Asheboro’s Elijah Woodle goes up for a shot against Chatham Central as teammate Osiris Rodriguez looks on during action in last month’s holiday tournament. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)
ASHEBORO – The beginning of play in the Mid-Piedmont Conference gives the Asheboro boys’ basketball team something fresh to experience.
The Blue Comets are looking for another strong effort in league competition.
With a 9-3 overall record, there’s plenty to be excited about.
“We just want to win,” forward Zak Blackwell said. “We put in all the work.”
Veteran coach Brian Nance’s team won nine of its first 10 games. So there was a nice foundation coming together after last season’s powerhouse team needed replenishments in some areas.
“We showed some flashes,” Nance said. “We’re hoping it carries over.”
The Blue Comets were hoping to avenge a loss to Randleman, but instead ended up as runner-up in the SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational last month at home. Then last week’s non-conference setback at Eastern Randolph came against another team that challenged Asheboro.
The Blue Comets want to be prepared for the Mid-Piedmont Conference slate, which begins this week.
“The same thing we’ve been doing for years,” senior forward Osiris Rodriquez said. “After six or seven games, we started getting together and it was like perfect team chemistry.”
Last season’s 23-4 overall record included a second-place regular-season finish in Mid-Piedmont Conference play, but the Blue Comets avenged two losses to Central Davidson to win the league tournament.
While Jerquarius Stanback and Camden Walker provided Asheboro a potent inside-outside attack as seniors last season, there’s a different make-up with the Blue Comets. That made the November and December games critical to finding the right combinations.
Sophomore guard Gabrial Jaimes is a perimeter threat for the Blue Comets. He spent last season with Uwharrie Charter Academy.
“I’m a shooter out there,” Jaimes said. “Our shooting is getting better.”
Also available is reserve sophomore Jeremiah Stanback, younger brother of last season’s standout.
“He just needs to play more,” Nance said.
Rodriguez has been the team leader in scoring and rebounding. He said it’s clear the Blue Comets need more consistency on offense.
Blackwell said the Blue Comets realized even with some of their victories that there are plenty of areas to work on. He said the team can count on a high level of enthusiasm.
“The whole team helps with the energy,” Blackwell said.
With only six teams in the conference, league games all show up on the calendar following the holidays. Five of the teams hold .500 or better records in non-league play.
“It’s 10 games and they go fast,” Nance said. “It’s going to be interesting.”
