Tigers tame Asheboro’s offense in boys’ victory

RANDLEMAN — Points were at a premium when Randleman and Asheboro met in boys’ basketball Thursday night.

“As long as we win,” Randleman’s Connor Cassidy said. “It’s good to get in some dogfights early.”

The Tigers prevailed 39-25 for the home victory, snapping a three-game losing streak.

Randleman coach Daniel Mitchell said facing Asheboro a couple of times each season brings familiarity as the coaching staffs have remained the same.

“It becomes sort of a rock fight,” Mitchell said.

Consider that Randleman was up 34-17 through three quarters.

The Tigers then stalled on offense other than Nazir Staton’s three-point play. But Asheboro (7-4) was without a point for more than 4½ minutes to begin the fourth quarter.

“We quit turning it over,” Blue Comets coach Brian Nance said. “But the ball just would not go into the basket. … Does (the hoop) have a cover on it?”

Asheboro’s first points of the final quarter came on Ryan Headen’s layup on a fast break. Even when Asheboro’s Eli Johnson hit a 3-pointer, it was only 38-22.

Cassidy finished with 11 points.

“He hit some shots early,” Mitchell said. “He has to make some tough shots.”

The Blue Comets’ top scorer was Johnson with six points.

The score was 20-10 at halftime.

“It looked like football scores,” Nance said. “I needed a touchdown and a field goal.”

And a little more.

For comparison, Asheboro beat Randleman 21-7 in football this year, though in four of past eight football meetings Randleman’s point total exceeded its basketball point production from this week’s game. Also, Asheboro’s point total exceeded the 25 basketball points in nine of the last 15 football matchups with Randleman.

The outcome for Randleman (4-3) was coveted.

“We’ve had some tough losses,” Mitchell said. “We need every win we can get.”