Falcons Nest - February 8th

James Franklin, Athletic Director
Winter Season Sports begin Conference and State Tournaments.
 
Varsity Girls Basketball 
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist Academy: 65-11, W 
The Lady Falcons basketball team secured another decisive win over the Berean Bulldogs on Friday, February 2nd. Leading 23-0 at the end of the first quarter allowed the team to settle in and focus on their game as they prepare for the Sandhills Athletic Conference (SAC) tournament play this week. They are currently undefeated in Conference play and will be awarded regular season Conference champions for the 7th year in a row. 
   
O’Neal vs Forsyth Country Day School: 52-47, W 
The Lady Falcons staged a remarkable come-from-behind victory on the road against Forsyth Furies. Despite trailing the entire game and missing a key defensive player, Tamiya Judd, the team faced adversity head on. The athletes refused to buckle under pressure and instead rose to the occasion with a win! It was a challenge embraced by the entire team, and players from the bench seized the opportunity to make significant contributions when it mattered most  
 
The Lady Falcons will be back in action playing in Sandhills Athletic Conference (SAC) Semifinal vs Fayetteville Christian School at Berean Baptist Academy on 2/8/24, tip-off 4:00 pm. If they advance, the Falcons will play for the SAC Championship this Friday Feb 9th at Berean Baptist Academy, tip-off time is 6:00pm. Come and support your Lady Falcons! 
 
Varsity Boys Basketball
O'Neal vs. Berean Baptist: 20-74, L   
The Falcons traveled to Fayetteville on Friday night to take on a tough conference opponent in Berean Baptist. The Falcons were shorthanded without one of their starting guards. The Falcons started off the game with great defensive intensity. The Falcons got into foul trouble facing 2 7 footers who were attacking the rim. The Falcons gave up double-digit offensive rebounds which helped Berean pull away. The Falcons had 4 scorers contribute to the scorebook. Boyd Kenny(5pts), Andrew Pavlovich(1pt), Jack Manning(5pts), and Nick Joyce(9pts). The Falcons are on the road at Berean on Tuesday for a conference playoff game.   
  
O’Neal vs. Berean Baptist: 16-74 L     
The Falcons traveled to Fayetteville on Tuesday night to take Berean Baptist for a conference playoff game. The Falcons got off to a slow start giving up 10 free throws in the first quarter. The Falcons tried to fight back playing with energy and effort for the rest of the game. The Falcons season came to an end as Berean closed out the game shooting 18 free-throws and creating 20 turnoversThe Falcons had 7 scorers contribute to the scorebook. Boyd Kenny(4pts), Andrew Pavlovich(2pts), Gunnar Adams(2pts), Nick Joyce(2pts), Brennan Hodges(2pts), Alex Martin(2pts), and Jordan Cole(2pts). 
 
 
Middle School A Girls Basketball
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist Academy: 31-6, W 
In a triumphant victory over Berean Baptist, The O'Neal School's middle school girls' basketball team secured the regular-season championship with an impressive 31-6 win. Concluding the regular season undefeated, the Lady Falcons have showcased unwavering determination and skill on the court. This achievement reflects not only their individual growth but also the collective effort that has propelled them to success. Throughout the season, players have consistently stepped up into their roles, contributing to the team's overall development. The journey of the Lady Falcons is a testament to their dedication and teamwork, laying a solid foundation as they head into the postseason with high hopes for continued success. 

O’Neal vs Berean Baptist Academy: 38-20, W
 
In a thrilling semi-final matchup of the SAC tournament, the O'Neal School Middle School girls basketball team showcased their dominance as they faced off against Berean Baptist. Boasting the coveted #1 seed, the team enjoyed the advantage of hosting the game on their home court, proving instrumental in their success. With a remarkable display of skill and teamwork, the O'Neal School girls secured a commanding 38-20 victory over Berean Baptist, earning them a well-deserved spot in the finals. The upcoming championship game will see them go head-to-head against Freedom Christian, once again on their home turf, setting the stage for an intense and highly anticipated battle for the SAC title. 
 
Middle School A Boys Basketball
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist: 31-29, W  
The Falcons were back home for a tight match against the Berean Baptist Bulldogs. To say the Falcons really showed up would be an understatement. The Falcons played some of the best basketball that has been seen all year. The Falcons showed great chemistry and played well offensively and defensively. Berean was a great team as well, keeping the game tight for most of the duration of the game. This was a big conference game for the Falcons because this game would lead the Falcons to the playoffs. There were three great quarters of play and going into the fourth quarter the Falcons were down by 4 points. The team stayed resilient and poised and came out victorious in the end. The Falcons were led in scoring by Ford Kuester (11 Points). Following were Grant Sewell (8 Points), Sam Taylor (5 Points), Christian Baker (4 Points), Jackson Graves (3 Points) and Owen West (2 Points). Way to go Falcons!  
  
O’Neal vs Fayetteville Christian: 50-36, L 
The Falcons were on the road to play in the Conference tournament against Fayetteville Christian School. The Falcons have had a great season leading to this moment, and all their hard work led them here to the semifinal game. The Falcons had a slow start to the game; baskets weren’t falling and there was a struggle to get the ball moving well. Fayetteville Christian came ready to play. They were playing well offensively and defensively and seemed to be of one accord. The Falcons struggled with turnovers and the team chemistry wasn’t as noticeable as recent games. The Falcons would end in a defeat which would conclude their outstanding season. The Falcons played well and saw lots of growth this season and it’s exciting to see the future of the O’Neal School Falcons! Leading the Falcons in scoring was Ford Kuester (13 Points). Following Kuester were Sam Taylor (10 Points), Jaxon Graves (9 Points), Grant Sowell (3 Points), and Owen West (1 Point).  

Way to go Falcons! 
 
 
Photos by Wendy Hodges

This weekend is the NCISAA Dick's Sports Discount Weekend. Get ready for the spring sports season.
 
Events Next Week 2/12 - 2/17 
 
DAY 
DATE 
OPPONENT 
SPORT 
H/A 
EVENT TIME 
SAT 
2/10/2024 
Boys Basketball Trip to UNC Chapel Hill Men's Basketball Program 
BBKB
AWAY 
1:00 PM 
MON 
2/12/2024 
STATE CHAMPS - Greensboro Aquatic Center 
SWIM 
AWAY 
1:45 PM 
TUE 
2/13/2024 
NCISAA 1st Round 
GBKB 
HOME 
TBA 
THU 
2/15/2024 
NCISAA 2nd Round 
GBKB 
HOME 
TBA 
SAT 
2/17/2024 
NCISAA 3rd Round 
GBKB 
HOME 
TBA 
 
*NCISAA Events listed are not yet determined


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