3-7-23 roundup: Pro basketball and soccer, High school basketball, baseball and softball, Middle school basketball and baseball, College basketball and baseball

By Richard Walker

Holbrook Middle School’s girls basketball team completed a second straight unbeaten season on Tuesday night to claim the Gaston County Conference title.

The 39-18 victory over Belmont at the Ashbrook High School gymnasium increased the Lions’ winning streak to 25 games.

Only three streaks have been longer in league history – 36 by W.C. Friday from 2013 to 2016, 33 by Stanley from 1992 to 1994 and 27 by Chavis from 2000 to 2002.

Holbrook’s title was its sixth in school history; The Lions previously won county titles in 1984, 1985, 1988, 1996 and 2022.

In Tuesday’s victory, Shemiah McCoy (17 points, 5 steals), Jaleila Littlejohn (10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals), Jakyra Sadler (6 rebounds, 3 steals, 6 assists), Arianna McDowell (10 rebounds), and Layla Pless (6 rebounds) led the Lions.

The Gaston County Conference boys championship on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Huss High gymnasium, Southwest (11-0) seeks its first unbeaten season since 2010 and fourth overall when it faces Holbrook (9-2).

The Roadrunners are seeking to become the 17th unbeaten boys team in league history; Southwest’s previous unbeaten seasons came in 1983 (14-0), 1995 (13-0) and 2010 (12-0).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school basketball

Here are Saturday’s N.C. High School Athletic Association state championship game pairings, times and sites:

-BOYS
4A – Myers Park vs. Richmond County, 7:30 p.m. at Smith Center, UNC Chapel Hill
3A – Central Cabarrus vs. Pittsboro Northwood, 7:30 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum, N.C. State
2A – Reidsville vs. Farmville Central, 2:30 p.m. at Smith Center, UNC Chapel Hill
1A – Eastern Randolph vs. Wilson Prep, noon at Reynolds Coliseum, N.C. State

-GIRLS
4A – Lake Norman vs. Cary Panther Creek, noon at Smith Center, UNC Chapel Hill
3A – West Rowan vs. Rocky Mount, 2:30 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum, N.C. State
2A – Salisbury vs. Pittsboro Seaforth, 5 p.m. at Smith Center, UNC Chapel Hill
1A – Kernersville McGuinness vs. Chatham Charter, 5 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum, N.C. State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College basketball

(Conference tournaments)
-2023 Region 10 men (at Cape Fear Community College)
Quarterfinals – Thursday, March 9
No. 4 Gaston College vs. No. 5 Cape Fear Community College, 2 p.m.
No. 2 Brunswick Community College vs. No. 7 Denmark Tech, 4 p.m.
No. 3 Spartanburg Methodist vs. No. 6 Richard Bland, 6 p.m.
Semifinals – Friday, March 10
No. 1 Caldwell Tech vs. 4/5 winner, 2 p.m.
2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, 4 p.m.
Final – Saturday, March 11
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.

-2023 ACC men (at Greensboro Coliseum)
(Tuesday, March 7)
Game 1: No. 12 Florida State vs. No. 13 Georgia Tech – Georgia Tech 61-60
Game 2: No. 10 Boston College vs. No. 15 Louisville – Boston College 80-62
Game 3: No. 11 Virginia Tech vs. No. 14 Notre Dame – Virginia Tech 67-64
(Wednesday, March 8)
Game 4: No. 8 Syracuse vs. No. 9 Wake Forest, noon (ESPN)
Game 5: No. 5 Pittsburgh vs. No. 13 Georgia Tech, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 6: No. 7 North Carolina vs. No. 10 Boston College, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 7: No. 6 N.C. State vs. No. 11 Virginia Tech, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
(Thursday, March 9)
Game 8: No. 1 Miami vs. Game 4 winner, noon (ESPN)
Game 9: No. 4 Duke vs. Game 5 winner, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 10: No. 2 Virginia vs. Game 6 winner, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 11: No. 3 Clemson vs. Game 7 winner, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
(Friday, March 10)
Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
(Saturday, march 11)
Game 14: Championship, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

-2023 Conference USA men (at Frisco, Tex.)
(Wednesday, March 8)
No. 8 WKU vs. No. 9 UTEP, 6:30 p.m. Court A
No. 7 FIU vs. No. 10 Louisiana Tech, 9 p.m. Court A
No. 6 Rice vs. No. 11 UTSA, 9:30 p.m Court B
(Thursday, March 9)
No. 1 Florida Atlantic vs. 8/9 winner, 6:30 p.m. Court A
No. 4 Middle Tennessee vs. No. 5 Charlotte, 7 p.m. Court B
No. 2 North Texas vs. 7/10 winner, 9 p.m. Court A
No. 3 UAB vs. 6/11 winner, 9:30 p.m. Court B
(Friday, March 10)
1/8/9 winner vs. 4/5 winner, 12:30 p.m. Court A
2/7/10 winner vs. 3/6/11 winner, 3 p.m. Court A
(Saturday, March 11)
Final – 8:30 p.m. Court A

