9-28-21 roundup: Pro basketball, football and baseball, College football, High school football and boys soccer, Middle school football and softball

By Richard Walker

After suffering injuries that cost him 29 games last season, Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward is eager to be healthy this season as the team pursues its goal of making the NBA playoffs.

Hayward missed 29 games last year, including the last 24 of the regular season with a right foot injury as the Hornets struggled down the stretch and eventually were blown out 144-117 at Indiana to end the season with a 33-40 overall record.

But Hayward spent the offseason recovering and said following Tuesday’s opening day of 2021 training camp that he was determined to stay healthy in a more conventional season.

“Hopefully it’s not having a freak injury,” Hayward said. “That’s something you can’t control no matter what… Last year there was no time (for rest) with a condensed schedule. That was tough on everyone across the league.”

Hayward wasn’t alone facing the injury bug for the Hornets last season.

And, when healthy, Hayward and the Hornets had improved to fourth place in the Eastern Conference before injuries to Hayward and others cost the team manpower down the stretch.

Hayward 29 missed games were a team high. LaMelo Ball, who won NBA Rookie of the Year honors last season, missed 21 games with a broken wrist, Cody Zeller 19 games, Devonte’ Graham 18, Malik Monk 17, Cody Martin 11, P.J. Washington seven, Miles Bridges six and Terry Rozier three.

This season, Zeller, Graham and Monk are elsewhere while Hayward, Ball, Martin, Washington, Bridges and Rozier return to play for a team that has restocked its depth through the draft and trade acquisitions.

Coach James Borrego still considers Hayward to be one of the team’s most valuable pieces. And that’s simply because of the impact he has on the team.

“He (Hayward) takes the pressure off of Melo, Terry and everyone on the floor,” Borrego said on Tuesday. “In general, when he steps on the floor things settle down and we play good basketball.”

Charlotte will continue training camp as it prepares for its Oct. 4 preseason opener at Oklahoma City.

 

 

College football

Here’s the Carolinas Division I schedule for this week:

(Saturday)
Charlotte at Illinois, noon
Duke at North Carolina, noon
Louisville at Wake Forest, 12:30 p.m.
Appalachian State at Georgia State, 1 p.m.
Davidson at Stetson, 1 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at Monmouth, 1 p.m.
Robert Morris at N.C. A&T, 1 p.m.
ULM at Coastal Carolina, 1:30 p.m.
Western Carolina at Chattanooga, 1:30 p.m.
Elon at Richmond, 2 p.m.
VMI at The Citadel, 2 p.m.
Troy at South Carolina, 3:30 p.m.
Tulane at East Carolina, 3:30 p.m.
Wofford at East Tennessee State, 3:30 p.m.
Louisiana Tech at N.C. State, 6 p.m.
Campbell at North Alabama, 7 p.m.
Boston College at Clemson, 7:30 p.m.

Here’s the Carolinas Division II schedule for this week:

(Saturday)
Limestone at Catawba, 1 p.m.
Newberry at Mars Hill, 1 p.m.
Shaw at Virginia Union, 1 p.m.
UNC Pembroke at Frostburg State, 1 p.m.
Carson-Newman at Barton, 2 p.m.
J.C. Smith at Bowie State, 2 p.m.
Lenoir-Rhyne at Virginia-Wise, 2 p.m.
-Virginia Lynchburg at Erskine, 2 p.m.
Livingstone at Elizabeth City State, 2:30 p.m.
Mississippi College at North Greenville, 3 p.m.
Tusculum at Wingate, 6 p.m.
Winston-Salem State at Chowan, 6 p.m.
St. Augustine’s at Virginia State, 6 p.m.
Lincoln, Pa. at Fayetteville State, 7 p.m.

 

 

Pro football

The Carolina Panthers made more moves on Tuesday when they placed safety Juston Burris on injured reserve and replaced his sport on the roster by moving center Sam Tecklenburg up  from the practice squad.

Tecklenburg has now been promoted from the practice squad for all three games this year. With Pat Elflein on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, Tecklenburg will be the backup center to Matt Paradis.

Burris (groin) was injured last week against Houston. He’ll be out for at least three weeks.

Burris joins cornerback Jaycee Horn and nickel back Myles Hartsfield on injured reserve.

