Your hometown newspaper since 1886

Screen shot 2026 04 16 at 12.06.19 pm
KM baserunner Jordan Buckner dives back safely into first base ahead of the tag by Burns first basemen Gage Camp.

KM baseball places sixth in Shelby Easter Tournament

By Jimmy Black

The Kings Mountain varsity baseball team placed sixth in the Shelby Easter Tournament last week.  The Mountaineers lost 2 out of 3 three games in the tourney.
On Tuesday, April 7, Kings Mountain lost a heartbreaking game to the Tuscola Mountaineers by a score of 2-1 on a walk-off double by Jonas Jones that scored the winning run.
Both teams were strong on the mound. The Tuscola pitchers struck out nine, while the Kings Mountain hurlers sat down two. Hits were few and far between in the game as Tuscola managed 4 hits while Kings Mountain only had 2 hits.  August Fama, Sean Gilliland, Landry Webb, and Jonas Jones each collected a hit for Tuscola, while Aiden Smith and Luke Heavner accounted for the Kings Mountain hits.
Sean Gilliland and Jonas Jones were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in one run for Tuscola.  The Tuscola Mountaineers also turned one double play in the game.  For Kings Mountain, Jordan Buckner stole home, which tied the game at one in the top of the fourth.
Mason Harrell earned the win for Tuscola. The starting pitcher surrendered two hits and one run over six and two-thirds innings, striking out nine and walking three. Wesley Turner took the loss for Kings Mountain.  He went six and one-third innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits, striking out two and walking one in the complete game effort.
Then on Wednesday, April 8, tournament action continued as Kings Mountain took on the Piedmont Panthers from Monroe.  The Mountaineers came out on top by the score of 6-5.
Finally, on Thursday, April 9, Kings Mountain played in the fifth-place game against their very familiar rivals, the Burns Bulldogs.  Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, they came up on the short end of the stick and lost to the Bulldogs by a score of 2-1.
Burns got on the board in the bottom of the first inning as Yates Toney hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run.  The Bulldogs then extended the lead to 2-0 in the second on another RBI single by Toney.  The Mountaineers scored their only run on an RBI single by Jordan Buckner in the top of the sixth inning.  Buckner went 2-for-3 on the afternoon.
Brian Buttrick earned the win for Burns. The hurler allowed three hits and one run (zero earned) over seven innings, striking out 10 and walking three. KJ Bell took the loss for Kings Mountain.  He went four innings, surrendering two runs (zero earned) on three hits, striking out six and walking five.  Braeden Morrissette pitched the fifth and sixth innings for Kings Mountain, retiring all six batters he faced.
With the loss, Kings Mountain falls to 8-8 on the season, while Burns improved to 12-3.  The Mountaineers played at Crest last night, and they will host the Forestview Jaguars on Friday night at 7:00 pm.

KM women’s softball team
dominates at the beach!

By Jimmy Black

While school was out for Easter break last week for students, the Kings Mountain women’s softball team went to the beach and won three hard-fought games at the NMB Sports Complex in Little River, SC, in the Grand Strand Classic.
On Monday, April 6, the Mountaineers took on the Point Pleasant Big Blacks from Point Pleasant, West Virginia.  Maddie Huffman took the mound for Kings Mountain and she did not disappoint!  Huffman pitched a perfect, complete game no-hitter, while striking out 15 Big Blacks batters.
The Mountaineers were also steady at the plate, collecting 10 hits for the game.  The offense was led by Katie Huffman, Anna Wooten and Ezra Lynn who each had 2 hits.  Ezra Lynn had 3 RBI, while Anna Wooten and Chloe Gregory had 2 RBI each.
Ryan MacKnight took the loss for Point Pleasant.  For the game, she struck out 5 Kings Mountain batters while walking only 1.  With the loss, Point Pleasant sits at 10-5 on the season.
Then on Tuesday, April 7, Kings Mountain went up against the Fluvanna County Flucos out of Palmyra, Virginia.  Once again, the Mountaineers prevailed by a score of 8-3.
Kings Mountain collected 11 hits for the game, led by Addison Carpenter who had 3 hits and Anna Wooten and Maddie Huffman who had 2 hits each.  Addison Pruett had 3 RBI and Maddie Huffman drove in 2 runs.  Hailey Dixon-Valez and Anna Wooten also drove in a run each for the Mountaineers.  Addison Carpenter had 4 of the team’s 8 stolen bases in the contest.
On the mound, Kings Mountain had another solid pitching performance.  Anna Wooten pitched 4 and 2/3 innings, giving up 4 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 7 Flucos batters and walking only 1.  Maddie Huffman was brilliant once again!  Huffman pitched 2 and 1/3 innings yielding no hits and striking out all 7 batters she faced.  For the game, Wooten and Huffman struck out 14 Fluvanna County hitters.
With the loss, Fluvanna County now has a record of 6-2.
That brings us up to the finale in the Grand Strand Classic.  On Wednesday, April 8, the Kings Mountain team took on the Keyser Golden Tornado from Keyser, West Virginia.  Just like in the previous two games, the Mountaineers came up victorious by a score of 12-1.
For the third consecutive day,  Maddie  Huffman was outstanding on the mound.  Huffman pitched another complete game surrendering 4 hits and 1 run while striking out 17 Golden Tornado batters and walking only 1.  For the tournament, Huffman struck out 39 batters over the course of 3 games!
    Kings Mountain had 17 hits in the contest.  They were led by Addison Carpenter who had 5 hits and 2 RBI.  Anna Wooten had 4 hits while driving in 6 runs.  Other Mountaineer batters who had multiple hit games include Kayla McSwain with 2 hits and 2 RBI, Addison Pruett with 2 hits and 2 RBI, and Maddie Huffman who had 2 hits.  Kayla McSwain also had 2 of the team’s 5 stolen bases.  And on top of that, not one Kings Mountain hitter struck out in the game!
    For the Golden Tornado, Sophie Lambka took the loss.  She pitched 5 innings while giving up 10 hits, 6 earned runs, and issuing 2 walks.  In the hitting department, Kailynn Burns, Bibs Felton, Leighton Johnson and Tavery Lyons each had a hit for the Golden Tornado.
    All-in-all, it was a very successful trip to the beach for the Mountaineers!  Kings Mountain’s record now stands at 12-3 on the season, while Keyser dropped to 10-3.  The Mountaineers played Crest last night in Boiling Springs, and they will be at West Lincoln on Thursday night, at home against Forestview on Friday evening, and at Chase on Monday.

 
Screen shot 2026 04 16 at 12.07.27 pm

Cayleigh Marlow makes the
2026 NC All-State Cheer Team

Kings Mountain High School cheerleader Cayleigh Marlow has made the 2026 North
Carolina All-State Cheer Team! This marks the fourth year a KM Cheerleader has earned this incredible honor. What an amazing tradition of excellence! Congratulations to Cayleigh for your hard work and dedication. (Photo/KM High School Cheerleaders)

KM JV baseball
defeats Cherryville

Wyatt Benfield drove in four runs on three hits to lead the Kings Mountain Junior Varsity Mountaineers past Cherryville 6-4 on Friday at home. Benfield doubled in the third inning scoring two runs, singled in the fourth scoring one, and singled in the sixth scoring one more.
Kings Mountain took the lead, 5-3, in the bottom of the fourth thanks to singles by Bryson Ciaschini, Casey Hendrick, and Wyatt Ben-field.
Wyatt Benfield earned the win for the JV Mountaineers. The hurler gave up four hits and three runs over four innings, striking out three and walking four. Ethan Johnson took the loss for the JV Ironmen. The hurler went four innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits, striking out five and walking three. Braeden Morrissette also pitched three innings for Kings Mountain.
The JV team will continue play this week at East Lincoln on Thursday at 4:15 pm.

KMHS women’s softball
throttle Forestview

By Jimmy Black

The Kings Mountain High School women’s softball team won their third straight game with a dominating 19-0 win over the host Forestview Jaguars in a game that was called after only three innings.
The Mountaineers scored the most runs in a game so far this season.  Addison Carpenter led the Kings Mountain offense as she had three hits in the game to go along with 2 RBI and 4 runs scored.  Anna Wooten had two hits in addition to 5 RBI. Kayla McSwain had two hits and 3 RBI, and Maddie Huffman also had 3 RBI.  For the game, the Mountaineers had 12 hits as a team.  Emily Lowrance had the only hit for Forestview.
In the pitching department, Anna Wooten pitched two innings yielding one hit to go along with four strikeouts. Maddie Huffman continued her solid pitching by going one inning and striking out all three batters she faced.
With the victory, the Kings Mountain Ladies’ record now stands at 3 wins and 1 loss on the season.

