Randleman team members pose with some new hardware after the PAC Tournament championship game. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record)
RANDLEMAN – In typical fashion for Randleman’s boys’ basketball team this season, the Tigers had the appropriate responses.
That became the theme in the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament championship game, with Randleman handling the pressure and eventually delivering decisive blows for a 68-56 victory against visiting Eastern Randolph on Friday night in front of a capacity crowd.
“It was our hustle,” Tigers guard Pacey Wagner said. “We play so hard and we play so well together.”
That’s what it took in this third meeting between the PAC’s top two teams. Randleman (23-1) has won each time.
Tyshaun Goldston scored 13 of his 25 points in the first quarter, when the Tigers went up by 10 points. Chase Farlow finished with 16 points, Connor Cassidy had 11 points and Wagner provided 10 points.
Randleman has claimed conference regular-season and tournament championships in back-to-back seasons for the first time.
Timothy Brower posted 18 points, Tyler Gee and 15 points and Julian Brooks supplied 12 points for the Wildcats (16-8).
There was a relentless nature to Randleman’s defense. At times, when the Wildcats looked like they might have an opening, the Tigers were closing fast and Farlow and Goldston got into the shot-blocking act.
“Flying around,” Farlow said. “Because all our guys were flying around.”
Much of the attention was focused on containing Brower, and that generally worked out.
“It felt like we were chasing all night,” Brower said.
But Eastern Randolph chopped into a 13-point deficit a couple of times.
In the third quarter, Gee had a burst with eight of Eastern Randolph’s 10 points before teammate Will Stalker’s basket trimmed the gap to 40-37. Cassidy sank a 3-pointer.
In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats got it to 53-49 on Brower’s drive to the basket.
Cassidy then drilled another 3.
“When we brought it down to four, I thought we were about to (pull it off),” Brower said of thoughts before Cassidy connected. “Then everybody’s demeanor changed.”
Randleman coach Daniel Mitchell wasn’t surprised by how his veteran team reacted.
“They didn’t want to lose,” Mitchell said. “Every time they made their run, we made our run.”
With a 63-56 edge, Goldston sank two free throws with 1:49 to play and Eastern Randolph never scored again.
“We play with a lot of energy,” Cassidy said.
It helped having Goldston’s impact evident from the opening minutes. He made his first five shots from the field.
“When he comes out and he’s kind of really focused on something, when he’s like that, he gets up for the big games,” Mitchell said.
