State basketball playoff field features 12 county teams

By Mike Duprez

Randolph Hub

The NCHSAA basketball state playoff pairings were set late Saturday night and 13 teams — 6 girls, 6 boys — made the cut. The first round was Tuesday; second-round games are on Thursday and third-round games on Saturday.

Here’s how it looks. 

BOYS

In the 1-A boys bracket, Piedmont Athletic Conference champion Eastern Randolph got the No. 3 seed in the West. The Wildcats are 24-2 and just won the conference tournament. They’ll play No. 30 Cherryville (12-12) in the first round. Eastern Randolph will have at least three home playoff games if the Wildcats keep winning.

Uwharrie Charter (7-18) got the No. 31 seed. The Eagles play No. 2 South Stokes (22-4).

In the 2-A boys, three teams qualified. 

Southwestern Randolph (15-10) finished second in the PAC and got the top 2-A seed from the split conference. The Cougars, the No. 9 seed in the playoffs, will host No. 24 Burns, which is 12-12. Southwestern Randolph had an 11-game winning streak stopped by a 67-66 loss to Trinity in the PAC semifinals. The Cougars handed Eastern Randolph its only conference loss.

Trinity (20-7) is the No. 15 seed and hosts No. 18 Newton-Conover (15-12). 

Randleman (15-11) is the No. 20 seed and visits No. 13 High Point Andrews (17-9). 

In 3-A, Mid-Piedmont Conference champion Asheboro (19-5) is seeded No. 7 and hosts No. 26 East Henderson (14-13).

GIRLS

Conference champion Randleman leads the way in the 2-A girls field. The Tigers (24-1) hold the No. 1 seed in the West and will host No. 32 Bandys (11-14). 

Southwestern Randolph (18-8) is seeded No. 15 and entertains No. 18 West Lincoln (15-10). 

Trinity (12-13) is seeded No. 22 and travels to No. 11 North Wilkes (22-5). 

Wheatmore (9-14) is seeded No. 25 and travels to No. 8 East Rutherford (25-2).

Eastern Randolph (17-7) is the PAC’s top 1-A team, which earned the Wildcats the No. 5 seed in the West. They will host No. 28 South Davidson (10-13).

Uwharrie Charter (11-15) is No. 24 and plays at No. 10 Christ the King (13-8).