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Dylan Hodges

Trinity baseball Jake Little from May2022 NEW CROP

Check on college-bound athletes from area schools

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Jake Little of Trinity made a big impact in baseball for the Bulldogs and he’ll continue playing in 2024. (File photo)

Here’s a check on some of Randolph County’s top athletes from the Class of 2023 with their college intentions:

** Asheboro’s Nicolas Chavez signed to go to UNC Asheville for men’s track and field. He was a hurdler and pole vaulter for the Blue Comets.

** Katelyn Thomas of Asheboro is headed to Anderson (S.C.) University to play women’s tennis. She has been on the Mid-Piedmont Conference all-conference team the past two years.

** Diego Gutierrez of Asheboro is going to Carolina University for men’s soccer. He also was a wrestling standout for the Blue Comets.

Edwin Perez is slated to play men’s soccer at Chowan, which is the same destination for Asheboro teammate Calvin Smith. Smith was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Mid-Piedmont Conference, while Gutierrez and Perez were all-conference choices.

** Trinity’s baseball team had several players pegged to extend their playing careers. A trio of All-Piedmont Athletic Conference players will make stops in junior college.

Pitcher and outfielder Jake Little is going to Florence-Darlington Tech in Florence, S.C., to play for the Stingers, who’ve been a regional power. Pitcher Cade Hill is heading to Rockingham Community College. Jaxson Coble, who also played football for the Bulldogs, is going to Guilford Tech after being dubbed the Bulldogs’ top offensive player in 2023.

** Three-sport standout Dylan Hodges of Trinity is set to play men’s basketball at Division III Pfeiffer.

Hodges was a high-flying swingman, averaging 17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and a team-best 2.5 steals per game as a senior. Hodges was also a receiver for the football team, while he excelled as a high jumper and sprinter in track and field.

** From Providence Grove, Caroline Wright is going to Pfeiffer to play women’s golf. She was last year’s Player of the Year in the Piedmont Athletic Conference for girls’ golf.

Previous stories have documented intended destinations for many other Class of 2023 athletes from Randolph County.

ER golfer Connor Carter 2023states. jpg

Prep Golf, Track: Carter claims second again in state tourney; Beane jumps to runner-up spot

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Connor Carter of Eastern Randolph tees off during the Class 1-A state tournament last week at Pinehurst No. 6. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

PINEHURST – Eastern Randolph senior Connor Carter was the runner-up again in the Class 1-A state tournament for boys’ golf.

Carter shot rounds of 70 and 77 for 3-over-par 147 last week at Pinehurst No. 6.

He was behind only Mitchell’s Connor Warren, the defending champion who checked in at 11-under 133 with rounds of 65 and 68. Carter had a four-shot edge on third-place finisher Reid Smith of South Stanly.

In Class 2-A at Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines, Ryan Marshall of Wheatmore tied for 30th at 16-over 160 (83, 77). Randleman’s Justin Jackson ended up 77th at 194 (103, 91)

Class 3-A at Foxfire Resort & Golf Club’s Red Course in Jackson Springs, David Elliott of Asheboro tied for 57th at 24-over 168 (82, 86).

Track and field

At Greensboro, Randleman’s Gracie Beane was second in the girls’ high jump in Class 2-A to highlight results for Randolph County entrants in state meets at North Carolina A&T.

Beane’s leap of 5 feet, 4 inches was 2 inches shy of the winning mark from D’Anna Cotton of team champion Burlington Cummings.

Beane also was eighth in the triple jump (35-3½).

Coley Shiflet of Southwestern Randolph ended up sixth in the 800 meters (2:28.10). Iniyah Mitchell of Randleman took sixth in the shot put (34-3)

On the boys’ side, Chase Farlow of Randleman placed fifth in the high jump at 6-2. Trinity’s Dylan Hodges was seventh in the high jump (6-0).

Wheatmore’s Zach Hazelwood captured sixth place in the 3,200 (10:11.30).

** In Class 3-A on Friday, Asheboro’s girls’ 400 relay of Audrey Patterson, Sion Murrain, Ey’Mya Cheek and Jalaya Showers was seventh in 50.88.

Lance Everhart scored on the boys’ side by tying for eighth place in the high jump (6-0). He was 11th in the pole vault (12-0).

** In Class 1-A on Friday, Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly placed fifth in the 1,600 (5:33.54). She was ninth in the 800 (2:33.12).

Teammate Mirianna Corea was seventh in the shot put (32-5½).

