1-23-26 roundup: Pro football and basketball, College football and basketball, High school basketball, Middle school basketball
By Richard Walker
In a year of high-scoring games, South Point sophomore O’Brian Lowery, Jr., nearly set school history on Thursday night when he had 42 in the Red Raiders’ 85-67 victory over Burns.
Lowery became the 4th South Point player to exceed 40 points in a single high school.
The record-holder is Robbie Waldrop, who tallied 43 points for South Point in a Jan. 17, 1995 game against Shelby. (Waldrop, a former Oak Hill, Va., Academy, Winthrop and Lees-McRae standout, is currently running for Gaston County Sheriff.)
Other 40-point games came from future Belmont Abbey standout Jim Reeves (41 against Burns on Dec. 20, 1979) and future N.C. State standout Migjen Bakalli (40 against East Rutherford on Feb. 20, 1989).
The area’s schedule/results:
(Wednesday, Jan. 14)
-BOYS
Shelby 71, Highland Tech 41
North Lincoln 75, Foard 43
Catawba Ridge, S.C. 59, Forestview 58
Roberson 65, East Lincoln 60
Lincolnton 90, South Point 83
-GIRLS
Shelby 49, Highland Tech 37
North Lincoln 63, Foard 15
Catawba Ridge, S.C. 52, Forestview 25
East Lincoln 56, Roberson 44
Lincolnton 70, South Point 62
(Thursday, Jan. 15)
-BOYS
Piedmont Community Charter 78, NCSSM Morganton 29
-GIRLS
Piedmont Community Charter 45, NCSSM Morganton 10
(Friday, Jan. 16)
-BOYS
Ashbrook 85, Forestview 60
South Point 75, Kings Mountain 72
Crest 82, North Gaston 41
Lincolnton 81, Bessemer City 77
Burns 75, Cramer 70
Highland Tech 49, East Gaston 40
Cherryville 87, West Lincoln 77
East Lincoln 83, Newton-Conover 40
North Lincoln 46, North Lincoln 30
Lincoln Charter 77, Christ the King 50
Mountain Island Charter 71, Cone Leadership 58
Piedmont Community Charter 60, Thomas Jefferson 52
Gaston Christian 58, Gaston Day 55
-GIRLS
Ashbrook 54, Forestview 34
South Point 47, Kings Mountain 34
North Gaston 58, Crest 51
Lincolnton 71, Bessemer City 41
Cramer 68, Burns 27
Highland Tech 53, East Gaston 19
West Lincoln 54, Cherryville 18
East Lincoln 57, Newton-Conover 38
Maiden 85, North Lincoln 83
Lincoln Charter 64, Christ the King 56
Mountain Island Charter def. Cone Leadership by forfeit
Thomas Jefferson 61, Piedmont Community Charter 18
Gaston Christian 66, Gaston Day 47
(Saturday, Jan. 17)
-BOYS
Reidsville 82, Lincolnton 59
-GIRLS
Lincolnton 67, Reidsville 28
(Tuesday, Jan. 20)
-BOYS
Crest 60, Ashbrook 45
South Point 72, Forestview 44
Huss 92, Kings Mountain 64
Bessemer City 88, West Lincoln 64
Burns 74, East Gaston 44
Lincolnton 87, Cherryville 72
Shelby 70, Highland Tech 34
Bandys 72, East Lincoln 59
North Lincoln 90, West Iredell 63
Lincoln Charter 81, Lake Norman Charter 56
Piedmont Community Charter 50, Mountain Island Charter 42
Concord Academy 65, Gaston Christian 56
Gaston Day 75, Hickory Grove Christian 70
Cramer 91, North Gaston 56
-GIRLS
Ashbrook 39, Crest 38
South Point 58, Forestview 47
Huss 62, Kings Mountain 27
West Lincoln 58, Bessemer City 51
Burns 47, East Gaston 19
Lincolnton 78, Cherryville 13
Shelby 56, Highland Tech 27
East Lincoln 73, Bandys 46
North Lincoln 81, West Iredell 27
Lincoln Charter 54, Lake Norman Charter 49
Mountain Island Charter 45, Piedmont Community Charter 36
Concord Academy 60, Gaston Christian 46
Hickory Grove Christian 52, Gaston Day 34
Cramer 80, North Gaston 44
(Wednesday, Jan. 21)
-BOYS
Shelby 75, Lincolnton 64
North Gaston 71, Highland Tech 59
-GIRLS
Lincolnton 78, Shelby 64
North Gaston 50, Highland Tech 45
(Thursday, Jan. 22)
-BOYS
Cramer 63, Bessemer City 62
Queen’s Grant 77, Piedmont Community Charter 57
South Point 85, Burns 67
-GIRLS
Cramer 66, Bessemer City 27
Queen’s Grant 84, Piedmont Community Charter 19
Burns 51, South Point 35
(Friday, Jan. 23)
-BOYS
Forestview 76, North Gaston 54
Huss 88, Ashbrook 86
Kings Mountain 95, Crest 88
Cramer 85, West Lincoln 42
Cherryville 62, East Gaston 61: Paxton Pruett had 20 points for Cherryville, including the game-winning bucket in the final seconds.
