Eastern Randolph hopes to add state-championship hardware to the West Region prize claimed Saturday. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph’s bid for its first state championship in boys’ basketball comes in the Class 1-A final at noon Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum on the North Carolina State campus in Raleigh.
The Wildcats (29-2) meet East Region champion Wilson Prep (26-7) in the title game.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced game times and sites for the eight championship games – four for boys and four for girls – on Sunday afternoon.
Eastern Randolph is coming off two comeback victories, winning Tuesday night at South Stokes in the regional semifinal and then Saturday afternoon’s West Region final with a 21-point second-half rally for a 62-59 decision against Bishop McGuinness at Morganton Freedom.
Wilson Prep, a 63-57 winner against Bertie in the East Region final, will meet Eastern Randolph for the first time.
Wilson Prep will be going for its second state title in three years. The Tigers won the Class 1-A championship in 2021 by defeating Lincoln Charter 65-58 in a game at Providence Grove to conclude the pandemic-altered season.
That was the only previous appearance in a state final for Wilson Prep. Anthony Atkinson Jr. remains as the team’s coach, while Johnny Thomas is in his first season with Eastern Randolph.
The Eastern Randolph/Wilson Prep matchup is the first of four games at Reynolds Coliseum, followed by the Rocky Mount/West Rowan (Class 3-A girls), Chatham Charter/Bishop McGuinness (Class 1-A girls) and Northwood/Central Cabarrus (Class 3-A boys).
At the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, the slate looks like this: Panther Creek/Lake Norman (Class 4-A girls) at noon, followed by Farmville Central/Reidsville (Class 2-A boys), Seaforth-Salisbury (Class 2-A girls) and Richmond Senior/Myers Park (Class 4-A boys).
Eastern Randolph team members and coach Johnny Thomas – with arms raised – celebrate the Class 1-A West Region title. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
MORGANTON – Eastern Randolph rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit to keep its season alive and advance to a state championship in boys’ basketball for the first time.
The Wildcats pulled out a 62-59 victory against Bishop McGuinness in the Class 1-A West Region final Saturday afternoon at Freedom High School.
“As the coach, even I’m at awe at what they just did,” first-year Eastern Randolph coach Johnny Thomas said of his players.
Eastern Randolph’s Pierce Leonard goes up for a shot in front of Jamison Graves of Bishop McGuinness. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Eastern Randolph (29-2) will face Wilson Prep (26-7), a 63-57 winner against Bertie in the East Region final, next Saturday for the state championship in either Chapel Hill or Raleigh.
Fourth-seeded Bishop McGuinness led 41-20 at halftime before the third-seeded Wildcats stormed back. Eastern Randolph scored the first 13 points of the second half and was within 49-43 going to the fourth quarter.
“We ain’t going to lose here,” senior guard Pierce Leonard said. “We’re too close to it. We traveled three hours to get up here. We weren’t trying to go home like that.”
Leonard scored 24 of his 28 points in the second half.
Eastern Randolph had never been as far as the regional semifinals until this year, but it look bleak midway through the regional final.
At halftime, Thomas had a message about trying to extend the team’s record-breaking postseason: “We’ve already made history. Now we’ve got to do it again.”
The Villains (25-6) took three potential tying shots on the last possession and missed them all. Long forgotten was their 11-0 lead to start the game.
Timothy Brower had 13 points and Nicah Taylor posted 11 points for Eastern Randolph, which won its 10th game in a row.
And it was the Wildcats’ second second-half comeback of the week after winning the regional semifinal Tuesday night at South Stokes.
“I wasn’t really feeling any pressure because we still had plenty of time when they did foul out,” Leonard said. “Our bench players just had to really step up and do their part in the game.”
Eastern Randolph’s Nicah Taylor makes a steal in front of Bishop McGuinness guard Andrew Schrage. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Three Eastern Randolph fouled out, including team scoring leader Davonte Brooks and reserve center Jani Norwood in the third quarter. Brooks had two points.
“With me in there, it would have made it a little bit easier,” Brooks said. “But my boys pulled through, came through with a ‘W’ my senior year. Now we’re going to the ‘ship.”
Brooks said the Wildcats, who were 6-for-8 on second-half 3-point attempts, remained motivated even as the challenge heightened throughout the first half.
“We just don’t want to lose,” Brooks said. “That’s what really jump-starts it.”
Leonard’s 3-pointer gave Eastern Randolph its first lead of the game at 54-51.
Thomas said without much of a basketball tradition, Eastern Randolph needed to overcome all sorts of obstacles against a Bishop McGuinness program that has played on similar stages in the past.
“They’ve been in this situation way more than we have,” he said.
Jamison Graves scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half for Bishop McGuinness, which shot 11-for-25 on free throws.
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) has won nine games in a row. Fourth-seeded Bishop McGuinness (25-5) holds a 14-game winning streak.
The Class 1-A West Region boys’ final will come before the Class 1-A West Region girls’ final between Bishop McGuinness and Robbinsville.
The NCHSAA had designated potential sites in both the East Region and West Region for the regional finals, pending the locations of the participating schools. Grimsley High School in Greensboro was one of those in the West Region.
