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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.

PG girls basketball new coach Johnathan Gainey

Providence Grove finds next girls’ coach

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CLIMAX – Providence Grove moved quickly this summer to hire a new girls’ basketball coach.

Johnathan Gainey is the new coach, filling the vacancy caused by the departure of Dylan Eppley.

Gainey previously coached girls’ teams at Winston-Salem Prep and Winston-Salem Reynolds. He also was the boys’ basketball coach at his alma mater, Kernersville Glenn.

Eppley left Providence Grove after three seasons to become the boys’ basketball coach at Southern Alamance.

“I felt like this was a move that I needed,” Eppley said of a chance to expand his professional experiences.

Eppley’s Providence Grove teams had a 26-37 record, including 6-18 last season.

Eppley, 30, said he embraced his coaching opportunity with the Patriots as it was his first role as a varsity head coach. Former athletics director Calvin Brown, who became the football coach at Asheboro last winter, was supportive, he said.

“Calvin sold me on Providence Grove,” said Eppley, who also was on the football coaching staff. “He built an athletic department that was very connected.”

Eppley goes from one school nicknamed Patriots to another with the same nickname. He’ll be in a rebuilding phase at Southern Alamance, which is moving from Class 4-A to Class 3-A and is coming off a three-year stretch with an 18-44 record. That includes last season’s 6-19 mark.

Cheek_Athelete-of-the-WeekRectanglenewtemplate

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zane Cheek

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Providence Grove, multi-sport

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Cheek was active in each of the sports seasons, beginning as a multi-purpose back for the football team. He averaged more than 90 rushing yards per game as a senior in 2022. He again was selected as an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference player.

He was one of Providence Grove’s key players in boys’ basketball as a guard.

He wrapped up his prep career as a sprinter on the track and field team.

His twin brother, Zander Cheek, also was a standout athlete for the Patriots.

** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

Wheatmore boys coach Craig Shoemaker

Wheatmore’s new basketball coach familiar with rivalries

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Craig Shoemaker is Wheatmore’s new boys’ basketball coach. (Courtesy photo)

TRINITY – The more Craig Shoemaker learned about Wheatmore’s boys’ basketball program, the more he became interested in becoming the next coach.

So he accepted the job and he’ll try another rebuilding project.

“I was looking for a job,” Shoemaker said. “I didn’t know too much about Wheatmore. Seemed like they want someone to build it. I was very impressed by what I heard and saw.”

Shoemaker had huge success during several seasons in 13 years at Ragsdale and more recently coached at Leadership Academy in Kernersville.

Last season, the Warriors were 5-18 with a 0-12 regular-season mark in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Jonathan Evans was the coach until mid-December, when Jason Dennis took over on an interim basis.

“I like going to a place that needs a turnaround,” Shoemaker said.

Wheatmore had four consecutive winning seasons through 2019-20, but hasn’t posted an above-.500 mark since then.

Athletics director Rick Halo said the Warriors are seeking stability for the program after what seems like several years of a coaching carousel.

“His knowledge of the game stood out,” Halo said of Shoemaker. “We were looking for a seasoned coach who could step in and have good success. … A fresh start for me and a fresh start for our players.”

Shoemaker coached basketball for four seasons at Leadership Academy, never winning more than nine games. He wasn’t on the bench during this past season.

At Ragsdale, Shoemaker’s teams posted 20-, 23- and 26-win seasons. By the end, he had back-to-back 9-16 teams and was done there after the 2017-18 seasons. Overall, the Tigers were 188-151 under Shoemaker.

“We had a lot of good guys roll through there and we capitalized on it,” he said. “We tailed off a little bit.”

During his time at Ragsdale, his team was in the same conference as Trinity, which is Wheatmore’s neighboring rival. Shoemaker recalled several clashes with Trinity, which continues to be coached by Tim Kelly.

“We were packing out gyms when we played,” Shoemaker said. “He did tell me once I got the job (at Wheatmore) he was not going to give me any advice for a year.”

Though Shoemaker didn’t coach basketball this school year, he has guided the Leadership Academy boys’ soccer team for a few seasons. That squad went 21-1-1 in 2021.

His two youngest sons are seniors at Leadership Academy.

Shoemaker’s first head coaching job in basketball came at St. David’s School in Raleigh.

Shoemaker, who lives in High Point, will be involved in Wheatmore’s intervention program during school days.

Randleman girls coach Steven Rightmyer

Randleman keeps it close to home with new girls’ coach

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Steven Rightmyer was named coach of the Randleman girls’ basketball team. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

RANDLEMAN – The next step in Steven Rightmyer’s coaching ventures takes him to something different, but he’s also familiar with much of what’s involved in Randleman’s girls’ basketball program.

He was named the next coach of the Tigers, who’ve been a power the past few years.

“I always wanted to be a varsity coach,” Rightmyer said. “It’s a chance to step outside and try a new challenge.”

That’s because Rightmyer has mostly been involved in coaching boys’ sports. He moves from his role as boys’ basketball coach at Randleman Middle School, though he’ll remain there as a physical education and health teacher.

