3-21-22 roundup: Pro golf, basketball and soccer, College basketball and football, High school baseball and softball

By Richard Walker

With a current world golf ranking of 40, Gastonia’s Harold Varner III will soon make a career milestone when he makes his debut at The Masters in Augusta, Ga. on Aug. 7-10.

A 2008 Forestview High graduate, Varner is off to the best start of his career and this weekend will host his third HV3 Invitational presented by Dominion Energy this weekend at Cramer Mountain Country Club and Gaston Country Club.

The event features 156 high school golfers participating for top honors.

After ending last year ranked No. 94 in the world, Varner has finished in the top 10 in two of six events, including his second career victory in the Saudi International on the Asia Tour on Feb. 6.

Varner won in dramatic fashion with a 90-foot putt for eagle on the final hole to go from one shot behind to victory at King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia.

Varner had entered the final hole one shot behind clubhouse leader Bubba Watson.

That victory vaulted Varner into the top 50 of the world golf rankings – and the top 50 as of March 28 earn invitations to The Masters.

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

Former Piedmont Community Charter and Kings Mountain high school basketball standout Adrian Delph announced Monday on twitter that he was declaring for the NBA Draft.

Delph tweeted, “After many prayers and discussions with my family and my coaches, I have made the decision to enter my name into the 2022 NBA Draft while maintaining my ability to return to App State.”

Delph is coming off a season in which he earned All-Sun Belt and NABC All-District honors after averaging 17.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. In high school, Delph is the only player to score 1,000 points in both Gaston and Cleveland counties as he scored 1,085 points as a freshman and sophomore at Gastonia’s Piedmont Community Charter before scoring 1,264 points for Kings Mountain as a junior and senior.

 

 

 

College football

South Point’s Tyson Riley has signed to play at NCAA Division III football power Mount Union.

 

 

 

College basketball

After the first weekend of NCAA tournament action, 10 of the remaining 16 teams are top four seeds.

Those expected participants are No. 1 seeds Arizona, Gonzaga and Kansas, No. 2 seeds Duke and Villanova, No. 3 seeds Texas Tech and Purdue and No. 4 seeds Arkansas, Providence and UCLA.

“Surprise” Sweet 16 participants are No. 5 Houston, No. 8 seed North Carolina, No. 10 seed Miami, Fla., No. 11 seeds Iowa State and Michigan and No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s.

The full pairings of the 2022 NCAA tournament:

FIRST FOUR (at Dayton, Ohio)

(March 15)
MIDWEST: No. 16 Texas Southern 76, No. 16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 67
EAST: No. 12 Indiana 66, No. 12 Wyoming 58

(March 16)
WEST: No. 11 Notre Dame 89, No. 11 Rutgers 87, 2 OT
SOUTH: No. 16 Wright State 93, No. 16 Bryant 82

FIRST ROUND

EAST REGION
(March 17 at Fort Worth, Tex.)
No. 1 Baylor 85, No. 16 Norfolk State 49
No. 8 North Carolina 95, No. 9 Marquette 63
(March 17 at Portland, Ore.)
No. 5 Saint Mary’s 82, No. 12 Indiana 53
No. 4 UCLA 57, No. 13 Akron 53
(March 18 at Milwaukee, Wisc.)
No. 6 Texas 81, No. 11 Virginia Tech 73
No. 3 Purdue 78, No. 14 Yale 56
(March 17 at Indianapolis, Ind.)
No. 7 Murray State 92, No. 10 San Francisco 87, OT
No. 15 Saint Peter’s 85, No. 2 Kentucky 79, OT
(March 19)
No. 8 North Carolina 93, No. 1 Baylor 86, OT
No. 4 UCLA 72, No. 5 St. Mary’s 56
No. 15 Saint Peter’s 70, No. 7 Murray State 60
(March 20)
No. 3 Purdue 81, No. 6 Texas 71

(March 25 at Philadelphia, Pa.)
No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 8 North Carolina, 7:09 p.m. CBS
No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 15 Saint Peter’s, approximately 9:54 p.m. CBS

 

SOUTH REGION
(March 18 at San Diego, Cal.)
No. 1 Arizona 87, No. 16 Wright State 70
No. 9 TCU 69, No. 8 Seton Hall 42
(March 18 at Pittsburgh, Pa.)
No. 5 Houston 82, No. 12 UAB 68
No. 4 Illinois 54, No. 13 Chattanooga 53
(March 17 at Indianapolis, Ind.)
No. 11 Michigan 75, No. 6 Colorado State 63
No. 3 Tennessee 88, No. 14 Longwood 56
(March 18)
No. 7 Ohio State 54, No. 10 Loyola, Chicago 41
No. 2 Villanova 80, No. 15 Delaware 60
(March 19)
No. 11 Michigan 76, No. 3 Tennessee 68
(March 20)
No. 1 Arizona 85, No. 9 TCU 80, OT
No. 5 Houston 68, No. 4 Illinois 53
No. 2 Villanova 71, No. 7 Ohio State 61

(March 24 at San Antonio, Tex.)
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 5 Houston, approximately 10:14 p.m. TBS
No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 11 Michigan, 7:29 p.m. TBS

 

MIDWEST REGION
(March 17 at Fort Worth, Tex.)
No. 1 Kansas 83, No. 16 Texas Southern 56
No. 9 Creighton 72, No. 8 San Diego 69, OT
(March 17 at Buffalo, N.Y.)
No. 12 Richmond 67, No. 5 Iowa 63
No. 4 Providence 66, No. 5 South Dakota State 57
(March 18 at Milwaukee, Wisc.)
No. 11 Iowa State 59, No. 6 LSU 54
No. 3 Wisconsin 67, No. 14 Colgate 60
(March 18 at Greenville, S.C.)
No. 10 Miami, Fla. 68, No. 7 USC 66
No. 2 Auburn 80, No. 15 Jacksonville State 61
(March 19)
No. 1 Kansas 79, No. 9 Creighton 72
No. 4 Providence 79, No. 12 Richmond 51
(March 20)
No. 11 Iowa State 54, No. 3 Wisconsin 49
No. 10 Miami, Fla. 79, No. 2 Auburn 61