KMHS softball winning streak ends at 3 games


By Jimmy Black
 
The Kings Mountain High School girls’ softball team took a trip down Highway 74 last Thursday night to Monroe.  Unfortunately, they came back with a loss to snap their three-game winning streak.  The Piedmont Panthers defeated the Mountaineers by a score of 9-4.  The Mounties now stand at 3-2 on the season.
Ashlyn Pressley pitched 5 strong innings for the Panthers, giving up only 2 earned runs.  Aly Mills had 3 hits to go along with 3 RBI, while Abby Brooks also contributed 3 hits on the night.  Piedmont had 12 hits total as a team.
The Lady Mountaineers were led offensively by Addison Carpenter who had 2 hits and 1 RBI.  Anna Wooten took the loss on the mound for Kings Mountain yielding 9 runs (3 earned) while pitching a complete game.
The Kings Mountain girls hosted North Gaston in a conference game last night.  They also have games this week at home against Robbinsville on Thursday night, and on the road at Ashbrook on Friday night.
Screen shot 2026 03 26 at 4.14.47 pm

KMHS tennis team defeat Hunter Huss!

By Jimmy Black

The Kings Mountain High School boys’ tennis team soundly defeated another opponent!  Just like the previous week against Shelby, the Mountaineers defeated the Hunter Huss Huskies by a score of 9-0 at the KMHS Tennis Complex last Thursday.
Coach Rick Henderson had high praise for his team after the match.  Henderson said, “Our Mounties overpowered Hunter Huss and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
With the win, the Kings Mountain boys improved to 2-0 on the season.  Below are the results from the match against Hunter Huss.
Singles Results:
1) Dom Allen (KM) def. L. Lafar; (HH) 6-0, 6-1
2) Landon Webster (KM) def. C.  Benitez; (HH) 6-0, 6-0
3) Camden Morris (KM) def.  L.  Fanene; (HH) 6-0, 6-1
4) Marquis Thomas (KM) def. C. Buntyn (HH) 6-1, 6-1
5) Eli Propst (KM) def. A.  Lafar; (HH) 6-3, 6-0
6) KM wins over Hunter Huss by default.

Doubles Results:
1) Allen/Webster (KM) def. Fanene/Benitz (HH) 8-0
2  Wyatt Freeman/Eli McComas (KM) def. Lafar/Buntyn;  (HH) 8-1
3) KM wins over Hunter Huss by default.
Screen shot 2026 03 26 at 4.12.41 pm
KB Richards delivering a pitch to a South Caldwell batter. Photo by Scott Meade)

KMHS Varsity baseball team splits four games 
last week

The Kings Mountain Varsity baseball team had an up-and-down week last week winning two games while dropping two games.
On Friday, March 13, Kings Mountain welcomed Crest to their campus.  The Chargers defeated the Mountaineers 10-4, thanks in part to six runs in the fifth inning.
Kings Mountain opened the scoring in the first after KJ Bell singled, scoring one run.  But a double by Caleb Costner gave Crest the lead, 2-1, in the top of the third.  Then a double by KB Richards gave Kings Mountain the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the third.
Crest flipped the game on its head in the top of the fifth inning, scoring six runs on five hits to take the lead, 9-3. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by Caleb Costner that drove in two.
Hudson Lund earned the win for Crest. The pitcher surrendered seven hits and four runs (one earned) over six innings, striking out four and walking four. Wesley Turner took the loss for the Mountaineers.
Then on Thursday, March 19, Kings Mountain entertained the South Caldwell Spartans.  Unfortunately, the Mountaineers couldn’t keep up with the visitors from Hudson and they fell by a score of 13-1.
South Caldwell jumped out in the lead in the top of the first inning after JP Smith hit a grand slam to center field, and an error scored two runs. The Spartans added to their early lead in the top of the third inning after Nate Hall walked, Kori McCall was hit by a pitch, and JP Smith hit a sacrifice fly, each scoring one run.
Jacob Perkins earned the win for South Caldwell. The starter gave up three hits and one run over five innings, striking out eight and walking none. Gavyn Manion took the loss for Kings Mountain.  Manion  went two and one-third innings, surrendering nine runs (four earned) on six hits, striking out four and walking two.
On a brighter note, the Kings Mountain Varsity Team won over Hunter Huss 15-0 on March 10, and they defeated Forestview 13-2 on March 17.  The Mountaineers record as of March 19 is now 4-3 overall, and 2-1 in the Big South 5A/6A Conference.
Screen shot 2026 03 13 at 9.26.02 am
KM Mountaineer players celebrated Wednesday night as they defeated the Charlotte Catholic Cougars by the score of 68 to 61 at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory. (Photo by Scott Meade)

Mountaineers, AKA Road Warriors,
going to state championship game

Once a Mountaineer always a Mountaineer, but a more fitting name recently has been the Kings Mountain Road Warriors.
Andrew Fann and his varsity basketball team have caught fire in the post-season and will be going to Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem Thursday at 7:30pm to battle Northern Nash for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state championship.
Kings Mountain will go into the game as an underdog to a Northen Nash team with a 24-3 record. The Mountaineers, who went 10-12 during the regular season, have now posted impressive 6A playoff victories over St. Stephens 67-44, fifth-ranked Freedom, 65-58, fourth-ranked TC Roberson 63-61 and top-ranked Ben L. Smith 69-68
The Mountaineers, with four sophomores and one junior in the starting lineup, led all the way to win the Western Regional’s 68-61 over a Charlotte Catholic team that wore them out in an early season non-conference game.
“We played our home games at the Middle School,” noted coach Fann, “because the KMHS gym was undergoing a major fixer-upper.
“Freedom was a five-seed and Asheville a four-seed, so we had to practice on Sunday to get ready for the playoffs.
“In the St. Stephens game we led all the way,” he said. “The turning point was the third quarter against Ben L. Smith. We were down nine points against the number one ranked team in the third quarter to go up 12 in the fourth. We had some fouls but held on.
“The third quarter turned everything around,” he noted. “We lost to Catholic by 18 in the regular season to play them totally different. That was the best game we had.
‘They were strong and had a seven-footer. Handling them, we knew we were capable of beating anybody. They had good size.
“The last time Kings Mountain made it this far was in 1990,” Fann noted. “They made it to the Regional finals. Larry Sipe was the coach and he talked to our boys before we played Catholic. We had five wins in nine days. I am extremely proud of the kids. They really wanted this.”

Cinderella Is Going to the Ball!

The clock has not struck midnight yet for the team in black and gold as the magical postseason run for the Kings Mountain boys’ basketball team keeps rolling on!  The Mountaineers defeated the Charlotte Catholic Cougars by the score of 68 to 61 this past Wednesday night at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory.  Kings Mountain led by as many as 12 points in the game while never trailing!  The victory was the seventh straight for the Kings Mountain basketball squad.  The team’s record now stands at 16 wins against 12 losses.
    With the win, Kings Mountain avenged an earlier loss to Catholic.  On December 5th, the Cougars defeated the Mountaineers in Charlotte by a score of 70 to 52.  
    The Mountaineers were led in scoring by Micaiah Daniel who pumped in 22 points.  Ethan Daniel had 18 points, while Silas Tate had 11 points for the victors.  Charlotte Catholic was led by Jack Siegel who scored 26 points.  For the game, Kings Mountain shot 54 percent from the field compared to 42 percent for Catholic.  The Cougars outrebounded the Mountaineers by a margin of 26 to 25.
    Next up for the Mountaineers will be the Northern Nash Knights out of Rocky Mount in the NC State 6A Championship Game.  Northern Nash is a member of the Big East 5A/6A Conference.  The Knights come into the contest with a record of 24 and 3, along with a six-game winning streak.  All of their victories in the state playoffs have been by double figures.  The championship game will be played at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem.
    This is the first time since 1990 that the Kings Mountain boys have played for the NC State Championship.

 
Screen shot 2026 03 05 at 4.35.46 pm
KM MIDDLE SCHOOL LADY PATRIOTS BASKETBALL TEAM

Lady Patriots Claim Tri-County Championship – 3-Peat Complete!

The Kings Mountain Middle School Lady Patriots capped off a historic season with a hard-fought 42-34 victory over R-S Middle School in the Tri-County Championship game. Both teams entered the matchup undefeated, setting the stage for an intense battle with everything on the line.
With back-to-back undefeated championship seasons already under their belt, the Lady Patriots were determined to make it three in a row — and they delivered.
Harper Hollifield led the charge with an outstanding 25 points and 10 steals, dominating on both ends of the floor. KayNila Waller added 10 points and 3 rebounds, providing key contributions in crucial moments. It was a total team effort, with relentless defense and composure down the stretch securing the win.
With the victory, the Lady Patriots finish the season a perfect 14-0 and officially claim their third consecutive championship — a true 3-peat and a legacy of excellence.
Learn More
Screen shot 2026 01 29 at 11.14.11 am

KMHS Wrestling Team 2026 Conference Champions

(Photo/KMHS Wrestling FB)

