Falcons Nest - December 1
Falcons Forge Through the Winter Sports Season
Varsity Girls Basketball:
Score: 59-37 W
The Lady Falcons, secured a significant home opener win over 4A Ravenscroft just before the Thanksgiving break. It was a good display of skill and determination, leaving the fans exhilarated and proud. The players' performance cemented their status as the team to watch this season.
Score: 59-9
Lady Falcons got back on the court after a much-deserved break hosting St. Mary's School on Tuesday, Nov 29th. Returning to the game after a week off was both challenging and exciting. Our team showed resilience, quickly shaking off any rustiness and regaining their competitive edge despite the break. Looking ahead, we aim to carry this momentum into the annual Silent Night home game against Northwood Temple; tip-off is at 5:00pm.
Varsity Boys Basketball:
Final Score 40-69 L
The Falcons hosted an experienced Ravenscroft team before heading into Thanksgiving break. The Falcons started off slow offensively in the first half. The Falcons came out the second half clicking on offense and defense as they won the 3rd quarter and tied the 4th. The Falcons had 8 different players get in the scorebook led by Senior Boyd Kenny’s team-high 18 points. We also had scoring contributions from Gunnar Adams(4pts), Nick Joyce(5pts), Max Pashley(2pts), Brennan Hodges(7pts), Jordan Cole(2pts), and Christian Lyles(2pts). The Falcons went to the road next to Westchester Country Day.
Final Score 24-65 L
The Falcons traveled to High Point to face a Westchester team that returned 4 of its 5 starters from a year ago. The Falcons competed defensively and executed on offense to start the game. The Falcon youth started to show in the 2nd quarter as Westchester pulled away by hitting four 3-pointers. The Falcons will use this game as a learning experience to prepare for conference play. The Falcons had 5 players contribute to the scorebook led by Junior Gunnar Adams 7 points. Scoring contributions also came from Nick Joyce(5pts), Brennan Hodges(6pts), Jordan Cole(1pt), and Boyd Kenny(5pts). The Falcons host conference opponent Northwood Temple Friday Night for their annual Silent Night Game. Friday night’s tip-off time is 6:30PM.
Middle School A Girls Basketball:
Score: 28-16 W
In a thrilling home opener against Freedom Christian, the O'Neal Middle School basketball team emerged victorious in a jam-packed gym, impressing fans with their physical battle. In the face of an early-season challenge, the Falcons encountered a press defense, causing some initial acceleration. Notably, several players exhibited skill and composure, converting successful lay-ups at the hoop or finding the open girl. The game served as a valuable learning experience, emphasizing the significance of communication, particularly amid a lively and noisy atmosphere. This early triumph sets a positive tone for the Falcons as they navigate the upcoming season.
Score: 42-11 W
In another home matchup, the O'Neal Middle School basketball team delivered a commanding performance with a final score of 42-11 over Village Christian. The first half showcased the Falcons' speed and tenacious defense, converting turnovers into swift fast-break opportunities. As the game progressed into the second half, the team shifted gears, emphasizing a more deliberate approach to setting up and executing their offense. This strategic adjustment provided a valuable learning opportunity for the team, underscoring the importance of a well-structured offense, especially when fast-break chances may not be readily available. With this experience under their belts, the Falcons are gearing up for their next challenge at home against Northwood Temple on Wednesday.
Score: 32-16 W
In yet another home game, the O'Neal Middle School girls' basketball team continued their winning streak, securing a victory over Northwood Temple. The girls displayed a strong start, capitalizing on transition lay-ups, while also effectively executing their offense with ball movement leading to easy baskets. Defensively, the team demonstrated a collective effort, particularly in containing Northwood Temple's key player. The post players excelled in their assignments, limiting the opponent's scoring opportunities, while the back side of the defense was adept at providing support and making entry passes challenging. This victory marks another positive step for the program, showcasing continuous improvement and a commitment to building a successful foundation with each passing day.
