Sports - Randolph Record

21 Jul

Teen creates family connection at Caraway

Bob SuttonSports

ASHEBORO — When Blaise Brinkley is behind the wheel of his stock car at Caraway Speedway, there are all sorts of connections that surface. “I get told that every time I go race out there,” Brinkley said of spectators recalling his father’s racing days. “They said, ‘I watched your dad here and he was a wheelman.’ ” That’s in reference to Brad Brinkley, a past champion at the track. Now there’s a new generation emerging, with 18-year-old Blaise Brinkley leading the Late Models points as the 2021 season has passed the midway mark. “He races more like a veteran,” Brad…

21 Jul

Bucks win NBA title

Cory LavaletteSportsNBA

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo had the Larry O’Brien Trophy in one arm, the NBA Finals MVP trophy in the other and there was a cigar on the table in front of him. All the work it took to lift the Milwaukee Bucks from a team that won 15 games when he was a rookie to one with 16 wins this postseason was finally finished. “This is time to celebrate,” Antetokounmpo said. Milwaukee waited 50 years for that. Antetokounmpo ended one of the greatest NBA Finals ever with 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Bucks beat the…

19 Jul

Copperheads see plenty of UNCG influence

Bob SuttonSportsasheboro copperheads, Coastal Plain League, coppherheads, UNC Greensboro, UNCG

ASHEBORO — When something notable happens for the Asheboro Copperheads, there’s a good chance it could have something to do with one of their players from UNC Greensboro. The time this summer with the Coastal Plain League team has been an ideal proving grounds for the college players. “It’s top-level competition, really good,” said infielder Matt Kemp, who’s from Randleman. “It’s better than I thought it would be.” While Kemp is getting back in the swing of things after his freshman season, pitcher Jared Mathewson is trying to tune up for a final go-around at the college level. “It has…

19 Jul

Wake Forest teen collects title in Asheboro

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro, Asheboro Municipal Golf Course, Davis Wotnosky, Wake Forest

ASHEBORO — Davis Wotnosky of Wake Forest won the North Carolina Junior Boys’ 14-and-under championship last week at Asheboro Municipal Golf Course. Wotnosky shot rounds of 71 and 69 for an even-par 140, giving him a one-shot victory on John John Santospago (69-72) of Charlotte. Matthews’ Caedmon Albertyn and Winston-Salem’s Luke Tisdale shot 144s to tie for third place, while Wallburg’s Lincoln Newton, Morganton’s Alex Bock and Waxhaw’s Lucas Cron shot 146s to share fifth place in the 55-golfer field. Clodfelter contends at qualifier At Mebane, Jake Clodfelter of Trinity came up a few strokes shy of advancing in a…

07 Jul

Paul carries Suns past Giannis, Bucks in NBA Finals opener

Associated PressSportsChris Paul, NBA

PHOENIX — Chris Paul waited 16 years to get to the NBA Finals, bringing with him a team starving for its first championship. The setting was entirely new. The performance was same ol’ Chris Paul. “Just knew he’s ready,” Phoenix forward Mikal Bridges said. “He’s prepared his whole life for this moment and it shows out there on the court.” Paul had 32 points and nine assists in an NBA Finals debut that was well worth the wait, Devin Booker scored 27 points and the Suns beat the returning Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Milwaukee Bucks 118-105 on Tuesday night in…

07 Jul

Bigger crowds at Caraway as season passes midpoint

Randolph RecordSportsCaraway, racing

ASHEBORO — The racing season has sped past the midway mark at Caraway Speedway, and there are encouraging signs, general manager Darren Hackett said. The ninth card of the season produced one of the bigger crowds of the year for Saturday night’s Rusty Harpe Memorial. “It hit pretty much what I had in mind,” Hackett said of a turnout of about 3,000 spectators. “So far, I’m satisfied.” What might not have been anticipated was the winner of the SMART Star race. That was Concord’s Gary Putnam, who claimed the 100-lap feature in the No. 77 car. Putnam passed Caleb Heady…

06 Jul

White’s no-hitter propels Randleman to 2A state title

Randolph RecordSportsbaseball, Education, Randleman

Ryan White had only one thing in mind when he took the mound for the final inning of Saturday’s NCHSAA 2A championship series finale at Burlington Athletic Stadium. Win the state title for his Randleman High School baseball team. Finishing off the no-hitter was just a bonus. The junior right-hander struck out 11 and walked only two while pitching the Tigers to a 4-0 victory against Rutherfordton-Spindale Central that clinched the second state championship in school history. White’s masterful performance provided an exclamation point to a long day that saw Randleman bounce back from a loss earlier in the day…