STANLY COUNTY — As conference play arrives for Stanly County’s high school basketball teams, two local squads have risen to the top during the first half of the 2024-25 season.
The North Stanly boys (11-1) and Albemarle girls (8-3) have combined for 19 wins so far this season while surrendering only four losses between them, each leading their respective in-county grouped opponents in overall winning percentage.
Over in New London, the Comets enter the new year coming off a 49-46 championship win over the College Prep Leadership Academy in the 2024 North Stanly Comets Christmas Classic on Dec. 30, snapping a nine-game winning streak for the Royals (10-2, 6-0 Northwest Piedmont).
While North had previously suffered their only loss of the season just 10 days earlier in a 65-57 home loss to the Royals, the Comets were able to redeem themselves in a low-scoring, holiday tournament win over CPLA to cap off an event that featured wins over Valor Preparatory Academy (3-9, 0-1 Metro 8) and West Stanly (6-8, 1-1 Rocky River) in the two days leading up to the finale.
Senior Comet Jack Williamson was named tournament MVP for his performances in the Christmas Classic, while sophomore Ben Williamson — his teammate and younger brother — knocked down a game-winning three-point shot to give North the final edge over CPLA.
North opened Yadkin Valley Conference play on Tuesday night at Union Academy (7-2).
In Albemarle, the Bulldogs girls’ team is beginning its YVC schedule as it chases its third-consecutive regular-season conference win.
Much like the North Stanly boys’ team, Albemarle enters 2025 fresh off a holiday tournament appearance; the Bulldogs recently traveled to Greensboro to claim third place in the Northern Guilford Christmas Tournament championship on Dec. 28, rolling to a 80-59 victory against the Magna Vista Warriors (6-4, 2-0 Piedmont Region) of Ridgeway, VA.
The Bulldogs opened the tournament with a 62-53 loss to event host Northern Guilford (7-4, 2-1 Metro) but rebounded in the battle for third in the consolation round as they put together a 21-point win over the out-of-state Warriors.
Star point guard Amari Baldwin led Albemarle in the matchup with 32 points, while seniors Jasmine Brown (18 points), Bianca Robinson (12 points), and Jordyn Crump (11) each notched double figures too.
In a 78-13 home rout over North Rowan (2-6, 1-1 Central Carolina) last month, Baldwin set the Albemarle girls’ all-time scoring record as she passed a mark set by former Bulldog Akela Branch in 2014.
Albemarle opened YVC play on Tuesday night at South Stanly (0-8).