Saturday’s roundup: College football, High school football, girls soccer and softball standings and College basketball tournament results/pairings
By Richard Walker
The visiting Hawks outscored Gardner-Webb 28-0 in the second half after a record-setting punt return helped the Bulldogs (2-1, 0-1) close within 20-19 in their league opener.
No. 18 Monmouth stopped Gardner-Webb on fourth down to start the third quarter and capped a 34-yard scoring drive with a six-yard touchdown pass play from Muskett to Lonnie Moore. Another short field after an interception resulted in a 55-yard scoring march and a 34-19 Monmouth lead with 2:34 to play in the third quarter.
And the Monmouth ground attack finally started to gain traction in the fourth quarter as the Hawks scored twice on long runs for the final margin. Monmouth gained 148 of its 252 rushing yards in the final quarter as Gardner-Webb’s young defense began to tire after a layoff of four weeks since starting the season with two straight victories.
Each of Monmouth’s scoring drives was less than 60 yards with five scoring drives covering less than 40 yards.
The Hawks finished with 407 yards of total offense led by Juwan Farri (24 carries for 124 yards rushing and four touchdowns) and Romeo Holden (11 carries for 112 yards and one touchdown).
Gardner-Webb was limited to 228 yards of total offense on the day led by quarterback Carlton Aiken’s 147 yards passing on 17 of 31 accuracy and a touchdown.
Devron Harper had 177 highlighted by a 93-yard punt return that broke a 45-year school record; Obbie Todd’s 85-yard punt return on Oct. 30, 1976 against Elon was the previous longest punt return for a touchdown. The 93-yarder also was a Big South Conference record.
Harper’s score highlighted 16 Gardner-Webb points in the final 1:50 of the opening half.
Aiken connected with Izaiah Gathings on an eight-yard touchdown to start the surge, then Harper’s punt return came with 31 seconds left in the first half before a fumble recovery set up Kurt Everett’s 33-yard field goal as the first half ended.
Gardner-Webb is off next week before closing out the current winter/spring season on April 17 at Charleston Southern at noon. Monmouth hosts No. 7 Kennesaw State in what amounts to the Big South title game next Saturday.
High school football
Saturday’s score:
Pine Lake Prep 20, Bear Grass Charter 6
Conference standings for area leagues through Saturday’s game, listed by conference record, overall record:
BIG SOUTH 3A
Crest 5-0, 6-0
Kings Mountain 5-0, 6-0
Ashbrook 3-2, 3-3
Huss 2-3, 2-3
Forestview 1-3, 2-3
Cramer 1-4, 1-5
North Gaston 0-5, 0-5
SOUTHWESTERN 2A
Shelby 4-1, 4-2
Burns 4-1, 4-2
Chase 3-2, 4-2
R-S Central 3-2, 4-2
South Point 3-2, 4-2
East Gaston 1-5, 1-5
East Rutherford 0-5, 0-6
SOUTH FORK 2A
Maiden 5-0, 5-0
West Lincoln 4-2, 4-2
East Lincoln 3-2, 4-2
Newton-Conover 2-3, 2-3
North Lincoln 2-3, 3-3
Lincolnton 1-4, 1-4
Bandys 1-4, 1-4
SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A
Pine Lake Prep 5-0, 6-0
Thomas Jefferson 5-0, 6-0
Community Davidson 4-1, 5-1
Christ the King 3-3, 3-3
Highland Tech 1-3, 1-3
Union Academy 1-4, 1-4
Bessemer City 1-4, 1-5
Cherryville 1-4, 1-5
Mtn Isl Charter 1-4, 1-5
This week’s games
(Monday)
North Gaston at Forestview
(Friday)
Bessemer City at Cherryville
Chase at South Point
Crest at Kings Mountain
East Gaston at North Gaston
Forestview at Cramer
Highland Tech at Christ the King
Huss at Ashbrook
Lincolnton at Maiden
Mountain Island Charter at Union Academy
Newton-Conover at East Lincoln
Pine Lake Prep at Community School of Davidson
R-S Central at Burns
Shelby at East Rutherford
West Lincoln at Cherokee
I-MECK 4A
Hough 6-0, 6-0
Vance 6-0, 6-0
Lake Norman 4-2, 4-2
Mallard Creek 3-3, 3-3
Mooresville 1-4, 1-4
North Meck 1-4, 1-4
Hopewell 1-5, 1-5
West Charlotte 1-5, 1-5
SOUTHWESTERN 4A
Myers Park 6-0, 6-0
Butler 5-1, 5-1
Porter Ridge 4-2, 4-2
Hickory Ridge 4-2, 4-2
Independence 2-4, 2-4
Rocky River 2-4, 2-4
East Meck 1-5, 1-5
Garinger 0-6, 0-6
SOUTHERN MECK 4A
Providence 5-0, 6-0
Olympic 5-1, 5-1
Kell 4-1, 5-1
South Meck 2-3, 3-3
Berry Academy 1-4, 2-4
West Meck 1-4, 1-5
Harding 0-5, 0-6
This week’s games
(Friday)
East Meck at Butler
Garinger at Rocky River
