep 0-7, 5-17

(Metro 8 1A boys)
Corvian Community 8-1, 13-6
Carolina International 8-2, 13-14
Piedmont Comm Charter 7-3, 14-8
Queen’s Grant 6-3, 13-7
Cabarrus Charter 3-8, 5-13
Sugar Creek 2-7, 5-10
Apprentice Academy 0-10, 0-15

(Metro 8 1A girls)
Piedmont Comm Charter 8-0, 16-6
Corvian Community 7-0, 10-8
Queen’s Grant 4-4, 7-12
Sugar Creek 3-5, 3-10
Carolina International 1-7, 1-15
Cabarrus Charter 1-8, 1-17

(This week’s schedule)

Monday, Feb. 6
Chase at Forestview

Tuesday, Feb. 7
Ashbrook at South Point
Cramer at Kings Mountain
Forestview at Crest
Huss at North Gaston
East Gaston at Burns
Highland Tech at Bessemer City
Shelby at Thomas Jefferson
Piedmont CC at Corvian Community
East Lincoln at North Iredell
West Iredell at North Lincoln
East Burke at West Lincoln
Maiden at Lincolnton
Christ the King at Mountain Island Charter
Lincoln Charter at Pine Lake Prep

Wednesday, Feb. 8
Kings Mountain at Cox Mill

Thursday, Feb. 9
Corvian Community at Piedmont CC

Friday, Feb. 10
Ashbrook at Huss
Crest at Kings Mountain
Forestview at Cramer
South Point at North Gaston
Burns at Shelby
Cherryville at Thomas Jefferson
Highland Tech at East Gaston
East Lincoln at North Lincoln
Lincolnton at West Lincoln
Mountain Island Charter at Bradford Prep

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College basketball

(Tuesday’s games)
King at Belmont Abbey

(Wednesday’s games)
Gaston College at Cape Fear Community College

(Thursday’s games)
Charlotte at UTEP
Eastern Kentucky at Queens
Gardner-Webb at Radford
Fordham at Davidson

(Saturday, Feb. 11)
Bellarmine at Queens
Belmont Abbey at Chowan
Charlotte at North Texas

(Sunday, Feb. 12)
Denmark Tech at Gaston College

 

 

 

 

 

 

College baseball

Gaston College 1-4, Walters State 4-2: Gaston College split a doubleheader with the No. 2 ranked team in NJCAA as former Cramer High standout Preston Hall hit a two-run single in the fourth inning of the nightcap. The Rhinos improved to 5-1.

Shelby’s Parker Dixon announced on social media on Sunday that he was committing to play for Charlotte’s Queens University.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro football

The Carolina Panthers new head coach Frank Reich has made his first official assistant coaching hire.

Like Reich’s hiring, it comes with a nod to the past.

Reich, the team’s first starting quarterback, played for inaugural Carolina head coach Dom Capers.

Last season, Capers was a senior defensive assistant for new Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero with the Denver Broncos.

Evero was one of 12 candidates the Panthers’ pursued for their heading coaching job and actually interviewed for the job.

The 42-year-old Evero has previously coached with the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers after playing college football as a safety at Cal Davis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school basketball

Gaston County Conference standings through Feb. 3:

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

Just a few hours after witnessing Duke’s home win over North Carolina, former Blue Devils Paolo Banchero (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Wendell Carter Jr. (20 points, 12 rebounds) lead the Orlando Magic to a 119-113 Sunday afternoon victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Another Magic player who attended Saturday night’s game at Cameron Indoor Stadium – former North Carolina standout Cole Anthony – added 9 points and 5 assists for Orlando as it overcame an early 10-point deficit for the win.

LaMelo Ball (33 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) and Terry Rozier (24 points, 6 assists) led Charlotte.
Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:

(15-40 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, 7 p.m.
10 at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
11 Denver, 7 p.m.
13 Atlanta, 7 p.m.
15 San Antonio, 7 p.m.
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 football

Here’s the 2022-23 NFL playoff schedule:

-Wild Card weekend
Jan. 14-16
(AFC)
No. 1 Kansas City – bye
No. 5 L.A. Chargers at Jacksonville – Jacksonville 31-30
No. 7 Miami at No. 2 Buffalo – Buffalo 34-31
No. 6 Baltimore at No. 3 Cincinnati – Cincinnati 24-17

(NFC)
No. 1 Philadelphia – bye
No. 7 Seattle at No. 2 San Francisco – San Francisco 41-23
No. 6 N.Y. Giants at No. 3 Minnesota – N.Y. Giants 31-24
No. 5 Dallas at No. 4 Tampa Bay – Dallas 31-14

-Confererence semifinals
Jan. 21-22
(AFC)
No. 4 Jacksonville at No. 1 Kansas City – Kansas City 27-20
No. 3 Cincinnati at No. 2 Buffalo – Cincinnati 27-10

(NFC)
No. 6 N.Y. Giants at No. 1 Philadelphia – Philadelphia 38-7
No. 5 Dallas at No. 2 San Francisco – San Francisco 19-12

-Conference championship games
Jan. 29
NFC – No. 2 San Francisco at No. 1 Philadelphia – Philadelphia 31-7
AFC – No. 3 Cincinnati at No. 1 Kansas City – Kansas City 23-20

-Super Bowl
Feb. 12
At Glendale, Ariz. – Philadelphia vs. Kansas City, 6:30 p.m. (FOX)