2026 KMMS Boys Basketball game summary: (Games 5 and 6):

Game 5:
5th Quarter:  KM vs WL
The KM played the Chiefs of West Lincoln, the young scrappy.
The Patriots played hard-nose defense as Austin Carpenter and Aiden Nash pulled down four rebounds.
The KM Partitos hosted West Lincoln, and the first quarter saw the Chiefs take a 9 to 6 lead before Carlos Boyce's elbow jumper cut the lead to 9 to 8 as the home team was down one heading into the second period.
KM went on a 10-to-0 run as Lewis Byrd (4 points) and Boyce (4 points) helped keep the at two as the Patritos were down 20 to 18 at half.
The visitors extended their lead to 26 to 18 before KM mounted a furious comeback, as they went on another 10 to 0 run, making five of their last six shots, to take their first lead since 6 to 4, at 28 to 26.
KM extended their hot shooting, hitting their first 5 shots of the quarter as Espn Carpneter’s back-to-back 3-pointers and Boyce’s dunk completed a 29 to 0 run for a 47 to 28 lead. The final score was 48 to 32.
KM Stats:
Carlos Boyce 23 points (10 for 16 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 steals)
Bryce Wilson 10 points (7 rebounds, 6 assists)
Lewis Byrd 8 points (3 for 5 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 BS)
Espn Carpenter 6 points (2-3 pointers)
Chris Carthen 1 point
Jalen Littlejohn (4 rebounds, 3 steals)
KM Team Stats:
10 steals and 10 assists
Forced 19 turnovers
32 rebounds
Shot 17/35 from inside the arc, 48.6%
Made 10 of 11 during a 29 ot 0 run, 91%
Game 6:
5th Quarter:  KM vs EL
The KM played the Falcons of East Lincoln, the Patriots scored a season-high as Michael Rice, Ayden Adams, and Junior Smith all scored to pace the visitors.  Caden Ross had two steals.
KM was back on the road as they took on East Lincoln.  KM scored 13 first-quarter points, as Carlos Boyce (6 points), Bryce Wilson (2 points), Jayden Jones (3 points), and Lewis Byrd (2 points) helped the visitors to a 13 to 7 lead.
The Falcons were able to cut the lead to 3 at 15-12, before Kherian Little’s 5 points and Espn Carpenter’s 3 -pointer, helped maintain a slim 5-point lead at halftime (23 to 18).
Lewis Byrd picked up the offensive tempo by scoring 5 points in the quarter to help extend the visitors' lead to stop a Falcon run as the Patritos took an 11-point lead heading into the final period.
Boyce scored 8 of his game-high 17 points to preserve the 12-point coast-to-coast victory at 48 to 36.  This is the 5 straight double-digit win for Kings Mountain.
KM Stats:
Carlos Boyce 17 points (8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals)
Lewis Byrd 7 points (3 for 5 shooting, 7 rebounds)
Jayden Jones 7 points (3 steals)
Kherian Little 5 points (2 for 2 shooting)
Espn Carpenter 5 points (3 steals)
Christian Carthen 5 points (3 for 4 from FT line)
Bryce Wilson 2 points (3 steals)
KM Team Stats:
KM only committed 6 turnovers
KM caused 20 turnovers
KM made 17 free throws
KM had 23 rebounds (13 offensive)
Season high 13 steals
15 points form the bench
Offensive(s) Player of the Week:
Lewis Byrd (15 points, 6 for 20 shooting, 13 rebounds, 3 BS)
Defensive(s) Player of the Week:
Jayden Jones and Jalen Littlejohn combined for 7 steals
Sixth-Men of the Week:
Kherian Litlle and Espn Carpenter combined 16 points off the bench (4-3-pointers)
 5th Quarter Player of the Week:
Austin Carpenter and Michael Rice
KM is 6 and 0 and 4 and 0 in division play
KM is at home next Modnay versus Lincolnton

 

Lady Patriots defeat Burns

The Kings Mountain Middle School Lady Patriots continued their dominant run with a convincing 40–7 victory over the Burns Lady Eagles in their fifth regular-season conference game. It was a true team effort, as the Lady Patriots delivered a balanced performance on both ends of the floor, setting the tone early and never letting up defensively.
Alayla Padgett led the way with 10 points and 3 rebounds, while Harper Hollifield added 9 points and 3 steals. Sienna Black also chipped in with 9 points, highlighting the depth and unselfish play that has defined this team all season.
With the win, the Lady Patriots improve to 7–0 overall and 5–0 in conference play. They’ll look to keep the momentum going as they prepare for their next matchup at home against Lincolnton.

 

KM Middle School boys basketball
off to big start

Game #3:
 KM vs Lincolnton
Basketball
The KM Middle School boys’ basketball team got off to a blazing start as they out-scored the Wildcats of Lincolnton 17 to 0 in the first four minutes. Carlos Boyce went 4 for 4 from the field, scoring 8 points, and Bryce Wilson and Espn Carpenter combined for 9 points to round out the first quarter scoring as the Pats took a 17 to 5 lead, shooting 61.5 percent from the field to start the game (8/13).  KM’s defense forced 8 first turnovers.
The visitors' hot shooting cooled off a bit in the second period, but Boyce’s 8-second quarter points kept the lead at 10 as they took a 27 to 17 lead into halftime.
With four minutes to go in the third, the host Wildcats went on an 8 to 0 run ot cut the lead to 30 to 26 before Jalen Littlejohn’s 3-pointer extended the lead to 7 and Lincolnton never got closer.
KM scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to put the game away as Boyce scored 12 of his game-high 34 points.  Lewis Byrd
(4points) and Ayden Adams (3 points) chipped in with 7 points, for a final score of 66 to 41.
KM Stats:
Carlos Boyce 34 points (14 for 16 from the field, 7 rebounds, 8 steals)
Bryce Wilson 11 points, (5 for 10 from the field, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals)
Espn Carpenter 5 points (3 steals)
Lewis Byrd 4 points (7 rebounds, 5 BS)
Kherian Little 4 points
Jalen Littlejohn 3 points
Ayden Adams 3 points
Jayden Jones 2 points
KM Team Stats:
8 KM players scored
6 BS
26 forced turnovers
17 steals
12 assists
27 rebounds
24-38 FG’s (63.1%) inside the arc
27/51 Overall FG’s (52.9%)
KM bench scored 12 points
5th Quarter:
• The KM boys basketball team 5th quarter got its season started as they took on the Lincolnton Wildcats. Ayden Adams scored 5 points, and Junior Smith had an assist and a steal.  The defensive tandem of Michael Adam  left  s, Aiden Nash, and Caden Ross limited the Wildcoats to 3 points.

Game #4:  KM vs North Lincoln
KM’s Carlso Boyce and Bryce Wilson combined for 11 first-quarter points to give the Pats a 12 to 2 lead after one period of play versus the Panthers.  KM defense forced 6 NL turnovers.
NL cut the lead to five at 14 to 9 with just under five minutes to go in the second, but KM went on a 13 to 2 run as Espn Carpenter’s two assists and Lewis Byrd's solid defense led the spark for a 27 to 11 Patriots halftime lead.
The third period saw KM extend its lead to 27 as Chris Carthen’s 3 points and great defensive play, and Boyce's buzzer-beater 3 gave the Pats a 44 to 17 lead heading into the final period. KM only turned it over once in the quarter and forced 7 NL turnovers.
TJ Dawkins' free throw finished the KM scoring for a 51 to 25 victory.
KM stats:
Carlos Boyce 22 points (9 for 14 from the field, 8 rebounds, 3 steals)
Bryce Wilson 12 points (6 for 12 from the field, 4 rebounds)
Jayden Jones 9 points (4 for 7 shooting)
Chris Carthen 3 points (2 steals)
Espn Carpenter 3 points (2 assists)
Jalen Littlejohn 1 point (2 offensive rebounds)
TJ Dawkins 1 point
KM Team Stats:
KM shot 14/29 (48.2%)
KM shot 4/9 from 3’s (44.4%)
KM had 27 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 BS
KM caused 18 turnovers
Offensive Players of the Week:  Carlso Boyce and Bryce Wilson (79 points, 34/52 shooting, 23 rebounds, 11 assists, 11 steals)
Defensive Player of the Week: Lewis Byrd (11 rebounds, 8 BS) and Kherian Little (2 rebounds, 2 steals)
Sixth Men of the Week:  Espn Carpenter and Chris Carthen
5th Quarter Player of the Week:  Ayden Adams
KM is 4 and 0 overall and 2 and 0 in the division
KM is at home versus West Lincoln on Thursday.
5th Quarter:
KM went on the road to face the Panthers of North Lincoln.  KM’s 5th quarter team got things started as Ayden Adams scored 4 points, and KM forced 3 steals.  Michael Adams had an assist.

 

MS Lady Patriots
scalp Chiefs 62-8

The Kings Mountain Middle School Lady Patriots delivered another commanding performance in their third regular-season conference game, defeating the West Lincoln Lady Chiefs 62–8.
 The victory was fueled by a balanced team effort, with the Lady Patriots making their presence felt both offensively and defensively from start to finish. Harper Hollifield led the scoring with 12 points and 3 steals, while Alayla Padgett followed closely with 11 points and 2 steals. Maliyah Surratt also made a strong impact, contributing 10 points and 3 steals as the Lady Patriots’ depth and defensive pressure set the tone.
 With the win, the Lady Patriots improve to 5–0 overall and 3–0 in regular-season conference play. They were scheduled to face East Lincoln Tuesday.

