Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Title chase takes different complexion for PAC girls

Title chase takes different complexion for PAC girls

Southwestern Randolph’s Gracie Hodgin creates a defensive presence against Randleman’s Chenleigh Robinson during a holiday tournament game last month. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Randleman’s girls’ basketball team isn’t much interested in losing the grip it has held on the Piedmont Athletic Conference the past several years. “We’ll see if there’s a changing of the guard,” first-year coach Scott Tyson said. But the Tigers will have work to do to hold ownership of the league championship for a fourth consecutive year. Southwestern Randolph has been a contender in the past and this might be the season that the Cougars take…
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Prep girls’ basketball: Cougars stay clean; Trinity halts PAC skid; UCA notches historic comeback

Prep girls’ basketball: Cougars stay clean; Trinity halts PAC skid; UCA notches historic comeback

ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph keeps plugging along, staying undefeated in girls’ basketball with Friday night’s 59-45 victory at Uwharrie Charter Academy. Jordin George racked up 19 points and Macy Allred had 15 points for the Cougars in the Piedmont Athletic Conference game. Southwestern Randolph improved to 15-0 overall. Kayla Brown’s 14 points were tops for UCA. ** While most teams in the county played just once during the week because of final exams, it was an eventful week for UCA. The Eagles pulled off the biggest comeback in program history when the topped host Ambassador Christian 53-51 in overtime of…
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Prep boys’ basketball: UCA Eagles stick Randleman with first loss

Prep boys’ basketball: UCA Eagles stick Randleman with first loss

Aaron Smith of Uwharrie Charter Academy goes up for a shot against Randleman. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Randleman’s unbeaten status in boys’ basketball was wiped away last week. Uwharrie Charter Academy delivered the first loss of the season on the Tigers, winning 61-56 in a Piedmont Athletic Conference road game. Aaron Smith’s 21 points led the Eagles, while Braeden Lamb added 18 points. Smith, who also grabbed 11 rebounds, shot 7-for-10 from the field and 8-for-9 on free throws. Randleman won its first 11 games this season. The Tigers defeated UCA twice last season by an average…
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Schools in Randolph County react to NCHSAA league proposals

Schools in Randolph County react to NCHSAA league proposals

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…
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2024 sports in review: Title times come for area teams

2024 sports in review: Title times come for area teams

There was lots to celebrate for the Southwestern Randolph softball team at the 2024 state finals. (Randolph Record file photo) There were no shortage of special moments and achievements for area athletes in 2024 Championship appearances on the state level for several schools were among Randolph County sports highlights in 2024. The year was sprinkled with significant success stories. Four different schools captured team championships, while teams from two schools were left with the heartbreak of state runner-up finishes to accompany a sense of accomplishment. Here’s a review of some notable 2024 area sports achievements: Title moments In some cases,…
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Randleman Tigers build more momentum, take boys’ title in holiday tourney

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

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

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

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

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

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…
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NCHSAA’s conference draft could spread out Randolph County schools

NCHSAA’s conference draft could spread out Randolph County schools

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…
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Holiday tourney presents new challenges in Asheboro

Holiday tourney presents new challenges in Asheboro

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,…
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