ASHEBORO For the Asheboro and Providence Grove High School varsity girls basketball teams, Saturdays The Courier-Tribune Christmas Invitational opener wasnt just about starting off the tournament on the right foot.

It was about ending skids.

The Blue Comets entered the game having lost their last two games, while the Patriots had fallen in their last seven.

One team was bound for a turnaround.

In the end, it was Asheboro, which survived a late Providence Grove rally for a 55-45 win at AHS. The Blue Comets (6-5) face Southwestern Randolph today at 7:30 p.m. in the second semifinal, while the Patriots (2-8) play Wheatmore in the consolation bracket at 2:30 p.m.

Asheboro coach Terry Allmon said his team still wasnt 100 percent.

We make the silliest turnovers at the worst times, he said. We got into some foul trouble and Mikayla (Trogdon) getting hurt didnt help. We made our early shots, but we get really impatient on offense. Were at our best when we pass the ball and get open shots.

The Blue Comets started the game with a 7-0 run, entering the second quarter up 13-5. There, Asheboro upped its lead to as many as 18 points on a Trogdon bucket with just under 1 1/2 minutes to play until halftime. Providence Grove was able to cut the lead by two before the buzzer sounded.

The Patriots scored the first two baskets of the second half and kept battling back each time the Blue Comets got a lead.

Midway through the third quarter, Trogdon landed awkwardly on her ankle and didnt return.

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Blue Comets top Patriots in C-T opener