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5-2-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, tennis, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, College baseball and softball

By Richard Walker West Charlotte and Appalachian State football alumnus and former Carolina Panthers coach Steve Wilks is returning to his college alma mater. Wilks has been named Special Assistant to Athletics at Appalachian State and will assist in a variety of areas, including fundraising initiatives, capital projects and special events. He will work in […]

5-1-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, tennis, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track

By Richard Walker Football success will be the theme for the 2026 Cleveland County Sports Hall of Fame ceremony that will be held on May 18 at the Shelby City Park. Former Crest High standouts Chris Coleman, Tyrone “Blue” Odoms and Brandon Spikes and former Burns High standout Troy Goss make up the 59th annual […]

4-30-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, tennis, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track

By Richard Walker Cramerton’s boys and Belmont’s girls won the Gaston County Conference track championships on Wednesday in the 2026 meet at the Cramer High School track. Cramerton, coached by Rovahnda Tate, won its first boys championship since 2011. It was the Eagles’ fifth championship overall. Belmont, coached by Brianna Beaver, won its fourth straight […]

4-29-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, tennis, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track

By Richard Walker Local products litter the rosters of Gaston College’s Region 10 regular season championship-winning baseball and softball teams who enter their respective tournaments in South Carolina this week as favorites. The softball Rhinos, 55-4 overall and ranked No. 17 nationally, begin action on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C. against the winner […]

4-28-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, tennis, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track

By Richard Walker The Conference Carolinas baseball tournament returns to Gastonia’s CaroMont Health Park and Sims Legion Park for a fourth straight season and Belmont Abbey is one of the top seeds in the event. North Greenville won the regular season title and the top seed for the tournament, which begins on Wednesday. The regular […]

4-27-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, football, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, tennis, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track

By Richard Walker A former Duke basketball standout won the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, but it wasn’t the Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel. Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks’ No. 1 overall pick last summer, edged his college teammate Knueppel to win the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy. Flagg led all rookies in scoring (21.0 ppg), […]

4-26-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, football, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, tennis, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track

By Richard Walker When he was an All-CIAA quarterback at North Carolina Central who later gained a tryout as an end with the old AFL Boston Patriots, Robert “Al” Montgomery was a 6-foot-4, 235-pounder who was considered a giant. That large physical stature also gave Montgomery a presence when his playing career was over and […]

4-25-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, football, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, tennis, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track

By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers’ final day of the NFL Draft saw the franchise make three more trades and added four players – cornerback Will Lee III, Sam Hecht of Kansas State, Zakee Whitley of Penn State and Jackson Kuwatch of Miami, Ohio. Lee, a 6-foot-1, 189-pound cornerback, played two seasons at Iowa Western […]

4-24-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, football, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, tennis, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track

By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers used their second day of the NFL Draft on Friday to fortify their defensive line and receiving corps. At No. 49 overall in the second round, Carolina drafted Texas Tech nose tackle Lee Hunter. A 6-foot-4, 318-pounder from Mobile, Ala., Blount High School, Hunter began his college career at […]

4-23-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, football, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track

By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers opened their 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night by choosing offensive tackle Monroe Freeling of Georgia. Rated No. 13 overall by longtime NFL Draft Observer Mel Kiper, the Panthers selected Freeling at No. 19 overall. A 6-foot-7, 315-pounder, Freeling became a starter for Georgia in 2025 and is considered […]

4-22-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, football, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school baseball, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer, tennis and track

By Richard Walker After ending its seven-year playoff drought with a NFC South Division title this past season, the Carolina Panthers have approached the 2026 offseason as a chance to get reinforcements to make another playoff run. Among their biggest moves were to sign edge rusher (Jaelen Phillips) and backup quarterback (Kenny Pickett) through free […]

4-9-26 roundup: Pro basketball, baseball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, High school basketball, baseball, soccer and softball, Middle school baseball, girls soccer and track

By Richard Walker Gaston County Easter Baseball Tournament champion South Point led the event’s top individual honors with five selections including most valuable player Brody Crawford. Crawford threw a five-hitter with four strikeouts in Wednesday’s 9-1 title game victory over Christ the King. Red Raiders joining Crawford on the all-tournament team were Cole Hendrickson, Nolan […]