ER boys Timothy Brower v Trinity PAC T Feb2023

Wildcats capture another prize, top Trinity boys in PAC final

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Eastern Randolph’s Timothy Brower goes up for a basket as Trinity’s Jacob Hodges, right, defends. Other Trinity players, left to right, Brandon Campbell, Grayson Earls, Dylan Hodges and Dominic Payne look on. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

RAMSEUR – Timothy Brower was down on the court in pain in the first quarter of the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament’s boys’ basketball championship.

The Eastern Randolph guard delivered much of the punishment for the rest of Friday night’s game.

Brower’s 28 points helped propel the regular-season champion Wildcats in a 74-64 victory against visiting Trinity that marked their first conference tournament title in seven years.

Brower said he sensed his tumble was pleasing to the opposing team’s fans.

“It kind of hit me,” he said. “That turned something on inside me.”

The Wildcats sure know how to turn it on, and even though a 17-point lead shrunk to two points in the fourth quarter they had what it took to turn away third-seeded Trinity.

It’s the winningest season in program history for Eastern Randolph (24-2).

“I knew we were going to have a good season, but I didn’t think it would be like this,” said senior guard Pierce Leonard, a transfer from Uwharrie Charter Academy.

The latest example from the Wildcats might have been fitting.

“It was how our boys persevered,” first-year coach Johnny Thomas said. “We’re not only showing people that we can be a fast team, we’re showing people that we can be a smart team. We can play half-court basketball and in the process of playing half-court basketball, we can get the job done.

“We allowed ourselves to stay positive and stay motivated. So the highlight for me is walking away with not only the (regular-season) championship, but the tournament championship.”

Eastern Randolph’s Davonte Brooks, despite not feeling well at times, racked up 20 points and Connor Carter’s 12 points came on four 3-point baskets.

“They run their system well,” Trinity coach Tim Kelly said. “They have so many different weapons. They’re the best team in our league.”

Brower, a sophomore, nearly doubled his season average of 14.9 points per game.

“I knew whoever was guarding me couldn’t guard me,” Brower said, dealing with what he described as a hyperextended knee.

“He got everywhere he wanted to get to,” Thomas said of Brower.

Despite now tripling last season’s eight-win total, this title game was far from automatic.

“We just couldn’t close out,” Kelly said of rallies that faded.

Dominic Payne racked up 25 points, Dylan Hodges had 15 of his 19 points in the first half and Brandon Campbell tallied 12 points for Trinity (20-7).

Eastern Randolph ended the first quarter on a 20-3 stretch and extended its lead to 30-13 by scoring the first five points of the second quarter. Trinity’s 14-1 run changed the game’s complexion.

The Wildcats’ 38-31 halftime edge grew again as Brower put together a stellar third quarter. Trinity ended up in the bonus early in the second half, but the Bulldogs also encountered foul trouble as Campbell and Hodges picked up their fourth fouls with more than seven minutes to play.

Still, Trinity shook off a 12-point hole, with Payne’s three-point play and his baseline jumper cutting the deficit to 59-57. The Bulldogs had a possession with a chance to tie or go ahead.

The next points came from Brooks on a putback of his own missed shot, then Brower drained a 14-foot jump before Carter’s 3 made it 66-59 with less than two minutes left.

“It felt awesome because no one thought we could do it,” Brower said.

The final score might have been closer, but Kelly didn’t want his team to back off.

“Why do that?” Kelly said. “Give yourself a chance to win.”

Leonard ended up on the PAC Tournament title-winning team for the second year in a row.

“I do what I got to do to allow us to win,” he said.

It was the first time either team had reached a conference tournament final since 2016. Eastern Randolph also won that matchup.

Asheboro boys Hakeeme Butler v Oak Grove Feb2023

Prep Basketball: Eastern Randolph teams reach PAC finals; Asheboro boys suffer upset loss

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Asheboro’s Hakeeme Butler takes a shot against Oak Grove during the Mid-Piedmont Conference Tournament semifinals. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

RAMSEUR – Both Eastern Randolph basketball teams will be in the championship games on their home court Friday night.

The finals matchups for Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament were set after Wednesday night’s results.

The 6 p.m. girls’ game pits Randleman (23-1) against Eastern Randolph (17-6) followed by the boys’ title game between Trinity (20-6) and Eastern Randolph (23-2)

On the girls’ side, second-seeded Eastern Randolph defeated visiting Southwestern Randolph 75-49 behind Brecken Snotherly’s 37 points.

The third-seeded Cougars (18-8) received 14 points from Maddie Small.

** Top-seeded Randleman rolled past fifth-seeded Uwharrie Charter Academy 58-40 with Jordan Booker pouring in 17 points, Audra Petty posting 16 points and Graycn Hall adding 15 points.

