Cape Fear Christian Academy holds off Ravenscroft 55-50 in South Granville Invitational
By Zack Adams, HighSchoolOT reporter
Creedmoor, N.C. — After trailing at halftime, Cape Fear Christian Academy came back in the second half and held off a late rally in its 55-50 victory over Ravenscroft.
“We were a little rusty coming out,” said Cape Fear Christian Academy head coach Kalen Eddings. “Offensively, we couldn’t really put it (the ball) in the hole. The first half, we gave up 26 (points) and we guarded half as good as we can guard … We’ll b e better offensively tomorrow. We just couldn’t get anything to fall today.”
After Cape Fear Christian Academy jumped out to a 4-2 lead, Ravenscroft responded with back-to-back-to-back threes from Jeremiah Williams, Brady O’Connell, and Steven Riley Jr. to take an 11-4 advantage with just over four minutes to play in the first quarter. The Eagles trimmed the Ravens’ lead down to two at 13-11 after Jerymyah McWilliams scored four straight points (including a two-hand flush) and Jamael Carter completes an old fashioned three-point play. Ravenscroft scored the final four points of the frame to lead 17-11 after opening quarter.
With O’Connell on the bench due to early foul trouble, Ravenscroft’s offense went stagnant in the second quarter. Cape Fear Christian Academy would capitalize and score 13 points in the frame (led by five from Greg Moneymaker) to trim Ravenscroft’s lead down to two at 26-24 at halftime. Williams scored five of the Ravens’ nine points in the quarter.
The Eagles came out of the locker room clicking offensively by starting on an 8-3 run to take their first lead since the early stages of the contest at 32-29 with 5:27 left in the third quarter. The Ravens would gain traction once again offensively and closed the frame on a 7-2 run that included a second made three-point basket by Zion Evans to hold onto a 36-34 lead after three.
Cape Fear Christian Academy outscored Ravenscroft 21-14 in the fourth quarter to win the game by five (55-50). As a team, the Eagles shot 13-for-18 from the free throw like to help seal the win. Carter scored 10 points to lead the Eagles in the final stanza, including seven made foul shots. O’Connell returned to the contest with three personal fouls with just over six minutes remaining and scored seven points in the fourth, which was half of the Ravens’ points.
Key Players
Jamael Carter (Cape Fear Christian Academy Sr.) - Led the Eagles and all scorers with 17 points in Thursday morning’s contest. Carter scored of those 17 in the fourth quarter, including going 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
Jeremiah Williams (Ravenscroft Jr.) - Paced the Ravens with 12 points in their loss. Williams fouled out with 4:18 left in the game and had all of his points in the first three quarters.
Jerymyah McWilliams (Cape Fear Christian Academy Sr.) - Finished with 13 points in the Eagles’ five-point win over the Ravens. McWilliams scored 8 of his 13 points in the first half.
Paul Tako (Cape Fear Christian Academy Jr.) - Scored 12 points for the Eagles in Thursday’s win. Tako went 8-for-10 from the foul line.
Brady O’Connell (Ravenscroft Sr.) - After struggling with foul trouble all morning long, O’Connell finished in double figures with 10 points.
What It Means
Cape Fear Christian Academy has cracked the 10-win mark with Thursday’s victory over Ravenscroft. The Eagles have now won five of their last six games with the only loss on that stretch coming to No. 5 Greenfield (83-65) in Wilson on Dec. 10.
The Eagles have four players who are double figure scorers. Austin Locklear leads the way with 14.2 points per game and the senior guard was held scoreless against the Ravens on Thursday morning.
Ravenscroft is currently on a three game losing slide after falling by five to Cape Fear Christin Academy. The Ravens had won three in a row before this losing skid that started on Dec. 13 with a loss at No. 2 Greensboro Day 63-47. Ravenscroft also fell 82-63 at home to No. 17 Wesleyan Christian and on Thursday to Cape Fear Christian Academy 55-50 on a neutral court.
What’s Next?
Cape Fear Christian Academy (10-3, 1-0 NCISAA Sandhills) advances to the winner’s side of the Columbia Bracket and will face Rolesville on Friday afternoon (4:30 p.m.).
Ravenscroft (4-8, 1-0 NCISAA Triangle) will be back on the floor against Chapel Hill Friday morning (9:30 a.m.) on the consolation side of the Columbia Bracket.
