3-17-23 roundup: Pro basketball, football and soccer, High school baseball, softball and soccer, College basketball

By Richard Walker

One of Gaston College’s most accomplished alumni will be honored for his athletic accomplishments this summer in Charlotte by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Leonard Hamilton with a championship net from the 2022 ACC tournament in Atlanta.

Leonard Hamilton, who was a racial pioneer for the school when he played basketball there from 1966 to 1968, will be a member of the third annual NJCAA Foundation Hall of Fame class.

He and four others will be honored on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte.

The NJCAA Hall of Fame seeks to honor individuals who have paved the way for opportunities at the two-year level – athletically and professionally – and those who have been pioneers throughout the history of the association.

Inductees to the NJCAA Hall of Fame include administrators, coaches, student-athletes and meritorious contributors and influencers.

At this year’s event, Hamilton will be honored with fellow inductees Nolan Richardson, Brittney Reese, Kirby Puckett and Bruce Arena along with Champion Award winners, the Difference Maker Award winner and the NJCAA’s three annual individual student-athlete awards – the Betty Jo Graber Female Student-Athlete of the Year, the David Rowlands Male Student-Athlete of the Year, and the Lea Plarski Award for sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence, and athletic ability.

Tickets for the event are $125 for attendees and registration is required to attend. To register and to learn more regarding the NJCAA Foundation Awards event, visit: https://njcaa.networkforgood.com/events/55125-2023-njcaa-foundation-awards-event

Leonard Hamilton, the winningest coach in the history of Florida State men’s basketball and the fifth all-time winningest coach in Atlantic Coast Conference history, has been a college head coach for 33 years. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Austin Peay State University and at the University of Kentucky. He began his head coaching career at Oklahoma State and later coached at the University of Miami, for the NBA’s Washington Wizards and at Florida State.

A native of Gastonia, Hamilton played baseball, basketball and football at the city’s old all-African-American Highland High School. He then became one of the first two African-American athletes in Gaston College history when he played for the school in the 1966-67 and 1967-68 seasons. He also helped Gaston College advanced to its first NJCAA national tournament competition when it participated in the 1968 NJCAA Region 10 playoffs.

He scored 971 points in his two-year career, highlighted by a single-game, school-record 54-point effort during his senior season.

After a standout two-year career at UT-Martin from 1969 to 1971, Hamilton begane his coaching career.

At Miami, he helped the Hurricanes to the greatest single-season turnaround in Big East history. Picked to finish at the bottom of the Big East Conference standings, Hamilton guided the Hurricanes to a fifth-place finish and a berth in the National Invitational Tournament in 1995 for that school’s first postseason appearance in 31 years.

At Florida State, his Seminoles are the fourth-winningest overall program in the ACC since the 2005-06 season, he’s the first Florida State coach to guide the school to nine consecutive postseason appearances, his 2012 ACC tournament championship was the first in school history and the first for an African-American coach in ACC history and in 2020 his team won the school’s first ACC regular season championship.

Hamilton has won UPI National Coach of the Year (1995), Big East Coach of the Year (1995, 1999), ACC Coach of the Year (2009, 2012, 2020) and the prestigious Ben Jobe Award (2021). The only coach to be named coach of the year in both the Big East and ACC, Hamilton’s teams have made the Sweet 16 four times and the Elite Eight once.

Joining Hamilton in induction are championship-winning basketball coach Richardson, U.S. Olympic track star Reese, multi-time major league baseball All-Star Puckett and championship-winning soccer coach Arena.

College basketball

Gardner-Webb’s historic NCAA women’s basketball tournament run ended in the first round on Friday night as the Runnin’ Bulldogs lost 103-77 at No. 2 seeded host Utah.

Gardner-Webb finished with a school-best 29-5 overall record after setting Big South Conference records for regular season (18) and overall (21) league wins.

In Friday’s game, the host Utes (26-4) led from the outset but Gardner-Webb pulled within 58-50 with 5:29 left in the third quarter. But Utah responded with an 18-11 surge to end the quarter and outscored the Runnin’ Bulldogs 27-16 in the fourth quarter.

Jhessyka Williams’ 20 points led Gardner-Webb, which was making the school’s second NCAA appearance and first since 2011.

