5-11-22 roundup: Pro baseball, basketball, football, soccer and hockey, High school basketball, baseball, softball and tennis, Middle school baseball and girls soccer
By Richard Walker
Four local players were repeat selections for the HighSchoolOT.com’s all-state girls basketball teams for the 2021-22 season that were announced on Monday.
Shelby’s Maraja Pass was named to the first team, Shelby’s Kate Hollifield and Kings Mountain’s Saniya Wilson to the second team and Bessemer City’s Janiya Adams to honorable mention. All four also were inaugural HighSchoolOT.com all-state selections in the 2020-21 season.
Players are listed with their averages in the following format: points / rebounds / assists. Averages for steals or blocks per game are noted as such. And future college athletic commitments are in parentheses.
First Team
Jayda Angel, Cape Fear (sophomore) — 28.4 / 8.6 / 4.8 / 6.6 steals / 1.6 blocks
Kylah Bryant, Salisbury (junior) — 17.4 / 3.4 / 3.1 / 3.2 steals
Kylie Chavis, Purnell Swett (junior) — 22.0 / 9.8 / 6.3 / 4.0 steals
Reychel Douglas, Millbrook (junior) — 17.6 / 8.6 / 2.7 / 3.5 steals
Emily Hege, North Davidson (senior) — 27.9 / 5.6 / 4.3 / 4.2 steals / Wingate recruit
Zamareya Jones, North Pitt (sophomore) — 24.3 / 2.7 / 5.7 / 4.3 steals / 1.3 blocks
Madisyn Jordan, Panther Creek (junior) — 17.4 / 6.1 / 1.1 / 1.7 steals / 1.0 blocks
Amiya Joyner, Farmville Central (senior) — 18.2 / 12.4 / 2.3 / 1.1 steals / 2.9 blocks (East Carolina)
Jerni Kiaku, Garner (senior) — 24.0 / 3.0 / 5.2 / 3.9 steals / NC Central recruit
Imani Lester, North Raleigh Christian (senior) — 15.2 / 7.4 / 2.0 / 1.3 steals / 2.5 blocks (Louisville)
Indya Nivar, Apex Friendship (senior) — 18.7 / 8.6 / 3.7 / 3.3 steals / Stanford recruit
Maraja Pass, Shelby (junior) — 15.9 / 4.2 / 5.5 / 4.2 steals
Olivia Porter, Northwood (senior) — 18.0 / 6.4 / 3.8 / 4.3 steals
Torin Rogers, Murphy (senior) — 25.3 / 9.2 / 4.0 / 2.1 steals / 1.8 blocks (Richmond)
Sarah Strong, Grace Christian of Sanford (sophomore) — 25.5 / 17.6 / 5.2 / 3.8 steals / 3.1 blocks
Second Team
Samantha Ackles, Holly Springs (senior) — 18.2 / 12.7 / 2.0 / 2.0 steals / 2.8 blocks (UNC-Wilmington)
Taylor Barner, Panther Creek (sophomore) — 17.6 / 2.4 / 3.0 / 1.9 steals
Cassidy Geddes, Newton-Conover (junior) — 21.2 / 6.7 / 4.3 / 4.5 steals
Miya Giles-Jones, Terry Sanford (junior) — 19.4 / 12.6 / 3.5 / 3.2 steals / 1.0 blocks
Kate Hollifield, Shelby (senior) — 17.9 / 5.0 / 2.0 / 2.6 steals (Belmont)
Ashanti Lynch, North Lenoir (senior) — 25.4 ppg (Maryland-Eastern Shore)
Journee McDaniel, Farmville Central (senior) — 15.7 / 8.4 / 2.6 / 2.8 steals / 1.6 blocks (East Tennessee State)
Senali Moss, South Mecklenburg (senior) — 18.7 / 5.8 / 3.7 / 6.0 steals
Armani Reid, Southwest Onslow (junior) — 22.0 / 8.5 / 5.3 / 5.6 steals / 1.0 blocks
Sydney Roberts, Southeast Guilford (senior) — 21.4 / 5.5 / 4.8 / 4.2 steals / 1.2 blocks