He takes over for Brandon Varner, who stepped aside after five seasons and a 103-20 record. Varner is athletics director at the middle school, so he’s well-connected with Rightmyer.

“Change is always a little bit different, but we’re still excited about the change,” Randleman principal Dennis Hamilton said.

This marks the first varsity coaching assignment for Rightmyer, 35. He has coached a variety of sports, including junior varsity boys’ basketball for the Tigers. At the middle school, he also has been a head coach and assistant coach for the football team.

“He’s a tireless worker,” Randleman athletics director Jake Smith said. “We have no doubt that through his leadership that Randleman girls’ basketball will continue to produce a quality product.”

Rightmyer said he’s fortunate because openings with such a strong program might not come along often.

Because of his teaching role, Rightmyer is familiar with the players who’ll make up the girls’ team. His nine years overall in Randleman gives him a good feel for the community, he said.

“I’ve coached a lot of their older brothers,” he said. “It’s not like moving to a new school. It definitely helps.”

Randleman’s girls went 25-1 in 2021-22 and 27-2 during this past season, mostly dominating the Piedmont Athletic Conference.

“There was a lot of talent, especially with that senior group,” Rightmyer said. “We’ve got a good group that’s still going to be here.”

Rightmyer, who’s from Livonia, N.Y., served as a student assistant coach for three years for the Methodist University’s men’s team. He also helped with the boys’ basketball team at Pine Forest in Fayetteville while student teaching. He was at Southeastern Randolph Middle School for three years before shifting to Randleman.

ER girls Brecken Snotherly shoots v UCA 2023

Snotherly’s stellar career comes with skills, desire

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Brecken Snotherly had a wide array of ways to score with Eastern Randolph’s girls’ basketball team. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Eastern Randolph senior relishes sports journey

RAMSEUR – Brecken Snotherly’s path has taken a few turns during high school, but generally the Eastern Randolph standout athlete has reached her destinations.

She put the basketball in the hoop at an alarmingly successful rate and she knows her way around running courses as well.

Basketball became her passion and she’ll continue in that sport for East Tennessee State.

“Basketball is my main thing,” she said. “I’ve been playing basketball since kindergarten. I just have a real love for the game.”

That makes sense considering her scoring prowess and ball-moving abilities. Snotherly poured in more than 2,000 points in a prep career that included time with Winston-Salem Christian.

But once the pandemic passed, she said she knew she wanted to be back home at Eastern Randolph.

The Wildcats have been glad to have her.

“One of the hardest-working kids I’ve seen at this level,” Eastern Randolph girls’ basketball coach Jeff Davis said. “Just her IQ. She studies and studies the game and wants to keep learning.”

That example helped set the tone as the Wildcats racked up a 19-8 record during the recently completed season.

As a senior, Snotherly scored 30.7 points to go with 9.7 rebounds per game.

“She’s a player we’ve been battling with it seems like forever,” Randleman coach Brandon Varner said.

With 51 points against Trinity during a game this winter, she re-set her single-game school record.

While Snotherly has a smooth jumper, it’s not like she relied on 3-point shooting. She’s efficient on fast breaks and well-equipped to carve through defenses.

“Some of it comes from transition,” Davis said. “It’s more of a desire.”

It was noticeable every time she was on the court.

“That kid is a nice player,” said Eastern Alamance coach Tim Krotish, who topped the career 500-win mark during the season. “She’ll pull up and knock that thing down in your face. She can go right, left.”

Ask Snotherly about that mid-range shot, and she’ll widen her smile.

“My little pull-up jumper, that’s my specialty,” she said.

Snotherly, a top 10 finisher in past state meets in cross country and track and field, has been excelling again in middle-distance and distance events this spring. So there’s more to do before she takes her basketball skills to the collegiate level.

Snotherly committed to East Tennessee State before her senior season. She had multiple college offers, but decided it was best to lock in on one school before her final go-around with the Wildcats.

So there’s more places to go and things to accomplish. For Snotherly, it seems to fit right in.

“It has been my journey,” she said. “I wouldn’t change it.”

Randleman girls coach Brandon Varner Feb2023,jpg

Varner leaves post as Randleman girls’ coach

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Coach Brandon Varner had Randleman’s girls’ basketball team on a winning path. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

RANDLEMAN – Brandon Varner’s wildly successful five-season stretch as Randleman’s girls’ basketball coach has come to an end.

“Just time to step away,” Varner said. “The biggest thing was the time I was putting into basketball. There’s really no breaks.”

Under Varner, the Tigers went 103-20, with half those defeats coming in his first season when the team went 15-10.

Varner, 40, will remain as athletics director at Randleman Middle School, where he also is on the football staff.

“It was just getting to be a lot of time and going back and forth to the high school,” Varner said.

Randleman finished 27-2 during the past season following a 25-1 record in 2021-22. The Tigers were the Class 2-A West Region top seed in each of those seasons, reaching the regional semifinals this year for the fourth season in a row.