(March 25 at Chicago, Ill.)
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 4 Providence, 7:29 p.m. TBS
No. 10 Miami, Fla. vs. No. 11 Iowa State, approximately 10:14 p.m. TBS

WEST REGION
(March 17 at Portland, Ore.)
No. 1 Gonzaga 93, No. 16 Georgia State 72
No. 9 Memphis 64, No. 8 Boise State 53
(March 17 at Buffalo, N.Y.)
No. 12 New Mexico State 70, No. 5 UConn 63
No. 4 Arkansas 75, No. 13 Vermont 71
(March 18 at San Diego, Cal.)
No. 11 Notre Dame 78, No. 6 Alabama 64
No. 3 Texas Tech 97, No. 14 Montana State 62
(March 18 at Greenville, S.C.)
No. 7 Michigan State 74, No. 10 Davidson 73
No. 2 Duke 78, No. 15 Cal State Fullerton 61
(March 19)
No. 1 Gonzaga 82, No. 9 Memphis 78
No. 4 Arkansas 53, No. 12 New Mexico State 48
(March 20)
No. 3 Texas Tech 59, No. 11 Notre Dame 53
No. 2 Duke 85, No. 7 Michigan State 76

(March 24 at San Francisco, Cal.)
No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 4 Arkansas, 7:09 p.m. CBS
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 Texas Tech, approximately 9:54 p.m. CBS

 

 

 

 

 

High school baseball

(Monday’s results)
Mountain Island Charter 6, Charlotte Stampede 5

Cherryville 12, Maiden 1 (5 innings): Will Fowler (two hits, 3-run home run, 4 RBIs) and winning pitcher Brayden Reynolds led Cherryville.

THIS WEEK’s remaining games:
(Tuesday)
Crest at Cramer
Forestview at Ashbrook
Kings Mountain at North Gaston
South Point at Huss
Burns at Bessemer City
Thomas Jefferson at Cherryville
Piedmont CC at Carolina International
East Lincoln at Foard
St. Stephens at North Lincoln
East Burke at Lincolnton
West Caldwell at West Lincoln
Lincoln Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Metrolina Christian at Gaston Day
Davidson Day at Gaston Christian

(Wednesday)
Berry at Cramer
Burns at Crest
Chase at Highland Tech
East Gaston at Forestview
Huss at West Meck

(Thursday)
Lincolnton at Highland Tech
Providence Day at Gaston Day

(Friday)
Ashbrook at Forestview
Cramer at Crest
Huss at South Point
North Gaston at Kings Mountain
Bessemer City at Burns
Cherryville at Thomas Jefferson
East Gaston at Shelby
Corvian Community at Piedmont CC
North Lincoln at Foard
St. Stephens at East Lincoln
Maiden at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at East Burke
Mountain Island Charter at Lincoln Charter
Gaston Christian at Gaston Day

(Saturday)
Surry Central at Shelby

 

 

 

 

 

High school softball

(Monday’s result)
Mountain Island Charter 14, Gaston Christian 0 (4 innings)

THIS WEEK’s remaining games:
(Tuesday)
Cramer at Huss
Crest at South Point
Forestview at Kings Mountain
North Gaston at Ashbrook
Burns at Bessemer City
East Gaston at Sehlby
Thomas Jefferson at Cherryville
East Lincoln at Foard
St. Stephens at North Lincoln
East Burke at Lincolnton
West Caldwell at West Lincoln
Lincoln Charter at Mountain Island Charter

(Wednesday)
Cherryville at Lincoln Charter
Cramer at Hickory Ridge
Lincolnton at Draughn
South Point at Bessemer City
West Lincoln at Foard

(Thursday)
Forestview at East Gaston

(Friday)
Ashbrook at Cramer
Huss at Forestview
North Gaston at Crest
South Point at Kings Mountain
Bessemer City at Burns
Cherryville at Thomas Jefferson
Shelby at East Gaston
North Lincoln at Foard
St. Stephens at East Lincoln
Maiden at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at East Burke
Mountain Island Charter at Lincoln Charter
Charlotte Christian at Gaston Christian

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

The Charlotte Hornets matched their longest winning streak at five following a 106-103 victory over New Orleans in front of 13,351 at Spectrum Center.

Charlotte (37-35) trailed after the end of the first three quarters but outscored the Pelicans 28-19 in the fourth quarter to match a five-game winning it had from Nov. 10-19.

LaMelo Ball (17 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists), Terry Rozier (17 points), Miles Bridges (16 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists), Isaiah Thomas (15 points), Montrezl Harrell (12 points) and Mason Plumlee (11 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists) led the Hornets.

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 (W 119-98)
Sat. 5 SAN ANTONIO (W 123-117)
Tue. 8 BROOKLYN (L 121-132)
Wed. 9 BOSTON (L 101-115)
Fri. 11 at New Orleans (W 142-120)
Mon. 14 at Oklahoma City (W 134-116)
Wed. 16 ATLANTA (W 116-106)
Sat. 19 DALLAS (W 129-108)
Mon. 21 NEW ORLEANS (W 106-103)
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. (L 0-1)
March 13, at Atlanta (L 1-2)
March 19, New England (W 3-1)
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