Kylah Silver, D.H. Conley (junior) — 21.9 / 9.9 / 3.1 / 5.5 steals / 0.9 blocks
La’Niya Simes, East Forsyth (junior) — 20.1 / 13.1 / 3 / 5 steals / 2 blocks
Blanca Thomas, Charlotte Catholic (sophomore) — 14.2 / 10.8 / 1.4 / 1.1 steals / 2.8 blocks
Saniya Wilson, Kings Mountain (senior) — 22.2 / 6.0 / 4.8 / 3.1 steals (Catawba)
Mia Xerras, Myers Park (junior) — 11.0 / 3.0 / 4.0 / 1.7 steals
Third Team
Desiree Askew, Hertford County (senior) — 22.9 / 14.1 / 3.2 / 6.1 steals / 1.3 blocks
Kaylee Carson, Independence (sophomore) — 19.2 / 5.4 / 3.3 / 2.3 steals
Mila Holloway, Chambers (sophomore) — 13.8 / 2.6 / 2.4 / 3.6 steals
Darriona Howard, Clayton (junior) — 19.7 / 8.8 / 2.0 / 3.7 steals / 2.7 blocks
Kirsten Lewis-Williams, Lake Norman (junior) — 15.6 / 9.4 / 4.0 / 3.1 steals
Anya Massey, Hoggard (junior) — 12.8 / 4.4 / 5.3 / 2.5 steals / 0.7 blocks
Madison Nereu, Green Level (senior) — 14.9 / 9.7 / 3.8 / 2.6 steals / 0.9 blocks (Roanoke)
Ka’Nyah O’Neil, Southside (junior) — 31.7 / 12.9 / 3.4 / 4.7 steals / 2.6 blocks
Precious Ogboko, Durham School of the Arts (senior) — 18.1 / 17.7 / 1.1 / 1.6 steals / 2.8 blocks
Kate Sears, Watauga (freshman) — 18.4 / 5.5 / 4.3 / 1.6 steals
Bobbi Smith, Southeast Raleigh (senior) — 18 / 6 / 4 / East Carolina recruit
Mary Spry, Jesse Carson (senior) — 15.8 / 9.1 / 2.4 / 2.0 steals / 2.8 blocks (Catawba)
Samyha Suffren, Cannon School (junior) — 17.3 / 6.5 / 3.5 / 3.5 steals (Virginia Tech)
Jakieya Thompson, St. Pauls (junior) — 15.0 / 6.5 / 8.3 / 6.7 steals
Ruby Williams, Cuthbertson (senior) — 20.7 / 5.5 / 1.7 / 2.2 steals / 1.5 blocks (Cornell)
Honorable Mention
Janiya Adams, Bessemer City (junior) — 25.3 / 3.8 / 3.2 / 5.3 steals
Kaitlyn Adams, Bunn (junior) — 23.9 / 11.3 / 3.1 / 4.0 steals / 1.5 blocks
Laila Anderson, The Burlington School (senior) — 22.0 / 3.1 / 3.8 / 2.7 steals (Mount Olive)
Aaliyah Balser, Union Pines (senior) — 19.0 / 11.6 / 1.9 / 3.1 steals / 0.7 blocks
Jamyah Blakeney, Forest Hills (junior) — 23.6 / 5.0 / 5.4 / 3.7 steals
Daneesha Briggs, Beddingfield (junior) — 25.3 / 5.9 / 1.6 / 2.1 steals / 2.2 blocks
Alissa Cheek, Rosman (sophomore) — 18.7 / 4.3 / 4.0 / 3.4 steals
Bentlee Chockley, Enka (senior) — 19.9 / 7.8 / 2.6 / 2.0 steals
Tamyra Council, St. Pauls (senior) — 11.8 / 11.1 / 1.8 / 1.7 steals / 3.3 blocks
Hadleigh Dill, Enka (junior) — 16.7 / 9.0 / 3.4 / 1.3 steals / 0.8 blocks
Tori Ensley, Franklin (junior) — 20.2 / 5.2 / 2.5 / 4.5 steals (N.C. State softball)
Nevaeh Farmer, North Mecklenburg (junior) — 13.5 / 3.5 / 4.9 / 4.0 steals
Kyleigh Goode, Seventy-First (sophomore) — 19.6 / 13.7 / 1.4 / 3.4 steals / 3.1 blocks
Gracyn Hall, Randleman (junior) — 18.6 / 11.7 / 1.7 / 1.1 steals / 1.7 blocks
Jasmine Harris, Northern Guilford (sophomore) — 11 / 5 / 4 / 2 steals
Adelaide Jernigan, Bishop McGuinness (freshman) — 17.6 / 3.6 / 1.7 / 2.3 steals
Rhian Lawrence, Cardinal Gibbons (junior) — 15.5 / 7.2 / 4.6 / 3.6 steals
