4-10-22 roundup: Pro basketball, golf and soccer, College baseball, High school baseball and softball, Middle school baseball and girls soccer
By Richard Walker
The Charlotte Hornets continued their strong finish to the season with a 124-108 home win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday afternoon.
And the Hornets (43-39) will need to continue that momentum next week in the NBA play-in tournament to advance to the eight-team Eastern Conference playoffs.
Charlotte finished as the No. 10 seed in the Eastern – the most by a 10th-place team in league history since 2001 – and will visit the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday at 7 p.m. If the Hornets win, they would face the loser of Tuesday’s Cleveland at Brooklyn game on Friday for the right to advance as a No. 8 seed that would face No. 1 seed Miami.
“Most years we would be the seven or eight seed,” Charlotte coach James Borrego said. “The East got better and we got better. We have a shot to keep moving forward. We have put ourselves in position to continue our season and have a meaningful game on the road.”
A year ago, Charlotte as was the No. 10 seed but lost its final five regular-season games before getting blown out 144-117 by Indiana in the play-in touranment.
Charlotte closed this season with an 11-5 record, which gives the team confidence it can qualify for its first playoff appearance since 2016.
Terry Rozier (25 points, 6 assists), LaMelo Ball (24 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists), Jalen McDaniels (14 points) and Isaiah Thomas (14 points) led Charlotte on Sunday.
The Hornets also announced Gordon Hayward’s season is likely over. The Hornets forward is out indefinitely with continued discomfort in his left foot, the team said.
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 (L 106-121)
Fri. 25 UTAH (W 107-101)
Sun. 27 at Brooklyn (W 118-110)
Mon. 28 DENVER (L 109-113)
Wed. 30 at New York (W 125-114)
APRIL
Sat. 2 at Philadelphia (L 114-144)
Tue. 5 at Miami (L 115-144)
Thu. 7 ORLANDO (W 128-101)
Fri. 8 at Chicago (W 133-117)
Sun. 10 WASHINGTON (W 124-108)
Pro golf
Gastonia’s Harold Varner III finished his first-ever Master’s appearance on a high note.
After slipping to tied for 36th following an 80 during Saturday’s blustery, cold conditions, Varner heated up with the weather with a 69 that improved him to a tie for 23rd in the prestigious tournament.
A 2008 Forestview High graduate, Varner finished with a 71-71-80-69 – 291.
On Sunday, Varner birded five holes (Nos. 3, 7, 9, 11 and 15).
High school baseball
Standings through April 8:
Big South 3A
Kings Mountain 7-1, 8-3
Crest 7-1, 10-4
Forestview 5-3, 7-6
Cramer 4-4, 9-5
South Point 4-4, 7-5
North Gaston 4-4, 5-6
Ashbrook 1-7, 5-9
Huss 0-8, 0-10
Southern Piedmont 1A/2A
Burns 8-0, 13-1
East Gaston 7-1, 11-4
Shelby 5-3, 10-5
Cherryville 4-4, 7-6
Bessemer City 3-5, 3-9
Highland Tech 1-7, 4-9
Thomas Jefferson 0-10, 0-12
Others
Piedmont CC 4-3, 7-5
East Lincoln 6-3, 9-3
North Lincoln 7-2, 10-2
Lincolnton 7-3, 9-6
West Lincoln 6-4, 6-9
Lincoln Charter 5-1, 12-1
Mtn Isl Charter 0-6, 4-8
Gaston Christian 3-3, 6-6
Gaston Day 0-7, 2-9
Upcoming schedule:
(Monday)
Shelby at Bessemer City
A.C. Reynolds at Mountain Island Charter
Carolina Royals at Gaston Day
East Lincoln at West Iredell
North Lincoln at North Iredell
Langtree Charter at Piedmont CC
R-S Central at West Lincoln
West Charlotte at Huss
(Tuesday)
Ashbrook at South Point
Cramer at Kings Mountain