Here is the Carolina Panthers’ 2021 schedule (with results):

Sept. 12 New York Jets (W 19-14)
Sept. 19 New Orleans (W 26-7)
Sept. 23 at Houston (W 24-9)
Oct. 3 at Dallas, 1 p.m.
Oct. 10 Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Oct. 17 Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Oct. 24 at New York Giants, 1 p.m.
Oct. 31 at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Nov. 7 New England, 1 p.m.
Nov. 14 at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Nov. 21 Washington, 1 p.m.
Nov. 28 at Miami, 1 p.m.
Dec. 5 BYE WEEK
Dec. 12 Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Dec. 18 or 19 at Buffalo, TBD
Dec. 26 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Jan. 2 at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m

 

 

 

 

 

High school football

Here are standings through Sept. 28 with conference record listed first followed by overall record:

BIG SOUTH 3A
Crest 3-0, 3-1
Kings Mountain 2-0, 4-1
South Point 2-0, 4-1
Forestview 2-0, 3-2
Cramer 0-2, 2-3
Ashbrook 0-2, 0-3
Huss 0-2, 0-3
North Gaston 0-3, 0-6

WESTERN FOOTHILLS 3A
Statesville 2-0, 4-0
North Iredell 2-0, 2-2
North Lincoln 1-1, 3-2
Hickory 1-1, 2-3
West Iredell 1-1, 1-2
St. Stephens 1-1, 1-3
East Lincoln 0-2, 3-2
Foard 0-2, 0-4

CATAWBA VALLEY 2A
Bunker Hill 2-0, 5-0
Maiden 2-0, 5-0
West Lincoln 1-1, 4-1
Newton-Conover 1-1, 1-3
Lincolnton 1-1, 1-4
East Burke 0-1, 1-2
Bandys 0-1, 2-1
West Caldwell 0-2, 0-4

SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A/2A
Shelby 2-0, 4-1
Burns 1-0, 3-2
East Gaston 1-0, 3-2
Thomas Jefferson 1-1, 3-1
Bessemer City 1-1, 2-4
Cherryville 0-2, 1-4
Highland Tech 0-2, 0-5

SOUTH MECK 4A
South Meck 1-0, 5-1
Olympic 1-0, 4-1
Myers Park 1-0, 4-2
Kell 0-0, 3-1
Harding 0-1, 2-4
Berry Academy 0-2, 1-3

SOUTHWESTERN 4A
Catholic 2-0, 4-1
Butler 2-0, 3-2
Rocky River 1-0, 2-3
East Meck 1-1, 1-5
Independence 0-1, 1-3
Providence 0-2, 1-4
Garinger 0-2, 0-5

QUEEN CITY 3A/4A
Hough 2-0, 5-0
Mallard Creek 2-0, 3-1
Chambers 1-1, 5-1
West Charlotte 1-1, 4-1
North Meck 0-1, 2-2
Hopewell 0-1, 1-4
West Meck 0-2, 3-3

OTHERS
Chase 0-0, 5-0
Clover 0-0, 1-3
Mtn Island Charter 0-1, 3-1
R-S Central 1-1, 1-3

This week’s games:

(Tuesday)
Maiden 43, East Burke 6

(Friday)
Forestview at Kings Mountain
Huss at Cramer
North Gaston at Ashbrook
South Point at Crest
East Lincoln at West Iredell
North Lincoln at North Iredell
Bandys at Lincolnton
West Lincoln at Bunker Hill
Burns at Bessemer City
Patton at Cherryville
Shelby at Highland Tech
Thomas Jefferson at East Gaston
Winston-Salem Prep at Mountain Island Charter

Foard at Statesville
Hickory at St. Stephens
Newton-Conover at East Burke
West Caldwell at Maiden
West Charlotte at Hopewell
Hough at West Meck
Berry Academy at Harding
Kell at Myers Park
Butler at East Meck
Catholic at Rocky River
Independence at Garinger
Providence at Mooresville
Chase at Hendersonville
R-S Central at Polk County

 

 

 

 

High school boys soccer

Here are the standings through Sept. 28 with conference record listed first followed by overall record:

BIG SOUTH 3A
Cramer 5-0, 11-2
Forestview 5-0, 8-2-1
South Point 3-2, 7-5
Ashbrook 3-2, 5-3
North Gaston 1-3, 3-5-1
Huss 1-4, 4-4
Kings Mountain 1-4, 2-7
Crest 0-4, 0-8

SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A/2A
Shelby 5-0, 10-1-1
Highland Tech 5-0, 7-2
Thomas Jefferson 3-2, 3-4
Burns 3-3, 6-3-1
East Gaston 2-3, 3-10
Cherryville 0-5, 1-7-1
Bessemer City 0-5, 1-8

OTHERS
Gaston Christian 2-2, 4-6
Gaston Day 4-0, 10-2
East Lincoln 4-1, 6-4
Lincoln Charter 1-1, 5-5-1
Lincolnton 5-0, 7-0-1
Mtn Island Charter 0-3, 3-6
North Lincoln 0-3, 4-6
Piedmont CC 2-0, 4-1
West Lincoln 0-5, 2-10

This week’s schedule:

(Monday)
Ashbrook 1, South Point 0: Bailey Wilcox scored the lone goal for Ashbrook and Green Wave defensive standouts were John Francis, Chevis Seigle, Daniel Oedy, Duvier Gomez and goalkeeper Nick Allen.
Shelby 7, Bessemer City 0
Thomas Jefferson 5, Cherryville 2
Cramer 9, Kings Mountain 0
Foard 6, East Lincoln 5 (OT)
Forestview 9, Crest 0
Highland Tech 4, East Gaston 3
Lincolnton 5, East Burke 0
Lincoln Charter 3, Mountain Island Charter 1
North Gaston 3, Huss 2
St. Stephens 2, North Lincoln 0
West Caldwell 7, West Lincoln 0
Gaston Christian 7, Woodlawn 1

(Tuesday)
Ashbrook 3, East Gaston 1: Hilario Aguirre, John Francis and Chevis Seigle each scored for Ashbrook.

