Wednesday’s roundup: College football, basketball and soccer, High school football, soccer, softball, golf and tennis

By Richard Walker

Less than a week after its 2021 spring season ended, Gardner-Webb University has its full 2021 fall football schedule that includes seven league games for the first time in Big South Conference history.

An inaugural member of the Big South in 2002, Gardner-Webb and coach Tre Lamb will play an 11-game schedule with five home games and six road contests.

The season begins Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. at Georgia Southern of the Football Bowl Subdivision Sun Belt Conference and Sept. 11 at a time to be determined at Charlotte of FBS Conference USA.

It’s the fifth time Gardner-Webb has played two FBS opponents in a single season; The Bulldogs also played two FBS opponents in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2019.

Gardner-Webb is 1-16 all time against FBS opposition, but its 38-37 overtime win over Akron in 2010 was the first win by a Big South Conference team over a FBS opponent.

The Bulldogs face two teams for the first time – Lincoln, Pa., and Robert Morris.

Their most common opponents are Charleston Southern, Western Carolina and Campbell.

Gardner-Webb met Charleston Southern for the first time when that school still named Baptist College in 1988. The two also played in 1992 before playing every year since the Big South Conference began in 2002.

The Bulldogs first met Western Carolina and Campbell when they were a junior college.

Gardner-Webb played Western Carolina’s varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams as a junior college – recording a 6-2-1 record – and have lost six of the nine meetings since both schools were senior colleges.

Gardner-Webb first played Campbell in 1929 in its second year as a junior college when both schools were a junior college. Campbell led the junior college series 4-3-3 and the teams have split their senior college meetings.

Gardner-Webb’s full 2021 football schedule was announced Wednesday when the Big South Conference

Sept. 4 at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m.
Sept. 11 at Charlotte, TBA
Sept. 18 Lincoln, Pa., 6 p.m.
Sept. 25 Western Carolina, 6 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Monmouth*, TBA
Oct. 9 Campbell*, TBA
Oct. 23 Robert Morris*, TBA
Oct. 30 at Kennesaw State*, TBA
Nov. 6 at Hampton*, TBA
Nov. 13 Charleston Southern*, TBA
Nov. 20 at North Carolina A&T*, TBA

 

College men’s basketball

Charlotte added a third transfer when 6-foot-7 forward Robert Braswell agreed to join the program on Wednesday. Braswell will be immediately eligible and will have three years of eligibility remaining. A Blythewood, S.C., High standout, Braswell played for the Charlotte-based AAU Team United.
Braswell joins Clemson graduate transfer Clyde Trapp, Holy Cross graduate transfer Austin Butler and incoming freshman Daylen Berry as newcomers on coach Ron Sanchez’s 2021-22 49ers’ roster.

 

 

College women’s soccer

Pairings for the NCAA tournament that will almost exclusively be played in Cary:

April 27 first round games
Mississippi vs. Bowling Green
New Mexico vs. Navy
Iowa vs. Campbell
Rutgers vs. Southeastern Louisiana
South Florida vs. Central Connecticut State
Colorado vs. South Alabama
Washington vs. Liberty
Denver vs. Loyola Chicago

April 28 first round games
Elon vs. Milwaukee
Penn State vs. Alabama State
Arizona State vs. Siena
Rice vs. Furman
Virginia vs. SIUE
South Carolina vs. Montana
Ohio State vs. Stony Brook
Memphis vs. Utah Valley

April 30 second round games
Southern California vs. Mississippi-Bowling Green winner
TCU vs. New Mexico-Navy winner
UCLA vs. Iowa-Campbell winner
Clemson vs. Rutgers-Southeastern Louisiana winner
Texas A&M vs. South Florida-Central Connecticut State winner
Oklahoma State vs. Colorado-South Alabama winner
Saint Louis vs. Washington-Liberty winner
North Carolina vs. Denver-Loyola Chicago

May 1 second round games
Florida State vs. Elon-Milwaukee winner
Vanderbilt vs. Penn State-Alabama State winner
Duke vs. Arizona State-Siena winner
West Virginia vs. Rice-Furman winner
BYU vs. Virginia-SIUE winner
Georgetown vs. South Carolina-Montana winner
Santa Clara vs. Ohio State-Stony Brook winner
Arkansas vs. Memphis-Utah Valley winner