Highland Tech at Bessemer City
Lincolnton 76, Shelby 74: Josiah Guyton had 26 points for Lincolnton.
East Lincoln 58, North Lincoln 54: Jaxon Dollar (27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals), Brayden Miller (14 points) and Christian Atkins (10 points, 7 assists) led East Lincoln and Ben Heavner had 16 points and Carter Abernathy and Ty Chandler 14 each for North Lincoln.
Lincoln Charter 77, Corvian Community 37
Sugar Creek Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Gaston Christian 72, Hickory Grove Christian 34
Gaston Day 81, Asheville Carolina Day 65
-GIRLS
North Gaston 50, Forestview 45: Jaelia Littlejohn had 33 points for North Gaston and Amani Neely had 17 for Forestview.
Huss 68, Ashbrook 44
Crest 49, Kings Mountain 45
Cramer 65, West Lincoln 28: Oshauna Holland (33 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 10 steals), Lauren Humphrey (16 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks), Amasia McDowell (6 points) and Unique McDowell (4 points, 8 rebounds) led Cramer.
Cherryville 47, East Gaston 32: Jenny Brown had 26 points for Cherryville and Blair Culberson had 10 points for East Gaston.
Highland Tech 61, Bessemer City 51
Lincolnton 56, Shelby 47
North Lincoln 74, East Lincoln 43
Lincoln Charter 58, Corvian Community 22
Mountain Island Charter 55, Sugar Creek Charter 36
Gaston Christian 44, Hickory Grove Christian 23
Asheville Carolina Day 54, Gaston Day 53
(Monday, Jan. 26)
Metrolina Christian at Gaston Christian
(Tuesday, Jan. 27)
Forestview at Kings Mountain
North Gaston at Huss
South Point at Ashbrook
Burns at Lincolnton
Cramer at Bessemer City
Highland Tech at Cherryville
West Lincoln at Shelby
Bunker Hill at East Lincoln
North Lincoln at Hickory
Community School of Davidson at Lincoln Charter
Jackson Day at Piedmont Community Charter
Concord Academy at Gaston Day
Gaston Christian at Ambassador Christian
(Wednesday, Jan. 28)
Bessemer City at Kings Mountain
Crest at Shelby
South Point at Huss
Langtree Charter at Mountain Island Charter
(Thursday, Jan. 29)
North Gaston at Highland Tech
(Friday, Jan. 30)
Crest at Forestview
North Gaston at Ashbrook
South Point at Huss
Cherryville at Burns
Highland Tech at West Lincoln
Lincolnton at Cramer
Shelby at East Gaston
East Lincoln at West Iredell
Newton-Conover at North Lincoln
Langtree Charter at Lincoln Charter
Mountain Island Charter at Carolina International
Piedmont Community Charter at Cone Leadership
Gaston Day at Gaston Christian
Middle school basketball
The 2026 Gaston County Conference middle school basketball schedule continued on Thursday.
Gaston County Conference standings:
-BOYS
Belmont 2-0
Grier 2-0
Holbrook 2-0
York Chester 1-0
Chavis 1-1
W.C. Friday 1-1
Southwest 1-1
Stanley 0-1
Bessemer City 0-2
Cramerton 0-2
Mount Holly 0-2
-GIRLS
Belmont 2-0
W.C. Friday 2-0
Holbrook 2-0
York Chester 1-0
Bessemer City 1-1
Grier 1-1
Mount Holly 1-1
Stanley 0-1
Chavis 0-2
Cramerton 0-2
Southwest 0-2
Gaston County Conference results/schedule:
(Wednesday, Jan. 21)
-BOYS
Belmont 47, Stanley 45
Southwest 44, Bessemer City 29
Chavis 34, Mount Holly 26
Holbrook 47, Cramerton 25
Grier 38, W.C. Friday 34: Amarion Wilson, Derrick Pettus and Ahmad McCleave led Grier.
