Prep Basketball: Cougars hit early glitch as girls’ season begins

Southwestern Randolph’s Maddie Strider clutches the ball in front of Ledford’s Carmen Hughes during last week’s game. (Jann Ortiz / For Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO — There will be no long season-opening winning streak for the Southwestern Randolph girls’ basketball team this season.

The Cougars opened the season with a 39-27 loss to Ledford last week, trailing 21-12 at halftime.

Last season, Southwestern Randolph won its first 25 games before a Feb. 21 setback.

There was a splattering of games involving area teams last week.

** Uwharrie Charter Academy improved to 5-0 by topping visiting Albemarle 42-21 as Nevaeh Staples racked up 16 points and Lainey Thomas had 14 points.

** Providence Grove clobbered visiting Chatham Charter 60-14.

** Asheboro split pair of home games. Northwest Guilford rolled past the Blue Comets 52-25 before Asheboro’s Maliyah Brady had 20 points in a 53-18 romp past Thomasville. Laneane Scherer added 17 points in the victory.

Asheboro, in its second game of the season, notched its first victory under first-year coach Wes Luther on Nov. 21 by winning 57-40 at Trinity.

** Wheatmore had a 42-4 blasting of host North Moore.

** Southern Lee won 53-34 at Eastern Randolph.

Boys’ basketball

Asheboro responded from a setback by winning the next night, defeating visiting Thomasville 69-55 as Jewel Barrett-Riggins tallied 20 points and Nirey White had 19 points.

The Blue Comets earlier lost 65-56 to visiting Northwest Guilford following road victories during the first week of the season against Rockingham County and Trinity.

** Southwestern Randolph fell 82-46 in its opener to visiting Ledford despite Trivett Kennedy’s 15 points.

** Wheatmore prevailed for the first time in three games by winning 68-48 at North Moore with Avery Ivey pouring in 28 points.

** Providence Grove dropped a 56-52 home decision to Chatham Charter, losing its second close outcome in as many games. Andrew Thomas had 23 points and Will Dabbs added 16 points for the Patriots.

** Uwharrie Charter Academy fell to 1-3 with a 58-47 home loss to Albemarle.