May 5 (third round), 9 (quarterfinals), 13 (semifinals), 17 (final)
At Cary

 

College men’s soccer

NCAA tournament pairings:

April 29 First round games
Jacksonville vs. American U. (at Wake Forest)
Denver at UNC-Greensboro
Milwaukee vs. St. Francis Brooklyn (at UNC-Wilmington)
Bowling Green vs. Monmouth (at Greensboro)

May 2 Second round games
Clemson vs. Jacksonville-American U. winner (at Wake Forest)
Fordham vs. Marshall (at Wilson)
Penn State vs. Massachusetts (at UNC-Greensboro)
High Point vs. Georgetown (at Matthews)
Coastal Carolina at Wake Forest
Kentucky vs. New Hampshire (at Greensboro)
North Carolina vs. Charlotte (at Cary)
Stanford vs. Denver-UNC-Greensboro winner (at UNC-Greensboro)
Indiana vs. Milwaukee-St. Francis Brooklyn winner (at UNC-Wilmington)
Marquette vs. Loyola Marymount (at Cary)
Oregon State vs. Virginia Tech (at Greensboro)
Air Force vs. Seton Hall (at Matthews)
Washington vs. Grand Canyon (at Matthews)
Maryland vs. Missouri State (at UNC-Wilmington)
Central Florida vs. James Madison (at Wilson)
Pittsburgh vs. Bowling Green-Monmouth winner (at Greensboro)

May 6 (third round), 10 (quarterfinals), 14 (semifinals), 17 (final)
At Cary

 

 

High school girls soccer

Crest 7, North Gaston 0: Cadence Walker (3 goals, 4 assists), Madison Setzer (2 goals), Keely Ayers (1 goal), Jillian Hux (1 goal, 2 assists), Alexis Marshall (1 goal, 1 assist), Kalee Varga (1 goal) and goalkeeper Emma Harrill helped the Chargers (11-1, 10-1) move within one victory of the Big South 3A Conference title. Crest’s only previous girls soccer title came in 2011 when it went 12-0 to win the Big South. Crest can clinch the title in next Wednesday’s regular season home finale against Kings Mountain.

Cramer 3, Ashbrook 0

Forestview 9, Huss 0: Layne Maitra, Payton Jacobs and Grace Hite had two goals each and Mackenzie Howard, Brianna Millar and Anna Sprague had one goal apiece for Forestview.

Kings Mountain 3, Shelby 3 (tie)

East Gaston 2, Burns 1

South Point 7, R-S Central 1

Lake Norman Charter 9, Lincolnton 0

Newton-Conover 3, North Lincoln 2

 

High school softball

Cramer 22, Ashbrook 0

Crest 14, North Gaston 1

Forestview 15, Huss 0

Burns 10, East Gaston 3: Winning pitcher Sayge Strange struck out seven and Maura Pendelton (3 for 5, double, 1 RBI, 3 stolen bases), Jaycee Bivins (1 for 3, 2 RBIs, 2 stolen bases), Strange (2 for 4, double, 2 RBIs), Morgan Blanton (3 for 4, 1 RBI) and Meah Ivie (2 for 3, 1 RBI) leads the Burns offense.

R-S Central 24, South Point 0

Chase 9, Burns 2 (Tuesday): Maura Pendleton (2 for 3), Jaycee Bivins (1 for 3, double, 1 RBI) and Peyton Cook (1 for 3, 1 RBI) led Burns.

 

High school golf

Southwestern 2A Conference: Shelby increased its lead to 75 shots over second-place Chase with a team score of 323 at Woobridge Golf Links on Tuesday. The Golden Lions were led by medalist Connor Brown’s two-under-par 70.
Entering next Wednesday’s conference finale at Green Meadows Golf Course in Mount Holly, Brown has a 22-stroke lead over teammate Barek Cardell (442 to 464) for season-long medalist honors.
Team scores (after 6 matches): Shelby 1982, Chase 2057, East Gaston 2152, South Point 2302, East Rutherford 2312, R-S Central 2520.
Top individual scores: Connor Brown, Shelby 442; Barek Cardell, Shelby 464; Garrett Pinkerton, Chase 468; Ethan Hayes, East Gaston 481; Brock Reid, Chase 495; Justin Pinkerton, Chase 505; McCray Bright, East Rutherford 513; E.C. Haskin, Shelby 514.

