Eastern Randolph Wildcats work through growing pains early in boys’ basketball season

Eastern Randolph coach Johnny Thomas offers instruction to Tyler Gee during a game earlier this month against Chatham Charter. Eastern Randolph’s Ayden Welsh is nearby. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)

BURLINGTON — Johnny Thomas admits he’s not known for his patience, but he says his Eastern Randolph boys’ basketball team will be fine in time.

That’s the message after a rough start for the Wildcats.

“We are definitely in a transition stage,” Thomas said after his team dropped to 0-4 last weekend. “We’re very young. We’ve got to get out here and make sure each of the guys understand their roles.”

Under Thomas’ direction, the Wildcats became a small-school power the past three seasons, so this is a bit of unusual territory. They’ve won 18 or more games in each of those seasons, including an appearance in a 2023 state championship game.

There’s no reason for panic, junior guard Tyler Gee said.

“We just have to learn our roles and get better,” Gee said.

Thomas carries a backpack with the words “All gas No brakes.”

So the Wildcats want to be on the attack as they look for breakthroughs this season.

“Once we calm down and can hone in on what (each player’s) specialty is, we’re going to be OK,” Thomas said.

Gee is the most seasoned player on the roster. Senior Antwan Gatling’s role is heightened after he had limited varsity playing time.

Gone is scoring standout Timothy Brower along with a few others who were seniors a year ago.

“It’s a little different,” Gee said. “I have to step up and be a leader and can’t rely on Timmy.”

The roster also is without guards Camden Jones and Cade McCallum, who were both key contributors if not starters last season. Jones is playing for Providence Grove, while McCallum is taking time off to heal after an extended football season when he was Eastern Randolph’s quarterback.

On Saturday, the Wildcats fell into a 24-4 hole against Chapel Hill in the Central City Classic at Burlington Williams. Eastern Randolph climbed back to within 30-20 before falling into a deeper hole in an 83-58 loss.

Emmitt Frye’s 17 points and Gee’s 16 points were tops for the Wildcats. Eastern Randolph’s Kobe Walker missed the game because of another commitment.

Thomas said the Wildcats’ rugged early schedule can pay off later. He has continued a trend of finding challenging games early in the season.

“I’m not running from teams,” he said. “The pressure, they’ll be accustomed to that later in the season. I want to push these guys hard. It’s molding these guys to be aggressive.”

A new league lineup will have certain tall tasks for the Wildcats in the Four Rivers Conference. Northwood, which was the Class 2A state runner-up last March, is in the league.

But there won’t be a lack of enthusiasm from the Wildcats.

“I’m amped up because I’m competitive,” Thomas said. “We’ll be fine.”