Monday’s roundup: NCISAA playoffs begin for Gaston Christian and Gaston Day, prep and college basketball and college football
By Richard Walker
Gaston Christian’s boys basketball team and Gaston Day’s boys and girls basketball team will begin their pursuit of N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state championships this week.
On Tuesday, boys boys teams host opening round games; No. 3 seed Gaston Christian hosts Hickory Grove Christian in a Class 3A game on Tuesday, Gaston Day’s unseeded boys host Hickory Christian Academy in a Class 2A game on Tuesday and Gaston Day No. 3 seed girls have a bye before hosting a playoff game on Thursday.
Gaston Christian a year ago made its first-ever postseason appearance advanced into the third round of the 3A playoffs.
Gaston Day’s boys are making their 10th straight postseason appearance and the Gaston Day girls are making their fourth straight appearance.
College football
Charlotte 49ers coaching hire: South Carolina assistant coach Joe Cox has been hired as the 49ers new tight ends coach under head coach Will Healy.
A former Gatorade North Carolina State Player of the Year as a star quarterback at Charlotte’s Independence High School, Cox played collegiately at Georgia and coached locally at Mallard Creek High School before entering the college coaching ranks.
“We are thrilled to bring Joe home to Charlotte,” Healy said in a school news release. “His passion and energy will be an excellent fit with our staff. He’s a young guy with a ton of big-time experience with terrific coaches and programs. I cannot wait for everyone to get to know him this spring.”
Said Cox: “The energy around Charlotte Football is incredible. You feel it with everyone in the building, from the coaches, support staff, all the way to the players. This city means so much to me, and to have the opportunity to be a part of this program, under the direction that Coach Healy has set is unbelievable. I can’t wait to do something special here and help set a standard that makes the city of Charlotte and Niner Nation proud.”
High school boys basketball
Bessemer City 79, Christ the King 72: Randall Pettus (34 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals), Keyshawn Adams (23 points, 16 rebounds), Jameer Holmes (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Terrance Smith (5 points, 9 rebounds) led Bessemer City to the road victory.
High school girls basketball
Christ the King 45, Bessemer City 31
High school basketball
Tuesday’s schedule:
Cherryville at Lincoln Charter
Cramer at Huss
Crest at Burns
East Lincoln at West Lincoln
East Rutherford at East Gaston
Forestview at Kings Mountain
North Gaston at Ashbrook
North Lincoln at Lincolnton
Piedmont Charter at Highland Tech
Queen’s Grant at Mountain Island Charter
South Point at Shelby
High school boys soccer
Ashbrook at North Gaston: Postponed to Tuesday.
Crest at Kings Mountain: Postponed to Tuesday.
Chase at South Point: Postponed to Tuesday.
Newton-Conover at East Lincoln: Postponed to Friday.
College women’s basketball
Gardner-Webb 66, Winthrop 50: Lauren Betts (21 points), Jhessyka Williams (18 points) and Alesia Smith (13 points, 8 rebounds) led Gardner-Webb (7-11, 7-6) to the Big South Conference home victory.
Conference USA honors: Charlotte 49ers women’s basketball players Octavia Jett-Wilson and Molina Williams took Conference USA top player of the week honors. Jett-Wilson was named league player of the week after the best consecutive scoring streak in program history for 38.0 points per game in two victories over Old Dominion. Williams was named freshman of the week for the first time after averaging 9.5 points and 13.5 rebounds in the same two-game sweep of Old Dominion.