Alyssa Lewis, Hickory Ridge (junior) — 14.0 / 5.8 / 3.7 / 3.4 steals
Jamiya Lindsey, Richmond (freshman) — 24.0 / 2.2 / 2.5
Alexis Maness, Southwestern Randolph (senior) — 16.9 / 10.3 / 2.0 / 2.1 steals
Mia McMillen, Surry Central (senior) — 21.1 / 8.9 / 2.7 / 5.0 steals
Tamia Morris, Terry Sanford (senior) — 18.3 / 2.9 / 3.7 / 3.3 steals (UNC-Pembroke)
Evangelia Paulk, Asheville Christian (junior) — 12.7 / 5.4 / 2.0 / 3.9 steals / 1.5 blocks (Wofford)
Karlyn Pickens, North Buncombe (senior) — 17.4 / 9.9 / 2.0 / 2.4 steals / 3.3 blocks (Tennessee softball)
Skylar Southard, Forbush (senior) — 15.0 / 9.4 / 3.7 / 2.8 steals / 5.4 blocks
Caroline Thiel, Rocky Mount (junior) — 19.3 / 5.5 / 1.7 / 2.3 steals / 1.3 blocks
Aly Wadkovsky, Lake Norman (senior) — 11.9 / 8.3 / 1.0 / 1.6 steals / 1.6 blocks (Elon)
Nyah Wilkins, Garner (senior) — 11.7 / 9.6 / 5.5 / 3.0 steals / 1.3 blocks
Chloe Williams, Heritage (senior) — 13.4 / 5.8 / 3.7 / 2.2 steals / Elon
Alexis Wolgemuth, Fred T. Foard (senior) — 20.7 / 7.0 / 4.8 / 5.4 steals (Marshall soccer)
High school baseball
Local second round playoff pairings:
(Class 3A)
South Point at South Rowan, Thursday
Crest at North Lincoln, Thursday
Carson at Kings Mountain, Thursday
East Lincoln at Eastern Guilford, Thursday
(Class 2A)
East Gaston at Randleman, Thursday
Trinity at Burns, Friday
Forbush at Lincoln Charter, Thursday
(Class 1A)
Mountain Island Charter at Cherryville, Thursday
High school softball
Local second round playoff pairings:
(Class 3A)
East Rowan at East Lincoln, Thursday
North Lincoln at North Buncombe, Thursday
Cramer at Rockingham County, Friday
Carson at Crest, Thursday
(Class 2A)
Eden Morehead at Burns, Thursday
(Class 1A)
North Stokes at Cherryville, Thursday
Queen’s Grant at Mountain Island Charter, Thursday
Middle school baseball
Belmont defeated Stanley 7-2 on Wednesday to win the 2022 Gaston County Conference championship.
Zeke Pruitt pitched a complete game with 12 strikeouts. And Aydan Bradley (2-3), Pruitt (1 hit), Gavin Smith (1 hit), Chris Wurster (1 hit), Carter Rowe (1 hit), Jonathan Kalmbach (1 hit), Brody Crawford (1 hit) and Kenan Helton (1 hit) led the offense for Belmont, which finished its season with a 12-0 record.
It’s the fourth time the Wildcats have finished with an unbeaten seasonal record and seventh county title the school has won.
The 2022 Gaston County Conference playoff schedule:
(Monday’s games)
Belmont 10, Mount Holly 0
Stanley 4, Chavis 0
(Wednesday’s game)
Championship – Belmont 7, Stanley 2
Middle school girls soccer
The 2022 Gaston County Conference playoff schedule:
(Monday’s games)
Belmont 6, W.C. Friday 0
Cramerton 2, Mount Holly 2 (Cramerton 5-3 penalty kicks)
(Thursday’s game)
Championship – Cramerton at Belmont
High school tennis
Six teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties began competing in the N.C. High School Athletic Association boys tennis dual team playoffs last month – and three remain alive.