 
Mountaineers open indoor season with strong showing at Tryon International
The Kings Mountain High School indoor track and field team opened the 2026 season with an impressive performance at the Tryon International Invitational, competing against 19 programs from across North Carolina and South Carolina at the state-of-the-art 200-meter banked indoor facility.
The Mountaineer boys team finished 4th overall with 49 points, narrowly missing a podium finish in a highly competitive field. The girls team placed 7th overall with 26 points, showing strong early-season depth across relays, sprints, and field events.
Event Champion
Senior Colton Willyoung led the way for Kings Mountain, capturing the boys pole vault championship with a winning clearance of 11 feet, 9 inches. Willyoung also added a top-five finish in the high jump.
Relay Strength on Display
Relay events proved to be a major highlight for the Mountaineers.
The boys 4x800 relay team of Matthew Saenz-Gutierrez, Layton Hester, Kaiden Hawkins, and Luke Howell earned a second-place finish with a time of 10:04.39. Howell also delivered a strong individual performance, placing 4th in the 3200 meters (10:42.18).
On the sprint side, the boys 4x200 relay team — Ja’Mareon Thurman, Zaire Jeter, Ayven Ingram, and Camren Houser — claimed third place in 1:42.64.
The girls 4x800 relay team of Kallie Hope, Amya Hennion-Adams, Alyson Shelton, and Naomi Zuniga matched the boys with a runner-up finish, clocking 12:51.09.
Meanwhile, the girls 4x200 relay team — Princess Strain, Jazz’Lynn Hullender, Vaida Jones, and Kieanna Ellis — secured third place with a time of 1:59.61.
Individual Standouts
Senior Jazz’Lynn Hullender continued her strong field presence by earning third place in the long jump with a mark of 15 feet, 8.5 inches.
In the jumps, Trenton Pettis placed 4th in the triple jump (37’3”), while David Johnson recorded a 4th-place finish in the high jump (5’4”).
Sprinter Kieanna Ellis led the girls sprint group with a 6th-place finish in the 300 meters (47.42), while freshman Vaida Jones posted an encouraging early-season mark of 8.16 in the 55 meters.
Distance Depth
Kings Mountain’s distance squad showed promising depth. In addition to Howell’s top-four finish in the 3200, Kaiden Hawkins, Emerson Bishop, and Peyton Hallman all placed in the top ten of the event.
A Strong Start
The meet featured several perennial state contenders, including Providence Day, Franklin, Pisgah, and Brevard. Against that level of competition, Kings Mountain’s top-four boys finish and balanced scoring across event groups signal a strong foundation for the indoor season.
The Mountaineers return to competition Saturday, January 24, at the ASICS Fast Track Invitational at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, NC. The meet will begin at 10:00 AM.

KM women fall
in tournament

Kings Mountain High’s women’s basketball team was edged by East Burke 67-63 in last week’s Freedom Christmas Tournament.
The Lady Mountaineers jumped out to an early lead and were ahead 11-6 after the first period and 34-25 at halftime. East Burke came back to tie the game at 61-all at the end of regulation and then outscored KM 6-2 in overtime for the win
KM (63) – Garner 8, Twitty 23, Gaines 14, Fortenberry 7, Martin 2, Dixon-Velez 5, Cannedy 4.
EB (67) – Clay 8, Brittian 16, Bradley 18, S. Pyatte 2, Fung 2, K. Pyatte 17, Spry 4.
Screen shot 2025 11 26 at 1.33.23 pm
The Lady Patriots celebrated a victory against the Burns Eagles. (Photos provided)

KMMS volleyball beats East, Burns

Kings Mountain Middle School’s volleyball team opened its season last week with victories over East Lincoln and Burns.
The Lady Patriots used strong ball control and balance by all players in a 25-12, 25-16 over East Lincoln.
Haylee Patton anchored the back row with 25 passes. She kept rallies alive by stabilizing serve receives under pressure. Georgia Cruise added 13 passes while Natalie Hedgepath and Harper Hollifield contributed five each to give KMMS steady coverage throughout the match.
On the attack, The Lady Patriots spread the scoring out. Hedgepath powered her way to 10 kills to lead all hitters. Cruise followed with eight and Zyah Norman added five from the outside. Cheyenne Cooke chipped in with three and Charley Burgess and Harper Hollifield had one kill each.
Setters Charley Burgess and Harper Hollifield kept the offense organized, finishing with 12 and 13 assists, respectively. Georgia Cruise had two assists from out of system plays.
The service line gave KM a boost as Charley Burgess delivered five aces, Landry McDaniel and Haylee patton two each, and Georgia Cruise and Harper Hollifield one each.
The Lady Patriots traveled  to Burns Thursday and whipped the Eagles 25-6, 25-13 behind a balanced team performance.
Hedgepath led the attack with eight kills and five aces, making an impact from both the service line and the front row. Cruise added five kills and seven receptions and was steady in serve receiving to give KM a reliable scoring option,
Charley Burgess turned in a strong all-around match with four kills, 10 assists, two aces and three receptions.
Haylee Patton controlled the back row with a match high 11 receptions to keep the offense in rhythm.
Cheyenne Cooke had four kills, and Harper Hollifield had a kill and 11 assists.

 
Screen shot 2025 11 26 at 1.33.08 pm
KM finished their football season at the State Playoffs on Friday against Northern Guilford. Photo by Charlie Smith

Northern Guilford
eliminates KM 37-7

 Kings Mountain High’s 2025 football season came to an end in the third round of the NCHSAA 6A state playoffs Friday in a 37-7 loss to a strong Northern Guilford team in Greensboro.
The hosts took a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter and continued to roll the rest of the way to end the Mountaineers’ season with an 8-5 overall record.
Camren Houser scored the Mountaineers' only touchdown early in the second quarter to cut Northern’s lead to 14-7. The hosts went on to take a 21-7 into the half and continued to roll in the final two quarters.
The Northern defense limited KM quarterback KJ Bell to just 68 yards passing on 11 completions in 27 attempts. KM’s top receiver, Tex Vaughn, was held to just 30 receiving yards
Northern will take on another Big South team this week as the Ashbrook Green Wave tries to keep their state championship hopes alive.
Screen shot 2025 11 13 at 3.12.34 pm
KMHS JV 2025 BIG SOUTH FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS (Photo by TPS Photography)

JV Mountaineers’ Perfect season:
A blueprint for dominance

By Jocelyn Christenbury

History isn't always written under the Friday night lights. Sometimes, it's forged on Thursdays, in front of smaller crowds, where the foundation for future greatness is laid. The Kings Mountain High School
junior varsity football team knows this better than most, having just capped off a flawless 2025 season with a 9–0 record and a Big South JV Football 6A/5A Conference championship. This undefeated run wasn't just a streak; it was a promise kept to a program built on a strong tradition, extending the JV's winning streak to an incredible 17 consecutive games over two seasons.
From the very first whistle against Shelby to a tense, season-ending shutout victory over county rival Crest, the young Mountaineers operated with a skill level and tenacity that defined their identity. It was an exercise in pure dominance, powered by a suffocating defense that produced five shutouts, including a 41–0 road rout of Hunter Huss that was part of a three-game shutout stretch.
While the defense earned its reputation, the offense was a clinic in efficiency. Quarterback Amir Parker completed 71.7% of his passes, consistently finding his top receiver, freshman King Moore, who averaged 45 receiving yards per game. On the ground, freshman Elijah Long was a workhorse, leading the team with 71.8 rushing yards per game and scoring 10 total touchdowns, including eight rushing scores.
This was a complete team effort, exemplified by the tough, defensive-minded 6–0 victory against Crest to secure the perfect season. That win required the team's resilience to shine brightest in its most crucial moment.
But behind every great season is a great coaching staff. The leadership and commitment of head coach Shane Cole and assistants Nate Blanton and Jacob Lineberger fostered a winning culture that prepares these young players for the next level. Their focus on player development, both on and off the field, is the real long-term win here.
This 2025 squad has not only cemented its place in school history but has also sent a resounding message: the future of Kings Mountain football is incredibly bright. These young Mountaineers, with an 18–1 record over the past two seasons, have laid a powerful foundation of experience and winning tradition for years to come. The mountain has been defended, and the next wave of varsity talent is more than ready.

