3-16-23 roundup: Pro basketball, football and soccer, High school baseball, softball and soccer, College basketball
By Richard Walker
Michael Jordan’s tenure as Charlotte Hornets’ NBA owner is coming to an end according to a ESPN report that came out Thursday evening.
Jordan, one of the greatest players in NBA history, is “engaged in serious talks to sell a majority stake in the franchise to a group led by Hornets minority owner Gabe Plotkin and Atlanta Hawks minority owner Rick Schnall.”
Also according to the report, once the sale is completed, Jordan will maintain a minority stake in the franchise.
Jordan, a six-time NBA champion and five-time MVP, has been the league’s only African-American majority owner since he bought the team from the NBA’s first African-American majority owner Bob Johnson in 2010.
In a statement from from Jump Management at Jordan’s family office to the Associated Press said: “We don’t comment on rumors and speculation.”
Jordan paid $275 million on Feb. 26, 2010 to buy a majority stake in the Hornets from Johnson. The team has consistently increased it value, with Forbes Magazine recently valuing the franchise at $1.7 billion – or the 27th-highest value in the 30-team NBA.
Plotkin is founder and chief investment officer of Melvin Capital. And Schnall is co-president at private equity firm of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in New York. Schnall in 2015 was part of a group that includes majority owner Tony Ressler and Grant Hill that purchased the Atlanta Hawks.
College basketball
A pair of local connections were featured in Thursday’s start of the NCAA basketball tournament, including a local connection one of the biggest upsets of the day.
No. 13 South seed Furman’s 68-67 upset of Virginia came in that school’s first NCAA tournament game since former Gardner-Webb coach Eddie Holbrook guided the Paladins to the 1980 NCAA tournament: Holbrook left G-W for Furman in 1978 after guiding the Bulldogs to a 335-68 record in 14 seasons as head coach.
And No. 7 seed Missouri’s 76-65 victory over Utah State came with former Gaston College head coach David “Dickey” Nutt on the Tigers’ sideline as an assistant coach. Nutt left Gaston College after getting the program started last season to rejoin new Missouri head coach Dennis Gates again; Nutt was an assistant under Gates at Cleveland State before he became athletic director and men’s basketball of Gaston College’s first athletic program in 50 years in the summer of 2021.
The 2023 NCAA tournament pairings and results:
-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 1st round – at Orlando, Fla.)
No. 5 Duke (26-8) vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts (30-4) – Duke 74-61
No. 4 Tennessee (23-10) vs. No. 13 Louisiana (26-7) – Tennessee 58-55
(Friday 1st round – 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 1st round – 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 1st round – 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)
(Saturday 2nd round – at Orlando, Fla.)
No. 5 Duke (27-8) vs. No. 4 Tennessee (24-10)
(semifinals, finals March 23, 25 at New York, N.Y.)
SOUTH
(Thursday 1st round – at Birmingham, Ala.)
No. 1 Alabama (29-5) vs. No. 16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (24-10) – Alabama 96-75
No. 8 Maryland (21-12) vs. No. 9 West Virginia (19-14) – Maryland 67-65
(Thursday 1st round – at Orlando, Fla.)
No. 5 San Diego State (27-6) vs. No. 12 College of Charleston (31-3) – San Diego State 63-57
No. 4 Virginia (25-7) vs. No. 13 Furman (27-7) – Furman 68-67
(Thursday 1st round – at Sacramento, Calif.)
No. 7 Missouri (24-9) vs. No. 10 Utah State (26-8) – Missouri 76-65
No. 2 Arizona (28-6) vs. No. 15 Princeton (21-8) – Princeton 59-55
(Friday 1st round – 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)
(Saturday 2nd round – at Birmingham, Ala.)
No. 1 Alabama (30-5) vs. No. 8 Maryland (22-12)
(Saturday 2nd round – at Orlando, Fla.)
No. 5 San Diego State (28-6) vs. No. 13 Furman (28-7)
(Saturday 2nd round – at Sacramento, Calif.)
No. 7 Missouri (25-9) vs. No. 15 Princeton (22-8)
(semifinals, finals March 24, 26 at Louisville, Ky.)
MIDWEST
(Thursday 1st round – at Birmingham, Ala.)