Harding at Berry Academy
Hopewell at West Charlote
Hough at Vance
Independence at Myers Park
Lake Norman at North Meck
Mooresville at Mallard Creek
Olympic at West Cabarrus
Porter Ridge at Hickory Ridge
Providence at Kell
West Meck at South Meck
High school girls soccer
Standings through April 1:
BIG SOUTH 3A
Forestview 4-0, 4-0
Crest 4-1, 5-1
Cramer 4-1, 4-2
Kings Mountain 3-1, 3-1
North Gaston 1-4, 1-4
Ashbrook 0-4, 0-4
Huss 0-5, 0-5
SOUTHWESTERN 2A
South Point 5-0, 6-0
Shelby 4-1, 4-2
Burns 2-2-1, 2-2-1
East Gaston 3-3, 3-3
R-S Central 2-3, 2-3
East Rutherford 1-4, 1-5
Chase 0-4-1, 0-4-1
SOUTH FORK 2A
Lk Norman Charter 6-0, 6-0
East Lincoln 5-1, 5-1
Maiden 4-2, 4-2
Lincolnton 3-3, 3-3
North Lincoln 3-3, 3-3
Newton-Conover 2-4, 2-4
Bandys 1-5, 1-5
West Lincoln 0-6, 0-6
SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A
Thomas Jefferson 4-0, 4-1
Christ the King 3-0, 3-0
Lincoln Charter 3-1, 3-1
Highland Tech 1-3, 1-3
Piedmont CC 1-3, 1-3
Cherryville 0-5, 0-5
High school softball
Standings through April 1:
BIG SOUTH 3A
Crest 4-0, 4-0
Kings Mountain 4-1, 4-2
North Gaston 4-2, 4-2
Cramer 2-2, 3-2
Forestview 2-3, 3-3
Huss 0-3, 0-4
Ashbrook 0-5, 0-5
SOUTHWESTERN 2A
Burns 5-0, 5-0
Chase 3-2, 4-2
East Rutherford 3-2, 4-2
Shelby 3-2, 4-2
R-S Central 2-3, 3-3
East Gaston 2-4, 2-4
South Point 0-5, 0-6
SOUTH FORK 2A
East Lincoln 5-0, 5-0
Bandys 5-1, 5-1
Maiden 5-1, 5-1
Newton-Conover 3-2, 3-2
West Lincoln 3-3, 3-3
North Lincoln 2-4, 2-4
Lk Norman Charter 0-6, 0-6
Lincolnton 0-6, 0-6
SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A
Lincoln Charter 2-0, 2-1
Cherryville 1-0, 2-4
Bessemer City 1-1, 1-2
Highland Tech 1-2, 1-2
Piedmont CC 0-2, 0-3
College men’s basketball
2021 NCAA basketball tournament results and pairings:
East Region
March 18 opening round
UCLA 86, Michigan State 80, OT
Texas Southern 60, Mount St. Mary’s 52
March 20 first round
Michigan 82, Texas Southern 66
LSU 76, St. Bonaventure 61
Colorado 96, Georgetown 73
Florida State 64, UNC-Greensboro 54
UCLA 73, BYU 62
Abilene Christian 53, Texas 52
Maryland 63, Connecticut 54
Alabama 68, Iona 55
March 22 second round
Michigan 86, LSU 78
Florida State 71, Colorado 53
UCLA 67, Abilene Christian 47
Alabama 96, Maryland 77
March 28 regional semifinals
Michigan 76, Florida State 58
UCLA 88, Alabama 78, OT
March 30 regional final
UCLA 51, Michigan 49
South Region
March 19 first round
Baylor 79, Hartford 55
Wisconsin 85, North Carolina 62
Villanova 73, Winthrop 63
North Texas 78, Purdue 69, OT
Texas Tech 65, Utah State 53
Arkansas 85, Colgate 68
Florida 75, Virginia Tech 70, OT
Oral Roberts 75, Ohio State 72, OT
March 21 second round
Baylor 76, Wisconsin 63
Villanova 84, North Texas 61
Arkansas 68, Texas Tech 66
Oral Roberts 81, Florida 78
March 27 regional semifinals
Baylor 62, Villanova 51
Arkansas 72, Oral Roberts 70
March 29 regional final
Baylor 81, Arkansas 72
Midwest Region
March 19 first round
Illinois 78, Drexel 49
Loyola-Chicago 71, Georgia Tech 60
Oregon State 70, Tennessee 56
Oklahoma State 69, Liberty 60
Syracuse 78, San Diego State 62
West Virginia 84, Morehead State 67
Rutgers 60, Clemson 56
Houston 87, Cleveland State 56
March 21 second round
Loyola-Chicago 71, Illinois 58
Oregon State 80, Oklahoma State 70
Syracuse 75, West Virginia 72
Houston 63, Rutgers 60
March 27 regional semifinals
Oregon State 65, Loyola-Chicago 58
Houston 62, Syracuse 46
March 29 regional final
Houston 67, Oregon State 61
West Region
March 18 opening round
Drake 53, Wichita State 52
Norfolk State 54, Appalachian State 53
March 20 first round
Gonzaga 98, Norfolk State 55
Oklahoma 72, Missouri 68
Creighton 63, UC-Santa Barbara 62
Ohio U. 62, Virginia 58
Southern California 72, Drake 56
Kansas 93, Eastern Washington 84
Oregon advances over VCU, no contest (COVID protocols)
Iowa 86, Grand Canyon 74
March 22 second round
Gonzaga 87, Oklahoma 71
Creighton 72, Ohio U. 58
Southern California 85, Kansas 51
Oregon 95, Iowa 80
March 28 regional semifinals
Gonzaga 83, Creighton 65
Southern California 82, Oregon 68
March 30 regional final
Gonzaga 85, Southern California 66
FINAL FOUR
Saturday’s semifinals
Baylor 78, Houston 59
Gonzaga 93, UCLA 90, OT
Monday’s championship game
Baylor vs. Gonzaga, 9 p.m.
