state playoffs

Southwestern Randolph volleyball team wins PAC tourney; Pairings set for start of states this weekend

Southwestern Randolph volleyball team wins PAC tourney; Pairings set for start of states this weekend

Southwestern Randolph’s Riley Key, left, and Madelyn Smith go up for a block against Randleman in the PAC Tournament championship match. Randleman’s Camden Scott, right, waits at the net. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)   ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team swept to the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament championship. The regular-season champion Cougars defeated visiting Randleman 25-15, 26-24, 25-23 in Wednesday night’s tournament final. Southwestern Randolph (22-4) goes to the Class 2-A state playoffs on an 11-match winning streak. Randleman (16-7), which was the third seed for the PAC Tournament, lost for the third time this season to the Cougars. Southwestern Randolph…
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Regional path sends Eastern Randolph boys on trek

Regional path sends Eastern Randolph boys on trek

Eastern Randolph’s Nicah Taylor soars in the lane for a shot against South Stokes. (PJ. Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph will head to Morganton as part of the best season in history of the school’s boys’ basketball team. That’s where the Wildcats will take on Bishop McGuinness in the Class 1-A West Region final at 1 p.m. Saturday. The game will be at Freedom High School. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced the venues for the neutral-site regional finals Wednesday morning, a day after Tuesday night’s semifinals set the matchups across the state. Third-seeded Eastern Randolph (28-2)…
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Three area teams land in state playoffs for football

Three area teams land in state playoffs for football

Andrew Canter throws a pass for Providence Grove, which is in the state playoffs again. Eastern Randolph’s football team is the top seed in Class 1-A’s West Region for the second year in a row. Randleman and Providence Grove are in the states in Class 2-A West Region. Eastern Randolph (9-1), the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion, receives a first-round bye and will play Nov. 11 at home against the winner of this Friday night’s game between South Stokes (4-6) and Mountain Heritage (4-6). In Class 2-A, Randleman (7-3) is the No. 10 seed with a home date Friday night against…
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Randleman takes path back to state finals

Randleman takes path back to state finals

Randleman team members gather for a photo after winning the Class 2-A West Region series Friday in Salisbury. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)    MOORESVILLE and SALISBURY – This one just took a little longer, but it had familiar themes for Randleman’s baseball team. The latest result is what mattered to the Tigers, who’ll return to the Class 2-A state finals in an attempt to repeat as champions. Even with a bit of unusual circumstances, the Tigers were unfazed. “Our guys did great,” coach Jake smith said. “They work so hard. It’s hard to explain. Unless you see it every day and…
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Randleman’s postseason run hits pause

Randleman’s postseason run hits pause

Randleman pitcher Drake Purvis delivers a pitch in the West Region finals Thursday night against Community School of Davidson in Mooresville. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)   MOORESVILLE – Randleman’s baseball team finally encountered something in this Class 2-A state playoffs that it couldn’t conquer. “Can’t do anything about Mother Nature,” coach Jake Smith said while walking out of Moor Park on Thursday night. Yet the Tigers still did good work before Game 2 of the best-of-3 West Region final was suspended after four innings. They lead Community School of Davidson 5-0. Randleman carried a 30-1 record into the game, needing one…
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Finding the Way: Randleman takes normal path to another rout

Finding the Way: Randleman takes normal path to another rout

Trey Way and his teammates react to his game-sealing home run Friday night against East Surry. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Tigers ruin showdown, head to regional final RANDLEMAN – The fourth round of the Class 2-A state playoffs shaped up as an epic showdown between two one-loss baseball teams. As the national anthem played, the line at the entrance gate had dozens of fans waiting to get in – and stayed that way for quite a while. The scene at Joe Brookshire Field had all the makings of a classic. Then Randleman did its thing – again. The Tigers…
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Randleman’s rich pitching provides perks

Randleman’s rich pitching provides perks

Randleman pitcher Drake Purvis reacts to an out during Thursday night's shutout of East Gaston in the Class 2-A state playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Tigers blank first two baseball foes in state playoffs RANDLEMAN – Trey Way is considered among the best pitchers on Randleman’s star-studded baseball team. Too bad he rarely finds his way to the mound these days. “They don’t give me chances anymore,” Way said with a laugh, understanding the situation. “It’s a good thing.” Randleman’s bid to repeat as Class 2-A state champion is off to a rousing start through the first week of…
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County football teams fall in playoff openers

County football teams fall in playoff openers

ASHEBORO — The first round of the Class 2-A state playoffs didn’t go well for Randolph County teams. All three of the entries had their seasons end with losses. That included home games for Providence Grove and Southwestern Randolph. At Climax, Providence Grove fell 27-26 in overtime to Forest Hills, when a failed two-point conversion play resulted in the season ending. Providence Grove, which was seeded eighth in the West Region, ended up with an 8-3 record. The Patriots are 0-10 all-time in state-playoff games. Forest Hills moves on with a 7-4 record. Polk County 29, Southwestern Randolph 14:  At…
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