The 2023 NCAA men’s 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 Greensboro, N.C.)
No. 6 Kentucky (21-11) vs. No. 11 Providence (21-11) – Kentucky 61-53
No. 3 Kansas State (23-9) vs. No. 14 Montana State (25-9) – Kansas State 77-65
(Friday 1st round – at Columbus, Ohio)
No. 7 Michigan State (19-12) vs. No. 10 USC (22-10) – Michigan State 72-62
No. 2 Marquette (28-6) vs. No. 15 Vermont (23-10) – Marquette 78-61
No. 1 Purdue (29-5) vs. No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson (20-15) – Farleigh Dickinson 63-58
No. 8 Memphis (26-8) vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic (31-3) – Florida Atlantic 66-65
(Saturday 2nd round – at Orlando, Fla.)
No. 5 Duke (27-8) vs. No. 4 Tennessee (24-10)
(Sunday 2nd round – at Columbus, Ohio)
No. 7 Michigan State (20-12) vs. No. 2 Marquette (29-6)
No. 16 Farleigh Dickinson (21-15) vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic (32-3)
(Sunday 2nd round – at Greensboro, N.C.)
No. 6 Kentucky (22-11) vs. No. 3 Kansas State (24-9)
(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) – Creighton 72-63
No. 3 Baylor (22-10) vs. No. 14 UC Santa Barbara (27-7) – Baylor 74-56
(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)
(Sunday 2nd round – at Denver, Colo.)
No. 6 Creighton (22-12) vs. No. 3 Baylor (23-10)
(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) – Miami 63-56
No. 4 Indiana (22-11) vs. No. 13 Kent State (28-6) – Indiana 71-60
(Friday 1st round – at Greensboro, N.C.)
No. 6 Iowa State (19-13) vs. No. 11 Pittsburgh (23-11) – Pittsburgh 59-41
No. 3 Xavier (25-9) vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (26-8) – Xavier 72-67
(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)
(Sunday 2nd round – at Albany, N.Y.)
No. 5 Miami (26-7) vs. No. 4 Indiana (23-11)
(Sunday 2nd round – at Greensboro, N.C.)
No. 11 Pittsburgh (24-11) vs. No. 3 Xavier (26-9)
(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) – St. Mary’s 63-51
No. 4 Connecticut (25-8) vs. No. 13 Iona (27-7) – Connecticut 87-63
(Friday 1st round – at Denver, Colo.)
No. 6 TCU (21-12) vs. No. 11 Arizona State (23-12) – TCU 72-70
No. 3 Gonzaga (28-5) vs. No. 14 Grand Canyon (24-11) – Gonzaga 82-70
(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)
(Sunday 2nd round – at Albany, N.Y.)
No. 5 St. Mary’s (27-7) vs. No. 4 Connecticut (26-8)
(Sunday 2nd round – at Denver, Colo.)
No. 6 TCU (22-12) vs. No. 3 Gonzaga (29-5)
(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)
Lincolnton 7, West Caldwell 3: Karson Cloninger (6 innings, 10 strikeouts, 1 RBI), Davian Johnson (2 hits), Nate Hovis (1 hit, 2 RBIs), Camden Wray (1 RBI), Garrett Hedgepeth (reached base 4 times, 1 RBI) and Will Blackburn (reached base 4 times) led Lincolnton.

(Friday, March 17)
Cramer at North Gaston, ppd., March 20

Kings Mountain at Ashbrook, ppd., March 20

Statesville at East Lincoln, ppd., no date

High school softball

(Thursday, March 16)
Crest 10, Ashbrook 0 (5 innings): Aidan Ledbetter (3 innings, 8 strikeouts) and Maddie Bowen (2 innings, 6 strikeouts) combined on a no-hitter for Crest, whose offense was led by Riley Parker (2 hits, double), Madison Emery (2 hits), Makenzie (double, 3 RBIs), Madison Crocker (double), Jaylen Ledbetter (double), Nevaeh Blackwell (double) and Ella Shope (1 hit).

Pro basketball

The Charlotte Hornets lost their fourth straight game in a 121-82 home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Terry Rozier’s 14 points led the Hornets.

Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:

(22-50 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 (L 82-121)
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.