8-8-21 roundup: Pro basketball and baseball, college football and athletics

By Richard Walker

The Charlotte Hornets lost their 2021 Las Vegas Summer League basketball opener on Sunday night.

The Portland Trail Blazers led most of the way in a 93-86 victory.

Antonio Blakeney’s 27 points off the bench led Portland.

For Charlotte, rookie James Bouknight had a team-high 19 points and LiAngelo Ball had 16 points off the bench on five-of-10 overall shooting and five-of-eight 3-point shooting.

Vernon Carey, Jr., added 11 points and rookie Kai Jones had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The full Hornets’p summer league schedule:

Sunday: Portland (Lost 86-93)

Monday: Sacramento, 6 p.m. (NBA TV)

Thursday: San Antonio, 3 p.m. (ESPNU)

Aug. 14 Toronto, 7 p.m. (NBA TV)

Aug. 16 or 17 TBD

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

The Gastonia Honey Hunters won their fourth straight game of the season on Sunday when they beat Lexington 14-8 to complete a three-game series sweep.

Gastonia’s four-game winning streak ties for its longest of the season and has improved the team’s record to 31-32 entering a nine-game homestand that begins with Tuesday’s 6:50 p.m. game against West Virginia.

 

 

 

College football

Legendary college football coach Bobby Bowden died on Sunday at 91 after a battle with cancer.

Bowden, the second-winningest major college football coach with 377 victories, was the featured speaker at the 2011 Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame banquet at Cramer Mountain Country Club.

At that year’s ceremony, Gastonia’s Doug Hoffman, William Partlow, Charlie Pearson and Thomas “Bubba” Wilson were the inductees.

 

 

College athletics

Gaston College will return to athletic competition this fall for the first time since 1975.

The school is holding a Block Party from 3-8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 19 to unveil the school’s new nickname, logo and colors.

Gaston College was nicknamed the Rebels from 1965 to 1969 and the Warriors from 1969 to 1972 before the school ceased its athletic programs after the 1974-75 school year.

With its restart this fall, it will again compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Region 10 and field teams in baseball, beach volleyball, esports, men’s basketball, softball and women’s cross country.