RANDLEMAN — That big-game feel worked out for Randleman’s boys’ basketball team Tuesday night.
The Tigers tangled with visiting Eastern Randolph in the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s must-see game, winning 80-72 by producing in clutch situations.
“We wanted to come out and prove that we are the team in the conference,” said Randleman senior forward Chase Farlow, who scored a career-high 25 points.
Tyshaun Goldston poured in 21 points, while Connor Cassidy (12 points), Jireh Price (11 points) and Pacey Wagner (10 points) also were big contributors for the Tigers (16-1 overall, 7-1 PAC), who are alone in first place.
“You love these types of games, a great environment and a little bit of chippiness,” Eastern Randolph forward Will Stalker said. “They got us (in this game). We’re going to see them again.”
Eastern Randolph (7-6, 4-2) made enough key plays to stick close, with 22 of Timothy Brower’s 34 points coming in the second half. Julian Brooks had 17 points.
Randleman coach Dennis Mitchell said the rematch from last month, when his team won 47-45 just a few games into the season, lived up to the billing.
“Both of our teams are at a much higher level now than they were then,” Mitchell said. “We knew that was going to be tough, even though it’s (at) our place.”
Eastern Randolph coach Johnny Thomas said his team largely rose to the occasion amid the high intensity.
“It’s always like that,” Thomas said. “When you get in these kinds of games and make mistakes early on, they get you.”
Goldston said there was an emphasis on containing Brower, something that didn’t always work out. But the Tigers had other things going their way.
“Just pushing the ball in transition,” Goldston said.
“Got some hustle buckets, some run-out buckets and that was really the key,” Farlow said.
The Wildcats endured snags, particularly with guards Tyler Gee and Cade McCallum fouling out by the 4:36 mark.
“We couldn’t stop them on defense,” Stalker said. “When we did get a stop, we turned the ball over and didn’t give ourselves a chance.”
Randleman clung to a narrow lead for most of the final 10 minutes.
“They’re coming down and hitting tough shots every time and pull-up jumpers and 3s,” Mitchell said. “You better step up and make a play, that’s what good basketball teams can do. A lot of teams wilt in that pressure, but our guys, luckily, are old, been there before and they were tough enough to make the plays.”
Randleman led 57-51 on Wagner’s 3-pointer before Brower had shots blocked by Farlow and Goldston on the next possession.
Farlow’s three-point play extended the lead, but later Brooks’ putback made it 66-61. A Brower 3-pointer closed the gap to 74-70 before Goldston’s two free throws, Farlow’s basket on a fastbreak and Wagner’s two foul shots.
“A huge game like that,” Farlow said. “We’ve gone back and forth with those guys all four years I’ve been here. It’s always a tough game. … We needed this one to sweep Eastern and sit in a good spot.”
There were early waves of momentum. Randleman scored the game’s first seven points, but the Wildcats led 22-15 at the end of the quarter on Brower’s 3. The lead grew to 29-21 before Randleman pulled even at 34-34 by halftime.
“There’s still a lot of work we got to do,” Thomas said. “Need to tighten up on defense.”
** In the girls’ game, Randleman rolled to a 68-28 victory behind Jackie McDaniel with 19 points. Addyson Dees and Gracie Beane both scored nine points for the Tigers, who led 41-12 at halftime. For Eastern Randolph, Kenly Whitaker had 10 points.
