Asheboro’s Hakeeme Butler goes up in the lane against Central Davidson during the semifinals of the Mid-Piedmont Tournament last week at Oak Grove.
WINSTON-SALEM – Asheboro’s boys’ basketball team made it happen when it mattered most in the Mid-Piedmont Conference. The Blue Comets took down top-seeded Ledford 60-52 in Friday night’s final at Oak Grove.
It was a balanced effort offensively for Asheboro, which received 14 points from Jerquarius Stanback, 13 points from Tramir Martin, 12 points from Hakeeme Butler and eight points from Tanner Marsh.
It was the third meeting this month between Asheboro and Ledford, with the road team winning each of the first two. Ledford won 60-38 before Asheboro took a 53-52 decision in the regular season.
Asheboro was set to enter the Class 3-A state playoffs this week riding a seven-game winning streak and carrying a 19-7 record.
Balanced scoring was a theme for the Blue Comets in three games in the conference tournament last week. The stretch began with a 69-35 romp past sixth-seeded Montgomery Central in a home quarterfinal game, with Butler providing 13 points and Stanback, Marsh and Martin all chipping in with 11 points.
Then came the semifinal at Oak Grove, where the Blue Comets prevailed 61-55 against second-seeded Central Davidson. Martin had 17 points and Butler supplied 14 points. DJ Headen, who scored 10 points, made a pair of late free throws to help seal the outcome.
On the girls’ side, fifth-seeded Asheboro tumbled to fourth-seeded Central Davidson in a 42-31 road loss. Sion Martin provided 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Blue Comets.
Asheboro, which won two of its last three regular-season games, finished the season with a 4-20 record a year after reaching the Class 3-A state final.
Top-seeded North Davidson defeated third-seeded Ledford 59-46 to win the conference tournament.