KMHS JV 2025 BIG SOUTH
FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

Scenes from this season's JV games.
(Photos by Scott Meade)
Add
Screen shot 2025 11 13 at 3.30.10 pm

Screen shot 2025 11 13 at 3.30.04 pm

Screen shot 2025 11 13 at 3.30.18 pm

Screen shot 2025 11 13 at 3.30.23 pm

Screen shot 2025 11 13 at 3.30.36 pm

Screen shot 2025 11 13 at 3.30.31 pm

Screen shot 2025 11 13 at 3.29.52 pm

Screen shot 2025 11 13 at 3.29.35 pm

Screen shot 2025 11 13 at 3.13.22 pm
KM Mountaineer Varsity team celebrated a 28-14 victory over Ben L. Smith last week. (Photo by Scott Meade)

Mountaineers defeat Ben L. Smith,
travel to TC Roberson Friday night

Kings Mountain’s Mountaineers opened the state playoffs last week with a 28-14 victory over Ben L. Smith and will hit the road this coming Friday to take on TC Roberson.
KM improved its record to 7-4 overall but the 2-9 Smith eleven stayed with them for the first half, 21-14. KM tacked on another TD in the second half to seal the victory.
Although the Rams came to town with a 2-8 record, they were a good team. They play in one of the toughest conferences in the state and in the regular season faced powerhouses such as Southern Guilford, Charlotte Country Day, Western Guilford, Greensboro Dudley, Ragsdale, Greensboro Page and Greensboro Grimsley.
The Mountaineer backs and receivers got good blocking from their offensive line, allowing them to run up some good individual totals. Quarterback K.J. Bell hit 20 of 25 passes for 211 yards. Tex Vaughn caught eight of them for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Khareem Coleman led the rushing attack with 81 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. Bell also hit Kavion Byers with a TD pass. Xavier Hutchens had a kickoff return for a TD and Camren Houser added a rushing touchdown.
Roberson battled a couple of KM’s biggest foes during the regular season. They started out slow but have become much stronger during the stretch run.
In two of their first three games, TCR defeated Hunter Huss 12-10 and lost to South Point 34-6. KM also defeated Huss and lost to South Point.
Roberson’s other early losses were to Watauga 42-0 and Freedom 20-14. After the Freedom loss, they ran the table in their conference with wins over South Caldwell 40-6, an always strong Asheville team 41-20, North Buncombe 40-0, Erwin 42-22 and AC Reynolds 21-14.
Screen shot 2025 10 17 at 10.17.43 am
Pictured left: Blake Shelton was the winner for ages 9-13 (standing with YMCA Staff member Alex Auten) Pictured right: Bowen Gibson was the winner for ages 5-8 (standing with YMCA Staff member Alex Auten)

15th Annual
Golf tournament

The 15th annual YMCA Golf Tournament was held on September 26 at  the Kings Mountain Country Club from 11 am - 12 pm.
 There were 32 teams and 128 golfers that participated in the event whic began with the Kids Putt-Off and was followed by the adult competition.
Blake Shelton was the winner for ages 9-13 yr olds and Ken Bowens was winner in the 5-8 yr olds.
"Each year, the YMCA hosts this event, among other events like it to help raise the nearly $100,000 donated to community programs.
This particular golf event raised $25,000," said Kevin Osborne, YMCA, VP / Sr. Executive Director.(Four area YMCAs.
 Some of the programs noted by Osborne were -The Career Proram, The Afterschool Program, Summer Camp, swim lessons, and membership grants.
 The following winning results were supplied by Kevin Osborne:
 1st Place team (-200): Matt Bradley, Jake Scruggs, Steve Sherman and Frank Helton
 2nd Place team (-17): Grayson Smith, Trevor McDaniel, Maning Burton & Will Meekins
 3rd Place team (-16) representing City of Kings Mountain: Mayor Rob Wagman, TBD, TBD, TBD, 
 4th Place team (-15): Wil Sellers, Keith Olmack, Ryan Hodge & Jeremy Walker.
 Closest to Pin winners:  Rodney Bumgardner (5) Trevor McDaniel (8) Matt Bradley  (12) Brad Wilson (16) Alex Roberts  (17)
 Longest Drive Winners on hole 2:  Eric Sanders (Men), Steve Sherman (Seniors)
 Longest Drive Winners on hole 11:  Bobbie Gales (Women),  Wayne Auton(Senior), Wil Sellers (Men)
There were 32 sponsors and multiple volunteers that made the event a success and the main sponsirs were Albermarle Co and City of Kings Mountain.
Screen shot 2025 10 17 at 10.15.17 am

KM Elite shines on Homecoming Saturday

K.M. Elite hosted its annual Homecoming Game at Kings Mountain High School’s John Gamble Stadium, welcoming the Southern Masterminds in a full day of BSYFL youth football action. The event celebrated excellence both on and off the field, highlighted by strong performances across all divisions and the crowning of the 2025 KM Elite Homecoming Queen Court. Pictured are various scenes from their special day.

 

Lady Mountaineer volleyball
continues run through BSC

Kings Mountain High’s women’s volleyball team won three games last week.
On Tuesday, the JVs swept South Point 25-12 and 25-17 and the varsity followed with a 25-20, 25-16, 25-17 victory.
Avery Cruise led the JVs on both offense and defense. Avaclair Moss also stood out on offense and Masey McDaniel on defense.
The varsity got outstanding performances from several ladies, including:
-Camden Pasour with 26 serve receptions, 19 assists, nine digs, two kills, two blocks and two service points.
-Denet Houey with 21 kills.
-Ava Tipton with eight serve receptions, 16 digs and five service points.
 -Abigail Hedgepath with 18 assists, six digs and 15 service points.
Ruby Osborne with seven kills and two blocks.
On Wednesday, the ladies swept East Lincoln with the JVs winning 25-19 and 25-16 and the varsity 25-20, 25-19, 15-23 and 25-15.
Avery Cruise and Elyn Phongsa both had outstanding performances on offense and defense and Skylard Garner and Caroline Lane led the offense.
Camden Pasour had another big game for the varsity with 36 serve receptions, 13 digs, nine kills and five service points.
Ava Tipton had 13 serve receptions, 17 digs and 10 service points.
Denet Houey was strong on the nets with 20 kills.
Abigail Hedgepath dished out 27 assists to go with three kills, six digs and two service points.
Ruby Osbornehad 11 kills and Kenzlie Morris eight.
The Lady Mountaineers swept Hunter Huss in a Big South Conference battle on Thursday. The JVs won 25-7 and 25-9 and the varsity 25-3, 25-3 and 25-2.
Denet Houey registered 25 kills to go with a block
Camden Pasour had 33 assists and 12 service points.
Abigal Hedgepath had 18 service points, three kills and eight service points.
Coleman Lane had seven kills.

KM falls 43-7
to Green Wave

Kings Mountain drew first blood on a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback K.J. Bell but that’s all the Mountaineers could do against a strong Ashbrook team in a 43-7 loss Friday in Gastonia.
The Mountaineers return to Gaston County Friday to face the South Point Red Raiders. They will be at home for their final two regular season games against Hunter Huss on October 24 and Crest on October 31.
After Bell’s opening TD, the Mountaineers marched downfield again and got into scoring range but missed a field goal attempt. They wouldn’t threaten again and Ashbrook rolled up the next 43 points to remain undefeated and tied for first place in the Big South with Crest.
Martino Smith led the Green Wave attack with two touchdowns, including a 74-yard TD run, and former Mountaineer and now Ashbrook QB T.J. Armstrong threw a touchdown pass to Tyler Morgan. The Green Wave also booted two field goals.
Bell hit 10 of 13 passes for 170 yards to lead the KM offense. 
Screen shot 2025 10 10 at 1.27.12 pm
KM registers big homecoming win over Wildcats, faces highly-talented Ashbrook team away Friday
KM registers big homecoming win over Wildcats,
faces highly-talented Ashbrook team away Friday
Kings Mountain’s Mountaineers dominated the North Gaston Wildcats 65-0 in the KMHS homecoming game Friday night at John Gamble Stadium but will face a very talented and undefeated Ashbrook team this Friday in Gastonia.
The Green Wave is off to its greatest start in several years with a perfect 2-0 Big South and 6-0 overall record.
Kings Mountain is also 2-0 in the Big South with wins over Forestview and North Gaston. The Mountaineers’ only loss was 28-21 to perennial North Carolina power Charlotte Catholic in a non-conference game.
“We played really well,” Coach Strait Herron said of last week’s victory. “We got an early lead and it was a good win. We’re still  dealing with some players banged up but nothingserious.”
The Mountaineers scored on all of their possessions last week and played the entire second half under the running clock rule. They were up 17-0 after the first period, 45-0 at the half, 58-0 after three quarters and tacked on another TD and PAT in the fourth period.
Quarterback K.J. Bell threw three touchdown passes and also had a four-yard run for a TD. He hit 10 of 13 passes for 174 yards.
Devin Hopper scored a pair of TDs on runs of four and one yards, Isaiah Branch had a 27-yard touchdown reception, Devin Hopper had a 15-yard touchdown run and a one-yard TD reception, Khareem Coleman had a 15-yard touchdown run, Xavier Hutchens had an 11-yard TD reception and freshman Elijah Long scored on a 14-yard run.
Looking to this week’s trip to Ashbrook, Coach Herron said “we will have our hands full.”
“They mix it up but they run the ball more than they throw it,” he said. “They have a very good quarterback and good running backs. They have a lot of skilled athletes.”
Coach Herron said he hopes the Mountaineers will be healthy.
“A few of our players are still banged up,” he noted. “We’ll still be missing a couple players but I hope we’ll be okay.”
The Mountaineers will take another trip to Gaston County next week to face the South Point Red Raiders. They will complete their regular season at home with games against Hunter Huss and Crest.
All games begin at 7:30.

