3-15-23 roundup: Pro basketball, football and soccer, High school baseball and softball, College basketball
By Richard Walker
Historic runs by a pair of NCAA women’s basketball tournament participants and a NJCAA women’s basketball team, two more women’s basketball postseason teams and another junior college national tournament participant highlight six local products who remain alive in college basketball postseason play.
Gardner-Webb, Catawba and Catawba Valley Community College are on historic postseason runs while Belmont and Tennessee also participate in women’s postseason action and Cape Fear Community College just completed a surprise run to the NJCAA men’s national tournament.
Here’s a look at each local product and their respective postseason teams:
At Gardner-Webb, where the Runnin’ Bulldogs set Big South Conference history with an 18-0 regular season and three more league tournament wins, L’Mia Littlejohn (Shelby 2019 graduate) is a senior guard. Littlejohn is averaging 2.8 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 29 games (1 start) for No. 15 seed G-W, which begins its second NCAA tournament appearance on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Utah in an opening round game played in Salt Lake City.
At Catawba, where the Indians are making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, Saniya Wilson (Kings Mountain 2022) is a freshman guard. Wilson didn’t play any games this season for Catawba (28-5), which meets Cal State Dominguez Hills in the national quarterfinals on Monday at St. Joseph, Mo.
And at Catawba Valley Community college, where the Red Hawks are making their first-ever appearance in the NJCAA Division II national tournament, Nikkyana McCaskill (Forestview 2015) is a fourth-year assistant coach. CVCC (16-12) is the No. 14 seed and faces defending national champion Kirkwood on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Port Huron, Mich.
Tennessee is making its record 41st straight NCAA appearance with Catherine Greene (Huss 2004) as a fourth-year executive director of basketball operations. The Volunteers (23-11) host Saint Louis on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Belmont is making its 10th postseason appearance in 11 years with Kate Hollifield (Shelby 2022) a freshman guard. Hollifield is averaging 0.6 points and 0.7 rebounds in 31 games for the Bruins (23-11), who play at Ball State in opening round of the Women’s NIT on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
And Cape Fear Community College is making its 7th NJCAA national tournament appearance in 15 years after upsetting the top two seeds in the Region 10 tournament with Marcus Farley (Lincoln Charter 2022) as a freshman guard. Farley is averaging 2.5 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists in 13 games for the Sea Devils (15-13), who meet Chipola, Fla., on Monday at 1 p.m. in the NJCAA national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.
College basketball
The 2023 NCAA tournament pairings:
-First Four
(Tuesday – at Dayton, Ohio)
SOUTH: No. 16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (23-10) vs. No. 16 Southeast Missouri State (19-16) – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 75-71
MIDWEST: No. 11 Mississippi State (21-12) vs. No. 11 Pittsburgh (22-11) – Pittsburgh 60-59
(Wednesday – at Dayton, Ohio)
EAST: No. 16 Texas Southern (14-20) vs. No. 16 Farleigh Dickinson (19-15) – Farleigh Dickinson 84-61
WEST: No. 11 Nevada (22-10) vs. No. 11 Arizona State (22-12) – Arizona State 98-73
-First Round
EAST
(Thursday – at Orlando, Fla.)
No. 5 Duke (26-8) vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts (30-4), 7:10 p.m. (CBS)
No. 4 Tennessee (23-10) vs. No. 13 Louisiana (26-7), 9:40 p.m. (CBS)
(Friday – at Columbus, Ohio)
No. 1 Purdue (29-5) vs. No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson (20-15), 6:50 p.m. (TNT)
No. 8 Memphis (26-8) vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic (31-3), 9:20 p.m. (TNT)
(Friday – at Greensboro, N.C.)
No. 6 Kentucky (21-11) vs. No. 11 Providence (21-11), 7:10 p.m. (CBS)
No. 3 Kansas State (23-9) vs. No. 14 Montana State (25-9), 9:40 p.m. (CBS)
(Friday – at Columbus, Ohio)
No. 7 Michigan State (19-12) vs. No. 10 USC (22-10), 12:15 p.m. (CBS)
No. 2 Marquette (28-6) vs. No. 15 Vermont (23-10), 2:45 p.m. (CBS)
(semifinals, finals March 23, 25 at New York, N.Y.)
SOUTH
(Thursday – at Birmingham, Ala.)
No. 1 Alabama (29-5) vs. No. 16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (24-10), 2:45 p.m. (CBS)
No. 8 Maryland (21-12) vs. No. 9 West Virginia (19-14), 12:15 p.m. (CBS)
(Thursday – at Orlando, Fla.)
