3-6-22 roundup: College basketball and baseball, High school basketball, baseball and softball, Middle school basketball, Pro basketball and soccer

By Richard Walker

Quest Aldridge scored 23 points, hitting 13 of 15 free throws, and No. 3 seed Belmont Abbey used a late run to upset ninth-ranked and top-seeded UNC-Pembroke 79-73 on Sunday in the 2022 Conference Carolinas men’s basketball championship game played at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.

It was the Crusaders’ (22-9) second straight title and fifth overall.

The Abbey next plays in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional when it meets host Augusta, Ga., on Saturday. Augusta, coached by former Belmont Abbey standout player and coach Dip Metress, is the top-seeded team in the eight-team regional that also includes the following opening-round matchups:
No. 4 UNC Pembroke vs. No. 5 Flagler, No. 2 Queens vs. No. 7 Columbus State and No. 3 Lincoln Memorial vs. No. 6 Georgia College.

To gain the national tournament berth, Belmont Abbey outscored UNC Pembroke 18-7 over the final 4:41 and also got 14 points from Sean Halloran, 13 from K.J. Garrett and 11 from Chandler Baker. Aldridge was named the Tournament MVP with Halloran and Baker named to the all-tournament team.

Belmont Abbey takes a 15-18 all-time national tournament record into the NCAA Division II playoffs that includes 11 NAIA postseason appearances and eight previous NCAA postseason appearances.

Conference Carolinas tournament results:

(Men)
First Round – Sunday, February 27
#7 Lees-McRae 80, #10 Chowan 73 (at Barton)
#9 Francis Marion 90, #8 King 83 (at Mount Olive)

Second Round – Monday, February 28
#6 Barton 94, Lees-McRae 75
#5 Mount Olive 95, Francis Marion 83

Quarterfinals – Friday, March 4 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
#4 Southern Wesleyan 72, Mount Olive 55
#3 Belmont Abbey 108, Barton 73

Semifinals – Saturday, March 5 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
#1 UNC Pembroke 67, Southern Wesleyan 66
Belmont Abbey 93, #2 Emmanuel 70

Final – Sunday, March 6 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Belmont Abbey 79, UNC-Pembroke 73

(Women)
First Round – Sunday, February 27
#7 Francis Marion 76, #10 North Greenville 63 (at King)
#8 Emmanuel 72, #9 Lees-McRae 57 (at UNC Pembroke)

Second Round – Monday, February 28
Francis Marion 87, #6 King 84
Emmanuel 69, #5 UNC Pembroke 67

Quarterfinals – Friday, March 4 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
#4 Chowan 55, Emmanuel 47
Francis Marion 73, #3 Belmont Abbey 69

Semifinals – Saturday, March 5 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
#1 Barton 76, Chowan 48
Francis Marion 96, #2 Mount Olive 64

Final – Sunday, March 6 (Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Barton 77, Francis Marion 58

Big South Conference: The league’s postseason tournament is being played at Charlotte’s Bojangles’ Coliseum:

(Men)
First Round – Wednesday, March 2
Game 1: (9) North Carolina A&T 79, (8) Radford 71
Game 2: (12) Charleston Southern 79, (5) UNC Asheville 78
Game 3: (7) High Point 84, (10) Hampton 77
Game 4: (6) Campbell 75, (11) Presbyterian 72, 2 OT

Quarterfinals – Friday, March 4
Game 5: (1) Longwood 79, North Carolina A&T 65
Game 6: (4) USC Upstate 72, Charleston Southern 62
Game 7: (2) Winthrop 68, High Point 51
Game 8: (3) Gardner-Webb 54, Campbell 53

Semifinals – Saturday, March 5
Game 9: Semifinals – Longwood 79, USC Upstate 70
Game 10: Semifinals – Winthrop 76, Gardner-Webb 67

Championship – Sunday, March 6 (ESPN2)
Game 11: Championship – Longwood 79, Winthrop 58

(Women)
First Round – Tuesday, March 1
Game 1: (8) Presbyterian 65, (9) Winthrop 60
Game 2: (5) High Point 54, (12) Charleston Southern 34
Game 3: (7) Hampton 55, (10) Radford 49
Game 4: (11) UNC Asheville 68, (6) North Carolina A&T 59