Women’s tennis closing in on
BSC championship

The Lady Mountaineers tennis team is well on its way to winning another Big South Conference Championship this fall by going undefeated in conference play so far with a 4 - 0 record.
The team only played six conference matches now that Stuart Cramer has dropped out of the Big South Conference because of realignment.
KMHS defeated Forestview 9-0 on September 11. Winners in singles were Katherine Frye, Seanna Simon, Kayla McSwain, Elizabeth Bolt, Cindy Tipton and Grayson Howell. Winners in doubles were Frye/Simon, McSwain/Bolt and Tipton/Howell.
Kings Mountain defeated North Gaston September 18 9 - 0.
Winners in singles were Frye, Simon, McSwain, Bolt, Tipton and Howell. Winners in doubles were Frye/Simon, McSwain/Bolt, and Shiloh Bridges/Lillie Bolt.
=Kings Mountain defeated Ashbrook on September 23 9-0. Winners in singles were Frye, Simon, McSwain, Bolt, Tipton and Howell. Winners in doubles were Frye/Simon, McSwain/Bolt and Tipton/Howell.
 KM defeated South Point 7-2 on September 24.   Winners in singles were Frye, Simon, McSwain, Bolt, Tipton and Howell. Winners in doubles were Frye/Simon, McSwain/Bolt, Tipton and Howell.
The Lady Mountaineers will be traveling to T.C. Roberson in Asheville to participate in the Pre-Regionals. Players who qualify will advance to the Regionals October 17-18 at Belmont Abbey.

KMHS volleyball
sweeps Ashbrook

Kings Mountain High’s volleyball teams remained unbeaten in the Big South Conference last week with a sweep of Gastonia Ashbrook.
The JVs won 25-1, 25-9 before the varsity defeated the Green Wave 25-5, 25-9 and 25-2.
Denet Houey was strong along the nets with 19 kills.
Camden Pasour dished out 21 assists to go with five serve receptions, eight service points, five digs and two kills.
Abigail Hedgepath had 13 assists, two kills, five digs and five service points.
Ruby Osbornehad seven kills.
The JVs were 14-2 and the varsity 26-1 heading into a Tuesday game at South Point.

 

KMHS Volleyball News

KM volleyball
sweeps North
Kings Mountain High’s volleyball teams returned to conference action Monday night with a sweep of the North Gaston Lady Wildcats.
The JVs won 25-5, 25-9 in the opener and the varsity followed with a 25-5, 25-12, 25-6 victory.
Several ladies turned in big numbers in the varsity victory.
Denet Houey was strong along the nets with 20 kills.
Camden Pasour had 12 serve receptions, seven digs, two kills, 25 assists and five service points.
Ruby Ozborne and Kenzlie Morris finished with eight kills each.
Abigail Hedgepath had 15 assists, a kill, three digs and 24 service points.
Avery Cruise and Elyn Phongsa led the JVs on both offense and defense.
The varsity boasts an 8-0 conference record and 25-1 overall mark heading into a home game Thursday against Ashbrook. The JVs are 13-2 overall and 8-0 in the conference.

Lady Mountaineers sweep
Mountaineer Invitational

Kings Mountain High’s women’s volleyball team went 5-0 to sweep its own Mountaineer Invitational over the weekend at Parker Gym.
They defeated Hickory 25-13, 24-26,15-9; Community School of Davidson 20-25, 25-17, 15-13; Polk County 25-15, 25-18; Ayden-Grifton 24-26, 25-16, 15-11; and Hickory 25-23, 25-19.
Several ladies had exceptional games.
Camden Pasour had 130 serve receptions, 25 assists, 46 digs, 11 kills, five blocks and 28 service points.
Denet Hoey had 50 kills, four blocks and 13 digs.
Ruby Osborne had 38 kills, five blocks, 12 digs and two service points.
Abigail Hedgepath had 80 assists, nine kills, three blocks and 30 service points.
Ava Tipton had 32 serve receptions, four assists, 55 digs and 19 service points.
Kenzlie Morris had 30 kills, two blocks and nine digs.
Campbell Benton had 36 kills, two blocks and 13 digs.
Madison Broome had 23 serve receptions, 31 digs, one assist and 17 service points.

 
Learn More
Screen shot 2025 09 26 at 11.04.16 am
Scenes from the KM Mountaineer vs. Foresview Jaguars Big South Conference game on Friday night in Gastonia. KM defeated Forestview 49-0. (Photos by Charlie Smith)

KM Mountaineers shutout Forestview
49-0 in Big South Conference opener

Kings Mountain’s Mountaineers scored early and often to defeat the Forestview Jaguars 49-0 in their opening Big South Conference game Friday in Gastonia.
The Mountaineers, 4-1 overall, will take this week off and return to BSC action October 3 at John Gamble Stadium against the North Gaston Wildcats.
After the KM defense held the Jaguars to three-and-out on the game’s opening possession, it took the offense just three plays to light up the scoreboard on a 48-yard touchdown pass from quarterback KJ Bell to William Vaughn.
Just 34 seconds later Vaughn returned an interception for a TD and a 14-0.
Moments later, Christian Jarrett recovered a bad snap and Camren Houser took a screen pass 20 yards for a 21-0 lead
The Mountaineer defense held the Jaguars again and forced a punt. During the return the Mountaineers were penalized and had to start at the Forestview 49. A 29-yard reception by Branch set up a 20-yard TD reception by Vaughn and a 28-0 halftime lead.
Kings Mountain took the second half kickoff and with a good mixture of running by Khareem Coleman and catches by Xavier Hutchens and Vaughn hiked the score to 35-0.
Coleman scored again early in the fourth period to run the margin to 42-0 and the Mountaineers tacked on a 50-yard TD with 1:14 remaining for the final score.
Screen shot 2025 09 26 at 11.04.27 am
KM JV football team scored their first victory over the Forestview Jaguars on Thursday night. (Photos by Charlie Smith)
JV Mountaineers blank
Forestview 37-0 Thursday
The Kings Mountain JV football team scored its first Big South victory of the year over the Jaguars of Forestview Thursday at John Gamble Stadium 37-0.
The Mountaineers marched 61 yards on their opening drive, capped off by a 7-yard touchdown run by Elijah Long.  Marquis Thomas added the extra point for a quick 7-0 lead.
The KM kick-off team pinned the Jags deep in their own territory, and KM’s Javen Wilson was able to tackle the Forestview runner for a safety for a 9-0 lead.
KM added two more touchdowns before the half as Long took an Amir Parker pass 15 yards and Long added his third touchdown of the night from four yards out. Thomas kicked the extra point for a 23-0 halftime lead.
 KM scored on its first two possessions of the second half as Myles Parks scored from two yards out, and Jarrett Linder’s 8-yard run made the score 37-0.
The Kings Mountain defense held the visitors to minus 23 total yards, limited the Jags to one first down, and had seven sacks and 10 tackles for losses to stifle Forestview’s offense.
 KM is 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big South Conference.  KM is on the road on October 2 to battle the Bunker Hill JV team. Game time is 7 p.m.

Good Bandys team to test
Mountaineers here Friday

Coming off two tough games with county rivals Shelby and Burns, Kings Mountain will face another test from Bandys Friday night at John Gamble Stadium.
Bandys is off to a strong start and posted an impressive 38-19 victory over the St. Stephens Indians last week.
“They remind me a little like Burns,” Mountaineer coach Strait Herron said after watching them on film over the weekend. “They have some scrappy, hard-nosed players. Their quarterback is a playmaker. He can run and get outside. They’re very sound. They’re very sound on defense. They’re very good at what they do.”
Coach Herron said one of the big keys for the Mountaineers will be for the offense to “get guys blocked and stay on the block.
“They have some big guys up front, and three linebackers who are very active. They get to the ball quick,” he said.
Bandys is also strong on offense, he noted. “They’re a well-known team. They’ll bring a big crowd.”
The leaders of their offensive attack are Tanner Stewart, who had a career-high four rushing touchdowns last week, and quarterback Brady Swett who threw for 221 yards and a touchdown and competed 75 percent of his passes.
The Trojans’ defense has been strong as well. It puts a lot of pressure on the opposing quarterback and picked off four passes in last week’s win.
“We’ve got some big games facing us,” Herron said. “We’ve got to make improvements. We have to play better.”
Screen shot 2025 09 05 at 12.05.56 pm
KM Mountaineers were the victors at Friday night’s game against Burns Bulldogs. This is their second win in the new season. (Photos by Charlie Smith and Zach Smith)