An Eastern Randolph-Bishop McGuinness would have been a good fit for the Greensboro site, but with Bishop McGuinness, a Kernersville school, also having its girls’ team playing Saturday that had to be taken into consideration.
If a school has multiple teams in late rounds of state playoffs, the NCHSAA attempts to make it feasible for fans to attend all their school’s competitions. With Robbinsville on the far western part of the state, that made Morganton the pick.
Freedom High School is 104 miles from Bishop McGuinness, 131 miles from Eastern Randolph and 144 miles from Robbinsville.
Last Saturday, Robbinsville’s girls’ and boys’ teams traveled for third-round games at Eastern Randolph.
Eastern Randolph played its first postseason road game Tuesday night with the 74-71 comeback victory against second-seeded South Stokes. Bishop McGuinness won 58-54 at top-seeded Mountain Heritage after surviving with a 65-60 overtime decision in the third round against visiting Thomasville.
The Class 2-A West Region finals were tabbed for Grimsley, with Salisbury meeting East Burke at noon in the girls’ game and Reidsville taking on Lincoln Charter in the boys’ game at 2 p.m.
The Class 1-A East Region final pits Bertie (26-4) vs. Wilson Prep (25-7) at 3 p.m. at South Johnston.
Regional winners advance to the March 11 state championship games in either Chapel Hill or Raleigh.
Coach Johnny Thomas makes a postgame video with his Eastern Randolph boys’ basketball team after winning the Class 1-A West Region semifinal at South Stokes. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
WALNUT COVE – Pierce Leonard scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Eastern Randolph rallied past South Stokes to continue its best postseason in program history.
The Wildcats put together a strong second half to pull out the Class 1-A West Region semifinal, winning 74-71 on Tuesday night.
“I told them, ‘I am proud of you. We’ve had a long season, but this is not it,’ ” first-year Eastern Randolph coach Johnny Thomas said.
Devonte Brooks scored 15 points despite foul trouble, Timothy Brower posted 10 of his 12 points in the second half and Nicah Taylor finished with 11 points in Eastern Randolph’s first road game of the postseason.
“The whole season we have built a foundation where we can play with or without Devonte,” Thomas said.
The Wildcats made enough plays down the stretch. The Sauras missed three potential tying 3-point shots in the final 12 seconds.
Eastern Randolph’s Pierce Leonard makes a steal on Brendon Bradford of South Stokes during Tuesday night’s Class 1-A West Region semifinal. Eastern Randolph’s Timothy Brower, left, and Davonte Brooks also apply defensive pressure. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Third-seeded Eastern Randolph (28-2) meets fourth-seeded Bishop McGuinness (25-5), which eliminated top-seeded Mountain Heritage 58-54, on Saturday at a to-be-determined neutral site.
South Stokes (25-5) led 45-36 at halftime.
“It was just a simple adjustment of pride,” Thomas said.
Barry Hairston poured in 23 points for the Sauras.
Bertie (26-4) and Wilson Prep (25-7) will meet in the East Region final.
Girls’ basketball
At Randleman, top-seeded Randleman dropped a 49-42 decision to visiting East Burke in the Class 2-A West Region semifinals.
Gracyn Hall scored 12 points for Randleman (27-2), which led 24-21 at halftime before trailing 33-29 entering the fourth quarter.
With the Tigers facing a 42-40 deficit, East Burke posted the next five points.
Randleman’s Elizabeth York and Audra Petty both notched nine points.
Fifth-seeded East Burke (27-2) takes on third-seeded Salisbury (25-3) in the regional final.
Here’s the Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team after winning the Class 1-A dual team state championship by defeating Avery County on Saturday in Greensboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
GREENSBORO – All the pieces came together for Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team in another tight battle with Avery County.
So this time, the Eagles won the Class 1-A dual team state championship.
“Anytime you do something like this, it’s pretty special,” UCA coach Chris Waddell said. “It takes plenty – so moving parts to make it happen. It takes a collective effort.”
Both teams won seven matches, but UCA racked up crucial points with pins and a technical fall to secure their second title in four seasons by prevailing 39-36 on Saturday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum’s fieldhouse.
UCA avenged a loss to Avery County in last February’s state final.
Jaden Maness, the 195-pounder for UCA, clinched the team outcome with a pin of Brandon Cabrera in 3:20.
“It was a big deal, sealed the dual,” Maness said. “Get the team the state title, it was a really big moment.”
Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Jaden Maness is in control of Avery County’s Brandon Cabrera in the title-clinching bout at 195 pounds in the Class 1-A dual team state final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
The pin was important because it gave the Eagles enough points with one match left on the docket.
“Getting this pin for this team,” Maness said. “I love this team. It means a lot to me to get this pin and sealing the dual and getting the state title.”
There was plenty to celebrate for the Eagles (36-0). Waddell gained his 700th coaching victory.
He said the Eagles have been a committed and determined group.
“They train 11 months out of the year,” he said. “They do everything together. Hang out together.”
Avery County topped the Eagles 39-30 last year, when UCA entered the meet with a 35-0 record.
