ASHEBORO — If Jordan-Matthews girls basketball coach Charles Byrd never heard the last name Maness again it would probably too soon.
That may a bit extreme, but at least on Friday night against reigning champion Southwest Randolph in opening round action of the 29th annual The Courier-Tribune Christmas Invitational basketball tournament at Asheboro High School, it rang true.
Heaven Maness pumped in 23 points while Ashton Maness added 14 points and Alexis Maness eight to ignite Southwestern Randolph (11-0) to a 77-36 demolition of Jordan-Matthews (2-8) in the final contest of the day .
In quest of a three-peat at the prestigious event, the Cougars rolled up an 18-8 advantage after one period of play to take control of the contest.
SWR struck fast out of the gates when Jordan Claborn sank a short basket in the paint before Avery Headen connected on a driving shot to tie the game at 2-2. With the game knotted at 6-5, the Cougars would go on an 8-0 run to open things up a bit when at 14-5 before Tyrel Brooks scored for the Jets to stop the bleeding momentarily.
Heaven Maness scored on a fast break late in the stanza and Kassidy Glasgow sank two charity tosses to give Southwest Randolph the 10-point lead heading into the second period.
Southwest Randolph blew the game open in the second with a 16-0 run that sent the Cougars up 38-14 at the intermission. Heaven Maness had six points in the run while Alexis Maness contributed four.
In the second half, the Cougars continued to control the action as the favorites built the lead to a high of 52-16 at the 4:07 mark of the third period behind a 6-0 ignited by four points from Ashton Maness, a pair of foul shots from Brooke Springer, and a basket from Carley Everhart. Makayla Glover powered in a three-point play late in the frame but the Lady Jets trailed 63-28 entering the fourth.
Wright had four points in the final stanza for Jordan-Matthews but it was far from enough as Southwest Randolph cruised to the 77-36 triumph.
The Lady Jets were led by 16 points from Wright.