No. 5 San Diego State (27-6) vs. No. 12 College of Charleston (31-3), 3:10 p.m. (TruTV)
No. 4 Virginia (25-7) vs. No. 13 Furman (27-7), 12:40 p.m. (TruTV)
(Thursday – Sacramento, Calif.)
No. 7 Missouri (24-9) vs. No. 10 Utah State (26-8), 1:40 p.m. (TNT)
No. 2 Arizona (28-6) vs. No. 15 Princeton (21-8), 4:10 p.m. (TNT)
(Friday – Denver, Colo.)
No. 6 Creighton (21-12) vs. No. 11 N.C. State (23-10), 4 p.m. (TNT)
No. 3 Baylor (22-10) vs. No. 14 UC Santa Barbara (27-7), 1:30 p.m. (TNT)
(semifinals, finals March 24, 26 at Louisville, Ky.)
MIDWEST
(Thursday – at Birmingham, Ala.)
No. 1 Houston (31-3) vs. No. 16 Northern Kentucky (22-12), 9:20 p.m. (TNT)
No. 8 Iowa (19-13) vs. No. 9 Auburn (20-12), 6:50 p.m. (TNT)
(Thursday – at Des Moines, Iowa)
No. 7 Texas A&M (25-9) vs. No. 10 Penn State (22-13), 9:55 p.m. (TBS)
No. 2 Texas (26-8) vs. No. 15 Colgate (26-8), 7:25 p.m. (TBS)
(Friday – at Albany, N.Y.)
No. 5 Miami (25-7) vs. No. 12 Drake (27-7), 7:25 p.m. (TBS)
No. 4 Indiana (22-11) vs. No. 13 Kent State (28-6), 9:55 p.m. (TBS)
(Friday – at Greensboro, N.C.)
No. 6 Iowa State (19-13) vs. No. 11 Pittsburgh (23-11), 3:10 p.m. (TruTV)
No. 3 Xavier (25-9) vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (26-8), 12:40 p.m. (TruTV)
(semifinals, finals March 24, 26 at Kansas City, Mo.)
WEST REGION
(Thursday – at Des Moines, Iowa)
No. 1 Kansas (27-7) vs. No. 16 Howard (22-12), 2 p.m. (TBS)
No. 8 Arkansas (20-13) vs. No. Illinois (20-12), 4:30 p.m. (TBS)
(Thursday – at Sacramento, Calif.)
No. 7 Northwestern (21-11) vs. No. 10 Boise State (24-9), 7:35 p.m. (TruTV)
No. 2 UCLA (29-5) vs. No. 15 UNC-Asheville (27-7), 10:05 p.m. (TruTV)
(Friday – at Albany, N.Y.)
No. 5 St. Mary’s (26-7) vs. No. 12 Virginia Commonwealth (27-7), 2 p.m. (TBS)
No. 4 Connecticut (25-8) vs. No. 13 Iona (27-7), 4:30 p.m. (TBS)
(Friday – at Denver, Colo.)
No. 6 TCU (21-12) vs. No. 11 Arizona State (23-12), 10:05 p.m. (TruTV)
No. 3 Gonzaga (28-5) vs. No. 14 Grand Canyon (24-11), 7:35 p.m. (TruTV)
(semifinals, finals March 23, 25 at Las Vegas, Nev.)
FINAL FOUR at Houston, Tex.
April 1 semifinals (East vs. West, South vs. Midwest)
April 3 championship game
High school baseball
(Wednesday, March 15)
Highland Tech 11, Bessemer City 1 (5 innings): Trey Costner (3 2-3 innings, 6 strikeouts), Ethan Wilson (2 hits) and Connor Redmond (1 hit, 2 RBIs) led Highland Tech.
North Gaston 11, Bandys 4: Caleb Cloninger (6 1-3 innings, 9 strikeouts), Chase Ghantt (2-3 innings, 1 strikeout, 2 hits, 1 RBI) and Preston Martin (2 hits) led North Gaston.
Cherryville 12, Lincolnton 0
Crest 4, Burns 1: Tyler Smart (3-hitter, 5 strikeouts) threw a complete game and Javarius Green, Clayton Brown, Zack Rayfield, Davonyae Pettis and Houston Cook had two hits apiece to lead Crest.