By Zack Adams, HighSchoolOT reporter
Creedmoor, N.C. — After trailing at halftime, Cape Fear Christian Academy came back in the second half and held off a late rally in its 55-50 victory over Ravenscroft.
“We were a little rusty coming out,” said Cape Fear Christian Academy head coach Kalen Eddings. “Offensively, we couldn’t really put it (the ball) in the hole. The first half, we gave up 26 (points) and we guarded half as good as we can guard … We’ll b e better offensively tomorrow. We just couldn’t get anything to fall today.”
After Cape Fear Christian Academy jumped out to a 4-2 lead, Ravenscroft responded with back-to-back-to-back threes from Jeremiah Williams, Brady O’Connell, and Steven Riley Jr. to take an 11-4 advantage with just over four minutes to play in the first quarter. The Eagles trimmed the Ravens’ lead down to two at 13-11 after Jerymyah McWilliams scored four straight points (including a two-hand flush) and Jamael Carter completes an old fashioned three-point play. Ravenscroft scored the final four points of the frame to lead 17-11 after opening quarter.
With O’Connell on the bench due to early foul trouble, Ravenscroft’s offense went stagnant in the second quarter. Cape Fear Christian Academy would capitalize and score 13 points in the frame (led by five from Greg Moneymaker) to trim Ravenscroft’s lead down to two at 26-24 at halftime. Williams scored five of the Ravens’ nine points in the quarter.
The Eagles came out of the locker room clicking offensively by starting on an 8-3 run to take their first lead since the early stages of the contest at 32-29 with 5:27 left in the third quarter. The Ravens would gain traction once again offensively and closed the frame on a 7-2 run that included a second made three-point basket by Zion Evans to hold onto a 36-34 lead after three.
Cape Fear Christian Academy outscored Ravenscroft 21-14 in the fourth quarter to win the game by five (55-50). As a team, the Eagles shot 13-for-18 from the free throw like to help seal the win. Carter scored 10 points to lead the Eagles in the final stanza, including seven made foul shots. O’Connell returned to the contest with three personal fouls with just over six minutes remaining and scored seven points in the fourth, which was half of the Ravens’ points.
Key Players
Jamael Carter (Cape Fear Christian Academy Sr.) - Led the Eagles and all scorers with 17 points in Thursday morning’s contest. Carter scored of those 17 in the fourth quarter, including going 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
Jeremiah Williams (Ravenscroft Jr.) - Paced the Ravens with 12 points in their loss. Williams fouled out with 4:18 left in the game and had all of his points in the first three quarters.
Jerymyah McWilliams (Cape Fear Christian Academy Sr.) - Finished with 13 points in the Eagles’ five-point win over the Ravens. McWilliams scored 8 of his 13 points in the first half.
Paul Tako (Cape Fear Christian Academy Jr.) - Scored 12 points for the Eagles in Thursday’s win. Tako went 8-for-10 from the foul line.
Brady O’Connell (Ravenscroft Sr.) - After struggling with foul trouble all morning long, O’Connell finished in double figures with 10 points.
What It Means
Cape Fear Christian Academy has cracked the 10-win mark with Thursday’s victory over Ravenscroft. The Eagles have now won five of their last six games with the only loss on that stretch coming to No. 5 Greenfield (83-65) in Wilson on Dec. 10.
The Eagles have four players who are double figure scorers. Austin Locklear leads the way with 14.2 points per game and the senior guard was held scoreless against the Ravens on Thursday morning.
Ravenscroft is currently on a three game losing slide after falling by five to Cape Fear Christin Academy. The Ravens had won three in a row before this losing skid that started on Dec. 13 with a loss at No. 2 Greensboro Day 63-47. Ravenscroft also fell 82-63 at home to No. 17 Wesleyan Christian and on Thursday to Cape Fear Christian Academy 55-50 on a neutral court.
What’s Next?
Cape Fear Christian Academy (10-3, 1-0 NCISAA Sandhills) advances to the winner’s side of the Columbia Bracket and will face Rolesville on Friday afternoon (4:30 p.m.).
Ravenscroft (4-8, 1-0 NCISAA Triangle) will be back on the floor against Chapel Hill Friday morning (9:30 a.m.) on the consolation side of the Columbia Bracket.