Ashara Spurill scored 10 points for visiting UCA (11-15).

** In the boys’ tournament, top-seeded Eastern Randolph had a difficult time in turning back fourth-seeded Randleman 48-45.

The Wildcats had scored at least 58 points in every previous game this season. They led by 12 points at halftime, but couldn’t put Randleman away.

Davonte Brooks racked up 18 points and 13 rebounds for Eastern Randolph.

Greg Price’s 18 points led Randleman (15-11), which closed the gap in the final seconds on Christian Long’s 3-pointer on the game’s last shot.

** Dominic Payne scored 30 points as third-seeded Trinity edged second-seeded Southwestern Randolph 67-66.

Dylan Hodges had 17 points and Brandon Campbell provided 13 points for the visiting Bulldogs.

Southwestern Randolph (15-10) had been the only PAC team to defeat Eastern Randolph this season. Nathan Ellis had 21 points and Sean Adkins added 16.

Mid-Piedmont Conference

Wednesday night at Ledford, fifth-seeded Oak Grove upset top-seeded Asheboro 67-61 in the conference tournament semifinals.

Asheboro (19-5), which was the defending tournament champion, had gone through the 10-game league slate undefeated in the regular season. It had an 11-game winning streak overall.

The Blue Comets, who’ll await the pairings for the Class 3-A state playoffs, received 21 points apiece from Jerquarius Stanback and Hakeeme Butler.

** In the girls’ tournament a night earlier, third-seeded North Davidson topped last-place Asheboro 76-68 despite Salem Lee’s 24 points and Sion Murrian’s 20 points. Sixth-seeded Asheboro’s season ended with a 4-21 record with 10 consecutive losses.

SWR girls J George v. Trinity A Nance Feb2023

Prep Basketball: Southwestern Randolph teams reach PAC semifinal rounds

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Southwestern Randolph’s Jordin George shoots against Trinity’s Ava Nance on Monday night. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph’s girls’ basketball team survived the only tight finish on the opening night of the Piedmont Athletic Conference postseason.

The Cougars prevailed 47-46 against visiting Trinity in the PAC Tournament quarterfinals Monday night. They needed a defensive stop on the game’s final possession.

Senior forward Maddie Small made the second of two free-throw chances to break a tie with 9.5 seconds left following an offensive rebound.

Jordin George posted 14 points for the third-seeded Cougars (18-7), who play in the semifinals Wednesday night at second-seeded Eastern Randolph.

For sixth-seeded Trinity (12-13), Kennedy Jackson racked up 16 points and Autumn Gentry and Kaelyn Whiteheart both had 13 points.

Eastern Randolph defeated seventh-seeded Providence Grove for the second time in five nights, winning 51-33 at home. Brecken Snotherly supplied 38 points and 15 rebounds for the Wildcats (16-6). Providence Grove is 6-18.

Fifth-seeded Uwharrie Charter Academy won 57-39 on the road against fourth-seeded Wheatmore (9-14).

UCA (11-14) has a date with regular-season champion Randleman (22-1), which received a bye, in the semifinals.

The girls’ tournament final is at 6 p.m. Friday at Eastern Randolph, where the boys’ final will follow.

PAC boys

Second-seeded Southwestern Randolph used Sean Adkins’ 14 points on the way to defeating seventh-seeded Wheatmore 58-38.

The Cougars (15-9), who also received 12 points from Landon Williamson and 11 points from Thomas Leal, are home against third-seeded Trinity on Wednesday night.

Wheatmore (5-18), which hasn’t won against a PAC opponent, had 12 points from Cooper Black.

Trinity’s Dominic Payne tallied 30 points in a 70-61 victory against visiting Providence Grove (7-18), the sixth seed. Dylan Hodges added 13 points and Brandon Campbell had 12 points for the Bulldogs (19-6).

There were big offensive outputs as fourth-seeded Randleman stopped fifth-seeded UCA 66-52. Tyshaun Goldston led the Tigers (15-10) with 28 points, Greg Price had 17 points and Christian Long added 14.

Those outings helped offset Ashton Troutman’s 35 points for UCA (7-18).

Randleman heads for Wednesday night’s semifinal at first-place Eastern Randolph, which had a quarterfinal bye.

Asheboro boys J Stanback shoots v Ledford Feb2023

Prep Boys: Blue Comets hit decades-long high

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Asheboro’s Jerquarius Stanback goes up for a shot last week against Ledford’s Whit Denny. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – There are lots of reasons that have made this a special season for the Asheboro boys’ basketball team.

The goal will be to keep it going.