Highland Tech 3, Burns 2

Shelby 7, Cherryville 0

Statesville at North Lincoln, no report

Thomas Jefferson 3, Bessemer City 0

Gaston Day 7, Westminster Catawba 0

(Wednesday)
Community School of Davidson at Lincoln Charter
Cramer at North Gaston
Crest at Huss
East Burke at West Lincoln
East Lincoln at St. Stephens
Foard at North Lincoln
Langtree Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Kings Mountain at Ashbrook
Maiden at Lincolnton
South Point at Forestview

(Thurday)
Bessemer City at Cherryville
Crest at North Gaston
East Gaston at Thomas Jefferson
Gaston Day at SouthLake Christian
Shelby at Highland Tech

 

 

 

 

High school volleyball

Cherryville 3, Shelby 0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-15): The Ironmen improved to 8-11 overall and 5-3 in the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A behind Rileigh Kiser (26 assists, 4 kills, 8 digs), Addie Eaker (9 kills), Taylor Digh (9 digs), Terayha Bess (6 kills), Skye Reed (6 kills) and Carson Reed (5 kills).

South Point 3, Cramer 2

 

 

 

 

 

Middle school football

Gaston County Conference standings through Sept. 23 with division record listed first followed by overall record:

(Division I)
Holbrook 2-0, 4-0
Southwest 2-0, 4-0
Grier 1-1, 3-1
Cramerton 1-2, 3-2
Mount Holly 0-3, 0-4-1
(Division II)
York Chester 3-0, 3-1-1
Belmont 3-0, 3-2
W.C. Friday 1-1, 2-2
Stanley 1-2, 1-3
Bessemer City 1-2, 1-4
Chavis 0-3, 0-4

Wednesday’s games
Grier at Mount Holly
Holbrook at Southwest
Belmont at Chavis
Bessemer City at Stanley
W.C. Friday at York Chester

Tri-County Conference standings through Sept. 23 with division record listed first followed by overall record:

(East)
East Lincoln 2-0, 3-0
Kings Mountain 2-0, 2-1
North Lincoln 1-1, 2-1
Lincolnton 0-1, 1-1
West Lincoln 0-1, 0-2
Burns 0-2, 0-2
(West)
Shelby 2-0, 4-0
Crest 1-0, 1-1
East Rutherford 1-0, 1-1
Thomas Jefferson 1-1, 1-2
R-S Central 0-1, 1-1
Chase 0-2, 0-3

Wednesday’s games
East Rutherford at Shelby
Thomas Jefferson at R-S Central
Chase at Crest
Burns at Kings Mountain
North Lincoln at East Lincoln
West Lincoln at Lincolnton

 

 

 

 

Middle school softball

Gaston County Conference standings through Sept. 28:

Cramerton 8-0 (9-0 overall)
Chavis 7-1
Mount Holly 6-3
Stanley 5-3
Belmont 5-3
Holbrook 4-4
Bessemer City 2-5 (2-6 overall)
W.C. Friday 2-6
Grier 1-7
Southwest 0-8

Monday’s games
Belmont 21, Grier 5 (3 innings)
W.C. Friday 20, Bessemer City 4
Cramerton 12, Chavis 5
Stanley 18, Mount Holly 8

Tuesday’s games
Chavis 5, Stanley 3: Winning pitcher Raylei Gidney struck out eight and Kate Mulvey, Landry Beam, Kennedy Weathers, Addison Davis, Kate Bookout and Maddie Avery led the Chavis offense.

Cramerton 17, Southwest 2 (3 innings): Addesyn Payseur and Kaitlyn Baker combined for the pitching win and Cailey Evans, Madison Bridges, Kayla Johnson, Ava Cabe, Josie Grimes, Tori Chao, Audrey Steele, Taylyn Ledford and Brianna Stull led the offense for unbeaten Cramerton.

Wednesday’s game
Grier at Stanley

Thursday’s games
Cramerton at Belmont
Chavis at Bessemer City
Holbrook at Southwest

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

The Gastonia Honey Hunters dropped the first game of a three-game series at Lexington 10-5 on Tuesday night.

It dropped Gastonia’s record to 49-60 entering Wednesday’s second game of a three-game series at Lexington.