Here are the April 27 first round results:
Class 3A No. 4 South Point (11-0) hosts No. 13 Rockingham County (9-2) – South Point 9-0
Class 3A No. 11 Crest (10-1) at No. 6 West Henderson (12-1) – Crest 7-1
Class 2A No. 1 Lincolnton (7-0) hosts No. 16 East Surry (11-6) – East Surry 5-4
Class 2A No. 6 Lincoln Charter (8-1) hosts No. 11 West Stanly (8-6) – Lincoln Charter 6-0
Class 2A No. 8 Burns (9-4) hosts No. 9 Swannanoa Owen (8-5) – Burns 7-2
Class 1A No. 13 Cherryville (4-9) at No. 4 Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (12-3) – Bishop McGuinness 9-0
Here are the May 3 second round pairings:
Class 3A No. 4 South Point (12-0) hosts No. 5 Winston-Salem Atkins (11-0) – South Point 9-0
Class 3A No. 11 Crest (11-1) at No. 3 Hickory (11-0) – Hickory 7-2
Class 2A No. 8 Burns (10-4) hosts No. 16 East Surry (12-6) – Burns 5-4
Class 2A No. 6 Lincoln Charter (9-1) visits No. 3 West Stokes (12-0) – Lincoln Charter 5-4
Here are the May 9 regional semifinal pairings:
Class 3A No. 4 South Point (13-0) at No. 3 Central Davidson (10-0) – South Point 6-0
Class 2A No. 8 Burns (11-4) hosts No. 12 Pine Lake Prep (10-1) – Pine Lake Prep 5-1
Class 2A No. 6 Lincoln Charter (10-1) at No. 2 Salisbury (14-0) – Lincoln Charter 5-1
Hera are the May 11 regional final pairings:
Class 3A No. 4 South Point (14-0) at No. 3 Hickory (13-0) – Hickory 5-4
Class 2A No. 6 Lincoln Charter (11-1) hosts No. 12 Pine Lake Prep (11-1)
Winners of regional semifinals advance to regional finals on May 11 with state championships on May 14 at the Burlington Tennis Center.
Pro basketball
Here’s the schedule for the NBA playoffs:
(Eastern Conference)
FIRST ROUND
1-Miami vs. 8-Atlanta (Miami wins series 4-1)
4-Philadelphia vs. 5-Toronto (Philadelphia wins series 4-2)
2-Boston vs. 7-Brooklyn (Boston wins series 4-0)
3-Milwaukee vs. 6-Chicago (Milwaukee wins series 4-1)
SEMIFINALS
1-Miami vs. 4-Philadelphia
Game 1 at Miami: May 2 (Miami 106-92)
Game 2 at Miami: May 4 (Miami 119-103)
Game 3 at Philadelphia: May 6 (Philadelphia 99-79)
Game 4 at Philadelphia: May 8 (Philadelphia 116-108)
Game 5 at Miami: May 10 (Miami 120-85)
Game 6 at Philadelphia: May 12
Game 7 at Miami (if necessary): May 15
2-Boston vs. 3-Milwaukee
Game 1 at Boston: May 1 (Milwaukee 101-89)
Game 2 at Boston: May 3 (Boston 109-86)
Game 3 at Milwaukee: May 7 (Milwaukee 103-101)
Game 4 at Milwaukee: May 9 (Boston 116-108)
Game 5 at Boston: May 11 (Milwaukee 110-107)
Game 6 at Milwaukee: May 13
Game 7 (if necessary) at Boston: May 15
(Western Conference)
FIRST ROUND
1-Phoenix vs. 8-New Orleans (Phoenix wins series 4-2)
4-Dallas vs. 5-Utah (Dallas wins series 4-2)
2-Memphis vs. 7-Minnesota (Memphis wins series 4-2)
3-Golden State vs. 6-Denver (Golden State wins series 4-1)
SEMIFINALS
1-Phoenix vs. 4-Dallas
Game 1 at Phoenix: May 2 (Phoenix 121-114)
Game 2 at Phoenix: May 4 (Phoenix 126-114)
Game 3 at Dallas: May 6 (Dallas 103-94)
Game 4 at Dallas: May 8 (Dallas 111-101)
Game 5 at Phoenix: May 10 (Phoenix 110-80)
Game 6 at Dallas: May 12
Game 7 at Phoenix (if necessary): May 15
2-Memphis vs. 3-Golden State
Game 1 at Memphis: May 1 (Golden State 117-116)
Game 2 at Memphis: May 3 (Memphis 106-101)
Game 3 at Golden State: May 7 (Golden State 123-107)
Game 4 at Golden State: May 9 (Golden State 101-98)
Game 5 at Memphis: May 11 (Memphis 134-95)
Game 6 at Golden State: May 13
Game 7 at Memphis (if necessary): May 16
Pro football
The Carolina Panthers’ 2022 schedule will be released on Thursday night at 8 p.m.
Here’s the 17 opponents and sites for the upcoming season:
Home games (9): Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Arizona, San Francisco, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Denver
Road games (8): Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, L.A. Rams, Seattle, Baltimore, Cincinnati, N.Y. Giants
Pro hockey
The Carolina Hurricanes’ first round playoff schedule in their series against the Boston Bruins:
Game 1 at Carolina: May 2 (Carolina 5-1)
Game 2 at Carolina: May 4 (Carolina 5-2)
Game 3 at Boston: May 6 (Boston 4-2)
Game 4 at Boston: May 8 (Boston 5-2)
Game 5 at Carolina: May 10 (Carolina 5-1)
Game 6 at Boston: May 12
Game 7 at Carolina (if necessary): May 14
Pro soccer
Charlotte FC advanced to the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday with a 5-1 road win over the Richmond, Va., Kickers.
