Prep Basketball

Prep Roundup: Asheboro has mixed basketball results; Randleman wrestlers excel

Prep Roundup: Asheboro has mixed basketball results; Randleman wrestlers excel

Trinity’s Grayson Earls goes up for a shot in a game against Jordan-Matthews during last week’s victory in boys’ basketball. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)   Here’s some highlights from last week’s high school boys’ basketball games: ** On the boys’ side, Randleman topped visiting Asheboro 70-46 last week despite Jerquarius Stanback’s 33 points. Then on Friday, Stanback scored 33 points again, leading Asheboro in a 68-51 victory at Southwestern Randolph ** Trinity’s Dominic Payne scored 28 points in a 56-44 home loss to Oak Grove. Earlier in the week, Payne tallied 27 points as the Bulldogs defeated visiting Jordan-Matthews 56-53. Payne’s…
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Prep Roundup: Trinity’s Payne puts up big points

Some big scoring outputs were highlights in last week’s limited high school basketball schedule. The biggest of those came in a boys’ game. Dominic Payne of Trinity poured in 53 points in a 78-72 loss at Southern Guilford. That came one night after Payne’s 44 points in a 77-41 whipping of host East Davidson. Asheboro’s Jerquarius Stanback posted 25 points in a 53-39 road victory at Providence Grove. Stanback then raked up 29 points when the Blue Comets defeated Westchester Country Day School 79-60 on Friday in High Point. On the girls’ side, Providence Grove needed overtime to edge Asheboro…
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Prep Roundup: Asheboro, Trinity, Providence Grove boys win basketball openers

Prep Roundup: Asheboro, Trinity, Providence Grove boys win basketball openers

Asheboro’s Guillermo Santos, top, works the back of Providence Grove's Josh Fogleman during a heavyweight bout last week in Asheboro. Santos won the match. (Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – There was a sampling of season-opening basketball games for some Randolph County schools Friday night. That included Southwestern Randolph and Asheboro splitting a pair of meetings. In the girls’ game, Caressa King’s 20 points led host Southwestern Randolph to a 67-33 triumph against Asheboro. On the boys’ side, Asheboro won 70-43 behind Jerquarius Stanback’s 26 points and Camden Walker’s 22 points. ** Trinity opened the season with a 71-42 whipping of visiting…
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Prep Roundup: UCA boys win first under new coach

Prep Roundup: UCA boys win first under new coach

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Aaron Smith shoots over Woods Charter’s Levi Haygood. (Gene Galin/Randolph Record) SUMMERFIELD – Preston Steele’s debut as boys’ basketball coach at Uwharrie Charter Academy went well. The Eagles posted a 53-21 road victory at Bethany Community last Thursday. That was followed by Friday’s 66-34 triumph at Woods Charter. UCA girls won their opener as well, prevailing 60-48 at Bethany Community behind Nevaeh Staples’ 17 points and Lainey Thomas’ 15 points. Next, the Eagles won 66-21 at Woods Charter with Staples scoring 16 points. Boys’ soccer Southwestern Randolph’s season ended with a 3-2 home loss to Lincoln Charter…
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New UCA basketball coach knows Eagles

New UCA basketball coach knows Eagles

ASHEBORO – Preston Steele has had connections to Uwharrie Charter Academy boys’ basketball players and those are becoming stronger. Steele is the team’s new coach. He took the position after it came open a few weeks ago. “I think it was the need that they had,” Steele said. “Things played out fast. I want to make sure the boys are invested in the way they should be.” Brad Monroe was the coach for eight seasons, according to an online listing. He also had been athletics director for some of that time at the school. Steele had been coach of the…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kearns Trotter

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kearns Trotter

Southwestern Randolph, basketball / tennis Kearns Trotter made his mark on the courts for Southwestern Randolph, both in basketball and tennis. He wrapped up his career with the Cougars on a couple of teams with winning records. Those squads were Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season runners-up. Trotter, a guard, made regular contributions for the boys’ basketball team. Among those was 11 points in a home upset of eventual Class 1-A state finalist Eastern Randolph. Trotter wasn’t done after the winter. In boys’ tennis, he was named to the All-PAC team in each of the past two seasons. *During the summer, we…
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Widespread success reshapes Eastern Randolph’s reputation

Widespread success reshapes Eastern Randolph’s reputation

Among the thrills for Eastern Randolph during the past school year came following a road victory against South Stokes in the boys’ basketball state playoffs as coach Johnny Thomas and the team celebrate. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)   RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph had a different kind of school year in 2022-23. For athletics director Foster Cates, the perception of athletics at the school might be changing. That’s because the Wildcats advanced to the Class 1-A state championship game in boys’ basketball. That had never happened before. “It has been such a football and baseball dominant school forever,” Cates said. “I wanted…
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Providence Grove finds next girls’ coach

Providence Grove finds next girls’ coach

CLIMAX – Providence Grove moved quickly this summer to hire a new girls’ basketball coach. Johnathan Gainey is the new coach, filling the vacancy caused by the departure of Dylan Eppley. Gainey previously coached girls’ teams at Winston-Salem Prep and Winston-Salem Reynolds. He also was the boys’ basketball coach at his alma mater, Kernersville Glenn. Eppley left Providence Grove after three seasons to become the boys’ basketball coach at Southern Alamance. “I felt like this was a move that I needed,” Eppley said of a chance to expand his professional experiences. Eppley’s Providence Grove teams had a 26-37 record, including…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zane Cheek

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zane Cheek

Providence Grove, multi-sport Cheek was active in each of the sports seasons, beginning as a multi-purpose back for the football team. He averaged more than 90 rushing yards per game as a senior in 2022. He again was selected as an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference player. He was one of Providence Grove’s key players in boys’ basketball as a guard. He wrapped up his prep career as a sprinter on the track and field team. His twin brother, Zander Cheek, also was a standout athlete for the Patriots. ** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.
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Wheatmore’s new basketball coach familiar with rivalries

Wheatmore’s new basketball coach familiar with rivalries

Craig Shoemaker is Wheatmore’s new boys’ basketball coach. (Courtesy photo) TRINITY – The more Craig Shoemaker learned about Wheatmore’s boys’ basketball program, the more he became interested in becoming the next coach. So he accepted the job and he’ll try another rebuilding project. “I was looking for a job,” Shoemaker said. “I didn’t know too much about Wheatmore. Seemed like they want someone to build it. I was very impressed by what I heard and saw.” Shoemaker had huge success during several seasons in 13 years at Ragsdale and more recently coached at Leadership Academy in Kernersville. Last season, the…
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