2-26-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, baseball and softball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Crest’s boys and Kings Mountain’s girls on Tuesday won the Tri-County Conference basketball championships. Both teams finished the season with perfect records as Crest went 12-0 and Kings Mountain 14-0. The Crest Dragons defeated Kings Mountain 57-32 in their title game and Kings Mountain’s Lady Patriots won 42-34 over R-S Central to […]

2-25-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, wrestling and baseball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker One of the area’s former standout athletes and winningest coaches recently passed away when Tommy Pruett died at 79 on Feb. 10. Pruett, a championship-winning coach for Kings Mountain Junior High, Burns High School and Shelby American Legion Post 82, first made local headlines as a multi-sport athlete at Shelby High School. […]

2-24-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, wrestling and baseball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker High school baseball begins with conference play in several area conferences today. With that in mind, we’re previewing the area teams in the Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A, Western Foothills 4A/5A, Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A and Catawba River 1A/2A/3A conferences today and will preview the Big South 5A/6A conference, which doesn’t begin league play until […]

2-23-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, wrestling and baseball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker The 2026 Gaston County Conference basketball regular season concluded on Monday and the upcoming playoff field has been set. In boys competition, York Chester is the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2004 after finishing with its first unbeaten season (10-0) since 1991 when it was a junior high. Belmont […]

2-22-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, wrestling and baseball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Boys high school basketball teams from Shelby, Lincolnton, Bessemer City, Cherryville, East Lincoln, Ashbrook, Huss and Crest and girls teams from Lincolnton, Shelby, Crest and East Lincoln are the area’s top historical postseason participants as the 2026 N.C. High School Athletic Association basketball playoffs begin on Tuesday. Shelby’s boys will be making […]

2-21-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, wrestling and baseball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Thirty-nine teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties are in the field for the 2026 N.C. High School Athletic Association basketball playoffs – 20 girls teams and 19 boys teams. Here’s the first round schedule for local teams (Tuesday, Feb. 24) 1A boys- No. 8 Thomas Jefferson bye 2A boys- No. 13 […]

2-20-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, wrestling and baseball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker After back-to-back MLS Cup playoff appearances under head coach Dean Smith, Charlotte FC opens its 2026 season at St. Louis City Soccer Club on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Following a 19-13-2 record a year ago, Wilfried Zaha, Pep Biel, Tim Ream and other top returnees will look to improve on a 4th […]

2-19-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, wrestling and baseball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Earlier this week, North Lincoln High’s girls basketball team was ranked No. 3 in N.C. Class 5A and considered one of the favorites to win a state title. But after determining it was playing a player in spending her fifth year in high school, the Knights forfeited 17 games and may not […]

2-18-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, wrestling and baseball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker One of Gaston College’s most accomplished alumni will be honored on February 23 as a biographical documentary called “ACC Legend” will be done in Leonard Hamilton’s honor. A racial pioneer for the school when he played basketball at Gaston College from 1966 to 1968, Hamilton’s life and career will be on display […]

2-17-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, wrestling and baseball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Charlotte FC’s Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte may not be hosting any FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. But the venue will host an already announced Team USA exhibition match shortly before it begins competition in the World Cup. And on Tuesday, the team team announced its training facility will be the […]

2-16-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball and football, High school basketball, wrestling and baseball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker New Gardner-Webb head football coach Kris McCullough has released the school’s 12-game 2026 football schedule. The Bulldogs have seven OVC-Big South Association league games and five non-conference matchups, among them two against Bowl Championship Series opponents Liberty and Marshall. Gardner-Webb has only four home games, which is the school’s lowest total since […]

2-15-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Here are the area’s high school basketball standings through Feb. 13 games. -BOYS (Big South 5A/6A) Huss 11-0, 20-2 Crest 6-4, 13-6 South Point 6-4, 10-11 Kings Mountain 6-4, 9-12 Ashbrook 5-5, 9-9 Forestview 2-8, 5-15 North Gaston 0-11, 9-12 (Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A) Burns 14-2, 14-8 Shelby 13-3, 18-4 Lincolnton 12-4, 16-8 […]

2-14-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel concluded a busy weekend on Saturday night with impressive finishes in two different competitions at Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome. Knueppel finished third in the 3-Point Contest, then was runner-up in the Kia Shooting Stars Competition as part of Team Cameron with former Charlotte Bobcats player Corey Maggette […]