 

High school boys tennis

Lincoln Charter 9, Christ the King 0 (Tuesday): The Eagles finish 6-0 in the Southern Piedmont 1A Conference to win their fourth straigtht league title.

 

High school football

Here are statewide playoff results and next week’s second round pairings:

Class 1A
Friday’s first round:
(East)
#8 Pamlico County 50, #1 West Columbus 8
#5 Northside-Pinetown 35, #4 Rosewood 34
#3 Bear Grass Charter 48, #6 Perquimans 42
#2 Northampton County 36, #7 North Duplin 0
(West)
#1 Elkin 35, #8 Andrews 28
#4 Murphy 28, #5 Thomas Jefferson 20
#3 Mitchell 55, #6 Christ the King 0
#2 Robbinsville 42, #7 Winston-Salem Prep 40, 2 OT

Next week’s second round:
#8 Pamlico County (5-2) at #5 Northside-Pinetown (6-2)
#3 Bear Grass Charter (4-1) at #2 Northampton County (2-3)
#4 Murphy (7-1) at #1 Elkin (6-1)
#3 Mitchell (7-0) at #2 Robbinsville (8-0)

Class 1AA
Friday’s first round:
(East)
#1 Tarboro 62, #8 Manteo 7
#4 Edenton Holmes 39, #5 Princeton 28
#3 East Carteret 60, #6 Hobbton 40
#2 Louisburg 50, #7 Lakewood 0
(West)
#8 Polk County d. #1 North Stanly by forfeit
#4 North Rowan 66, #5 Community School of Davidson 26
#3 Pine Lake Prep 33, #6 Mount Airy 27
#2 East Surry 62, #7 North Moore 6

Next week’s second round:
#4 Edenton Holmes (6-0) at #1 Tarboro (6-0)
#3 East Carteret (6-2) at #2 Louisburg (5-2)

Class 2A
Friday’s first round:
(East)
#1 Reidsville 50, #8 Southwest Onslow 0
#4 Wallace-Rose Hill 65, #5 Red Springs 28
#3 Elizabeth City Northeastern 48, #6 Kinston 39
#7 Eastern Randolph 42, #2 Clinton 40, 2 OT
(West)
#1 Hendersonville 42, #8 Bunker Hill 14
#4 Shelby 42, #5 Walkertown 6
#3 Mount Pleasant 21, #6 West Lincoln 20
#2 Mountain Heritage 46, #7 Forbush 21

Next week’s second round:
#4 Wallace-Rose Hill (5-3) at #1 Reidsville (7-0)
#7 Eastern Randolph (5-1) at #3 Elizabeth City Northeastern (5-0)
#4 Shelby (6-2) at #1 Hendersonville (6-2)
#3 Mount Pleasant (8-0) at #2 Mountain Heritage (5-1)

Class 2AA
Friday’s first round:
(East)
#1 Washington 35, #8 South Granville 0
#4 Croatan 55, #5 McMichael 7
#3 SouthWest Edgecombe 33, #6 Roanoke Rapids 12
#2 St. Pauls 35, #7 Randleman 9
(West)
#1 North Davidson 40, #8 Canton Pisgah 14
#5 Oak Grove 17, #4 Ashe County 12
#6 Burns 13, #3 Hibriten 12
#7 Salisbury 52, #2 Maiden 12

Next week’s second round:
#4 Croatan (7-1) at #1 Washington (6-1)
#3 SouthWest Edgecombe (6-2) at #2 St. Pauls (6-0)

Class 3A
Friday’s first round:
(East)
#8 Eastern Alamance 42, #1 Rocky Mount 28
#5 Western Alamance 38, #4 Fayetteville Terry Sanford 13
#3 Havelock 56, #6 Southern Guilford 13
#2 Pittsboro Northwood 17, #7 West Carteret 0
(West)
#1 A.C. Reynolds 14, #8 West Rowan 7
#4 Charlotte Catholic 28, #5 Crest 21
#3 Kings Mountain 49, Concord Robinson 6
#7 Monroe 47, #2 Statesville 21

