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ER boys postgame video at South Stokes

Widespread success reshapes Eastern Randolph’s reputation

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Among the thrills for Eastern Randolph during the past school year came following a road victory against South Stokes in the boys’ basketball state playoffs as coach Johnny Thomas and the team celebrate. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

 

RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph had a different kind of school year in 2022-23.

For athletics director Foster Cates, the perception of athletics at the school might be changing.

That’s because the Wildcats advanced to the Class 1-A state championship game in boys’ basketball. That had never happened before.

“It has been such a football and baseball dominant school forever,” Cates said. “I wanted to make it a one-stop shot. You can come to school and do all three.”

The Wildcats won the Piedmont Athletic Conference title in football last year. They followed that with the PAC crown in boys’ basketball, coinciding with a strong regular season and postseason from the girls’ basketball team.

The fan support followed, with Eastern Randolph drawing big crowds at home and on the road for basketball games.

“It gave the community something to rally around after football season,” Cates. “That’s a long wait before the next (football) season. It was great for the community.”

Cates said the boys’ basketball team’s high-scoring games heightened the interest.

“It’s entertainment,” he said.

The girls’ basketball team had a late-season eight-game winning streak and later won two games in the state playoffs.

In football, after a first-round bye in the state playoffs, the Wildcats won two games before they were eliminated. Combined with the basketball success, there were certain positives.

“Probably getting as far as we did in both sports,” then-senior running back / linebacker Devonte Brooks said of the school year’s highlights.

There seemed to be nonstop attention on Eastern Randolph.

“It was pretty exciting,” Brooks said. “I just wanted to make it a basketball and football school, not just a one-sport school. Leave it better than I found it, that’s all I’m trying to do.”

The buzz around Eastern Randolph athletics continued in the spring.

The baseball team advanced to the Class 1-A West Region finals, extending its season to late May. The softball team won three games in the state playoffs.

UCA softball v Trinity March2023

Prep Roundup: Spring athletes hit strides

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Logan Zepfir of UCA slides in safely at the plate as Trinity catcher Eva Porter applies a late tag during a PAC softball game earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Three days after appearing in the Class 1-A state championship game for boys’ basketball, Eastern Randolph’s Connor Carter shot 44 for second place in a Piedmont Athletic Conference boys’ golf match at Colonial Country Club.

Ryan Marshall of Wheatmore was the winner with 43.

In a PAC match Thursday at Tot Hill Farm, Carter topped the seven-team field by shooting 37 for a six-shot victory on runner-up Cooper Wright of Providence Grove.

Carter wasn’t the only Eastern Randolph basketball player in action in another sport last week.

Teammate Davonte Brooks placed second in the high jump by clearing 5 feet, 6 inches in a PAC tri-meet that also included host Providence Grove and Southwestern Randolph. Devonte Dukes of Southwestern Randolph won the event at 5-8.

Softball

Eastern Randolph’s Skylar Pugh struck out 10 batters with one walk in a five-inning no-hitter against visiting Wheatmore in a 10-0 victory.

** Providence Grove’s Emma Mazzarone struck out 16 in a no-hitter of host Uwharrie Charter Academy in a 6-1 victory.

Baseball

Asheboro used a nine-run third inning in an 11-9 non-conference home victory against Eastern Randolph. Tanner Marsh’s three-run home run was the big blast.

Stratton Barwick and Rayden West homered for Eastern Randolph, which lost twice during the week to the Blue Comets.

** Trinity thumped Southwestern Randolph twice, winning 16-6 on the road and 10-5 at home. Trinity’s Jake Little homered in the first meeting and then drove in two runs and was the winning pitcher in the rematch. Jaxson Coble knocked in four runs in the first matchup between the teams.

** Randleman claimed two PAC victories against Wheatmore by 9-4 and 12-2 counts. Then came Saturday’s 1-0 loss to undefeated High Point Christian in a non-conference loss in a neutral-site game at Finch Field in Thomasville.

** Jake Hunter of UCA threw a nine-hitter with three strikeouts and no walks in a 5-0 decision against host Providence Grove.

That outcome avenged Providence Grove’s 3-2 victory earlier in the week. Andrew Thomas struck out nine UCA batters in the road victory.

Girls’ soccer

Ellie Garrison of Wheatmore registered seven goals in a 9-1 home victory against East Davidson. Summer Bowman had the other two goals for the Warriors.

** Tess Moody scored three goals as Asheboro topped visiting Southwestern Randolph 5-1.

** Asheboro won again by defeating visiting UCA 3-1 with Moody scoring another goal along one goal apiece for teammates Natalie Flores and Madison Luck.

ER boys state final postgame team photo

A day filled with memories: Scenes from the Class 1-A title game

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Members of the Eastern Randolph team pose for a team photo after the championship game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

RALEIGH – Saturday was a special day for Eastern Randolph as the Wildcats played in a state championship in basketball for the first time.

The result was a loss to Wilson Prep in the Class 1-A boys’ final at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. Still, there were memorable moments as the team’s historic season came to a close.

Devonte Brooks of Eastern Randolph launches a 3-point shot against Wilson Prep in the Class 1-A state final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Eastern Randolph fan Davis Inman shows his support for the Wildcats during the championship game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Watching Wildcats: Eastern Randolph fans gathered in large numbers prior to the Class 1-A state championship game for boys’ basketball Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

 

 

The season concluded with a 29-3 record and plenty of positive memories for the Piedmont Athletic Conference and Class 1-A West Region champions.