East Gaston 6, South Point 2
(Thursday, March 16)
South Point at Forestview
Shelby at Cherryville
Cramer at Bessemer City
Gaston Christian at Metrolina
Highland Tech at Piedmont CC
(Friday, March 17)
Cramer at North Gaston
Huss at Crest
Kings Mountain at Ashbrook
Bessemer City at Highland Tech
East Gaston at Thomas Jefferson
North Lincoln at Hickory
Statesville at East Lincoln
Newton-Conover at West Lincoln
West Caldwell at Lincolnton
Lincoln Charter at Mountain Island Charter
High school softball
(Tuesday, March 14)
East Lincoln 27, Hickory 2 (5 innings): Meredith Bolen (3 innings), Katelynn Gust (2 singles, home run, 2 RBIs, 4 runs, stolen base), Tatum Martin (2 singles RBI, 2 walks, 4 runs, stolen base), Betsy Eatmon (2 singles. home run, 3 RBIs), Taniyah Thomas (single, double, triple, 3 RBIs, 2 stolen bases), Madison Currence (2 innings relief, single, RBI, 2 walks, 2 hit by pitch, 4 runs), Jaelyn Freeston (2 singles, double, 5 RBIs, 2 walks, 2 runs), Emery Pethel (single, home run, 4 RBIs, 2 runs), Macie Robinson (single, RBI, walk, 1 run), Aubrey Gust (double, home run, 3 RBIs, 4 runs, 2 walks) and Lauren Bochardt (single, RBI) led East Lincoln.
(Wednesday, March 15)
Crest 11, Burns 1 (5 innings): Aidan Ledbetter (6 strikeouts), Riley Parker (2 hits) and Molly Beam (2 hits, double, 2 RBIs) led Crest and Sayge Strange (10 strikeouts, 2 hits) and Jaycee Bivins (1 hit, 1 RBI) led Burns.
East Lincoln 7, West Lincoln 2: Leah Correll (4-hitter, 5 strikeouts), Katelynn Gust (single, double, 2 runs, walk, 2 stolen bases), Tatum Martin (2 singles, 2 runs), Betsy Eatmon (2 doubles, 2 RBIs, walk), Taniyah Thomas (3 singles, RBI, walk), Madison Currence (single, double, 2 RBIs), Jaelyn Freeston (single, RBI) and Emery Pethel (single) led East Lincoln.
(Thursday, March 16)
Ashbrook at Crest
Shelby at Cherryville
Highland Tech at Piedmont CC
North Gaston at Bessemer City
Gaston Christian at Metrolina
(Friday, March 17)
Cramer at South Point
Huss at Kings Mountain
North Gaston at Forestview
East Gaston at Thomas Jefferson
East Lincoln at Statesville
North Lincoln at Hickory
Newton-Conover at West Lincoln
West Caldwell at Lincolnton
Burns at Freedom
Cabarrus Charter at Piedmont CC
Mountain Island Charter at Lincoln Charter
College football
Burns’ Kavion Hopper signed a scholarship with Ferrum.
Pro football
One day before the move to trade up for the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers found a mentor for their incoming quarterback prospect.
The Panthers agreed to a two-year deal with veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton, 35, was with the New Orleans Saints last season (starting 14 games), and has had stints with the Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys.
Dalton has been to three Pro Bowls – the last in 2016 – and has 38,150 career passing yards, 244 touchdowns, 144 interceptions and a career passer rating of 87.6.
For Carolina, he and new head coach Frank Reich will be counted on to tutor the incoming No. 1 pick; Reports link the Panthers to Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Alabama’s Bryce Young and Florida’s Anthony Richardson.
Pro basketball
Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:
(22-49 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 (W 117-106)
March
1 Phoenix (L 91-105)
3 Orlando (L 106-117)
5 at Brooklyn (L 86-102)
7 at New York (W 112-105)
9 at Detroit (W 113-103)
11 Utah (L 111-119)
12 Cleveland (L 114-118)
14 Cleveland (L 104-120)
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:
(0-3 record)
Feb. 25 New England Revolution (L 0-1)
March 4 at St. Louis City SC (L 1-3)
March 11 Atlanta United FC (L 0-3)
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 (Kyle Busch)
Mar 5 NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas, Las Vegas NV (William Byron)
Mar 12 NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix, Avondale AZ (William Byron-2)
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
Travel Basketball
The Denver Nuggets Travel boys’ basketball teams will be holding tryouts for the following teams: 7th-8th Grade Boys Monday, March 20th, Thursday, March 23rd, and Monday, March 27th from 6:00-7:30 PM in the competition gym at East Lincoln High School (6471 Hwy 73 Denver, NC 28037). 9th-11th grade boys have the same dates 7:30-9:00 PM. Players need to be at all 3 tryout dates if possible.
All basketball players in Lincoln and surrounding counties are encouraged to tryout for the teams. Parent Permission, Medical Consent, and Information forms are required to tryout and can be electronically sent to you. Contact Chip Ashley, at [email protected] or call 704-718-5136.