3-9-23 roundup: Pro basketball and soccer, High school basketball, baseball and softball, Middle school baseball, College basketball and football
By Richard Walker
One area athlete and one area coach took top honors and 15 players from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties were honored in the N.C. Basketball Coaches Association (ncbca.com) District 10 all-star teams.
Shelby’s Ally Hollifield was named District 10 girls player of the year and East Lincoln’s Jason Otey was named District 10 girls coach of the year. And six boys and nine girls were honored on one of the three all-district teams selected.
Bessemer City had the most selections with one boys pick and two girls selections. Other Gaston County selections were Ashbrook (1 girls), Cramer (1 girls), Huss (1 boys) and Piedmont Community Charter (1 girls).
Each of the Cleveland County schools had one selection each as Burns, Crest and Kings Mountain had one boys selection each and Shelby had one girls honoree.
And East Lincoln led Lincoln County with two girls selections with Lincoln Charter had one boys pick and West Lincoln had one girls selection.
Here’s the full NCBCA District 10 boys and girls teams with players’ years in high school with their respective schools:
(District 10 boys)
1st Team: Zymicah “Mikey” Wilkins 10 (R-S Central), Randall Pettus 12 (Bessemer City), Amore Connelly 10 (Freedom), A.J. Adams 11 (Crest), Addison Archer 12 (Chase)
2nd Team: John Holbrook 11 (Hickory), Justin Ross 12 (Huss), Jamien Little 10 (Hickory), Bradley Floyd 9 (Kings Mountain), Chris Culliver 12 (Maiden)
3rd Team: Dacen Petty 10 (East Rutherford), Mehki Harris 12 (Freedom), Ryan Thompson 12 (Burns), Raheim Misher 10 (Maiden), Elijah Burnett 12 (Lincoln Charter)
Player of the Year – Zymicah “Mikey” Wilkins (R-S Central)
Coach of the Year – Daniel Willis (Hickory)
(District 10 girls)
1st Team: Ally Hollifield 12 (Shelby), Cassidy Geddes 12 (Newton-Conover), Janiya Adams 12 (Bessemer City), Madison Cole 12 (Ashbrook), Braelyn Stilwell 10 (East Burke)
2nd Team: Madison Self 12 (East Lincoln), Grace East 12 (Piedmont Community Charter), Catherine “Lizzie” Sain 12 (Newton-Conover), Chloe Norman 12 (West Lincoln), Jada Whitesides 11 (East Rutherford)
3rd Team: Hailey McFadden 10 (East Lincoln), Ella Abernathy 12 (Draughn), Tionna Pettus 10 (Bessemer City), Zion Duncan 12 (Cramer), Sage Young 10 (McDowell), Kensly Stewart 10 (McDowell)
Player of the Year – Ally Hollifield (Shelby)
Coach of the Year – Jason Otey (East Lincoln)
College football
Kings Mountain’s Jake Lloyd (Kings Mountain) to play football at Gardner-Webb
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 – Cape Fear Community College 88-65
No. 2 Brunswick Community College vs. No. 7 Denmark Tech – Brunswick Community College 93-52
No. 3 Spartanburg Methodist vs. No. 6 Richard Bland – Spartanburg Methodist 64-61 (OT)
Semifinals – Friday, March 10
No. 1 Caldwell Tech vs. No. 4 Cape Fear Community College, 2 p.m.
No. 2 Brunswick Community College vs. No. 3 Spartanburg Methodist, 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 – Wake Forest 77-74
Game 5: No. 5 Pittsburgh vs. No. 13 Georgia Tech – Pittsburgh 89-81
Game 6: No. 7 North Carolina vs. No. 10 Boston College – North Carolina 85-61
Game 7: No. 6 N.C. State vs. No. 11 Virginia Tech – N.C. State 97-77
(Thursday, March 9)
Game 8: No. 1 Miami vs. No. 9 Wake Forest – Miami 74-72
Game 9: No. 4 Duke vs. No. 5 Pittsburgh – Duke 96-69
Game 10: No. 2 Virginia vs. No. 7 North Carolina – Virginia 68-59
Game 11: No. 3 Clemson vs. No. 6 N.C. State – Clemson 80-54
(Friday, March 10)
Game 12: No. 1 Miami vs. No. 4 Duke, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 13: No. 2 Virginia vs. No. 3 Clemson, 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 – WKU 73-67
No. 7 FIU vs. No. 10 Louisiana Tech – Louisiana Tech 81-76 (OT)
No. 6 Rice vs. No. 11 UTSA – Rice 72-71
(Thursday, March 9)
No. 1 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 8 WKU – Florida Atlantic 75-51
No. 4 Middle Tennessee vs. No. 5 Charlotte – Middle Tennessee 66-65
No. 2 North Texas vs. No. 10 Louisiana Tech – North Texas 74-46
No. 3 UAB vs. No. 6 Rice – UAB 87-60
(Friday, March 10)
No. 1 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 4 Middle Tennessee, 12:30 p.m. Court A
No. 2 North Texas vs. No. 3 UAB, 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 – Charlotte 72-59
No. 7 North Texas vs. No. 10 UAB – UAB 75-71
No. 6 UTSA vs. No. 11 Florida Atlantic – UTSA 69-68
(Thursday, March 9)
No. 1 Middle Tennessee vs. No. 9 Charlotte – Middle Tennessee 84-53
No. 4 UTEP vs. No. 5 Louisiana Tech – UTEP 64-54
No. 2 WKU vs. No. 10 UAB – WKU 71-67
No. 3 Rice vs. No. 6 UTSA – UTSA 62-54
(Friday, March 10)
No. 1 Middle Tennessee vs. No. 4 UTEP, 5:30 p.m. Court A
No. 2 WKU vs. No. 6 UTSA, 8 p.m. Court A
(Saturday, March 11)
Final – 5:30 p.m. Court A
High school baseball
(Thursday, March 9)
Shelby 4, Chambers 3
Cherryville 6, East Lincoln 3: Will Fowler hit a 3-run home run and Eli Newsome was the winning pitcher for Cherryville and Trey Spees (2 hits), Matthew Phuntek (1 hit), Nathan Borchardt (2 hits, 3 RBIs) and Carson Dahle (2 hits) led East Lincoln.
Chase 6, Crest 1
East Rutherford 17, Gaston Christian 0
Westchester 19, Gaston Day 0
Piedmont CC 10, North Hills Christian 0
Lincoln Charter 11, SouthLake Christian 3
(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
(Thursday, March 9)
Burns 17, Thomas Jefferson 3 (4 innings): Chloe Hull threw a no-hitter with four strikeouts and Jaycee Bivins (4 for 4, double, 2 triples, 5 RBIs), Hunter Morgan (2 for 4, double, 2 RBIs) and Laylah Haynes (2 for 4, 1 RBI) led Burns.
East Gaston 12, Bessemer City 4
East Rutherford 4, North Lincoln 2
Charlotte Christian 14, Gaston Christian 0
Lincoln Charter 7, Metrolina 0
West Wilkes 7, Mountain Island Charter 0
(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
(Wednesday’s game)
Lincolnton 6, West Lincoln 4
High school basketball
Here are Saturday’s N.C. High School Athletic Association state championship game pairings, times and sites:
-BOYS
l4A – 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
Pro basketball
The Charlotte Hornets won their second straight game with a 113-103 win at the Detroit Pistons.
Kelly Oubre (27 points), Terry Rozier (21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists), P.J. Washington (20 points, 5 rebounds), Dennis Smith Jr. (14 points) and Nick Richards (13 points, 10 rebounds) led Charlotte.
Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:
(22-46 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 (W 113-103)
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
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.