The Blue Comets won the Mid-Piedmont Conference’s regular season, going through that portion of conference play without a loss for the first time since 1976.

“We knew we would have some success in conference,” veteran coach Brian Nance said. “We had a good first half (of league play) and next thing you know, you’re 6-0, 7-0 …”

Asheboro (19-4, 10-0 Mid-Piedmont Conference) made it to the finish line without a league loss going into this week’s conference tournament. Nance said he liked the Blue Comets’ focus in rematches after defeating opponents in the first rotation through the schedule.

Asheboro played its regular-season home finale by overpowering second-place Ledford 49-37 on Tuesday night to clinch the Mid-Piedmont Conference title. Jerquarius Stanback had 17 points.

The Blue Comets capped the regular season by winning 70-42 on Friday night at Montgomery Central with Camden Walker posting 17 points. That pushed Asheboro’s winning streak to 11 games.

Seniors Hakeeme Butler and Tanner Marsh are three-year starters and Stanback, a junior, is also a returning starter. Senior D.J. Headen had plenty of varsity experience entering the season. Walker, a junior, has been considered the biggest surprise, Nance said, and has provided a shooting threat on the perimeter.

Stanback averages 18 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. In the 10 Mid-Piedmont Conference games, he racked up a triple-double (that included points, rebounds and blocked shots) and seven double-doubles.

In conference play, Stanback’s 14.2 points per outing were followed by Butler and Headen before Marsh checked in fourth on the team at 9.5, giving the Blue Comets balanced scoring.

The Blue Comets enter the conference tournament as the defending champion of that event, rising from the No. 3 seed last year. There’s Wednesday’s semifinal against either North Davidson or Oak Grove and potentially Friday night’s final – both at Ledford.

This is Nance’s 17th season. His teams have won four league tournaments, but never secured a regular-season and tournament title in the same season. That hasn’t happened for Asheboro since the 1996-97 season.

“It has been a fun year,” Nance said. “We would like to win a couple more.”

Piedmont Athletic Conference

** Eastern Randolph began last week by trouncing visiting Trinity 98-70 with Davonte Brooks posting 32 points and Timothy Brower pouring in 24. Then the Wildcats clinched the PAC regular-season title by withstanding an upset from host Providence Grove by 88-84 (see separate story).

** Trinity received 31 points from Dominic Payne and 19 from Dylan Hodges in the clash with Eastern Randolph. The Bulldogs bounced back to top visiting Randleman 61-55 behind 20 points from Payne and 19 from Hodges.

Still, that means third-place Trinity (18-6, 8-4) has work to do to produce its second 20-win season in a row. Greg Price of fourth-place Randleman (14-10, 6-6) had 19 points.

** When Providence Grove whipped host Wheatmore 81-52, Sakai McKoy had 17 points. Wheatmore’s Cooper Black had 27 points.

** Southwestern Randolph kept its hopes alive for a share of the PAC crown by upending visiting Uwharrie Charter Academy 72-46 with Sean Adkins scoring 17 points on Senior Night.

** Fifth-place UCA responded by completing a season sweep of last-place Wheatmore by winning its home finale 76-42.

SWR basketball Nathan Ellis vs ER 013123

Prep Basketball: PAC boys’ race extends to final games

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Southwestern Randolph’s Nathan Ellis goes up for a shot as Eastern Randolph players, left to right, Timothy Brower, Nicah Taylor, Davonte Brooks and Pierce Leonard look on. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

 

ASHEBORO – The big upset from last week came with Southwestern Randolph ending the Eastern Randolph boys’ basketball team’s winning streak at 19 games.

The Cougars won 75-66 at home, so that likely will keep the suspense in the Piedmont Athletic Conference going until the final night of the regular season.

Nathan Ellis led the way with 21 points, while teammates Thomas Leal (14 points), Sean Adkins (12), Kearns Trotter (11) and Landon Williamson (10) all scored in double figures.

Second-place Southwestern Randolph remained just a half-game out of first place by topping visiting Wheatmore 54-34 as Adkins posted 16 points Friday night.

Eastern Randolph hadn’t lost since its opener Dec. 2 at Southwest Guilford.

The Wildcats got back on track by winning 89-76 at Uwharrie Charter Academy on Friday night with a boost from Davonte Brooks’ 24 points (after he had 20 in the Southwestern Randolph game). Pierce Leonard, playing against his former school, tacked on 18 points and Timothy Brower had 17 points. These outputs helped overcome 41 points from UCA’s Ashton Troutman.

Eastern Randolph could secure the outright regular-season title by beating visiting Trinity, which remains in contention, on Tuesday night and host Providence Grove on Thursday night. Southwestern Randolph’s lone game this week was set for Tuesday night at UCA, while Trinity is also home vs. Randleman on Thursday night.