BYE – York Chester
-GIRLS
Belmont 30, Stanley 8
Bessemer City 35, Southwest 6
Mount Holly 26, Chavis 20 (OT)
Holbrook 43, Cramerton 20
W.C. Friday 26, Grier 19
BYE – York Chester
(Thursday, Jan. 22)
-BOYS
York Chester 47, Southwest 19
Belmont 45, Mount Holly 18
Holbrook 44, Bessemer City 22
Grier 43, Chavis 28
W.C. Friday 39, Cramerton 37
BYE – Stanley
-GIRLS
York Chester 28, Southwest 20
Belmont 36, Mount Holly 8
Holbrook 51, Bessemer City 22
Grier 42, Chavis 20
W.C. Friday 24, Cramerton 13
BYE – Stanley
(Monday, Jan. 26)
Stanley at Mount Holly
York Chester at Holbrook
Belmont at Grier
Bessemer City at W.C. Friday
Chavis at Cramerton
BYE – Southwest
(Thursday, Jan. 29)
Holbrook at Southwest
Grier at Stanley
W.C. Friday at York Chester
Cramerton at Belmont
Chavis at Bessemer City
BYE – Mount Holly
(Monday, Feb. 2)
Mount Holly at Grier
Southwest at W.C. Friday
Stanley at Cramerton
York Chester at Chavis
Belmont at Bessemer City
BYE – Holbrook
(Thursday, Feb. 5)
Holbrook at W.C. Friday
Cramerton at Mount Holly
Southwest at Chavis
Bessemer City at Stanley
York Chester at Belmont
BYE – Grier
(Monday, Feb. 9)
Grier at Cramerton
Holbrook at Chavis
Mount Holly at Bessemer City
Southwest at Belmont
Stanley at York Chester
BYE – W.C. Friday
(Thursday, Feb. 12)
Chavis at W.C. Friday
Bessemer City at Grier
Belmont at Holbrook
York Chester at Mount Holly
Stanley at Southwest
BYE – Cramerton
(Tuesday, Feb. 17)
Cramerton at Bessemer City
W.C. Friday at Belmont
Grier at York Chester
Holbrook at Stanley
Mount Holly at Southwest
BYE – Chavis
(Thursday, Feb. 19)
Belmont at Chavis
York Chester at Cramerton
Stanley at W.C. Friday
Southwest at Grier
Mount Holly at Holbrook
BYE – Bessemer City
(Monday, Feb. 23)
Bessemer City at York Chester
Chavis at Stanley
Cramerton at Southwest
W.C. Friday at Mount Holly
Grier at Holbrook
BYE – Belmont
(Thursday, Feb. 26)
Semifinals: No. 4 at No. 1, No. 3 at No. 2
(Tuesday, March 3)
Boys final
(Wednesday, March 4)
Girls final
Pro football
NFL 2025-26 playoff schedule:
-CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
BYES- AFC Denver (14-3), NFC Seattle (14-3)
(Saturday, Jan. 10)
NFC- No. 5 L.A. Rams (12-5) at No. 4 Carolina (8-9) – L.A. Rams 34-31
NFC- No. 7 Green Bay (9-7-1) at No. 2 Chicago (11-6) – Chicago 31-27
(Sunday, Jan. 11)
AFC- No. 6 Buffalo (12-5) at No. 3 Jacksonville (13-4) – Buffalo 27-24
NFC- No. 6 San Francisco (12-5) at No. 3 Philadelphia (11-6) – San Francisco 23-19
AFC- No. 7 L.A. Chargers (11-6) at No. 2 New England (14-3) – New England 16-3
(Monday, Jan. 12)
No. 5 Houston (12-5) at No. 4 Pittsburgh (10-7) – Houston 30-6
-CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
(Saturday, Jan. 17)
AFC- No. 6 Buffalo at No. 1 Denver – Denver 33-30 (OT)
NFC- No. 6 San Francisco at No. 1 Seattle – Seattle 41-6
(Sunday, Jan. 18)
AFC- No. 5 Houston at No. 2 New England – New England 28-16
NFC- No. 5 L.A. Rams at No. 2 Chicago – L.A. Rams 20-17 (OT)
-CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
(Sunday, Jan. 25)
AFC- No. 2 New England at No. 1 Denver, 3 p.m., CBS
