CFNN Reporter: Julius Lucas

Tuesday evening, Cape Fear Basketball tipped off their post-holiday schedule against a tough 71st team. The boys faced a challenging game against the Falcons, throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the effort. Unfortunately, despite their strong effort, the team came up short, losing 47-67 to the talented Falcons.

Despite their best efforts, the team couldn’t quite pull through, but there were several moments the team demonstrated their determination and skills. 

Joshua Green led the way with an impressive 16 points, showcasing his talent and leadership on the court. Dylan Parker had an incredible game with 4 steals, showcasing his defensive skills, while Tyler Evenson dominated the paint with a whopping 10 rebounds. All three players made huge contributions to the team’s performance.

“We were struggling to keep the same energy throughout the game,” said Green, regarding the team’s competitive energy.

The team trailed 7-12 at the end of the first quarter. The Falcons used that 5 point margin as a springboard to get their fast-paced offense going.

The Colts continued to have a hard time keeping up with the Falcons at the break, again falling behind 11-29. The boys headed to the locker room with a plan to come back after halftime. They came out ready to attempt the comeback with a plan.

“They came out of the second half with more intensity, but I need to be more efficient shooting the ball,” said Eavenson regarding his tough shooting performance.

Once they returned to the court, the Colts steadily picked up their grind and came back, scoring a roaring 16 points in the 3rd quarter. The run put Cape Fear back in the game, behind by only 2 points with the score 16-18.  The boys were optimistic and were striving to just go out there and not fall behind terribly.

Cape Fear finally caught up in the third quarter and tied things up at 20-20. The tie ballgame gave the Colts a renewed energy as they battled into the fourth quarter.

Despite their best efforts, the Falcons pulled away in the fourth, building a lead that Cape Fear could not overcome.  

“We need to improve on defense, rebounding, pass making decisions and communicating on the court,” said senior point guard Damien Gary when asked about improvements that need to be made.

Cape Fear will be back in action against Jack Britt tomorrow night as they travel to the Boneyard to face the Buccaneers in a key United 8 Conference game. Be sure to come out and support your Colts!