Next week’s second round:
#8 Eastern Alamance (6-1) at #5 Western Alamance (8-0)
#3 Havelock (8-0) at #2 Pittsboro Northwood (6-2)
#4 Charlotte Catholic (6-1) at #1 A.C. Reynolds (7-1)
#7 Monroe (6-2) at #3 Kings Mountain (8-0)

Class 3AA
Friday’s first round:
(East)
#1 Cleveland 49, #8 Southern Durham 0
#5 Lee County 34, #4 Greenville Rose 26
#3 West Brunswick 42, #6 Chapel Hill 35
#7 Clayton 31, #2 Southeast Guilford 17
(West)
#8 Greensboro Dudley 28, #1 Watauga 8
#5 T.C. Roberson 36, #4 Kannapolis Brown 29
#3 Weddington 42, #6 Asheville 0
#2 Mount Tabor 36, #7 Alexander Central 7

Next week’s second round:
#5 Lee County (8-0) at #1 Cleveland (8-0)
#7 Clayton (7-1) at #3 West Brunswick (6-1)
#8 Greensboro Dudley (7-1) at #5 T.C. Roberson (7-1)
#3 Weddington (7-0) at #2 Mount Tabor (8-0)

Class 4A
Friday’s first round:
(East)
#1 Cardinal Gibbons 49, #8 Fayetteville Pine Forest 7
#4 Richmond County 51, #5 Middle Creek 27
#3 New Bern 37, #6 Scotland County 16
#2 South View 20, #7 Fayetteville Britt 7
(West)
#1 Grimsley 27, #8 East Forsyth 13
#5 Durham Hillside 42, #4 South Caldwell 26
#6 Butler 42, #3 Glenn 7
#2 Providence 44, #7 Hickory Ridge 34

Next week’s second round:
#4 Richmond County (4-0) at #1 Cardinal Gibbons (7-0)
#3 New Bern (6-1) at #2 South View (7-1)
#5 Durham Hillside (6-1) at #1 Grimsley (7-0)
#6 Butler (7-1) at #2 Providence (7-1)

Class 4AA
Friday’s first round:
(East)
#8 Pinecrest 24, #1 Apex Friendship 17
#5 Wake Forest 30, #4 Millbrook 27
#3 Hoggard d. #6 Leesville Road by forfeit
#2 Rolesville 41, #7 Holly Springs 0
(West)
#1 Hough 43, #8 Green Hope 15
#5 Charlotte Vance 44, #4 Ardrey Kell 28
#3 Panther Creek 21, #6 Olympic 14
#2 Myers Park 63, #7 Northwest Guilford 18

Next week’s second round:
#8 Pinecrest (6-2) at #5 Wake Forest (6-1)
#3 Hoggard (8-0) at #2 Rolesville (7-0)
#5 Charlotte Vance (7-1) at #1 Hough (8-0)
#3 Panther Creek (8-0) at #2 Myers Park (8-0)

 

College baseball

As we close in on the ACC Baseball Tournament at Charlotte’s Truist Field from May 25-30, here’s the current league standings and upcoming conference games:

(Atlantic Division)
Louisville 14-6
Notre Dame 16-7
Florida State 13-11
N.C. State 9-12
Clemson 9-12
Wake Forest 6-14
Boston College 5-16
(Coastal Division)
Virginia Tech 15-9
Pittsburgh 14-10
Georgia Tech 14-10
Miami 13-10
North Carolina 13-12
Virginia 9-15
Duke 8-14

This weekend’s league 3-game series: Wake Forest at Clemson, Notre Dame at Boston College, Florida State at Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh at Louisville, Virginia Tech at N.C. State, Duke at Virginia, Miami at North Carolina

Youth basketball

The Denver Nuggets Travel boys’ basketball teams will be holding tryouts for the following teams:
7th-11th Grade Boys Monday, April 19th and Thursday, April 22nd and Monday, April 27th and Thursday, April 29th from 6:30-8 p.m. in the competition gym at East Lincoln High School (6471 Hwy 73 Denver, NC 28037)
All basketball players in Lincoln and surrounding counties are encouraged to tryout. Parent Permission, Medical Consent, and Information forms are required to tryout and can be found at http://denvernuggetsnc.teampages.com For more information contact, Chip Ashley, at [email protected] or 704-718-5136.