Prep boys: Asheboro Blue Comets make more statements

ASHEBORO – It was quite a week for Asheboro’s boys’ basketball team.

The Blue Comets topped a strong in-county team to wrap up non-conference play and then won its Mid-Piedmont Conference opener.

It all added up to a 10-game winning streak entering this week.

Asheboro defeated visiting Eastern Randolph 80-75 in a highly anticipated matchup behind Jerquarius Stanback’s 26 points and David Rodriguez’s 25 points.

The game pitted last season’s regular-season champions from the Mid-Piedmont Conference and Piedmont Athletic Conference. It was the first time the Blue Comets and Wildcats met in four years.

Eastern Randolph countered with 21 points from Timothy Brower and 20 points from Nicah Taylor.

When Asheboro defeated host Oak Grove 72-63 to begin conference play, Camden Walker poured in 29 points.

** Randleman’s Connor Cassidy made a tiebreaking 3-point basket on the Tigers’ final possession in a 60-57 home victory against Southwestern Randolph in Friday night’s PAC game. Cassidy, who took a pass from Tyshaun Goldston for the winning basket, had 24 points.

Marcus Robertson’s 25 points led the Cougars.

Randleman and Trinity both got off to 3-0 starts in PAC play. Those teams will meet for the first time this season Jan. 23 at Trinity.

** Goldson had 25 points and Cassidy posted 19 points earlier in the week when Randleman won 68-50 at Oak Grove.

** Eastern Randolph won a PAC home game by 80-50 against Wheatmore, with Brower tallying 29 points and Taylor adding 16.

** Dominic Payne’s 31 points and Brandon Campbell’s 30 points provided a large chunk of the offense as Trinity defeated visiting Uwharrie Charter Academy 85-52 in PAC play.

** Southwestern Randolph edged host South Stanly 45-39 earlier in the week in non-league action with Nathan Ellis scoring 20 points and Robertson checking in with 15 points.

** Providence Grove captured a 62-54 non-conference victory against visiting Chatham Central with Gabe McKoy and James Ellis each supplying 16 points. Half of the Patriots’ four victories have come against Chatham Central.