KM Mountaineers defeat Burns 40-34
to go 2-0 versus Cleveland County rivals

Kings Mountain’s Mountaineers got past another tough Cleveland County foe Friday night when they defeated the Burns Bulldogs 40-34 at Burns.
With victories over two of their Cleveland County rivals (Shelby and Burns) to open the season the Mountaineers will wait until the final regular season game to face their other county rival, Crest.
The Bulldogs were blown out by Crest the week before but they gave the Mountaineers a tough battle from the get-go.
“They were missing some players versus Crest and had some players that we hadn’t seen,” said Mountaineer head coach Strait Herron. “They played extremely hard. They gave us a run for our money. They’re well coached.”
Coach Herron noted that the Mountaineers had some players hurt last week and “we’ll be a little banged up probably. But I was real pleased with our running game and the offensive line did a decent job.”
The Mountaineers were led offensively by Jarlon Drye, who finished with four rushing touchdowns.
“We had a lot of penalties but I was real pleased with our running game,” Herron added. “The offensive line did a decent job. Drye ran the ball hard and had a great game.
“I was pleased with the running game but we’ve got to complete some of those easy throws,” he noted. “We will get better with experience.”
The Mountaineers took a 6-0 lead on their first possession with quarterback KJ Bell hooking up with Tex Vaughn for a 29-yard TD. But the lead didn’t last long as Burns came right back down the field to go up 7-6.
The Mountaineers answered quickly, driving 51 yards to score on Jarion Drye’s first of four TDs, 13-7.
After recovering a Burns fumble at the Bulldogs’ 44, Bell hit William Vaughn with a pass to go up 20-7.
Burns answered quickly to cut the margin to 20-14 but Silas Tate’s pick six made it 27-14 at the half.
Burns wouldn’t go away, though, and Davis scored from five yards out to cut the margin to 27-21.
The Mountaineers answered with a 60-yard drive with Drye scoring from 20 yards out to go up 34-21. Burns later got a 37-yard field goal to make it 34-24. The Bulldogs scored on a screen pass at the 10:33 mark of the fourth quarter to make it 34-31.
The Mountaineers answered with a 69-yard drive capped by Drye’s one-yard TD to account for the final margin.
Drye led the rushing attack with 31 carries for 172 yards and four TDs. Bell finished with 12 for 19 passing for 198 yards and one TD. The passes went to four different receivers with sophomore Xavier Hutchens catching three for 66 yards, junior Devin Hopper three for 48 yards, senior Tex  Vaughn with three for 46 yards and junior Isaiah Branch with three for 38 yards.

KMHS volleyball
defeats Forestview in BSC opener

 Kings Mountain High’s women’s volleyball teams swept Forestview in their Big South Conference opener last week.
The varsity won 25-14, 25-10, 25-13 after the JVs won 25-12, 25-10.
The varsity was led by Camden Pasour with 29 assists, 19 serve receptions, nine service points, a kill, 14 digs and two blocks.
Denet Houey had 16 kills.
Abigail Hedgepath dished out 14 assists to go with four kills, seven kills and eight service points.
Ruby Osborne and Campbell Benton had seven kills each.
For the JVs, Avery Cruise and Elyn Phongsa stood out on offense and defense and Caroline Lane had a big offensive game. The JVs improved to 4-2 heading into a September 3 game at West Henderson.
In non-conference action last Tuesday, the varsity swept Sun Valley 25-21, 25-21 and 26-24.
Pasour had 20 serve receptions, 12 assists, 10 digs, a kill and three service points.
Denet Houey was strong along the net with 16 kills and a block.
Abigail Hedgepath dished out 20 assists to go with five digs, a kill and four service points.
Ruby Osborne had seven kills, two blocks and four service points.
Ava Tipton had 14 serve receptions, 10 digs and seven service points.
On Wednesday, the ladies swept East Lincoln with the JVs winning 25-14, 26-24 and the varsity 25-18, 25-16 and 25-15.
The JVs were led on offense and defense by Avery Cruise and Elyn Phogsa.
For the varsity, Camden Pasour had 21 serve receptions, four kills and18 assists.
Denet Houey had 13 kills and a block.
Ruby Osborne had seven kills, four service points and two blocks.
Abigail Hedgepath had 13 digs, 10 assists, two kills, nine service points and a block.
Ava Tipton added 15 digs, four serve receptions and 11 service points.
The Lady Mountaineers go to West Henderson today and will host North Gaston September 4. They are scheduled to go to Mountain Island Charter on September 8 and Ashbrook on September 9. They will host South Point on September

General admission tickets
provide access to all 15 games of the ALWS Aug. 14-19

General admission tickets for the 2025 American Legion World Series are available for purchase online.
Each general admission ticket includes admission to all 15 games of the 98th ALWS, Aug. 14-19 at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Tickets are available at ALWS.us for $37.89.
Day passes will be available for purchase at Keeter Stadium when the games begin.
The 98th American Legion World Series will pit eight regional champions from across the nation through four days of pool play, with the top two finishers in each division advancing to the Aug. 18 semifinals. The semifinalists will face off in the championship game on Aug. 19.

 
Learn More

KMHS ranked No. 1 volleyball team
in HSOT's 704 preseason rankings

HighSchoolOT's 704 Top 15 ranks Kings Mountain High School’s Volleyball Team the best of all high school volleyball teams in the greater Charlotte area. It is now considered a 6A program.
HSOT has two sets of rankings: a statewide Top 25 and top 15s for each of North Carolina's six area codes.
The 704 area code region consists of these counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union.
Kings Mountain, which just came off a 27-3 overall campaign last year, is the preseason No. 1 team in the 704.
Here is how the 704 teams rank:
1. Kings Mountain (27-3)
2. Marvin Ridge (34-3)
3. Weddington (17-10)
4. North Iredell (28-3)
5. Cox Mill (21-4)
6. Hough (23-7)
7. Cuthbertson (21-7)
8. Jesse Carson (27-6)
9. Charlotte Country Day (18-3)
10. Lake Norman Charter (22-3)
11. Community School of Davidson (24-5)
12. East Rowan (21-10)
13. Pine Lake Prep (20-5)
14. Highland Tech (26-2)
15. North Stanley (25-7)
That is an impressive feat and should make for an exciting season this year! According to KMHS’ Sports Website, the Kings Mountain’s Varsity Volleyball Team has its first game on Tuesday, August 26, at 6:15 p.m. at Sun Valley High School.
Screen shot 2025 07 31 at 3.51.19 pm

Grover Elementary YMCA program

 Kings Mountain Family YMCA is excited to welcome students back starting August 13, 2025, through May 27, 2026. And, the YMCA is bringing after-school care directly to Grover Elementary — making it more convenient for families and fun for kids!
The program runs from school dismissal until 6:00 PM, with early dismissal included in the fee.
     Important details for parents:
• Weekly Rate: $52 (same for members & non-members)
• Financial assistance is available upon request.
• Rates are adjusted if the week is shorter than 5 days.
    What the Y provides:
• Homework Help
• A Healthy Snack
• Indoor & Outdoor Activities
• And much more!
• Held onsite at Grover Elementary – no need to worry about transportation!
Contact Director of Family Programs Ranata Wingo at (704) 669-3685  or wingo@clevecoymca.org, or register online at clevecoymca.org.
 
Screen shot 2025 07 31 at 3.51.09 pm

Fall healthcare interns available through CCS/CTE

Cleveland County Schools and Career Technical Education encourages local healthcare providers to partner with them to empower the next generation of healthcare heroes through its internship program, connecting our youth, building your workforce, strengthening our community, and shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. Internships are offered for fall, spring, and summer semesters.
The program currently partners with 16 healthcare organizations, and students covered under CCS insurance. There is a 120-hour requirement, and students earn one credit towards graduation, offering experience and career clarity for future healthcare leaders.
If you are interested, contact Cleveland County Schools Work-Based Learning Coordinator Cortney Doster at cmdoster@clevelandcountyschools.org, calling 704-473-1592, or by visiting https://cteintern.clevelandcountyschools.org/

 
Screen shot 2025 07 31 at 3.51.09 pm

Clev. Co. Schools now enrolling
new students and transfers

By Loretta Cozart

On July 22, Cleveland County Schools announced that online enrollment for the 2025–2026 school year is now open.
Whether you’re enrolling a new student or transferring between CCS schools, now’s the time to get started!
Enrollment is open for:
• New students
• Students transferring to a different CCS school
   The Parent Portal is currently under construction; however, you can begin the enrollment process by visiting https://goteamccs.org/enrollccs.
If you are new to the district, visit https://www.clevelandcountyschools.org/ or call (704-476-8000. School starts on August 13.
Screen shot 2025 07 17 at 2.50.12 pm

Fall into YMCA sports

By Loretta Cozart

Kings Mountain Family YMCA announces registration for Fall Sports at the Y! Sports Director Marcus Campbell shared that registration is open for children 3 – 17, for Volleyball (Girls), baseball, Flag Football, and Soccer now through September 8—members: $40, non-members: $70.
Late registration, September 9 through 13, costs more, so register early: members: $50, non-members: $80. Financial assistance is available, and Kings Mountain residents receive a discount.
Volunteer coaches are needed.
“If you have children or if you’re interested in coaching, please come into the branch and check us out,” Marquis said.
The Y’s mission is to help all people reach their God-given potential in mind, spirit, and body. Athletics helps with youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
For more information, contact Marcus Campbell at mcampbell@clevecoymca.org or 704-669-3687.  For more on skills nights, parent and coaching meetings, visit www.clevecoymca.org.

