Boys hoops race at a glance: PAC-7 is competitive

By Mike Duprez

Here’s a look at the conference races in high school boys basketball.

PAC-7

Providence Grove has the lead and with it the inside track in what is still a very competitive conference race. The Patriots ended the week with one conference loss for the season with four remaining. They did have a close call with Southwestern Randolph and beat Jordan-Matthews 60-51.

Zane Caudle and Michael Fee have helped lead the way for what has been a very successful season.

Uwharrie Charter is one game back in the loss column. The Eagles fell 57-47 to Wheatmore last week as 6-foot-6 center Ashton Troutman was held to 12 points. They then incurred a tough 66-63 overtime loss to Trinity.

Trinity is a game and a half back after that big win over the Eagles. The Bulldogs present numerous matchup problems for opposing teams. It starts with 6-foot-2 sophomore sensation Dominic Payne, who scored 27 points in the Uwharrie Charter game. Trace Moffitt is a rugged 6-foot-4 post player who had 14 points against UCA.

Randleman has flat come out of nowhere. The Tigers were struggling along with a 3-10 record before reeling off four wins in a row. They beat Trinity and Wheatmore to highlight the streak.

Leading the way for Randleman are Dylan Wheatley (14 points, 5.4 rebounds) and Baylor Petty (9.5 points).

The competitive nature of the PAC-7 was on full display in Wheatmore’s games last week. The Warriors placed five players in double figures in their win over UCA. But they were then surprised 68-64 by Eastern Randolph. The Warriors were disadvantaged having to play a back-to-back.

Eastern Randolph got 25 points from Davonte Brooks in the win over Wheatmore. That was a solid win for the Wildcats.

Southwestern Randolph’s six-game losing streak has featured three losses by three points and another by four. The Cougars have been competitive.

MID-PIEDMONT

Asheboro is having a solid season. Of the Blue Comets’ five losses, two were by a single point. They were upset 73-69 by North Davidson, which dropped the Blue Comets a half game behind Ledford in the conference standings.

The Blue Comets didn’t let that loss get them down for long. They responded with a 91-49 rout of Oak Grove. And they got points from all over the court. Tanner Marsh led the way with 15 points and Jerquarius Stanback added 14. Tyshawn Goldston had 12 points while Hakemme Butler and Tramir Martin each contributed 10.

Asheboro has a big one coming up on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at home against Ledford.