College women’s basketball
Charlotte 49ers: Octavia Jett-Wilson announced on social media Friday she will be returning to the 49ers for an extra season in 2021-22, using the additional year granted by the NCAA. She is coming off a historic season in which she was All-Conference USA, set the Halton Arena scoring record (42 points) and became the 25th 1,000-point career scorer in program history.
2021 NCAA basketball tournament results and pairings:
ALAMO Region
March 21 first round
Stanford 87, Utah Valley 44
Oklahoma State 84, Wake Forest 61
March 22 first round
Missouri State 70, UC Davis 51
Wright State 66, Arkansas 62
Oregon 67, South Dakota 47
Georgia 67, Drexel 53
Northwestern 62, Central Florida 51
Louisville 74, Marist 43
March 23 second round
Stanford 73, Oklahoma State 62
March 24 second round
Missouri State 64, Wright State 39
Oregon 57, Georgia 50
Louisville 62, Northwestern 53
March 28 regional semifinals
Stanford 89, Missouri State 62
Louisville 60, Oregon 42
March 30 regional final
Stanford 78, Oregon 63
MERCADO Region
March 21 first round
N.C. State 79, North Carolina A&T 58
South Florida 57, Washington State 53
March 22 first round
Belmont 64, Gonzaga 59
Indiana 63, VCU 32
BYU 69, Rutgers 66
Arizona 79, Stony Brook 44
Iowa State 79, Michigan State 75
Texas A&M 84, Troy 80
March 23 second round
N.C. State 79, South Florida 67
March 24 second round
Indiana 70, Belmont 48
Arizona 52, BYU 46
Texas A&M 84, Iowa State 82, OT
March 27 regional semifinals
Indiana 73, N.C. State 70
Arizona 74, Texas A&M 59
March 29 regional final
Arizona 66, Indiana 53
RIVER WALK Region
March 21 first round
Connecticut 102, High Point 59
Syracuse 72, South Dakota State 55
Iowa 87, Central Michigan 72
Kentucky 71, Idaho State 63
Michigan 87, Florida Gulf Coast 66
Tennessee 87, Middle Tennessee 62
Virginia Tech 70, Marquette 63
Baylor 101, Jackson State 52
March 22 second round
Connecticut 83, Syracuse 47
Iowa 86, Kentucky 72
Michigan 70, Tennessee 55
Baylor 90, Virginia Tech 48
March 27 regional semifinals
Connecticut 92, Iowa 72
Baylor 78, Michigan 75
March 29 regional final
Connecticut 69, Baylor 67
HEMISFAIR Region
March 21 first round
South Carolina 79, Mercer 53
Oregon State 83, Florida State 59
Georgia Tech 54, Stephen F. Austin 52, OT
West Virginia 77, Lehigh 53
March 22 first round
Texas 81, Bradley 62
UCLA 69, Wyoming 48
Alabama 80, North Carolina 71
Maryland 98, Mount St. Mary’s 45
March 23 second round
South Carolina 59, Oregon State 42
Georgia Tech 73, West Virginia 56
March 24 second round
Texas 71, UCLA 62
Maryland 100, Alabama 64
March 28 regional semifinals
South Carolina 76, Georgia Tech 65
Texas 64, Maryland 61
March 30 regional final
South Carolina 62, Texas 34
FINAL FOUR
Friday’s semifinals
Stanford 66, South Carolina 65
Arizona 69, Connecticut 59
Sunday’s championship game
Stanford vs. Arizona, 6 p.m.