This year’s final began at 285 pounds, with UCA sophomore Caden Bond moving up a division to take the team’s spot in that match. He delivered with an 8-0 decision against Connor Brewer.
“I thought Caden did exceptionally well,” Waddell said. “For Caden to be able to do that, he’s only a sophomore and as hard-nosed as they come.”
Avery County (27-8) won three of the next four bouts for an 18-9 lead. Only Ethan Hines, with a technical fall by shutout at 113, prevented a four-match sweep.
Then the Eagles put it into gear.
Lorenzo Alston of Uwharrie Charter Academy works toward a first-period pin of Avery County’s Garrett Potter at 152 pounds in the Class 1-A dual team state final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
In a clash of 2022 state champions, UCA’s Aldo Hernandez pinned Grant Reece in 1:08 of 132. That earned Hernandez the selection as the Most Valuable Wrestler of the meet. He won the 132 states last February, while Reece won at 126.
UCA 138-pounder Jack McArthur won with a second-period pin. Avery County pulled even in team scoring by winning at 145 before Lorenzo Alston produced a 17-second pin in the 152 bout.
Another decision for Avery County came before Grayson Roberts, also a 2022 state champion for UCA, received a forfeit at 170.
Cael Dunn, son of Avery County coach Matthew Dunn, notched a pin for the Vikings at 182 before Maness removed all doubt about the team outcome. UCA forfeited the 220-pound match to account for the final scoring.
Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team members celebrate coach Chris Waddell’s 700th career victory after winning the Class 1-A dual team state championship Saturday in Greensboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
UCA won the 2019 title before Avery County topped the Eagles for the 2020 crown. There wasn’t a tournament in 2021 due to the pandemic.
UCA and Northwest Guilford, which toppled Wilmington Laney 52-24 for the Class 4-A title, are the state’s only undefeated teams.
Next for the Eagles and other qualifying wrestlers will be individual regionals Friday and next Saturday following the next week by the state tournament. UCA is the host school for the Class 1-A East Regional.
UCA’s Alec Millikan works against North East Carolina Prep’s Anthony Cairo during a 152-pound match in the state duals last weekend. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Uwharrie Charter Academy’s wrestling team will try again against Avery County with a Class 1-A dual team state championship on the line.
The teams meet Saturday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum’s field house in a rematch of the 2022 title meet.
UCA (35-0) has blown through most opponents, while Avery County (27-7) had stiffer tests to reach this stage again.
These teams are familiar competitors in the finals. UCA won the 2019 title before Avery County topped the Eagles for the 2020 crown. There wasn’t a tournament in 2021 due to the pandemic.
Avery County won 39-30 against the Eagles last February. UCA also carried a 35-0 record into last year’s clash with the Vikings.
UCA and Avery County were host schools for the first and second rounds and then travelled for Wednesday’s third and fourth rounds.
Competing at Rosewood, UCA topped Pamlico 51-9 and Thomasville 51-29. At Swain County, Avery County defeated Mount Airy 45-33 and overcame Robbinsville 39-34.
In the regional final against Robbinsville, Avery County had only six wrestlers in the lineup who had competed in the state championship. One of the newcomers is coach Matthew Dunn’s son, 170-pound freshman Cael Dunn, whose pin in the final bout reserved another spot in Greensboro for the Vikings.
In the first round last Saturday, Avery County sophomore 106-pounder Cooper Foster reached the 100-win mark for his career.
The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. At the same time, the Class 3-A final between Union Pines and Fred T. Foard will take place on another mat.
The Class 2-A final – Bunn vs. Newton-Conover – and the Class 4-A final – Wilmington Laney vs. Northwest Guilford – are scheduled for 4 p.m.
Aside from UCA, only Northwest Guilford (33-0) is undefeated among teams competing Saturday.
MT. AIRY – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s season ended in boys’ soccer with a 4-2 loss to host Mt. Airy on Monday night in the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs.
“We’ve had an amazing season, the best season our school has ever had,” UCA coach Nathan Russell said. “We gave it our absolute all. It just didn’t fall our way.”
Sixth-seeded UCA (12-4-1) allowed a season-high goal total. It gave up three goals in two games for the previous high surrendered, while securing 10 shutouts.
Mt. Airy (25-0) led 3-1 at halftime.
Last week, Danny Palma scored two goals and Brady Mowers notched an assist when UCA defeated visiting Winston-Salem Carver 2-1 in a second-round game.
In Class 2-A, ninth-seeded Trinity dropped a 1-0 decision at eighth-seeded Pine Lake Prep in last week’s second round. Trinity’s season ended with a 12-7-1 record.
NCCSA
At Walkertown, Faith Christian suffered a 3-1 loss to host Gospel Light on Oct. 22 in the first round of the state playoffs in the North Carolina Christian School Association.
That outcome snapped a two-game winning streak for the Eagles (7-7-1).
Faith Christian had completed a NCCSA AA District 2-West Region season with a second-place spot with a 6-4 league mark.
After the tournament loss, the Eagles took part in the NCCSA national tournament in Xenia, Ohio. They fell 4-0 to Life Center Academy of Burlington, N.J.
