ASHEBORO – The Asheboro boys’ basketball team breezed through three games in the SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational on its home court.
The tournament didn’t provide much variety for the Blue Comets, who defeated teams it had already defeated a total of five times earlier this season.
The title game Friday night at least proved to be a rubber match, with Asheboro trouncing Randleman 63-41 after the teams split two earlier meetings.
Jerquarius Stanback of Asheboro was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He averaged 24.7 points per game across three games.
The Blue Comets (11-1) entered the new year on an eight-game winning streak.
Asheboro opened by defeating Providence Grove 72-40. In the semifinals, the Cougars took down Southwestern Randolph 69-30.
In the first boys’ game of tournament, Randleman defeated Eastern Guilford 53-52 on Connor Cassidy’s free throw with 3.5 seconds to play. Chase Farlow scored 15 points and Tyshaun Goldston had 12 points to lead Randleman.
The Tigers had an easier time in the semifinals, defeating West Brunswick 63-45.
Southwestern Randolph ended up fourth, falling 55-43 to West Brunswick in the third-place consolation game. The Cougars opened the tournament by topping North Carolina Leadership Academy 66-50.
Trinity went 2-1 in the tournament for a fifth-place finish. The Bulldogs lost 63-56 to West Brunswick in the first round.
Trinity responded to defeat Eastern Guilford 71-50 and Providence Grove 66-53.
Providence Grove ended up sixth, defeating N.C. Leadership Academy 58-55 in the first consolation round before falling to Trinity.
Lee County Tournament
At Sanford, Eastern Randolph won its final two games after falling in the opener.
Lee County topped the Wildcats 73-61 in the opening round. Eastern Randolph ended up in fifth place after defeating Western Harnett 58-56 and Overhills 66-53.
Those results put Eastern Randolph’s record at 4-4, reflecting one more loss than all of last season.
