CLIMAX — The Providence Grove High School jayvee cagers split play last week in Mid-State 2A basketball.

After leading most of the way, the Patriots saw homestanding Jordan-Matthews rally in the fourth quarter and escape with a 55-49 victory. Earlier in the week, PGHS played host to Eastern Randolph and held off a late Wildcat comeback bid to post a 42-38 win.

In Siler City, PG took an early 4-0 lead and led 6-3 at the end of the first quarter. A driving layup by Eric Johnson at 2:47 of the second stanza provided a 16-6 lead and the Patriots were ahead 21-13 at halftime.

Providence Grove was leading 36-30 with 5:26 left in the game before the Jets zoomed back on a 12-6 run to gain a tie at 42-42 with 3:54 to play.

Providence Grove’s balanced scoring attack was led by Eric Johnson with nine points, Matthews with eight and Williams with six.

In the Eastern Randolph battle, it was a tight game from start to finish as the Patriots led 12-11 after one quarter.

The score was tied three times in the second stanza before ER’s Dalton Smith canned three free throws at 2:28 for a 21-18 Wildcat lead. PG’s Josh Sutton hit a free throw at 1:03 to get the Patriots within 23-20.

Williams had a driving layup which drew a foul, and he converted the three-point play at 7:43 of the third quarter for a 25-24 score. The Wildcats took a 29-27 lead at 5:09 on a Smith jumper before a layup by Williams put PG in front, 31-29, at the 2:47 mark.

Matthews paced the Patriots with 11 points and Williams added 10. Jalen Austin led ERHS with 17 points while Smith connected for 10 and Zack Burkett had six.



ERHS jayvees gain split on hardwood

RAMSEUR – Facing a busy week on the hardwood, the Eastern Randolph jayvee cagers gained a twinbill split.

After falling to Providence Grove 42-38 in a battle earlier in the week, the Cats roared back to capture a 44-34 victory over visiting Chatham Central in a nonconference clash.

Dalton Smith drilled a 3-pointer at 7:01 for a 6-3 lead over the Bears and ER never trailed again. A Jalen Austin trey at the horn gave the Cats a 11-7 first-period lead.

Smith hit on a followup at 5:31 for a 14-9 lead and Austin capped off a run with a layup at 3:34 for a 22-9 command. Adam Barker hit a 3-pointer at 2:49 for a 22-12 bulge and ER enjoyed a 26-12 halftime cushion.

The nip-and-tuck struggle at Providence Grove saw ER lead 23-21 at the half, but trailed 32-30 headed into the fourth quarter. The Patriots led 37-30 at 4:07 on a Mark Williams 3-pointer and ER got no closer than 39-35 at 1:17.

Austin paced the Wildcats with 17 points and Smith canned 10. PGHS was led by Stuart Matthews with 11 points and Williams with 10.



Wildcat grapplers pin 2 opponents

SANFORD – A 40-30 victory over Lee County High School last weekend enabled the Eastern Randolph wrestlers to cap off a successful week on the mats.

Earlier in the week the Wildcats pinned visiting Bartlett Yancey with a 38-21 defeat in Mid-State 2A action. ER improved to 2-2 in the MSC and 11-15 overall.

In the victory over the Yellow Jackets, J.T. Mabe got the action rolling with a win in the 119 weight class. Other ER winners were Ryan Renck (130), Daniel Carr (140), Cole Muehlback (145), A.J. Sudsbury, (152), Cody Muehlback (171) and Corey Cardin (215).

Against Bartlett Yancey, Renck gained ER a tie and the Wildcats pulled in front to say when Joey Pippin (135) notched a third-period pin for a 12-6 lead.

Other Wildcat winners were Carr, Sudsbury, Cody Muehlback and Micah Dunlap (160). The action was capped off when Cardin posted a first-period pin at 215. Tim Beasley won in a preliminary match.

Eastern Randolph closes out regular season competition by hosting Reidsville this Wednesday in a MSC match starting at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the Mid-State 2A Conference wrestling tournamen will be hosted by Providence Grove with first round matches getting under way at 9 a.m.



SWERMS places 1st, NERMS 2nd in mat tourney

UWHARRIE – Southwestern Randolph Middle School emerged on top last week at the annual Randolph County middle school wrestling tournament at Uwharrie.

The Cougars rolled up 214.5 team points to earn the first-place trophy.

Northeastern Randolph captured runnerup honors with 165.5 points, with Archdale-Trinity placing third, followed by Randleman, Asheboro, Southeastern Randolph and Uwharrie.

The Cougars roared to the championship behind seven of their grapplers earning first-place awards. Winners were Jacob Clapp (86 pounds), Jacob Emerson (96), Bailey Taylor (106), Adam Wilson (143), Bradley Boggs (155), Ben Welch (163) and Jeff Vick (192).

NERMS placed six in the finals, with Blake Becker (122) and Matt Smith (heavyweight) earning titles. Andrew Yeary (96), Austin Rich (115), Blake Becker (122) and Joseph Woods (143) were runnersup.

Southeastern Randolph earned two championships as Cesar Gonzalez (48) and Josh Randolph (174) earned top honors. Wesley Gregory (heavyweight) was runnerup.

The Most Valuable Wrestler trophy was awarded to Zack Hyatt of Randleman and Matt Smith of NERMS won Most Outstanding Wrestler.



PGHS to host conference wrestling tourney

CLIMAX – There will be plenty of high school wrestling this weekend at the Providence Grove High School gym as the Patriots host the Mid-State 2A Conference mat tournament.

Joining PG will be Eastern Randolph, Jordan-Matthews, Graham, Reidsville, Bartlett Yancey and Burlington Cummings.

First round competition gets under way at 9 a.m. and continues through the championship round in the afternoon.

– Compiled by Roger Whitehead for The Randolph Guide