2-13-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Belmont Abbey won the 2026 Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Developmental Championship on Monday in a 60-38 win over Young Harris at the Wheeler Center. The Crusaders earned the title after earning two wins in the tournament. In the opener, a 60-27 win over Ferrum, the Crusaders held the Panthers to just 10 […]

2-12-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel will participate in a pair of All-Star Weekend events. The rookie forward has been selected for the Castrol Rising Stars game on Feb. 13 at 9:55 p.m. at Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome. He is the 1st Hornets player chosen for the Rising Stars competition since Brandon Miller […]

2-11-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker On a day when the NBA suspended two Charlotte players for their roles in Monday’s on-court altercation during a loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Hornets will head into the All-Star break as one of the hottest teams in the league following Wednesday’s 110-107 win over Atlanta. Brandon Miller had 31 points […]

2-10-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Charlotte FC on Monday officially unveiled the Club’s new primary kit for the 2026 Major League Soccer season. The new kit will be available in person at the Team Store at Bank of America Stadium starting on Wednesday at 11 a.m. It is currently available online at mlsstore.com and adidas.com. The new […]

2-9-26 roundup: Pro basketball, auto racing, soccer and rodeo, College basketball, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker One of the biggest regular season games in years for the Charlotte Hornets ended in a defeat during a game that saw four players ejected after punches were thrown in the third quarter. Cade Cunningham had 33 points and nine rebounds as the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons edged the Hornets 110-104. hung […]

2-8-26 roundup: Pro football, basketball, auto racing and rodeo, College basketball, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Seattle Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt may have been declared inactive before Sunday’s Super Bowl 60 but he became 6th participant in the game from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties to get a title ring. Surratt, who had missed the Seahawks last 8 games with an ankle injury, was activated last week but […]

2-7-26 roundup: Pro football, basketball, auto racing and rodeo, College basketball, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker Five Cleveland County products have played or coached in the Super Bowl and two from Gaston County. On Sunday, when the AFC champion New England Patriots meet the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Cal., Lincoln County will make its debut. Chazz Surratt, a […]

2-6-26 roundup: Pro football, basketball and auto racing, College basketball, High school basketball and wrestling, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker A historic selection on Wednesday night will give the Carolina Panthers their seventh former player or executive in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Luke Kuechly, a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro during his eight-year career, will be enshrined Aug. 8 with four other players – quarterback Drew Brees, wide receiver […]

1-20-26 roundup: Pro football and basketball, College football and basketball, High school basketball, Middle school basketball

By Richard Walker As the 2026 Gaston County Middle School Conference basketball season gets underway on Wednesday, competitive races are seen in both the girls and boys races. The defending champion Southwest boys and Holbrook girls are strong contenders to repeat but according to preseason coaches’ voting, a competitive race is expected. In the boys […]

12-5-25 roundup: Pro football and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football and basketball, Middle school soccer, volleyball and wrestling, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Durham County Stadium will become Cleveland County’s home away from home next Saturday as Shelby and Crest will be playing their state championship game at the venue was part of a state championship pairings announcement by the N.C. High School Athletic Association late Friday evening. Here is the complete N.C. state championship […]

10-10-25 roundup: Pro football, soccer and basketball, College football, High school football, soccer, volleyball and tennis, Middle school football, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Friday’s resumption of the Lincolnton-Shelby didn’t disappoint. The game went to overtime with Lincolnton prevailing 35-34 on quarterback Rashad Lynch’s two-point conversion after Jalaythan Mayfield scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the game. The victory closed Shelby’s all time lead in a series that began in 1921 to 48-17-4. It was the […]

10-9-25 roundup: Pro football, soccer and basketball, College football, High school football, soccer, volleyball and tennis, Middle school football, Auto racing

By Richard Walker One of the oldest rivalries in the area will resume Friday when Lincolnton hosts Shelby. In a contest that could determine the 2025 Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A Conference champion, the two schools meet in conference play for the 1st time since 2004 and renew a rivalry that began in 1921. Given that Shelby […]

10-8-25 roundup: Pro football, soccer and basketball, College football, High school football, soccer, volleyball and tennis, Middle school football, Auto racing

