ASHEBORO — The Asheboro High School varsity girls basketball team earned a 51-48 overtime victory over Burlington Williams Friday night in Mid-Piedmont Conference action.
“We played better, we executed better and didn’t turn the ball over as much,” AHS coach David Hayes said, comparing his team’s performance against Williams to Thursday night’s loss to Southeast Guilford, when AHS managed a total of 29 points. “We didn’t throw the ball away and we made the most of our possessions.”
Rachel Luna hit a key 3-pointer in the extra session and Madison Priest hit a free throw with 0.3 seconds for AHS (5-6, 11-10), which led 15-14 at the end of the first quarter. But behind Mekayln White, who had 19 points through three quarters, Williams grabbed a 38-33 lead heading into the final quarter.
AHS tied the game and Williams had the final shot in regulation, but the shot missed and the game went into overtime.
Williams (3-6, 7-11) scored the first basket in overtime, but Luna’s 3-pointer gave AHS the lead for good.
Hayes pointed out the work of Tanaesha Ellison, who held White to just four points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Luna had 12 points and Diamond McDowell nine for AHS, while White finished with 23 points and Taela Whitehead had 13.
UCAMS boys win
The Uwharrie Charter Academy Middle School boys basketball team captured a 55-27 win over Clover Garden Charter Friday.
Jordan Harrison and Ashton Troutman had seven points each and Alijah Barker and Max Denamur added six each.
UCA (9-2) closes the regular season tied for a share of the league title. The league tournament begins next week.
The Providence Grove High School varsity boys basketball team posted a key 71-56 victory over High Point Andrews in Piedmont Athletic Conference play Friday night.
The win lifts PG into a tie with the Red Raiders for first place in the league heading into the final week of the regular season.
The Patriots (7-2, 13-5) led 44-24 at halftime.
“We were fortunate in the first half in that we got hot and defensively we got steals and got into passing lanes,” PG head coach Ben Brickhouse said.
Malik Sutton scored 14 of his 16 points in the second quarter.
Daylin Locklear finished with 12 points.
WHS girls post win
The Wheatmore High School girls varsity basketball team went from fifth place to second in one week, courtesy of a couple of wins, including Friday night’s 44-38 PAC win over Eastern Randolph.
WHS trailed 18-11 at halftime before taking off in the second half.
“The shots started going in,” WHS coach Pete Kilcullen said. “The basket seemed huge.”
Sabrina Tucker had 14 points and Skyler Swaney had 12 for WHS (5-4, 10-11). Kennedy Powell added 11 points for the Warriors.
n The WHS boys posted a 60-43 win over Eastern Randolph as Gavin Rains had 16 points, Matt Owens 15, Corey Hudgins 14 and Bryant Walker 10.
WHS wrestlers split
The Wheatmore High School wrestling team defeated Ledford 40-25 before falling to Croatan in the state semifinals.
Winning both matches for WHS were Ethan Oakley, Jared Niemitalo,
Chase McKinney, Pierre Hakizimana and Devin Daugherty.
Wheatmore ends its dual team season with a 25-5 record and will host the NCHSAA 2-A Mideast Regional next Friday and Saturday.
AHS boys fall
The Asheboro High School boys varsity basketball team dropped a 65-42 MPC game to Burlington Williams Friday night.
AHS trailed 12-6 after one quarter and 32-12 at halftime. The Blue Comets pulled to within 11 points in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs went on a 12-0 run to gain breathing room.
Nate Fisher had 11 points and Noah Watkins had 10 for AHS.