-2023 Conference USA women (at Frisco, Tex.)
(Wednesday, March 8)
No. 8 FIU vs. No. 9 Charlotte, Noon Court A
No. 7 North Texas vs. No. 10 UAB, 2:30 p.m. Court A
No. 6 UTSA vs. No. 11 Florida Atlantic, 3 p.m. Court B
(Thursday, March 9)
No. 1 Middle Tennessee vs. 8/9 winner, Noon Court A
No. 4 UTEP vs. No. 5 Louisiana Tech, 12:30 p.m. Court B
No. 2 WKU vs. 7/10 winner, 2:30 p.m. Court A
No. 3 Rice vs. 6/11 winner, 3 p.m. Court B
(Friday, March 10)
1/8/9 winner vs. 4/5 winner, 5:30 p.m. Court A
2/7/10 winner vs. 3/6/11 winner, 8 p.m. Court A
(Saturday, March 11)
Final – 5:30 p.m. Court A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College baseball

(Tuesday’s game)
Gaston College 21, Brunswick Community College 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school baseball

(Monday, March 6)
East Rutherford 10, North Gaston 2: Asheton Pope hit a 2-run home run for North Gaston.

(Tuesday, March 7)
East Gaston 10, Bessemer City 0 (5 innings)

Shelby 9, Highland Tech 8 (10 innings)

Burns 14, Thomas Jefferson 3 (5 innings)

Bunker Hill 4, Lincolnton 3

East Rutherford 6, Crest 2

Kings Mountain 2, Cherryville 1: Wyatt Davis struck out 13 in five innings for Kings Mountain.

Sun Valley 8, Lincoln Charter 2

(Wednesday, March 8)
Blacksburg, S.C. at Kings Mountain
Highland Tech at Ashbrook
Mountain Island Charter at Union Academy
North Gaston at East Gaston
North Lincoln at Forestview
South Point at Burns
Statesville at Lincolnton

(Thursday, March 9)
Chambers at Shelby
Cherryville at East Lincoln
Cramer at Bessemer City
Crest at Chase
East Rutherford at Gaston Christian
North Hills Christian at Piedmont CC
SouthLake Christian at Lincoln Charter
Statesville Christian at Gaston Day

(Friday, March 10)
Burns at Thomas Jefferson
East Gaston at Bessemer City
Highland Tech at Shelby
North Gaston at North Lincoln
Bandys at West Lincoln
Newton-Conover at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at Maiden
Piedmont CC at Apprentice Academy
Gaston Day at Westchester
Kings Mountain at Enka
Lincoln Charter at South Caldwell
Community School of Davidson at Mountain Island Charter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school softball

(Tuesday, March 7)
Burns 15, Thomas Jefferson 0 (3 innings): Sayge Strange threw a 3-inning perfect game with eight strikeouts and Jaycee Bivins (3 for 3, double, stolen base, 3 RBIs), Hunter Morgan (2 for 3, 3 RBIs), Maggie Earl (2 for 3, 1 RBI) and Laylah Haynes (2 for 2) led the Burns offense.

Highland Tech 15, Shelby 3

Bandys 7, West Lincoln 2

Lincolnton 18, Bunker Hill 10

Cherryville 5, Forestview 1

South Iredell 4, North Lincoln 3

Gaston Christian 25, SouthLake Christian 3

Queen’s Grant 13, Piedmont CC 8

Charlotte Christian 16, Lincoln Charter 5

(Wednesday, March 8)
Bessemer City at South Point
Burns at Foard
Cramer at Myers Park
East Lincoln at Bandys
Huss at Shelby
North Gaston at East Gaston
Piedmont CC at Langtree Charter
Mountain Island Charter at Central Cabarrus

(Thursday, March 9)
East Gaston at Bessemer City
East Rutherford at North Lincoln
Gaston Christian at Charlotte Christian
Metrolina at Lincoln Charter
West Wilkes at Mountain Island Charter

(Friday, March 10)
Burns at Thomas Jefferson
Bandys at Maiden
Newton-Conover at Lincolnton
Crest at South Caldwell
Forestview at Cherryville
Hough at East Lincoln

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school baseball

(Monday’s game)
West Lincoln 10, Kings Mountain 8: Kaden Smith (3 hits, grand slam home run, 5 RBIs) led West Lincoln.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro basketball

The Charlotte Hornets recorded arguably their most impressive win of the season by rallying from a 16-point halftime deficit to win 112-105 at the New York Knicks.

The result ended Charlotte’s three-game losing streak and stopped New York’s winning streak at nine games.

Kelly Oubre (27 points, 5 rebounds), Terry Rozier (25 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists), Gordon Hayward (23 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) and P.J. Washington (13 points, 7 rebounds) led Charlotte.

Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:

(21-46 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, 7 p.m.
11 Utah, 7 p.m.
12 Cleveland, 5 p.m.
14 Cleveland, 7 p.m.
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:

(0-2 record)
Feb. 25 New England Revolution (L 0-1)
March 4 at St. Louis City SC (L 1-3)
March 11 Atlanta United FC, noon
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, 3:30 p.m. on FOX
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