NFC- No. 5 L.A. Rams at No. 1 Seattle, 6:30 p.m., FOX
SUPER BOWL
(Sunday, Feb. 8)
At Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara CA, 6:30 p.m., NBC
The Carolina Panthers’ 2025 schedule:
-Preseason
Friday, Aug. 8 Cleveland Browns (L 10-30)
Saturday, Aug. 16 at Houston Texans (L 3-20)
Thursday, Aug. 21 Pittsburgh Steelers (L 10-19)
-Regular season
Sunday, Sept. 7 at Jacksonville Jaguars (L 10-26)
Sunday, Sept. 14 at Arizona Cardinals (L 22-27)
Sunday, Sept. 21 Atlanta Falcons (W 30-0)
Sunday, Sept. 28 at New England Patriots (L 13-42)
Sunday, Oct. 5 Miami Dolphins (W 27-24)
Sunday, Oct. 12 Dallas Cowboys (W 30-27)
Sunday, Oct. 19 at New York Jets (W 13-6)
Sunday, Oct. 26 Buffalo Bills (L 9-40)
Sunday, Nov. 2 at Green Bay Packers (W 16-13)
Sunday, Nov. 9 New Orleans Saints (L 7-17)
Sunday, Nov. 16 at Atlanta Falcons (W 30-27, OT)
Monday, Nov. 24 at San Francisco 49ers (L 9-20)
Sunday, Nov. 30 Los Angeles Rams (W 31-28)
Sunday, Dec. 7 BYE WEEK
Sunday, Dec. 14 at New Orleans Saints (L 17-20)
Sunday, Dec. 21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (W 23-20)
Sunday, Dec. 28 Seattle Seahawks (L 10-27)
Saturday, Jan. 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L 14-16)
-Playoffs
Saturday, Jan. 10 Los Angeles Rams (L 31-34)
Pro basketball
The Charlotte Hornets full 2025-26 regular season schedule:
OCTOBER
Wednesday 22 BROOKLYN (W 136-117)
Saturday 25 at Philadelphia (L 121-125)
Sunday 26 at Washington (W 139-113)
Tuesday 28 at Miami (L 117-144)
Thursday 30 ORLANDO (L 107-123)
NOVEMBER
Saturday 1 MINNESOTA (L 105-122)
Sunday 2 UTAH (W 126-103)
Tuesday 4 at New Orleans (L 112-116)
Friday 7 at Miami* (L 108-126)
Monday 10 L.A. LAKERS (L 111-121)
Wed. 12 MILWAUKEE (W 111-100)
Friday 14 at Milwaukee* (L 134-147, OT)
Saturday 15 OKLAHOMA CITY (L 96-109)
Monday 17 at Toronto (L 108-110)
Wednesday 19 at Indiana (L 118-127)
Saturday 22 LA CLIPPERS (L 116-131)
Sunday 23 at Atlanta (L 110-113)
Wednesday 26 NEW YORK* (L 101-129)
Friday 28 CHICAGO* (W 123-116)
Saturday 29 TORONTO (W 118-111, OT)
DECEMBER
Monday 1 at Brooklyn (L 103-116)
Wednesday 3 at New York (L 104-119)
Friday 5 at Toronto (W 111-86 )
Sunday 7 DENVER (L 106-115)
Friday 12 CHICAGO (L 126-129)
Sunday 14 at Cleveland (W 119-111)
Thursday 18 ATLANTA (W 133-126)
Saturday 20 at Detroit (L 86-112)
Monday 22 at Cleveland (L 132-139)
Tuesday 23 WASHINGTON (W 126-109)
Friday 26 at Orlando (W 120-105)
Monday 29 MILWAUKEE (L 113-123)
Wednesday 31 GOLDEN STATE (L 125-132)
JANUARY
Friday 2 at Milwaukee (L 121-122)
Saturday 3 at Chicago (W 112-99 )
Monday 5 at Oklahoma City (W 124-97 )
Wednesday 7 TORONTO (L 96-97 )
Thursday 8 INDIANA (L 109-112)
Saturday 10 at Utah (W 150-95 )
Monday 12 at LA Clippers (L 109-117)
Thursday 15 at L.A. Lakers (W 135-117)
Saturday 17 at Golden State (L 116-136)
Sunday 18 at Denver (W 110-87 )
Wednesday 21 CLEVELAND (L 87-94 )
Thursday 22 at Orlando (W 124-97 )
Saturday 24 WASHINGTON Noon
Monday 26 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 28 at Memphis 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 29 at Dallas 8:30 p.m.