“It was so much fun and so many memories,” he said. “So proud of what (the players) accomplished and how hard they worked. They bought in to accomplish everything as a team and were dedicated to being a championship team.”

Varner took charge of the program beginning with the 2018-19 season. The Tigers have rung up a 56-4 record in regular-season conference play during his time.

Randleman was 24-3 in his second season and 12-4 in the pandemic-shortened slate in the 2020-21 academic year.

There will be transition in the lineup as well. Senior standouts Gracyn Hall, Elizabeth York and Jordan Booker completed their eligibility. Gracie Beane and Audra Petty figure to form the nucleus for next season.

“It should be a very appealing job,” Varner said. “There’s a talented group of girls who work really hard and know how to win.”

Varner said his duties with Randleman Middle School that include driving the bus for some teams has kept him on the go. He said he sensed the need for near-constant attention on the girls’ basketball program, particularly without an assistant coach at all practices.

“I felt it needed to be year-round if we’re going to be good,” he said. “I felt like that’s what we needed to do. During the season, if we’re not practicing, I felt like somebody is getting ahead of us.”

Varner said he wouldn’t rule out returning to a coaching role if a season or two away has him itching to return. He also said a small-coaching assistant coaching position might be attractive as well.

ER girls Brecken Snotherly v Wheatmore

Piedmont Athletic Conference all-conference lists for winter sports

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Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly goes up for a shot vs. Wheatmore during the past season. Snotherly was named the Player of the Year in Piedmont Athletic Conference girls’ basketball. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Here’s a list of the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s major award winners and all-conference selections for winter sports:

Boys’ basketball

Player of the Year: Dominic Payne (Trinity)

Coach of the Year: Matt Kiser (Southwestern Randolph)

All-Conference

Eastern Randolph: Davonte Brooks, Timothy Brower, Pierce Leonard, Nicah Taylor

Southwestern Randolph: Sean Adkins, Nathan Ellis, Thomas Leal, Landon Williamson.

Trinity: Brandon Campbell, Dylan Hodges, Dominic Payne.

Randleman: Tyshaun Goldston, Greg Price.

Uwharrie Charter Academy: Ashton Troutman.

Providence Grove: Chase Whitaker.

****

Girls’ basketball

Player of the Year: Brecken Snotherly (Eastern Randolph)

Coach of the Year: Brandon Varner (Randleman)

All-Conference

Randleman: Gracie Beane, Gracyn Hall, Audra Petty, Elizabeth York.

Eastern Randolph: Brecken Snotherly, Kenly Whitaker.

Southwestern Randolph: Jordin George, Caressa King.

Wheatmore: Brianna Hill, Kynndi Routh.

Uwharrie Charter Academy: Ashara Spruill, Savannah Surratt

Trinity: Autumn Gentry, Kennedy Jackson.

Providence Grove: Allie Frazier.

****

Boys’ swimming

Swimmer of the Year: Chris Hall (Trinity)

Co-Coaches of the Year: Michelle Hinson (Wheatmore), Tammie Swaim (Trinity)

All-Conference

Wheatmore: Thomas Crews, Aiden Dean, Jace Leonard, Jude Leonard, Alexis Vega-Torres.

Providence Grove: Hayden Parker, Ashton Taylor, Austin Williams.

Trinity: Chris Hall.

****

Girls’ swimming

Swimmer of the Year: Samantha Marin (Randleman)

Co-Coaches of the Year: Michelle Hinson (Wheatmore), Tammie Swaim (Trinity)

All-conference

Wheatmore: Emily Cribbs, Sydney Hall, Paisley Hollifield, Victoria Joyce, Ava Williamson.

Randleman: Emma Herring, Kendall Fortson, Samantha Marin, Mackenzie Roach.

Trinity: Callie Jones.

*****

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Grayson Roberts pins South Davidson’s Jesse Pope during the Class 1-A East Region final at 170 pounds. Roberts was voted as the top upper-weight wrestler in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Wrestling

Lower Weight Wrestler of the Year: Aldo Hernandez (UCA)

Upper Weight Wrestler of the Year: Grayson Roberts (UCA)

Coach of the Year: Chris Waddell (UCA)

All-conference

Uwharrie Charter Academy: Lorenzo Alston, Corbin Grissom, Aldo Hernandez, Ethan Hines, Jadon Maness, Jack McArthur, Grayson Roberts, Carson Robinson, Jair Ulloa, Brennan Worrell.

Trinity: Lawson Coltrane, Levi Dennis, Brayden Hall, Gavin Hardister, Spencer May, Gavin McCall, Bear Schaefer, Joey Smith, Edgard Mora Vasquez.

Southwestern Randolph: Jose Flores, Erick Lopez, Luke White.

Wheatmore: Dominic Hittiepole, Trey Swaney.

Providence Grove: Ross Allred, Colton Wood.

Eastern Randolph: Bryce Foland, Adrian Lopez.

Randleman: Caden Thorne, Braxton Walker

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.

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