Southwestern Randolph’s Macy Allred drives against Randleman’s Kadie Green with Cougars coach Seth Baxter looking on during the SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational championship game Saturday night at Asheboro. Southwestern Randolph won to remain undefeated. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)
ASHEBORO – What’s shaping up as a special season for Southwestern Randolph’s girls’ basketball team became even better in the SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational.
The Cougars handled three opponents to remain undefeated.
“We just enjoy playing with each other,” guard Maddie Strider said.
Southwestern Randolph capped the tournament by defeating Piedmont Athletic Conference rival Randleman 42-30 on Saturday night.
Strider’s 14 points and Macy Allred’s 10 points led the way offensively as both were selected for the all-tournament team. Jordin George had 10 rebounds in the final and was named tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Coach Seth Baxter said he likes how it has come together through the first month-plus of the season.
“We’ve got veteran leadership,” Baxter said. “This group has played together and they’ve played for me for a while.”
With seniors Allred, Gracie Hodgin and Kenzie Martin joined by juniors Strider and Jordin George in the starting lineup, it’s a good mix.
Martin, a third-year starter and fourth-year contributor, said every season there are various challenges as the team tries to peak.
“We are different from other years,” Martin said. “We just grow each game.”
That’s part of what excites Baxter about the team.
“For us, just trying to get better,” he said.
He likes the determination even when the Cougars have enjoyed wide margins.
“There’s a loose ball and we’re still diving for it,” he said.
As a bonus, the Cougars had sophomore guard Nautica Parrish available for the first time this season in the tournament as she’s coming off a knee injury.
The Cougars (11-0) insist they’re aware of what’s to come.
“We’re definitely people’s target,” George said. “People are going to play harder against us.”
Jacquline McDowell’s 19 points and Gracie Beane’s eight points led Randleman in the title game.
Southwestern Randolph, the defending champion, stopped Chatham Charter 58-22 in the first round and ended Burlington Williams’ seven-game winning streak with a 55-43 decision in the semifinals.
Randleman (7-5) reached the final by overcoming Eastern Guilford 40-27 and avenging a loss to Lexington by 42-35.
The Tigers fell behind 14-0 to Eastern Guilford before finally getting cranked up. McDaniel had 16 points and Chenleigh Robinson finished with 13 points, helping avenge last December’s opening-round loss to the Wildcats.
McDaniel and Robinson were all-tournament choices.
Asheboro (3-8), the host school, ended up sixth, losing to Eastern Guilford 53-16 a day after winning 39-32 in a consolation-round game against Chatham Charter.
The Blue Comets lost 66-43 on the opening day to Burlington Williams. They were on the wrong side of a 23-8 score at the end of the first quarter and closed within 29-24 by halftime before fading again.
Trinity (7-7) defeated Chatham Charter 56-23 in the seventh-place game following losses to Lexington by 55-9 and Eastern Guilford by 47-18.
Also on the all-tournament team were Makayla Bobo (Lexington), Mi’Keina Springfield (Burlington Williams), Mauri Jerman (Eastern Guilford), Laneane Scherer (Asheboro), Madison Hill (Trinity) and Peyton York (Chatham Charter). Malaika Khan of Asheboro received the Sportsmanship Award.