Saturday 31 SAN ANTONIO 3:00 p.m.
FEBRUARY
Monday 2 NEW ORLEANS 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 5 at Houston 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 7 at Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Monday 9 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11 ATLANTA 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 19 HOUSTON 7:00 p.m.
Friday 20 CLEVELAND 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 22 at Washington 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 24 at Chicago 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 26 at Indiana 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 28 PORTLAND 1:00 p.m.
MARCH
Tuesday 3 DALLAS 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 4 at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Friday 6 MIAMI 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 8 at Phoenix 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10 at Portland 10:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11 at Sacramento 10:00 p.m.
Saturday 14 at San Antonio 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday 17 MIAMI 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 19 ORLANDO 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 21 MEMPHIS 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 24 SACRAMENTO 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 26 NEW YORK 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 28 PHILADELPHIA 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 30 BOSTON 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 31 at Brooklyn 7:30 p.m.
APRIL
Thursday 2 PHOENIX 7:00 p.m.
Friday 3 INDIANA 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 5 at Minnesota 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday 7 at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Friday 10 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 12 at New York 6:00 p.m.
Home games in CAPS
All times listed are Eastern
* Denotes Emirates NBA Cup Group Play game
Schedule to be announced following Emirates NBA Cup Group Play: Dec. 9, 10, 13, 16- Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds, Dec. 11, 12, 14, 15- Additional regular-season games for eliminated teams
The Charlotte Hornets 2025 preseason schedule:
Sunday, Oct. 5 Oklahoma City (at N. Charleston Col.) L 114-135
Thursday, Oct. 9 at Oklahoma City L 116-122
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Dallas W 120-116
Wednesday, Oct. 15 Memphis (at First Horizon Col., Gboro) W 145-116
Friday, Oct. 17 at New York L 108-113
College basketball
Here are the recent results/upcoming schedule for area teams:
(Saturday, Jan. 17)
Queens 87, Stetson 81
Presbyterian 92, Gardner-Webb 55
Forsyth Tech 84, Cleveland CC 71
Brunswick CC 68, Gaston College 63
Chowan 90, Belmont Abbey 69
Fayetteville State 95, J.C. Smith 83
(Sunday, Jan. 18)
Charlotte 73, East Carolina 70
(Monday, Jan. 19)
Mount Olive 64, Belmont Abbey 61
(Wednesday, Jan. 21)
Davidson 68, Fordham 63
Longwood 91, Gardner-Webb 56
Cleveland CC 90, Guilford Tech 86
Queens 87, North Alabama 62
J.C. Smith 90, Shaw 77
Gaston College 72, Caldwell Tech 62
(Thursday, Jan. 22)
Emmanuel 71, Belmont Abbey 61
(Friday, Jan. 23)
Cape Fear CC 87, Gaston College 78
Charlotte 73, Tulane 70
Gardner-Webb 67, USC Upstate 65
(Saturday, Jan. 24)
Cleveland CC at Fayetteville, 3 p.m.
J.C. Smith at Livingstone, 4 p.m.
Queens at West Georgia, 4:30 p.m.
VCU at Davidson, 5 p.m.
(Tuesday, Jan. 27)
Belmont Abbey at King, 7:30 p.m.
(Wednesday, Jan. 28)
Central Arkansas at Queens, 7 p.m.
Davidson at George Mason, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Temple, 7 p.m.
J.C. Smith at Winston-Salem, 7:30 p.m.
USC Salkehatchie at Gaston College, 8 p.m.
(Thursday, Jan. 29)
Gardner-Webb at UNC-Asheville, 6:30 p.m.
(Friday, Jan. 30)
Cleveland CC at Catawba Valley CC, 7 p.m.
(Saturday, Jan. 31)
Gardner-Webb at Charleston Southern, 2 p.m.
Queens at Bellarmine, 2 p.m.
Gaston College at Wake Tech, 3 p.m.
Cleveland CC at Southwest Virginia, 4 p.m.
Erskine at Belmont Abbey, 4 p.m.
J.C. Smith at Claflin, 4 p.m.
Davidson at Richmond, 4:30 p.m.
Rice at Charlotte, 6 p.m.