Quarterfinals – Thursday, March 3
Game 5: (1) Campbell 59, Presbyterian 56
Game 6: (4) Gardner-Webb 55, High Point 53
Game 7: (2) Longwood 70, Hampton 61
Game 8: UNC Asheville 62, (3) USC Upstate 57

Semifinals – Saturday, March 5
Game 9: Semifinals – Campbell 51, Gardner-Webb 50
Game 10: Semifinals – Longwood 66, UNC Asheville 40

Championship – Sunday, March 6 (ESPNU)
Game 11: Championship – Longwood 86, Campbell 47

 

The full 2022 New York Life ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule:

Tuesday, March 8
First Round
2 p.m. – No. 12 Pitt vs. No. 13 Boston College (ACC Network)
4:30 p.m. – No. 10 Clemson vs. No. 15 NC State (ACC Network)
7 p.m. – No. 11 Louisville vs. No. 14 Georgia Tech (ACC Network)

Wednesday, March 9
Second Round
Noon – No. 8 Florida State vs. No. 9 Syracuse (ESPN)
2:30 p.m. – No. 5 Wake Forest vs. Pitt/Boston College winner (ESPN)
7 p.m. – No. 7 Virginia Tech vs. Clemson/NC State winner (ESPN2/ESPNU)
9:30 p.m. – No. 6 Virginia vs. Louisville/Georgia Tech winner (ESPN2)

Thursday, March 10
Quarterfinals
Noon – No. 1 Duke vs. Wednesday Noon winner (ESPN/ESPN2)
2:30 p.m. – No. 4 Miami vs. Wednesday 2:30 p.m. winner (ESPN/ESPN2)
7 p.m. – No. 2 Notre Dame vs. Wednesday 7 p.m. winner (ESPN/ESPN2)
9:30 p.m. – No. 3 North Carolina vs. Wednesday 9:30 p.m. winner (ESPN/ESPN2)

Friday, March 11
Semifinals
7 p.m. – Thursday afternoon winners (ESPN/ESPN2)
9:30 p.m. – Thursday evening winners (ESPN/ESPN2)

Saturday, March 12
Championship
8:30 p.m. – Semifinal winners (ESPN)

 

Dayton 82, Davidson 76: Despite a game-high 25 points from Foster Loyer in his first game back from injury, Davidson fell to 25-5 overall and 15-3 in the Atlantic 10 in its regular season finale at Dayton. The Wildcats are the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament that will be hosted at Capital One Arena in Washington. The 14-team tournament begins Wednesday with the championship final set for Sunday, March 13. Davidson received a double bye and begins its tournament action on Friday at noon.

NJCAA: Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’ men’s basketball team defeated USC Salkehatchie 68-66 on Saturday to win the Region 10 Division I title. On Sunday, the Cobras (27-5) found out they were the No. 22 seed for the upcoming NJCAA national tournament in Hutchinson, Ks., and will face No. 11 Triton College on March 15 at noon. Triton (27-5) is the Region 4 champion got an at-large berth after finishing as Midwest District runner-up.

 

 

 

 

 

High school basketball

Here are full statewide results for Saturday’s regional championships. Winners advance to March 12 state title games at sites and times to be announced on Monday:

(West)
1A at Asheville A.C. Reynolds High School
Girls: (5) Bishop McGuinness 48, (2) Mountain Heritage 37
Boys: (1) Hayesville 72, (2) Winston-Salem Prep 66

2A at Greensboro Grimsley High School
Girls: (2) Salisbury 45, (5) Shelby 44, 2 OT
Boys: (6) Jay M. Robinson 79, (4) North Surry 60

3A at Morganton Freedom High School
Girls: (19) Enka 51, (4) North Davidson 49
Boys: (8) West Charlotte 84, (2) Central Cabarrus 75

4A at McDowell High School
Girls: (6) Chambers 45, (4) Charlotte Catholic 36
Boys: (1) Weddington 72, (10) North Mecklenburg 69

(East)
1A at Greenville Rose High School
Girls: (1) Bertie 61, (2) Wilson Prep 58
Boys: (1) Chatham Charter 59, (2) Wilson Prep 42

2A at Lee County High School
Girls: (3) Farmville Central 75, (1) St. Pauls 36
Boys: (1) Farmville Central 66, (2) Kinston 58

3A at Southern Lee High School
Girls: (2) Northwood 51, (1) Terry Sanford 50
Boys: (5) Seventy First 74, (2) West Carteret 70

4A at Cary Green Level High School
Girls: (1) Apex Friendship 65, (2) Millbrook 48
Boys: (15) Panther Creek 68, (5) Cleveland 54

 

 

 

 

Middle school basketball

Southwest’s boys and Holbrook’s girls will seek to finish off unbeaten Gaston County Conference championship seasons on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, in the 2022 title games.

