Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The North Stanly men’s basketball team had the opportunity Friday night at Uwharrie Charter to secure the No. 1 seed from the Yadkin Valley Conference into the state playoffs.

A 9-0 run over the first four minutes put the Comets ahead for good in a 64-38 win.

Stefan Harris led North (7-2, 7-0 YVC) with 14 points while Doug Smith added 10.

North got contributions off the bench as well, with Luke Cain scoring nine points. The Comets’ bench outscored the Eagles 29-11.

Ashton Troutman was top scorer for Uwharrie Charter (5-2, 4-1) with 17 points, including 11-of-14 at the free-throw line.

The victory gives North Stanly at least a share of the regular-season title and the tiebreakers needed to earn the top seed from the YVC into the 1A state playoffs.

“We were laser focused tonight and ready to play,” Comets head coach George Walker said. “Playing Uwharrie is always tough. I figure if we had played a normal game tonight, it would have sold out.”

Walker credited Cain and Zion Goode for playing good minutes after North got into some early foul trouble, along with Dre Hill’s defense.

North Stanly can win the YVC title outright Tuesday with a win at home versus South Stanly. The final three games after Tuesday’s game are against county opponents but are non-conference matchups.

Walker talked about his team’s season and the state playoffs on the horizon.

“We continue to get better every day, and in a shortened season that is what you want to do. They are fun to coach and fun to be around…I know when we get into the state playoffs, there are fewer teams (so) you have to be ready to play.”