Brian Nance - Randolph Record

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…

13 Dec

Blue Comets show different traits early in boys’ basketball season

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brian Nance, Elijah Woodle, Prep Basketball

MT. HERMON – It looks different and might feel different for the Asheboro boys’ basketball team. But the Blue Comets have been winning nonetheless in what might be a season in transition. Following a 23-win season, coach Brian Nance said he knew there would be different challenges. “They’re still cutting their teeth a little bit,” Nance said of his team. Some of the high-scoring outcomes might not be as frequent for the Blue Comets, who entered this week with a 5-1 record. They’ve already discovered there are different ways to succeed. “It’s a lot different,” senior forward Osiris Rodriguez said.…

09 Jul

Asheboro’s Stanback to miss N.C. East-West All-Star Game

Bob SuttonSportsAppalachian State, Asheboro Blue Comets, Brian Nance, College Basketball, Jerquarius Stanback, North Carolina East-West All-Star Game, Prep Basketball

ASHEBORO – Jerquarius Stanback of Asheboro won’t play in next week’s North Carolina East-West All-Star Game because of an injury stemming from late in the basketball season. Stanback, an Appalachian State signee, is dealing with a wrist injury that might require surgery, Asheboro coach Brian Nance said. “He fell in that playoff game and just landed on it,” Nance said. “There’s something in the wrist.” Stanback was injured in a violent tumble during a first-round game of the Class 3A state playoffs vs. visiting Carson. He suffered a concussion and other ailments and missed Asheboro’s second-round loss to Asheville Reynolds.…

24 Feb

Prep boys: Special season ends on downer for Blue Comets; Eastern Randolph advances

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brian Nance, Camden Walker, D.J. Headen, Davonte Brooks, Hakeeme Butler, nchsaa, Pierce Leonard, Prep Basketball, Trinity athletics

Hakeeme Butler tries to get Asheboro on the board in the first quarter of Thursday night’s loss to Greensboro Smith in the Class 3-A state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Asheboro’s special season in boys’ basketball didn’t come to a fitting conclusion. That’s what made losing so hard to grasp for the Blue Comets. Ambushed from the start by Greensboro Smith, Asheboro couldn’t sustain any of its rallies long enough in a 73-46 loss in the second round of the Class 3-A state playoffs Thursday night at raucous Asheboro Recreation Center. “That’s the thing about this team, we all…

13 Feb

Prep Boys: Blue Comets hit decades-long high

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brian Nance, Davonte Brooks, Dominic Payne, Dylan Hodges, Jerquarius Stanback, Mid-Piedmont Conference, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, sean adkins, Tanner Marsh

Asheboro’s Jerquarius Stanback goes up for a shot last week against Ledford’s Whit Denny. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – There are lots of reasons that have made this a special season for the Asheboro boys’ basketball team. The goal will be to keep it going. The Blue Comets won the Mid-Piedmont Conference’s regular season, going through that portion of conference play without a loss for the first time since 1976. “We knew we would have some success in conference,” veteran coach Brian Nance said. “We had a good first half (of league play) and next thing you know, you’re 6-0,…