Southwest (11-0) meets Belmont (9-2) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Hunter Huss High School. And Holbrook (11-0) meets W.C. Friday (9-2) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Ashbrook High School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school baseball

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
(Monday)
Cramer at Rocky River
Mountain Island Charter at South Point

(Tuesday)
Burns at Thomas Jefferson
East Gaston at Bessemer City
Highland Tech at Shelby
Bunker Hill at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at Bandys
Gaston Day at Gaston Christian
Christ the King at Cherryville
Crest at Roberson
East Lincoln at East Rutherford
Kings Mountain at Blacksburg, S.C.
North Lincoln at North Gaston

(Wednesday)
Forestview at East Gaston
Kings Mountain at Gaffney, S.C.
Lincolnton at Burns
R-S Central at West Lincoln

(Thursday)
West Iredell at Cramer

(Friday)
Bessemer City at East Gaston
Shelby at Highland Tech
Thomas Jefferson at Burns
Lincolnton at Newton-Conover
Maiden at West Lincoln
Christ the King at North Gaston
East Lincoln at Cherryville
East Rutherford at Forestview
Enka at Kings Mountain
Roberson at Crest
Westchester at Gaston Day

 

 

 

High school softball

Crest 4, Smoky Mountain 2 (Saturday): Aidan Ledbetter was the winning pitcher with a two-hitter and nine strikeouts and Sara Rose Warlick (2 hits, 2 runs), Alexis Shope (2 hits), Riley Parker (1 hit, 1 run) and Jaylen Ledbetter (1 hit, 1 run) led Crest’s offense.

Crest 14, Franklin 9 (Saturday): Reliever Riley Parker got the pitching win and Sara Rose Warlick (4 hits, double, 3 runs), Alexis Shope (4 hits, 2 runs), Mackenzi Luckenbaugh (2 home runs, 1 walk, 3 runs), Jourdan Martin (home run, 3 runs), Jaylen Ledbetter (2 hits) and Molly Beam (2 hits) led Crest’s offense.

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
(Monday)
Cramer at East Gaston
North Gaston at East Rutherford

(Tuesday)
Burns at Thomas Jefferson
East Gaston at Bessemer City
Highland Tech at Shelby
Bunker Hill at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at Bandys
East Rutherford at Kings Mountain
Elkin at Crest
North Lincoln at Lincoln Charter

(Wednesday)
Bunker Hill at East Lincoln
Chase at Highland Tech
Foard at Burns
Forestview at North Lincoln
R-S Central at Crest
Shelby at Cramer
West Lincoln at Cherryville

(Thursday)
Lincolnton at South Point

(Friday)
Bessemer City at East Gaston
Shelby at Highland Tech
Thomas Jefferson at Burns
Lincolnton at Newton-Conover
Maiden at West Lincoln
Alexander Central at North Lincoln
North Gaston at Cherryville

 

 

 

 

 

College baseball

Gaston College 15, Southwest Virginia Community College 3: The Rhinos (18-0, 12-0) outscored Southwest Virginia 40-7 in the three-game series and out-hit the Flying Eagles 42-16. For the weekend, Chandler Riley (8-10, six RBIs, six stolen bases), Konni Durschlag (7-13, eight RBIs), Wade Kelly (5-9, eight RBIs), Ahmir Cournier (5-10, two RBIs), J.D. Yakubinis (4-7, six RBIs) and Pierson Gunnell (4-7, three RBIs) led the Gaston College offense that scored runs in 14 of 16 innings.

 

 

 

Pro basketball

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 7:00
Wed. 9 BOSTON 7:00
Fri. 11 at New Orleans 8:00
Mon. 14 at Oklahoma City 8:00
Wed. 16 ATLANTA 7:00
Sat. 19 DALLAS 7:00
Mon. 21 NEW ORLEANS 7:00
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, 4:30 p.m.
March 19, New England, 7 p.m.
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