Jordan-Matthews tops Asheboro and Providence Grove ousts Trinity at the Courier-Tribune tourney

The Courier-Tribune Christmas Invitational:
(Zeb Milliner had 29 points for Providence Grove as they stopped Trinity’s 22-game tournament winning streak and put an end to the Bulldogs’ seven consecutive tournament titles……)

from www.courier-tribune.com:

ASHEBORO — The Jordan-Matthews varsity boys basketball team has frustrated a lot of opponents thus far this season.

Tuesday evening, it was Asheboro’s turn.

The Blue Comets stayed with the Jets for much of the first half, but Jordan-Matthews pulled away in the second, grabbing a 71-53 win over Asheboro in the first semifinal of The Courier-Tribune Christmas Invitational at AHS. The Jets (9-2) move on to face Providence Grove in tonight’s title game at 8 p.m., while Asheboro (8-3) takes on Trinity in the third-place contest at 6:30 p.m. Both games will be rubber matches as Jordan-Matthews split with the Patriots earlier this season as did the Blue Comets and Bulldogs.

For Asheboro, Hilliard led the way with 20 points, and Dayshun Jones chipped in 10.

ASHEBORO — The last time a Trinity team was defeated at The Courier-Tribune Christmas Invitational was the 2001 championship game, a run that brought seven consecutive titles and a 22-game winning streak into Tuesday night’s semi-finals.

But all good things must come to an end.

Behind 29 points from Zeb Milliner and a blistering shooting night as a team, the Providence Grove Patriots ended the streak in a big way, cruising past the Bulldogs with a 78-45 win.

The Patriots will face Jordan-Matthews in tonight’s championship game, with each school looking for its first C-T crown. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. Trinity will face rival Asheboro in the third-place contest at 6:30 p.m.

“We really feel proud of what the coaching staff has done and what the kids have done to get this to a winning program,” said PGHS head coach Jim Young. “They’ve really done a good job and I’m proud of them. We’re glad just to get the opportunity, but I hope we’re not satisfied.”