** Trinity played just once last week with Dominic Payne and Dylan Hodges each scoring 23 points in a 68-51 victory at Providence Grove.

** Despite 24 points from Tyshaun Goldston, Randleman fell 64-60 at UCA. The Tigers received 22 points from Christian Long in an 82-41 pounding of visiting Providence Grove.

** In the Mid-Piedmont Conference, Asheboro moved closer to clinching a title by defeating visiting Central Davidson 50-47 and topping host North Davidson 55-48. Hakeeme Butler’s 18 points and 20 points, respectively, those games paced the Blue Comets.

Eastern Randolph’s Logan Beaver launches a shot over Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Blakeley Justus last week. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Girls’ basketball

Randleman secured the outright PAC championship by defeating host UCA 56-33 as Gracyn Hall tallied 20 points.

The Tigers then won their regular-season home finale by 63-27 against Providence Grove.

** Eastern Randolph won twice, including a 43-34 road victory against host Southwestern Randolph as Brecken Snotherly rolled up 25 points and 11 rebounds. That result avenged a loss from early January.

Next, Snotherly poured in 30 points in Eastern Randolph’s 61-34 victory against UCA. That gave the Wildcats a four-game winning streak entering this week.

Eastern Randolph clinched at least a share of second place in the PAC.

Asheboro boys v North Davidson Jan2023

Prep Roundup: Eastern Randolph boys keep rolling; Baxter hits milestone win with SWR

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Asheboro’s Elijah Woodley locks in defensively on North Davidson’s Payton Eccles during last week’s game at the Asheboro Recreation Center. In the background, Asheboro’s Jerquarius Stanback keeps tabs on Caiden Bean. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record).

 

With three players scoring 20 or more points, Eastern Randolph came away with a 95-77 road victory against Trinity in boys’ basketball last week.

Pierce Leonard led the Wildcats with 29 points, Nicah Taylor scored 27 and Davonte Brooks had 20.

Those offset Dominic Payne’s 37 points for Trinity. Teammate Dylan Hodges had 22.

The Wildcats followed that by pounding visiting Providence Grove 93-60 to push their record to 15-1 by the end of last week.

** Southwestern Randolph’s Sean Adkins hit the go-ahead basket in 57-56 victory at Uwharrie Charter Academy.

** The duo of Camden Walker (22 points) and Jerquaris Stanback (20) propelled Asheboro in a 74-63 victory at Central Davidson. Walker had 20 points in a 74-37 home romp past North Davidson.

** Tyshaun Goldson of Randleman tallied 28 points as the Tigers won a non-conference game against visiting Ledford by 70-52.

** Trinity was back on the winning path when Hodges posted 23 points in a 67-55 victory at Randleman. The Tigers received 25 points from Goldston.

** UCA road Ashton Troutman’s 38 points in a 58-48 triumph at Wheatmore.

Girls’ basketball

Seth Baxter’s six-season record as girls’ basketball coach at Southwestern Randolph reached 100-34 with last week’s 47-45 victory at UCA.

** Brecken Snotherly’s 28 points and 12 rebounds along with Ziera Watson’s 20 points were enough to help Eastern Randolph past host Trinity 71-55. Trinity received 24 points from Kennedy Jackson.

Snotherly racked up 39 points and 10 rebounds in a 75-26 crushing of Providence Grove.

Asheboro’s Sion Murrain checks out the situation as North Davidson’s Lettie Michael, left, and Kyndall Moore set the defense during last week’s game at Asheboro Recreation center. North Davidson won 64-36. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)

** Sion Murrian’s 24 points lifted Asheboro past host Central Davidson by 69-47.

** Providence Grove’s Jada Nixon had 24 points in a 65-64 overtime loss to visiting Burlington Williams.

Wrestling

At Eden, Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Jack McArthur (132 pounds), Aldo Hernandez (138), Lorenzo Alston (145) Alek Millikan (160), Grayson Roberts (170) and Corbin Grissom (182) were individual champions Saturday in the Sarah Wilkes Invitational at Eden Morehead.

Teammates Spencer May (120) and Joey Smith (220) of Trinity were also champions.

In finals, Hernandez, Millikan and Alston won by first-period pins, Grissom prevailed with a second-period pin and Roberts registered a technical fall in the second period. McArthur defeated Trinity’s Gavin McCall 8-2 in the title bout.

Roberts had three earlier pins.

Ethan Hines (106) of UCA and Levi Dennis (126) of Trinity were runners-up.

UCA was team champion.