staff reports

TRINITY — A double-digit lead makes some teams feel comfortable, but not those playing the Wheatmore High School boys basketball team.
Randleman learned that the hard way Thursday as the Warriors came back from being down 16 at the half on their way to a 53-49 Piedmont Athletic Conference victory. It was a sweep for WHS as the girls won 51-47 in the opener.
“I really thought we played good D in the first half, but they hit shots,” said WHS boys coach Tim Kelly Jr., noting the Tigers’ eight first-half 3-pointers.
“We came in the half and made some adjustments. Fortunately for us, they weren’t making those shots in the second half. There’s a lot of pride in this program and that’s what helped us win this game.”
Down 16 at the half, WHS slashed RHS’ lead to six late in the third quarter and trailed 42-34 heading into the fourth.
A Corey Hudgins 3-pointer with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter pulled the Warriors within four. After Robbie Rich scored for the Tigers, Hudgins hit another trey to cut the lead to three.
Gavin Rains sank a free throw after an RHS turnover to pull the team within two, and then stole the ball and dunked, knotting the game at 45-all.
Tanner McGee answered with a 3-pointer, but Rains scored on the other end with 1 1/2 minutes to play.
Tempers took over after that and RHS was hit with a technical foul. Bryant Walker sank both free throws to give WHS a 49-48 lead with a minute to play.
Rains then scored to put the Warriors up by three.
McGee hit a free throw and his teammates rebounded the miss with 11 seconds left. Rains blocked a 3-point try by McGee.
Matt Owens hit two free throws on the other end to ice the win.
Gavin Rains led WHS (6-2, 16-4) with 24 points with Owens adding 10.
For RHS (5-5, 9-8), Nathan Cassidy notched 12 points with McGee chipping in eight.
“It’s unfortunate the way it ended,” RHS coach Daniel Mitchell said. “You don’t want to see two teams do things right the whole game and have it decided by technicalities in rule book.”
In the girls’ game, the Warriors broke a 1-1 regular-season tie.
“We’ve had three tight games with them,” WHS coach Pete Kilcullen said. “We match up well against each other.
“The key was we held Taylor Gantt to 10 points. She was averaging 19 against us in the first two. It’s a big key if you can hold her. She’s a talented young lady.”
Neva Hippert paced WHS (4-4, 9-11) with 15 points, while Skylar Swaney added 14 and Sabrina Tucker chipped in nine.
For RHS (2-8, 2-15), Kaylee Sexton had 16 points, and Taylor Deaton added 14.
The Warriors host Eastern Randolph tonight.
UCA girls notch win
ASHEBORO — The Uwharrie Charter Academy varsity girls basketball team beat South Stanly 47-39 Thursday in Yadkin Valley Conference play.
Gail Sink had 11 points for the Eagles (1-10, 3-13), while Rachel Thompson added 10 and Abbie Barker chipped in nine.
SWRMS sweeps UR
ASHEBORO — The Southwestern Randolph Middle School basketball teams finished out the regular season with a sweep of Uwharrie Ridge on Thursday.
The Cougars won the girls game 38-21 to improve to 14-0.
Katie Lowell paced SWRMS with 10 points, while Alexis Maness had nine and Carleigh Whitson eight.
For UR, Addison Boyers scored nine points.
In the boys game, SWRMS won 49-7 to improve to 7-7.
John Maness had 14 points with Tyler Parks adding 11 and Kaleb Long chipping in nine.
Both squads play in next week’s Randolph County League Tournament, which starts Tuesday with the girls’ opening round. The boys’ opening round is Tuesday. Semifinals are Feb. 9 and the finals Feb. 10, both rounds at Eastern Randolph High School.
RMS wins in OT
TRINITY — Randleman edged Archdale-Trinity 30-24 in overtime Thursday in the final game of the girls basketball regular season.
Gracyn Hall had 15 points for RMS, which finished 12-2 for the No. 2 seed heading into next week’s Randolph County League Tournament. Veronica Marlow added nine points.
For A-TMS, Kylie Biggs had nine points and Ramsie Kennedy seven.
NERMS tops SERMS
The Northeastern Randolph Middle School boys basketball team finished the regular season with a 37-30 win over Southeastern Randolph on Thursday.
Luke Thomas finished with 15 points, while Zane Cheek added 11.
SWR JV girls fall
Southwestern Randolph High School’s girls jayvee basketball team dropped a 38-36 decision to Southern Alamance in MPC action.
Ashley Martin, Brianna Martin and Lydia McRoy all scored eight points for the Cougars.
THS boys post win
The Trinity High School boys varsity basketball team posted a 61-42 win over Jordan-Matthews Tuesday night in Piedmont Athletic Conference action.
Thunder Levy had 18 points, Hunter Neal had 14 points and Tyler Hammonds added 11 points for the Bulldogs (5-4, 15-5).
UCAMS grabs win
Uwharrie Charter Academy Middle School earned a 54-30 boys basketball win over Triad Math And Science Wednesday.
Alijah Barker had 23 points and Dawson Dunn had 12 for UCA (8-2).
AHS boys fall to SG
GREENSBORO — The Asheboro High School boys varsity basketball team dropped a 58-40 decision to Southern Guilford Tuesday night in Mid-Piedmont Conference action.
Noah Watkins had 12 points and Nate Fisher 11 for the Blue Comets.
Faith tumbles
Faith Christian School dropped a pair of boys basketball games to Liberty Christian.
In the varsity game, the Eagles fell 53-38. Justin Edmisten, Ben Wensil and Jacob Cassell each had eight points for Faith (7-12).
n In jayvee action, Liberty posted a 60-38 win over the Eagles. Luke Brady had 12 points and Luke Langley had 11 for Faith (0-12).
ER JV boys top PG
The Eastern Randolph High School boys jayvee basketball team posted a 72-52 win over Providence Grove in PAC action Wednesday.
Kaeman Marley had 19 points and Carter Moore had 15 for ER, while J.B. Farris and Darius Glover had 13 each for the Wildcats (5-3, 8-8).
SWR JV boys win
The Southwestern Randolph High School jayvee boys basketball team posted a 59-43 win over Southern Alamance in MPC action.
Chris Hardin had 22 points and Mason West had eight for the Cougars.
WHS wrestling falls in semis
BETHEL — The Wheatmore High School varsity wrestling team beat Ledford 40-25 Thursday in the third round of the NCHSAA 2-A Dual
Tournament before falling 36-28 to Croatan
in the semfinals, finishing the team season 24-5.
Tuesday, WHS beat East Davidson 46-30 and Cummings 69-9.
Winning both of their matches for WHS were Hayden Caldwell, Conner Nelson, Ethan Oakley, Damon Hudspeth, Jared Niemitalo, Chase McKinney, Devin Daugherty and Mikel Long. Seth Miller, Dawson Riffe, Wil Shores, Pierre Hakizimana and Joey Ferguson were 1-0.