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 lineup:
** Randleman’s girls fell behind 14-0 to Eastern Guilford before finally getting cranked up for what became a 40-27 victory. Jacquline McDaniel had 16 points and Chenleigh Robinson finished with 13 points, helping avenge last December’s opening-day loss to the Wildcats.
** Asheboro’s girls were on the wrong side of an 18-3 score against Burlington Williams and the score was 23-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Blue Comets put together a strong turnaround, closing within 29-24 by halftime. But Asheboro couldn’t keep up, facing a 15-point deficit going to the fourth quarter in an eventual 66-43 loss.
** Defending champion Southwestern Randolph’s girls were in control against Chatham Charter, pulling out to a 25-8 halftime lead in the 58-22 outcome.
** Randleman’s boys looked ready to pull away at times but settled for a 59-46 victory against Eastern Guilford. That was a more comfortable margin than the one-point escape for the Tigers last year when the teams met on the tournament’s opening day.
** Southwestern Randolph’s boys fell into a 33-12 hole to Burlington Williams and never dug out, with a running clock used for nearly the final five minutes in the 72-33 thumping. Jaeden Smith and Colby Elliot both scored 21 points for Burlington Williams.
** For Asheboro’s boys, Jewel Barrett-Riggins notched 13 points, Jalial Timmons had 11 points and Osiris Rodriguez scored the game’s first six points and finished with 10 in the Blue Comets’ 66-33 victory against Chatham Charter in the first-ever meeting between the programs.
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Thursday’s results
Girls
Lexington 55, Trinity 9
Randleman 40, Eastern Guilford 27
Southwestern Randolph 58, Chatham Charter 22
Burlington Williams 66, Asheboro 43
Boys
Thomasville 62, Trinity 34
Randleman 59, Eastern Guilford 46
Burlington Williams 72, Southwestern Randolph 33
Asheboro 66, Chatham Charter 33
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Friday’s schedule
Girls’ consolation games
Trinity vs. Eastern Guilford, 10 a.m.
Chatham Charter vs. Asheboro, 1 p.m.
Girls’ semifinals
Lexington vs. Randleman, 4 p.m.
Southwestern Randolph vs. Burlington Williams, 7 p.m.
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Boys’ consolation games
Trinity vs. Eastern Guilford, 11:30 a.m.
Southwestern Randolph vs. Chatham Charter, 2:30 p.m.
Boys’ semifinals
Thomasville vs. Randleman, 5:30 p.m.
Burlington Williams vs. Asheboro, 8:30 p.m.