No. 1 Houston (31-3) vs. No. 16 Northern Kentucky (22-12) – Houston 63-52
No. 8 Iowa (19-13) vs. No. 9 Auburn (20-12) – Auburn 83-75
(Thursday 1st round – at Des Moines, Iowa)
No. 7 Texas A&M (25-9) vs. No. 10 Penn State (22-13) – Penn State 76-59
No. 2 Texas (26-8) vs. No. 15 Colgate (26-8) – Texas 81-61
(Friday 1st round – 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 1st round – 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)
(Saturday 2nd round – at Birmingham, Ala.)
No. 1 Houston (32-3) vs. No. 9 Auburn (21-12)
(Saturday 2nd round – at Des Moines, Iowa)
No. 10 Penn State (23-13) vs. No. 2 Texas (27-8)
(semifinals, finals March 24, 26 at Kansas City, Mo.)
WEST REGION
(Thursday 1st round – at Des Moines, Iowa)
No. 1 Kansas (27-7) vs. No. 16 Howard (22-12) – Kansas 96-68
No. 8 Arkansas (20-13) vs. Illinois (20-12) – Arkansas 73-63
(Thursday 1st round – at Sacramento, Calif.)
No. 7 Northwestern (21-11) vs. No. 10 Boise State (24-9) – Northwestern 75-67
No. 2 UCLA (29-5) vs. No. 15 UNC-Asheville (27-7) – UCLA 86-53
(Friday 1st round – 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 1st round – 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)
(Saturday 2nd round – at Des Moines, Iowa)
No. 1 Kansas (28-7) vs. No. Arkansas (21-13)
(Saturday 2nd round – at Sacramento, Calif.)
No. 7 Northwestern (22-11) vs. No. 2 UCLA (30-5)
(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
(Thursday, March 16)
South Point 5, Forestview 0
Cherryville 7, Shelby 2: Eli Newsome was the winning pitcher for Cherryville.
Cramer 19, Bessemer City 1 (5 innings): Winning pitcher Mason Price had 3 hits and 2 RBIs and Hunter Dye had 3 hits, including a double, and 3 RBIs to lead Cramer.
Metrolina 12, Gaston Christian 3
Crest 32, Huss 3 (5 innings): Parker Ramsey, Ryan Ropp, Brett Ledbetter, Zack Rayfield and Javarius Green combined on a no-hitter and Ropp, Ethan Hayes and Clayton Brown each had multi-hit games and Asher Smith hit a home run for Crest.
Hickory 2, North Lincoln 1
Lincolnton 7, West Caldwell 3
West Lincoln 11, Newton-Conover 1
Highland Tech 6, Piedmont Community Charter 1: Aiden Faust (6 innings, 5 strikeouts) was the winning pitcher and Gavin Blackwood, Liam Fulbright, Connor Redmond and Ethan Wilson had 2 hits each for Highland Tech.
(Friday, March 17)
Cramer at North Gaston
Kings Mountain at Ashbrook
Bessemer City at Highland Tech
East Gaston at Thomas Jefferson
Statesville at East Lincoln
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)
Crest 10, Ashbrook 0
Cramer 14, South Point 3
North Gaston 16, Forestview 5: Bryn Bumgardner (3 hits, double, 3 runs) and Kaitlin Barnes (3 hits, 3-run home run) led Forestview.
Kings Mountain 21, Huss 1
Cherryville 13, Shelby 3: Landyn McBride (single, double, 1 RBI), Krista Davis (winning pitcher, single, double, triple, 3 RBIs), Riley Bryant (single, triple, 2 RBIs), Lexi McSwain (2 singles, 2 RBIs), Ava Miller (2 singles, 1 RBI) and Taylor Digh (2 singles, 1 RBI) led Cherryville.
West Lincoln 13, Newton-Conover 0 (5 innings): Winning pitcher Stacia Cowan and Gracie Elmore (3 hits, home runs) led West Lincoln.
Highland Tech 17, Piedmont CC 4
Metrolina 7, Gaston Christian 5
North Lincoln 14, Hickory 2
West Caldwell 2, Lincolnton 0
(Friday, March 17)
East Lincoln at Statesville
Burns at Freedom
Mountain Island Charter at Lincoln Charter
High school girls soccer
(Thursday)
Crest 6, Ashbrook 0: Cadence Setzer had 4 goals and Tenley Bostwick and Morgan Setzer 1 goal apiece for Crest.
South Point 4, Cramer 0
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 Revolution, 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.