By Richard Walker For the 1st time since the Tri-County Conference adopted a 4-team semifinal in 2010, the conference title football game will be decided by East Division rivals. East Division regular season champion Kings Mountain stayed unbeaten with a 28-0 victory over Crest while East runner-up won 6-0 at Shelby. The losses by Crest […]

10-7-25 roundup: Pro football, soccer and basketball, College football, High school football, soccer, volleyball and tennis, Middle school football, Auto racing

By Richard Walker In a game whose victor wasn’t determined until the final play, Belmont Middle School outlasted Stanley 19-14 on Tuesday at South Point’s Lineberger Stadium for the 2025 Gaston County Conference title. It was Belmont’s 7th county title – joining previous championships won in 1999, 2000, 2009, 2010, 2016 and 2022. Stanley trailed […]

10-6-25 roundup: Pro football, soccer and basketball, College football, High school football, soccer, volleyball and tennis, Middle school football, Auto racing

By Richard Walker For the 10th time in Gaston County Conference Junior High/Middle School football history, the championship game will pit unbeaten and untied teams against one another. The stage will be South Point High’s Lineberger Stadium with Division I champion Belmont (6-0) hosting Division II champion Stanley (7-0). Belmont had only 2 challenging games […]

10-5-25 roundup: Pro football, soccer and basketball, College football, High school football, soccer, volleyball and tennis, Middle school football, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Until just a few hours before game time, few even knew that former A.C. Reynolds High and University of South Carolina standout Rico Dowdle would be starting for the Carolina Panthers in Sunday’s home game against the Miami Dolphins. But when inactive players were made official and starting running back Chuba Hubbard […]

10-4-25 roundup: Pro football, soccer and basketball, College football, High school football, soccer, volleyball and tennis, Middle school football, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Here is a preview of Sunday’s Carolina Panthers’ 2025-26 Week 5 game: Game 4- Oct. 5: Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. TV: FOX (Eric Collins play-by-play, Mark Schlereth color analyst, Jen Hale sideline reporter) RADIO: WRFX-FM 99.7 in Charlotte is flagship station (Anish Shroff play-by-play, Jake Delhomme and Luke Kuechly […]

10-3-25 roundup: Pro football, soccer and basketball, College football, High school football, soccer, volleyball and tennis, Middle school football, Auto racing

By Richard Walker East Lincoln ran its record to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the Western Foothills 3A/4A Conference as the Mustangs and idle Ashbrook (6-0) remain the lone unbeatens in the Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties area. Here’s are the results/upcoming schedules: (Friday, Oct. 3) Huss 32, Forestview 29 Kings Mountain 65, North Gaston […]

10-2-25 roundup: Pro football, soccer and basketball, College football, High school football, soccer, volleyball and tennis, Middle school football and softball, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Chavis Middle School claimed its Gaston County Conference-record 14th softball title on Thursday with an 11-1, 5-inning victory over Belmont in the 2025 championship game. It was the Wolverines’ first title since 2019 and improved them to 14-7 all-time in county championship games. In Thursday’s victory, coach Lance Beam’s club was led […]

10-1-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Five local high school and college athletes played in the major leagues and five others played minor league baseball all across the country. In the major leagues were former Gardner-Webb (2010-11) and Belmont Abbey (2012-13) standout Emilio Pagan with the Cincinnati Reds, Jeffrey Springs (South Point Class of 2011) with the Athletics, […]

9-30-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Cramerton Middle School co-medalists Karl Schultz and Conner Smith led the Eagles to their 4th straight Gaston County Conference title and 18th overall on Monday at the Cherryville Country Club. Schultz and Smith shot 43s to earn top individual honors for Cramerton co-coaches Neill Jones and Dan Harris. The rest of the […]

9-29-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Charlotte Hornets basketball fans have suffered through historic hardship. How bad has it been? Since the franchise was born in 1988 – and even with a 364-game home sellout streak at the since imploded 24,000-seat Charlotte Coliseum off Tyvola Road in the 1980s and 1990s – the team has struggled to win […]

9-28-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker The Carolina Panthers fell back into a disappointing recent pattern after their initial wins of the season on Sunday in a 42-13 blowout loss at New England. After routing Atlanta 30-0 at home last week, Panthers players, coaches (and fans) were excited about the prospect of playing at the 1-2 Patriots and […]