 

CCS and GWU
2025 High School
Football Jamboree

Cleveland County Schools is pleased to announce the 2025 High School Football Jamboree, scheduled for Friday, August 8, at Spangler Stadium on the campus of Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. This annual event will bring together student-athletes, families, and the broader community for an evening of competitive high school football in a collegiate setting.
Ceveland County Schools is proud to partner with Gardner-Webb University in hosting this event. University representatives recently met with district coaches and athletic staff to finalize planning efforts, ensuring a first-class experience for all participants.
The district also extends its sincere appreciation to Sharonview Federal Credit Union, the event’s title sponsor, for their continued commitment to supporting youth programs and community engagement initiatives throughout Cleveland County.
“This event reflects the spirit of collaboration between our schools, local partners, and community supporters,” said David Pless, Executive Director of Auxiliary Services, Cleveland County Schools. “We are proud to offer our students this unique opportunity to compete in a collegiate venue and thank Sharonview Federal Credit Union for their generous support.”
Event Details:
•  Date: Friday, August 8, 2025
•  Location: Spangler Stadium, Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, NC
•  Gates Open: 5:00 PM
• Kickoff: 6:00 PM
•  Admission: Tickets will be available soon
•  General Parking - $10
    The evening lineup is as follows:
•  6:00 PM – Burns High School vs. Corvian Community School
•  7:00 PM – Shelby High School vs. South Mecklenburg High School
•  8:00 PM – Kings Mountain High School vs. Monroe High School
•  9:00 PM – Crest High School vs. Myers Park High School

Four Lady
Mountaineers honored

Your description text goes here. You can edit all of this text and replace it with whatever you like. For example, you can write about your company, the products or services you offer, the areas you serve and what makes you unique. You can even include a button to encourage visitors to take a specific action.
Screen shot 2025 07 17 at 2.46.42 pm

Dive into adult swim at the KM YMCA

Ready to make a splash? Adult Swim Lessons at the Kings Mountain Family YMCA are perfect for beginners or anyone wanting to sharpen their swimming skills!
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your technique, our classes are designed for adults of all levels.
Classes run Monday through Thursday, starting at 7 p.m.
Contact the Kings Mountain Family YMCA at (704) 739-9631 for more information! It is located at 211 Cleveland Avenue, Kings Mountain.  Don’t wait… dive in today! s
Sports
KMHS softball coach Kevin Cruise and players Maddie Huffman and Avery Cruise participated in the recent state games.

KMHS softball players
have good off-season

Kings Mountain High had numerous players shining in off-season competition recently.
Numerous players made the all-district team and four players competed in the state games.
Coach Kevin Cruise also served as head coach for the region in last week’s Body Armor State games. Region Six finished as the silver medalist, losing the gold medal game 1-0 in eight innings.
Participants in the state games were Maddie Huffman and Avery Cruise.
The all-district players were also announced by the NC Softball Coaches Association and numerous KM players were selected. They were Avery Cruise, Paige Fleming, Maddie Huffman, Kayla McSwain and Annie Wooten.

 

KM Sports Hall of Fame
38th Annual
Banquet May 17

The Kings Mountain Sports Hall of Fame will hold its thirty-eighth annual banquet and induction ceremony Saturday May 17, 2025.
Central United Methodist Church in Kings Mountain will host the event in the Christian Activity Center at 6 pm.
 This year's inductees include wrestling champion Victor Bell, KMHS's all-time leading scorer in basketball Hannah Clark, one time state record holder for 3-point field goals Bryan Leftwich and a highly recruited football player from 1975 Carl Roseboro.
State Champions Will Varner and Max Thompson will be recognized along with Distinguished Service Awards to Andrew Brown and Larry McDaniel. Ten KMHS student- athletes will receive a $1,000.00 scholarship for their contributions in the classroom and on the field.
Tickets for the event are $15.00. They may be purchased at the door, at Ingrams Barber Shop in KM or from Commitee Members.
Screen shot 2025 04 10 at 11.05.30 am
Pictured L-R: CCC Athletic Director Dr. Andy Gardner, Head Coach Jabarr Adams and President Dr. Jason Hurst. (Photo provided)

Jabarr Adams named New Head Coach of Yetis Men’s Basketball

In a recent press conference , Cleveland Community College President Dr. Jason Hurst officially announced Jabarr Adams as the new Head Coach of the Yetis Men’s Basketball program. Adams succeeds former head coach Grayson Pierce.
Adams, who joined the Yetis in 2024 as Associate Head Coach, brings a dynamic blend of collegiate and high school coaching experience, coupled with a passion for mentoring student-athletes and fostering success on and off the court.
“Coach Adams is not only an exceptional coach, he is an outstanding leader and educator,” said Dr. Hurst. “His dedication to student success, both academically and athletically, aligns perfectly with the mission of Yetis Athletics and Cleveland Community College.”
Coach Adams’ coaching résumé spans over a decade, including:
• Nine years as an NCAA assistant coach, competing in top-tier conferences such as the Peach Belt and Mid-American.
• Five NCAA Division II tournament appearances.
• Development of 16 all-conference collegiate players.
• Seventeen athletes who have gone on to sign professional basketball contracts.
Before transitioning to the college ranks, Adams made a significant mark in high school basketball:
• Seven years as a head coach at West Cabarrus and Mallard Creek High Schools.
• One year as assistant head coach at Ashbrook High School.
• Ten all-conference players coached during his high school tenure.
In addition to his coaching duties, Adams serves as an instructor in the Health and Physical Education department at Cleveland Community College, further reinforcing his commitment to holistic student development.
Adams now steps into the head coach role with a clear vision for the future of Yetis Basketball.
“I’m honored and excited to lead this program,” said Adams. “We have a strong foundation and a talented group of student-athletes who are hungry to grow. My goal is to build a culture of discipline, respect, and resilience—values that extend to the classroom and far beyond the hardwood.”
As the Yetis turn the page to a new chapter, the program is poised for continued growth and competitive excellence under Adams’ leadership.
“Coach Adams has an incredible ability to connect with student-athletes and bring out the best in them—both as players and as young men,” said Andy Gardner, Athletics Director at Cleveland Community College. “His experience at every level of the game, combined with his integrity and leadership, make him the right choice to lead Yetis Men’s Basketball into its next chapter. We’re proud to have him at the helm and expect continued success in the classroom and on the court.”
Please join us in congratulating Coach Jabarr Adams on his new role as Head Coach of the Yetis Men’s Basketball team. We are excited to see where he will take the program in this new era of Yeti pride.

Lady Mountaineers whip
Cramer and Forestview

Kings Mountain High’s women’s softball team defeated Stuart Cramer and Forestview in Big South 3A Conference games last week but dropped a non-conference game to a talented West Lincoln team.
Maddie Huffman struck out 19 batters to lead the KM ladies in last Tuesday night’s win over Stuart Cramer in Cramerton.
Kayla McSwain led a 13-hit KM attack with 3-for-4 and three runs batted in. Kings Mountain amassed 13 hits with McSwain, Paige Fleming and Avery Cruise each collecting multiple hits.
Huffman threw an immaculate inning in the sixth, striking out the side on nine pitches.
The Lady Mountaineers came up one run short to a strong West Lincoln team Wednesday at home. The visitors scored five runs in the first inning to get the early jump.
Kayla McSwain homered in the bottom of the first and Paige Fleming also had a solo home run in the sixth.
Anna Wooten took the tough luck loss for the Lady Mountaineers, going three innings and striking out four. Maddie Huffman came on in relief and gave up just one hit while fanning 10 and walking none.
Avery Cruise led the Lady Mountaineers with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate and assisting in a 6-5-4 double play.
The ladies returned to conference play Friday at home and defeated Forestview 7-1. Huffman pitched a two-hitter and struck out 20 Lady Jaguars.
Huffman also had a big night at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Avery Cruise went 2-for-4 with one RBI and Dixon-Valez, Anna Wooten and Paige Fleming added a hit apiece.
KM broke a scoreless tie with a run in the fourth, five in the fifth and one in the sixth. Forestview finally scored in the seventh.
Kings Mountain was scheduled to host Ashbrook last night and is scheduled to go to South Point Thursday. After that, they will be on spring break and return to action on April 25 in a 6 p.m. contest with Crest at KMHS. The ladies will end the regular season with a home game against Hunter Huss on April 29 and a road game at North Gaston on May 2.

Mountaineers sweep Jaguars

Kings Mountain High swept Forestview 13-1 and 9-3 in games played last week.
The Mountaineers broke a 1-1 tie with six runs in the second inning to break open Tuesday’s contest. KM finished with six runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
The Mountaineers outhit the Jaguars 12-4.
Carter Roberts led the Mountaineers at the plate. He went 3-for-3, including five runs batted in and a home run.
Lawson Kennedy was 2-for-4 with a triple and three runs batted in. Austyn Clark was 2-for-3 with a double.
Luke Heavner went 2-for-5. Jordan Buchanan was 1-for-2 with a double, Luke Heavner 2-for-5, KB Richards 1-for-2 and Wesley Turner 1-for-4.
Gavyn Manson pitched one inning, fanning three, and Wesley Turner worked the final five innings. He gave up just four hits and struck out eight.
Benjamin Denton had four of Forestview’s hits.
In Friday’s game, the Mountaineers were led by KJ Bell and Luke Heavner with two hits each. Cole Groves had a hit and two runs batted in and Carter Roberts, Vance Johnson and Lawson Kennedy had a hit apiece.
Manson worked two innings and fanned four. KJ Bell pitched five innings and allowed just two hits while fanning eight.