Prep Basketball - Randolph Record

14 Nov

Prep Roundup: UCA boys win first under new coach

Randolph RecordSportsPrep Basketball, prep cross country, prep soccer, Preston Steele, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics, Zach Hazelwood

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…

13 Oct

New UCA basketball coach knows Eagles

Bob SuttonSportspiedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Preston Steele, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

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…

16 Aug

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kearns Trotter

Randolph RecordSportsAOTW, athlete of the week, Prep Basketball, randolph county sports, tennis

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…

10 Aug

Widespread success reshapes Eastern Randolph’s reputation

Bob SuttonSportsDevonte Brooks, Eastern Randolph athletics, Foster Cates, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Prep Basketball, prep football

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…

08 Aug

Providence Grove finds next girls’ coach

Bob SuttonSportsDylan Eppley, Johnathan Gainey, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Providence Grove athletics

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…

02 Aug

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zane Cheek

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, high school sports, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, prep sports, prep track and field, Providence Grove athletics, Providence Grove football, randolph county sports

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.

06 May

Wheatmore’s new basketball coach familiar with rivalries

Bob SuttonSportsCraig Shoemaker, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Tim Kelly, Wheatmore athletics

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…

28 Apr

Randleman keeps it close to home with new girls’ coach

Bob SuttonSportspiedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Randleman athletics, Steven Rightmyer

Steven Rightmyer was named coach of the Randleman girls’ basketball team. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – The next step in Steven Rightmyer’s coaching ventures takes him to something different, but he’s also familiar with much of what’s involved in Randleman’s girls’ basketball program. He was named the next coach of the Tigers, who’ve been a power the past few years. “I always wanted to be a varsity coach,” Rightmyer said. “It’s a chance to step outside and try a new challenge.” That’s because Rightmyer has mostly been involved in coaching boys’ sports. He moves from his role as boys’ basketball…

22 Apr

Snotherly’s stellar career comes with skills, desire

Bob SuttonSportsBrecken Snotherly, Eastern Randolph, Eastern Randolph athletics, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, prep track and field

Brecken Snotherly had a wide array of ways to score with Eastern Randolph’s girls’ basketball team. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Eastern Randolph senior relishes sports journey RAMSEUR – Brecken Snotherly’s path has taken a few turns during high school, but generally the Eastern Randolph standout athlete has reached her destinations. She put the basketball in the hoop at an alarmingly successful rate and she knows her way around running courses as well. Basketball became her passion and she’ll continue in that sport for East Tennessee State. “Basketball is my main thing,” she said. “I’ve been playing basketball since kindergarten. I just…

18 Apr

Varner leaves post as Randleman girls’ coach

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Varner, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Randleman athletics

Coach Brandon Varner had Randleman’s girls’ basketball team on a winning path. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Brandon Varner’s wildly successful five-season stretch as Randleman’s girls’ basketball coach has come to an end. “Just time to step away,” Varner said. “The biggest thing was the time I was putting into basketball. There’s really no breaks.” Under Varner, the Tigers went 103-20, with half those defeats coming in his first season when the team went 15-10. Varner, 40, will remain as athletics director at Randleman Middle School, where he also is on the football staff. “It was just getting to be…