ER boys state final sad Devonte B and Will Stalker

NOT QUITE ENOUGH: Eastern Randolph boys fall in 1-A state final

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Eastern Randolph coach Johnny Thomas consoles Devonte Brooks, left, as Will Stalker looks on after the Class 1-A state final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

RALEIGH – The greatest basketball season in the history of Eastern Randolph had a sour ending.

The Wildcats needed one more comeback and couldn’t quite generate it, falling 84-73 to Wilson Prep in the Class 1-A state championship game for boys’ basketball Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum.

“These boys have dedicated everything they possibly could to the sport of basketball the last four months,” Eastern Randolph coach Johnny Thomas said. “We have nothing to be sad over.”

But that was the mode for the Wildcats (29-3), whose knack for generating excitement the past few months lasted all the way until the final minute.

Eastern Randolph just didn’t quite have enough. Wilson Prep (27-7) won the Class 1-A title for the second time in three years.

Thomas offered perspective as his first season concluded.

“One year ago, they come out and got 8-15 for the season,” he said. “We turned it into a 29-3 season. I’m proud of them. … This moment is sad right now, but when we look back on it, it’s going to be one of the most highlighted moments of these guys’ careers.”

Devonte Brooks of Eastern Randolph soars toward the basket against Wilson Prep as part of his 34-point performance in the Class 1-A state final at Reynolds Coliseum. Eastern Randolph’s Pierce Leonard, left, looks on. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Devonte Brooks churned out 34 points – 17 in each half – and 18 rebounds in his last game for Eastern Randolph. Teammate Timothy Brower posted 20 points and eight rebounds.

Eastern Randolph rallied from an 11-point first-half deficit to surge into the lead. Wilson Prep led 37-36 at halftime.

The Tigers built a 14-point lead in the third quarter, but the Wildcats were unfazed. They had overcome a 21-point second-half hole a week earlier in the West Region final against Bishop McGuinness and nearly pulled off another improbable comeback.

Eastern Randolph was within 73-70 and later pulled within 76-73. Wilson Prep scored the game’s last eight points.

The Tigers had to dig deep to withstand the Wildcats’ late push amid a wild environment.

Eastern Randolph’s Nicah Taylor reaches for the ball in front of Wilson Prep’s Josh Hicks during Saturday’s Class 1-A state final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

“It shows you how tough mentally they are,” Wilson Prep coach Anthony Atkinson Jr. said. “The arena was crazy. To play in the environment like that.”

Jahmar Jones scored 20 points for Wilson Prep. Teammate Davis Ellis had 14 points and 19 rebounds and was named the Most Valuable Player from Wilson Prep.

Early on, Eastern Randolph struggled. Wilson Prep went up 13-2 as the Wildcats committed six turnovers.

“I understand the nerves,” Thomas said.

ER boys postgame video at South Stokes

Prep basketball: Eastern Randolph boys keep season going, win regional semi on road

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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.

Randleman Moton v SWR football Oct2022

Prep Football: Randleman, E. Randolph win key road games

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Amarion Moton tries to run away from Southwestern Randolph’s Jentezen Cox and the rest of the Cougars. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Randleman and Eastern Randolph won road games Friday night to move closer to a huge Piedmont Athletic Conference showdown in two weeks.

Randleman rocked Southwestern Randolph, while Eastern Randolph knocked off neighbor Providence Grove.

Here’s a look at Friday night’s games.

Randleman 34, Southwestern Randolph 7: At Asheboro. Amarion Moton ran for two touchdowns and Tyshaun Goldston scored on two passes from Christian Long for the visiting Tigers (6-2, 3-0 PAC).

Christian McLeod kicked field goals from 33 and 24 yards for Randleman.

The Long-to-Goldston connections were for 29 and 34 yards in the third quarter, allowing the Tigers to break away from a 10-7 halftime edge. Long was 9-for-15 for 123 yards.

“We told our (players) keep answering what they did,” Randleman coach Shane Timmons said.

Easton Clapp scored the game’s first points on a 2-yard touchdown run for Southwestern Randolph (5-3, 1-2). After that, the Cougars largely stalled.

“Our defense was flying around making plays,” Timmons said.

The Tigers made it tough on Southwestern Randolph.

“Their defensive line was in control the whole time,” Cougars coach Seth Baxter said. “We couldn’t block them.”

Moton, who finished with 132 rushing yards on 19 carries, had Randleman’s first touchdown on a 52-yard run. He scored from 2 yards out in the fourth quarter for the game’s last touchdown.

“He just wore us down,” Baxter said.

Eastern Randolph 28, Providence Grove 7: At Climax, Devonte Brooks scored three touchdowns as the visiting Wildcats won their seventh game in a row.

Lucas Smith returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown for Eastern Randolph (7-1, 3-0). That was one of five pick-offs for the Wildcats.

Brooks gained 145 yards on the ground.

Providence Grove (5-3, 1-2) scored on Brady Collins’ 19-yard pass to Lemuel Coltrane.

Wheatmore 27, Trinity 26: At Trinity, the Warriors (2-6, 1-2) came back from a double-digit deficit in the second half for their first PAC win in two seasons.

For Trinity (4-4, 0-3), Dominic Payne threw two touchdown passes to Jacob Hodges. Chance Grogan scored a touchdown and rushed for 154 yards.

North Davidson 49, Asheboro 6: At Asheboro, the Blue Comets stumbled on homecoming in the Mid-Piedmont Conference.

Asheboro (1-7, 0-3) has lost four games in a row. North Davidson is 3-5, 2-1.