Holiday tourneys take new twists for area teams

Holiday tourneys take new twists for area teams

Area basketball teams will be in holiday tournament action next week, but the format will look different from past years. Teams will be headed to two sites, with a Davidson County vs. Randolph County flavor. “They agreed to do that this year,” Asheboro athletics director Steve Luck said. “It kind of worked out. We thought this would be neat.” The changes stem from sponsorship changes and the renovations at Asheboro’s gym, which had been used for what were basically Randolph County tournaments on back-to-back weeks. That venue is unavailable this year. This is called the Davidson-Randolph Christmas Classic. Now, the…
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Eastern Randolph’s Lilly wants to make most of showcase game

Eastern Randolph’s Lilly wants to make most of showcase game

RAMSEUR — Na’heim Lilly is glad to be playing in a football game this weekend. He just wishes it was a different game. But the Eastern Randolph standout said he’ll aim to make the most of his opportunity in the Carolina Bowl Senior Showcase on Sunday in Gaffney, S.C. “I had a good year,” Lilly said. “Didn’t get as far as I wanted. I didn’t get the job done.” Lilly is one of the running backs for the North Carolina team, which takes on a South Carolina team. For Lilly, who says he likely won’t sign with a college this…
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Eastern Randolph falls to Murphy in football state playoffs

Eastern Randolph falls to Murphy in football state playoffs

RAMSEUR — All season it was Eastern Randolph that captured momentum and carried that to football victory after victory.   But that wasn’t the case in the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs. It was Murphy that built on its success and abruptly ended the Wildcats’ season. “We didn’t play our best,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates said. “Needless to say, it just was not our night.” So Eastern Randolph, which was the No. 1 seed in the West Region, tumbled by a 64-31 score to ninth-seeded Murphy, which is the reigning state champion. It was a rough…
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Eastern Randolph faces reigning state champion next

Eastern Randolph faces reigning state champion next

RAMSEUR — The state playoffs sure become interesting in a hurry for Eastern Randolph. The Wildcats opened play in the Class 1-A West Region with a romp past No. 16 seed Draughn on Friday night. That sends Eastern Randolph (10-0), the No. 1 seed, into a third-round matchup this week with visiting Murphy. Murphy (8-4) is the reigning Class 1-A state champion. “We’ll go to work on it,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton said of the assignment. “We just take one game at a time. Everybody says that, but we really do.” Eastern Randolph, which received a bye in the first…
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First-round losses end seasons for three area teams

First-round losses end seasons for three area teams

Southwestern Randolph quarterback Keaton Reed throws the ball against visiting Polk County during the Class 2-A state playoffs in Asheboro on November 5, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO -- The historic season came to an end for Southwestern Randolph with a 29-14 loss to Polk County on Friday night. Across the county, Providence Grove lost to Forest Hills. Randleman fell at  traveled Reidsville. The 16th-seeded Cougars (8-3) finished a historic season where they defeated rival Asheboro at Lee J. Stone Stadium for the first time in school history, set the school record for wins, and was the home team…
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ER, Providence Grove, SWR to open football playoffs at home

ER, Providence Grove, SWR to open football playoffs at home

ASHEBORO — Three football teams from Randolph County will play in home games to begin the state playoffs, though one of them will have to wait an extra week before playing. Undefeated Eastern Randolph (9-0) is the No. 1 seed for the Class 1-A West Region, receiving a bye to the second week of the playoffs. That’s when the Wildcats will be slated for a home game Nov. 12 against the Draughn / Elkin winner. Eighth-seeded Providence Grove (8-2) and 16th-seeded Southwestern Randolph (8-2) will open the Class 2-A states at home Friday night. Providence Grove takes on No. 25…
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Prep Football Roundup: Wildcats complete unbeaten regular season with blanking of Randleman

Prep Football Roundup: Wildcats complete unbeaten regular season with blanking of Randleman

Na'heim Lilly runs for a touchdown during Eastern Randolph's road victory at Randleman on Friday night. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO — Eastern Randolph completed an undefeated regular season by whipping host Randleman 46-0 on Friday night. The Wildcats (9-0 overall, 5-0 Piedmont Athletic Conference) received four touchdowns from Na’heim Lilly and two touchdowns from Elias Alston in securing the outright league title. Lilly’s 34-yard run opened the scoring in the first quarter. He added a 2-yard run in the second quarter. He finished with 174 rushing yards on 20 carries. Alston caught two touchdown passes from Stratton Barwick, the…
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Four soccer teams to start states at home

Four soccer teams to start states at home

Uwharrie Charter Academy's Max DeNamur takes a shot on goal against Wheatmore during their conference soccer game last month in Asheboro. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO — Four boys’ soccer teams from Randolph County schools will open the state playoffs with home games Monday. Asheboro tops the list as a No. 4 seed in the West Region bracket for Class 3-A. The Blue Comets (14-1-3) take on North Lincoln in the first round. Asheboro gained the top spot for seeding out of the Mid-Piedmont Conference after it tied with Ledford in the regular season. Both teams had 8-0-2 records, though…
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PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Cougars’ comeback leads to record night

PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Cougars’ comeback leads to record night

Southwestern Randolph’s Eli Gravely makes a catch over Randleman’s Jozey Akines. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL Southwestern Randolph hits seven wins as Cole collects school TD mark RANDLEMAN -- It took a record-breaking performance for Southwestern Randolph to win its latest football game. And that could mean more records for the Cougars this season. Southwestern Randolph overcame host Randleman for a 28-23 victory Friday night. Junior receiver Adam Cole scored two touchdowns to set the single-season school record for victories. The Cougars (7-1, 2-1 Piedmont Athletic Conference) have matched the school record for wins. They’ll try to break that in Friday…
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Eastern Randolph makes shift to 1-A classification

Eastern Randolph makes shift to 1-A classification

Eastern Randolph’s Davonte Brooks runs the ball against Southwestern Randolph during a Piedmont Athletic Conference football game Oct. 1 in Ramseur. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL RAMSEUR – For a school with so much athletic success through the years, it might be strange to view Eastern Randolph as the little guy. But that’s how the Wildcats are listed when it comes to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Eastern Randolph is a Class 1-A school, reflecting the group with the smallest enrollment. “For 1-A, we’re not bad,” football coach Burton Cates said. In football, the Wildcats are undefeated this season…
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