Asheboro Blue Comets - Randolph Record

14 Jan

It’s hard to pin down new Asheboro wrestling coach

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Braxton Walker, Cliff Thompson, Gavin Hardister, prep wrestling, Wes Berrier

Asheboro wrestling coach Cliff Thompson, left, shares a laugh with assistant coach Scott Bainville at a recent meet. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Cliff Thompson has coached an assortment of area wrestlers in and around Randolph County. So in his role as first-year Asheboro coach, he’s familiar with just about anyone he comes across on the mats. He has been questioned by his wrestlers: “Why everybody talk to you?” It’s because Thompson is well-known in wrestling circles. He said he’s glad he has landed with the Blue Comets. Thompson, a 1998 Randleman graduate, won a state championship as…

10 Jan

Schools in Randolph County react to NCHSAA league proposals

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Chris Chapman, Chris Waddell, Cody Moran, Corey Phillips, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, realignment, Robert Mitchell, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wes Berrier, Wheatmore Warriors

ASHEBORO – The proposed conference make-ups for the next North Carolina High School Athletic Association realignment look good to officials from most Randolph County schools. That’s not to say adjustments won’t be sought from some schools, including Southwestern Randolph. “We’re researching some things,” athletics director Chris Chapman said. The new league lineups come as the NCHSAA expands from four to eight classifications beginning in the summer to begin a four-year cycle. The initial draft of conferences was unveiled in December. Schools have until Jan. 21 to appeal for changes. “I think the state did a real good job of thinking…

07 Jan

Asheboro Blue Comets look toward conference basketball challenges

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brian Nance, Mid-Piedmont Conference, Osiris Rodriguez, Prep Basketball

Asheboro’s Elijah Woodle goes up for a shot against Chatham Central as teammate Osiris Rodriguez looks on during action in last month’s holiday tournament. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The beginning of play in the Mid-Piedmont Conference gives the Asheboro boys’ basketball team something fresh to experience. The Blue Comets are looking for another strong effort in league competition. With a 9-3 overall record, there’s plenty to be excited about. “We just want to win,” forward Zak Blackwell said. “We put in all the work.” Veteran coach Brian Nance’s team won nine of its first 10 games. So…

05 Jan

Prep basketball roundup: Eastern Randolph’s late surge tops Asheboro boys

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Laurel Bernhardt, Osiris Rodriguez, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots, Timothy Brower, Wheatmore Warriors

RAMSEUR – Timothy Brower scored 22 points and Eastern Randolph pulled out a 66-50 victory against visiting Asheboro in Friday night’s non-conference boys’ basketball game. The Wildcats posted 20 of the game’s last 24 points. Tyler Gee scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and Camden Jones finished with 16 points. For Asheboro, Jewel Barrett-Riggins had 14 points and Osiris Rodriguez notched 10 points. In the girls’ game, Eastern Randolph won 47-32 as Raegan Beaver’s 14 points and Cora Sparrow’s 13 points led the way. ** Southwestern Randolph swept road games at Chatham Central on Friday night.…

30 Dec

Randleman Tigers build more momentum, take boys’ title in holiday tourney

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brayden Chapman, Chase Farlow, holiday tournament, Jireh Price, Osiris Rodriguez, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Tyshaun Goldston

Randleman’s Tyshaun Goldston goes up for a shot as Asheboro’s Jalial Timmons, left, applies pressure and Randleman’s Chase Farlow and Asheboro’s Zak Blackwell look on. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – As the good times keep rolling for Randleman’s boys’ basketball team, it’s what the Tigers expect. “I’m not really surprised,” senior Tyshaun Goldston said. “We could play a little better, but we should be in the spot we’re in.” After winning last week’s SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational, Randleman has made it almost halfway through the regular season without a loss. “It’s a talented group, a bunch of seniors and…

29 Dec

Southwestern Randolph girls keep adding to special season by winning holiday tournament

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, holiday tournament, Macy Allred, Maddie Strider, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs

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…

27 Dec

Two girls’ teams, two boys’ teams from Randolph County win tourney openers in Asheboro

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Burlington Williams, Chatham Charter, holiday tournament, Lexington Yellowjackets, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Thomasville Bulldogs, Trinity Bulldogs

Randleman’s Chenleigh Robinson goes up for a shot against Eastern Guilford’s Mauri Jerman during the opening day of the Sportstone.net Invitational in Asheboro. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The opening day of the Sportstone.net Invitational lacked late-game drama, but there were a good number of positive developments for Randolph County entrants. The girls’ and boys’ basketball tournament continues Friday and Saturday at Asheboro High School. There were a couple of notable rallies for Randolph County girls’ teams – one that panned out and another that fizzled. Here’s a look at a few of Thursday’s highlights from the eight-game…

26 Dec

NCHSAA’s conference draft could spread out Randolph County schools

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, nchsaa, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, realignment, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

New league alignments within the NCHSAA begin by summer Randolph County schools will be spread out when it comes to conference affiliations based on an initial draft sent to schools from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Schools can provide feedback on the drafts before those are finalized, likely in January. The new alignments, which are developed to be in place for four years, begin next summer. The NCHSAA is expanding from four classifications to eight, so there are bound to be different combinations when it comes to conference set-ups. The drafts reveal more split conferences (leagues with schools…

24 Dec

Holiday tourney presents new challenges in Asheboro

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, holiday tournament, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs

Southwestern Randolph’s Sara-Kate Marion, left, and Asheboro’s Jalyia Andrews reach for the ball earlier this season. Both teams will be in the holiday tournament at Asheboro. ASHEBORO – The defending champions in the SportsTone.net Christmas Invitational will have different challenges if those basketball teams take paths back to titles this week. Asheboro’s boys and Southwestern Randolph girls will aim to repeat, though the field of teams is different from a season ago. There are eight-team brackets for both the boys and girls. Games will be held Thursday through Saturday at Asheboro High School. New entrants are Burlington Williams, Chatham Charter,…

23 Dec

Prep basketball: Randleman boys pass key early test in PAC

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Jordin George, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Timothy Brower, Trinity Bulldogs, Tyshaun Goldston, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Eastern Randolph’s Timothy Brower tries to launch a shot between Randleman’s Chase Farlow, left, and Tyshaun Goldston at the end of last week’s game in Ramseur. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph’s girls’ team makes statement by beating reigning PAC champ RAMSEUR – Tyshaun Goldson scored 22 points as Randleman prevailed 47-45 for a Piedmont Athletic Conference road victory at Eastern Randolph last week in Piedmont Athletic Conference boys’ basketball. Eastern Randolph’s Timothy Brower racked up 21 points against Randleman. Randleman then fended off host Southwestern Randolph 61-39 to end the week. The Tigers also topped visiting Oak Grove…