Forestview at Crest
North Gaston at Huss
Burns at East Gaston
Highland Tech at Cherryville
Newton-Conover at West Lincoln
West Caldwell at Lincolnton
Lincoln Charter in Easter tournament
(Wednesday)
Christ the King at Mountain Island Charter, DH
Bandys at East Lincoln
Lancaster, S.C. at North Lincoln
Lincoln Charter in Easter tournament
(Thursday)
Crest at Forestview
Huss at North Gaston
Kings Mountain at Cramer
South Point at Ashbrook
Bessemer City at Shelby
Cherryville at Highland Tech
East Gaston at Burns
Foard at East Lincoln
North Lincoln at St. Stephens
East Burke at Lincolnton
West Caldwell at West Lincoln
Lincoln Charter in Easter tournament
Davidson Day at Gaston Day
(Friday)
No games scheduled
High school softball
Upcoming schedule:
(Monday)
East Gaston at Shelby
East Lincoln at West Lincoln
(Tuesday)
Ashbrook at Forestview
Cramer at Crest
North Gaston at Kings Mountain
South Point at Huss
Burns at East Gaston
Highland Tech at Cherryville
Shelby at Bessemr City
East Lincoln at West Iredell
North Lincoln at North Iredell
Newton-Conover at West Lincoln
West Caldwell at Lincolnton
(Wednesday)
Piedmont CC at Bessemer City
(Thursday)
Ashbrook at North Gaston
Huss at Cramer
Kings Mountain at Forestview
South Point at Crest
Cherryville at Highland Tech
East Gaston at Burns
Foard at East Lincoln
North Lincoln at St. Stephens
Lincolnton at East Burke
West Lincoln at West Caldwell
(Friday)
Bessemer City at Shelby
College baseball
Nationally-ranked Gaston College lost a high-scoring game on Sunday by a 13-12 margin at Guilford Tech. The Rhinos, ranked in the top four of all three National Junior College Athletic Association Division II polls, fell to 33-3 overall and 23-2 in the West Division of Region 10. The Rhinos return to action on Wednesday in a 2 p.m. Region 10 West division doubleheader at Cleveland Community College.
Middle school baseball
Gaston County Conference standings through April 7:
Stanley 5-0
Chavis 4-0
Mount Holly 4-0
Belmont 4-0
W.C. Friday 2-2
Bessemer City 1-2
Cramerton 1-2
York Chester 1-4
Grier 0-4
Holbrook 0-4
Southwest 0-4
(Monday, April 11)
Belmont at Chavis
Mount Holly at Holbrook
Southwest at Grier
Stanley at W.C. Friday
York Chester at Cramerton
(Tuesday, April 12)
Bessemer City at Cramerton
(Wednesday, April 13)
Mount Holly at Bessemer City
(Thursday, April 14)
Bessemer City at York Chester
Chavis at Stanley
Cramerton at Southwest
W.C. Friday at Mount Holly
Grier at Holbrook
Middle school girls soccer
Gaston County Conference standings through April 7:
Belmont 4-0
Cramerton 3-0
Stanley 4-1
W.C. Friday 3-1
Mount Holly 3-1
Chavis 2-2
Bessemer City 1-2
Grier 1-3
Holbrook 1-3
Southwest 0-4
York Chester 0-5
(Monday, April 11)
Belmont at Chavis
Mount Holly at Holbrook
Southwest at Grier
Stanley at W.C. Friday
York Chester at Cramerton
(Tuesday, April 12)
Bessemer City at Cramerton
(Wednesday, April 13)
Mount Holly at Bessemer City
(Thursday, April 14)
Bessemer City at York Chester
Chavis at Stanley
Cramerton at Southwest
W.C. Friday at Mount Holly
Grier at Holbrook
Pro soccer
Jordy Alcivar’s goal in the 11th minute on Sunday gave Charlotte FC a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta United at Bank of America Stadium.
The victory improved Charlotte FC to 3-4 on the season as it prepares for a three-game road trip.
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 (W 2-0)
April 2, at Philadelphia (L 0-2)
April 10, Atlanta (W 1-0)
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