Here’s the full Charlotte FC MLS schedule for the 2022 season (with results):
(4-6-1 record)
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 (L 1-2)
April 23, at Colorado (T 0-0)
April 30, at Orlando (L 1-2)
May 7, Miami (W 1-0)
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
Pro baseball
The Gastonia Honey Hunters suffered their first shutout loss of the season on Wednesday in a 4-0 loss at Southern Maryland. Gastonia (14-3) completes the three-game road series at Southern Maryland on Thursday.
The full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2022 schedule (Games times 6:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 4:15 on Sunday):
April (8-1)
21 Lancaster, Pa. (L 2-5)
22 Lancaster, Pa. (W 4-3)
23 Lancaster, Pa. (W 8-1)
24 Lancaster, Pa. (W 13-4)
26 Wild Health, Ky. (W 12-1)
27 Wild Health, Ky. (W 17-4)
28 Wild Health, Ky. (W 6-4)
29 Staten Island (W 5-4)
30 Staten Island (W 6-5)
May (6-2)
1 Staten Island (W 10-5)
3 at York, Pa. (W 3-1)
4 at York, Pa. (L 4-5 in 10)
5 at York, Pa. (W 12-7)
6 at Staten Island (ppd.)
7 at Staten Island (ppd.)
8 at Staten Island (W 4-1)
8 at Staten Island (W 7-2)
10 at So. Maryland (W 2-0)
11 at So. Maryland (L 0-4)
12 at So. Maryland
13 at Staten Island
14 at Staten Island
14 at Staten Island
15 at Staten Island
17 So. Maryland
18 So. Maryland
19 So. Maryland
20 Charleston, W.Va.
21 Charleston, W.Va.
22 Charleston, W.Va.
24 at Lancaster, Pa.
25 at Lancaster, Pa.
26 at Lancaster, Pa.
27 at Long Island
28 at Long Island
29 at Long Island
30 at Long Island
31 Long Island
June
1 Long Island
2 Long Island
3 at High Point
4 at High Point
5 at High Point
7 at Charleston, W.Va.
8 at Charleston, W.Va.
9 at Charleston, W.Va.
10 High Point
11 High Point
12 High Point
14 Charleston, W.Va.
15 Charleston, W.Va.
16 Charleston, W.Va.
17 at Lexington, Ky.
18 at Lexington, Ky.
19 at Lexington, Ky.
21 Charleston, W.Va.
22 Charleston, W.Va.
23 Charleston, W.Va.
24 at So. Maryland
25 at So. Maryland
26 at So. Maryland
28 Wild Health, Ky.
29 Wild Health, Ky.
30 Wild Health, Ky.
July
1 at Lexington, Ky.
2 at Lexington, Ky.
3 at Lexington, Ky.
4 High Point
5 High Point
6 at High Point
7 at High Point
8 High Point
9 High Point
10 High Point
12 at Wild Health, Ky.
13 at Wild Health, Ky.
14 at Wild Health, Ky.
15 Lexington, Ky.
16 Lexington, Ky.
17 Lexington, Ky.
19 at York, Pa.
20 at York, Pa.
21 at York, Pa.
22 at High Point
23 at High Point
24 at High Point
26 Lexington, Ky.
27 Lexington, Ky.
28 Lexington, Ky.
29 York, Pa.
30 York, Pa.
31 York, Pa.
August
2 at Lexington, Ky.
3 at Lexington, Ky.
4 at Lexington, Ky.
5 High Point
6 High Point
7 High Point
9 Staten Island
10 Staten Island
11 Staten Island
12 at High Point
13 at High Point
14 at High Point
16 So. Maryland
17 So. Maryland
18 So. Maryland
19 High Point
20 High Point
21 High Point
23 at Charleston, W.Va.
24 at Charleston, W.Va.
25 at Charleston, W.Va.
26 at High Point
27 at High Point
28 at High Point
30 High Point
31 High Point
September
1 High Point
2 Wild Health, Ky.
3 Wild Health, Ky.
4 Wild Health, Ky.
6 at Wild Health, Ky.
7 at Wild Health, Ky.
8 at Wild Health, Ky.
9 Lexington, Ky.
10 Lexington, Ky.
11 Lexington, Ky.
13 at High Point
14 at High Point
15 at High Point
16 at Charleston, W.Va.
17 at Charleston, W.Va.
18 at Charleston, W.Va.