By Cale Colosimo
Correspondent
RALEIGH
The Neuse Christian Lions girls basketball team has dominated opponents all year. Friday night was no exception as Neuse rolled over visiting Cape Fear Christian Academy, 51-27. With the win, the Lions are three victories away from completing a perfect season.
But Neuse will face a stiff test against Northwood Temple on Monday. Northwood is sitting just a game behind the first-place Lions in the NCISAA’s Carolina Christian 1A Conference, and has extra motivation after getting crushed by 26 against them in early December.
“It was crucial (getting off to a fast start) because next week we play two of the top four teams in the state,” said Neuse coach Shane Wilder.
The boys’ Cape Fear Christian squad won in a shootout against Neuse, 102-94 in the nightcap.
GIRLS
The Lions (17-0, 8-0) got the start Wilder wanted from them. On both ends of the court, Neuse controlled every aspect of the game for the opening eight minutes. After the first quarter, they were up 28-0.
Led by Izabela Leite’s 14 points, who finished with a game-high 16 after sitting on the bench for the majority of the second half, the Lions were no match for the visiting Eagles. The Lions shot 3-of-6 from deep and held the Eagles to 0-for-9 shooting from the floor. Midway through the quarter, Wilder began to get his starters out of the game one-by-one.
Ten players scored for the Lions. Maria Albiero scored 10, Izabel DeAngelo finished with five, and Julia Zupicich, Mack Wilder, and Kaily Demorest each had four points.
“Truthfully, I wanted to get it close. I wanted to get it where we were within 10 or five points, that way we get a little exposure to tight games because we’re not battle-tested just yet,” coach Wilder said.
But the outcome was never in doubt.
The Eagles (4-6, 2-5) didn’t score their first point until Leah Brannon made 1-of-2 free throws at 5:43 of the second quarter. At 2:23, they had their first made field goal, a 3 from Kris Anna McLamb, which started an 8-0 run to end the first half. The Eagles still trailed 35-9 at halftime.
With Neuse’s reserves playing the majority of the game, Cape Fear was able to cut into their large deficit, even if it was ever so slightly. The Eagles outscored the Lions by four after the first quarter.
Correspondent
RALEIGH
The Neuse Christian Lions girls basketball team has dominated opponents all year. Friday night was no exception as Neuse rolled over visiting Cape Fear Christian Academy, 51-27. With the win, the Lions are three victories away from completing a perfect season.
But Neuse will face a stiff test against Northwood Temple on Monday. Northwood is sitting just a game behind the first-place Lions in the NCISAA’s Carolina Christian 1A Conference, and has extra motivation after getting crushed by 26 against them in early December.
“It was crucial (getting off to a fast start) because next week we play two of the top four teams in the state,” said Neuse coach Shane Wilder.
The boys’ Cape Fear Christian squad won in a shootout against Neuse, 102-94 in the nightcap.
GIRLS
The Lions (17-0, 8-0) got the start Wilder wanted from them. On both ends of the court, Neuse controlled every aspect of the game for the opening eight minutes. After the first quarter, they were up 28-0.
Led by Izabela Leite’s 14 points, who finished with a game-high 16 after sitting on the bench for the majority of the second half, the Lions were no match for the visiting Eagles. The Lions shot 3-of-6 from deep and held the Eagles to 0-for-9 shooting from the floor. Midway through the quarter, Wilder began to get his starters out of the game one-by-one.
Ten players scored for the Lions. Maria Albiero scored 10, Izabel DeAngelo finished with five, and Julia Zupicich, Mack Wilder, and Kaily Demorest each had four points.
“Truthfully, I wanted to get it close. I wanted to get it where we were within 10 or five points, that way we get a little exposure to tight games because we’re not battle-tested just yet,” coach Wilder said.
But the outcome was never in doubt.
The Eagles (4-6, 2-5) didn’t score their first point until Leah Brannon made 1-of-2 free throws at 5:43 of the second quarter. At 2:23, they had their first made field goal, a 3 from Kris Anna McLamb, which started an 8-0 run to end the first half. The Eagles still trailed 35-9 at halftime.
With Neuse’s reserves playing the majority of the game, Cape Fear was able to cut into their large deficit, even if it was ever so slightly. The Eagles outscored the Lions by four after the first quarter.