9-27-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker With training camp set to begin on Tuesday in Charleston, S.C., the Charlotte Hornets of general manager Jeff Peterson and head coach Charles Lee are making transactions to finalize their preseason roster. So far this season, the team’s youthful roster of Miles Bridges (27 years old), Grant Williams (27), Josh Green (25), […]

9-26-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Ashbrook and East Lincoln remained the area’s lone unbeaten after week 6 of the 2025 high school football season. Here are the results/upcoming schedule for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties: (Friday, Sept. 26) Ashbrook 44, North Gaston 0 Forestview at Crest, suspended to Monday at 6:30 p.m. with Crest leading 7-0 in […]

9-25-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Stanley Middle School’s Brooke Scoggins Cook earlier this week became the second Gaston County Junior High/Middle School Conference softball coach to reach 100 victories – and the 1st in the fast-pitch softball era that began in 1997. Cook enters next week’s 2025 playoffs with a 100-63 head coaching record at W.C. Friday […]

9-24-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker A local group of sports enthusiasts have honored top players from the last century in Cleveland County. Clevelandlegacy.com has started what it calls an “Alumni Basketball Association Wall of Fame 50 Greatest Players of Cleveland County 1965-99.” It adds: “These fifty champions wore more than just their school colors—they carried the hopes […]

9-23-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker When the Carolina Panthers visit the New England Patriots on Sunday, it’ll be the first NFL matchup of quarterbacks Bryce Young and Drake Maye who briefly appeared like they might become college teammates. Why they weren’t is a story that involves an injury and became the foreshadowing of what is common in […]

9-22-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Here are the area’s high school football standings thru Sept. 19: Big South 5A/6A Ashbrook (6A) 1-0, 5-0 166-75 Huss (5A) 1-0, 4-1 139-56 Kings Mountain (6A) 1-0, 4-1 174-105 Crest (5A) 0-0, 3-1 152-81 South Point (5A) 0-1, 3-1 107-58 Forestview (5A) 0-1, 2-3 99-140 North Gaston (5A) 0-1, 1-4 72-119 […]

9-21-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Carolina Panthers’ fans were streaming for the exits in the 4th quarter of Sunday’s 2025 home opener. It’s because the Panthers were putting the finishing touches on a 30-0 blowout win over Atlanta. The win was the franchise’s 1st shutout since 2020, largest victory since 2015 and 1st win in a home […]

9-20-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Here is a preview of Sunday’s Carolina Panthers’ 2025-26 Week 3 game: Game 3- Sept. 21: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. TV: FOX (Alex Faust play-by-play, Matt Millen color analyst, Sarah Kustok sideline reporter) RADIO: WRFX-FM 99.7 in Charlotte is flagship station (Anish Shroff play-by-play, Jake Delhomme and Luke Kuechly […]

9-19-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker In recent years, South Point may have dominated its series with Ashbrook. But for the last two seasons, it’s been Ashbrook that has been victorious. The Green Wave took their 3rd straight nail-biting win in the rivalry – 20-14 over visiting South Point – in a matchup of previously unbeaten teams. Ashbrook […]

9-18-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Ashbrook and South Point have won the most conference titles in Gaston County history. When they first met as old Gastonia and Belmont high schools in 1924, they played 16 games as non-conference rivals. Beginning in 1975, they began a non-conference rivalry matching recent state championship winners. And since 2021, they’ve played […]

9-17-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker Entering the season with 3 straight playoff berths, it was unusual to see the Gastonia Ghost Peppers get off to such a slow start to the 2025 Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Gastonia started 0-5, 9-21 and 17-30 before finishing 28-35 in the 1st half of the season for a last place […]

9-16-25 roundup: Pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball, College football and basketball, High school football, basketball and baseball, boys soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball, Middle school football, softball and golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker The area’s winningest high school baseball program since its school opened in 1969 has a new head coach. South Point officially announced Evan Wise will become the Red Raiders’ 4th head coach in program history on social media on Tuesday. Wise, a 2004 Lincolnton High graduate and 2009 Lenoir-Rhyne University graduate,, played […]