Middle School A Boys Basketball:
Score: 42-41, W
The Falcons hosted Village Christian Monday night for some fantastic basketball. The Falcons did a great job controlling the first half of the game. The defensive effort of the Falcons made it hard for a talented Village Christian team. Coming out in the second-half Village Christian stepped it up a notch. The score went back and forth as the two teams battled to the very last seconds of the game. With Village Christian in the lead, and two seconds remaining, the Falcons needed a miracle. With the Falcons on the free throw line, Jaxon Graves rebounded the basketball and hit a buzzer-beater in the last second of the game for an O’Neal victory. The crowd was consumed with excitement and it was a great day to be a Falcon. The team was led in scoring by Sam Taylor (12 Points), following the effort was Ford Kuester and Jackson Mullis (8 Points), Owen West (7 Points), and Jackson Graves (6 Points). Go Falcons!
Score: 34-32, W
The Falcons were back at home on Wednesday night to host Northwood Temple. The Falcons played a strong first half defensively. The team did a great job forcing turnovers and converting points from the great defensive effort. Northwood Temple did an excellent job on the offensive side of the ball, holding a 5-point lead at the half. Going into the second half of the game, the Falcons remained focused, poised, and committed to the game. Late in the fourth the Falcons continued to push and tied the game 32 to 32 with Jackson Mullis hitting another buzzer beater for the win. The scoring barrage was led by Jackson Mullis (15 Points), following the leader was Sam Taylor (6 Points), Ford Kuester (5 Points), Owen West (4 Points), Christian Baker (3 Points), Caleb Jones (1 Point). Go Falcons!
The Falcons are at home on Monday (12/4) to host Fayetteville Christian with a 5:15 tip.
Middle School Swimming:
Excitement rippled through the air as The O’Neal School’s swim team prepared for and swam in the first meet of the year, marking the beginning of the 2023/24 swim season. After rigorous preseason training, the Falcons showed how a dedicated and hard-working training regimen will pay off. A strong showing against 3A opponents, Cary Christian School and Wake Christian School, O’Neal came in 2nd place in both the boys and girls meets.
This year, the middle school has a record number of swimmers on the team! There are a lot of new faces in the pool, and they are all learning the ins and outs of competitive swimming. Returning middle school swimmers are brushing up on their skills as they aim for personal best times with each meet. Julia Gomez, Madeline Wicks, Dahlia Cloninger, Ryan Ulitenok, and Mason Wicks all dropped time in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events in their first meet. We will be watching how all our returning and new swimmers drop time at each meet.
Varsity Swimming:
The varsity swimmers did not disappoint at their first meet of the season! Lauren Hobbs took 1st place in the Women’s 200-yard Individual Medley (IM), followed by middle school swimmer Colette Lovsin in 2nd place. Andrew Davis won 1st place in the Men’s 100-yard Freestyle with an amazing time of 56.98. Victoria York and Loren Hobbs blasted the competition in the Womens 100-yards Backstroke and 100-yard Breaststroke; respectively.
While it is difficult to highlight individuals at the expense of leaving others out, O’Neal is excited to see how seniors, Aiden Blackwell, Lauren Hobbs and John Shepherd perform throughout the season. Returning captain, Hobbs and York anchored the girls' team and Shepherd will look to build off a very successful ‘22/’23 season. Both the girls and boys teams will look to compete with the top teams in the State of North Carolina this season. With the combined MS and HS teams, there are 40 swimmers in total. It is hard to list all the many accomplishments that were made at our first meet. We are excited to see how O'Neal continues to strive toward excelling in the sport of swimming.
Falcons Sports Next Week (12/4 – 12/8):
DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | SPORT | H/A | TIME |
MON | 12/4/2023 | Fayetteville Christian | MS GBKB | at O'Neal | 4:00 PM |
MON | 12/4/2023 | Fayetteville Christian | MS BBKB | at O'Neal | 5:15 PM |
MON | 12/4/2023 | Freedom Christian | GBKB | at Freedom | 5:00 PM |
MON | 12/4/2023 | Freedom Christian | VBBKB | at Freedom | 6:30 PM |
TUE | 12/5/2023 | Fayetteville Christian | GBKB | at O'Neal | 5:00 PM |
TUE | 12/5/2023 | Fayetteville Christian | VBBKB | at O'Neal | 6:30 PM |
WED | 12/6/2023 | Moore Montessori | MS GBKB B | at O'Neal | 3:30 PM |
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