Middle School Girls Basketball:
O’Neal vs. Northwood Temple FINAL: 27-28, L
The O’Neal Middle School girls basketball team hosted Northwood Temple in the SEMSAC Conference Tournament semifinals, delivering an intense and hard-fought game from start to finish, said the school in a news release. The battle was neck-and-neck, tied at 8 after the first quarter, with the Falcons edging ahead by 1 point at halftime.
O’Neal carried that momentum into a strong third quarter, taking a 24-19 lead heading into the final six minutes. However, Northwood Temple’s relentless full-court pressure proved to be the deciding factor, as the Falcons narrowly fell in a heartbreaking 27-28 finish. While the loss marked the end of the season, the team has much to be proud of. Their growth from the start of the season was remarkable, successfully incorporating new defensive strategies, press, and press-break techniques.
Varsity Girls Basketball:
O’Neal vs. Northwood Temple FINAL: 69-14, W
The Lady Falcons hosted the first round of the conference tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 4, against Northwood Temple Academy. They came away with a commanding 69-14 victory. Multiple players turned in strong performances to lead The O’Neal School to victory, but none more so than Kennedi Hamner, who recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 steals. Judah Sibley was another key contributor, scoring 20 points while adding 6 assists and 6 steals. With the win, the Lady Falcons advanced to the semifinals.
O’Neal vs. Freedom Christian Academy FINAL: 48-54, L
The Lady Falcons traveled to Fayetteville Christian on Thursday, Feb. 6, to take on Freedom Christian in the conference tournament semifinals. In a tight game, the Falcons lead at many points of the game with the Patriots tight on their heels. A quick run in the 4th quarter allowed the Patriots to pull away and gain a margin that the Falcons didn’t have enough time to bounce back from. Even though they fought hard in a competitive and physical game, they came up just short, falling 31-39.
Despite the loss, the Lady Falcons played with determination, battling through all four quarters until the final buzzer. Joelle Cole led the team with 10 points. The Lady Falcons’ season is far from over, as they now shift their focus to the state playoffs. After a season filled with success, this young team looks forward to continuing their strong play on the bigger stage.
Middle School Boys Basketball
O’Neal vs. Village Christian FINAL: 49-53, L
The Falcons faced off against Village Christian for a semifinal playoff game on Tuesday. The Falcons had a few turnovers early and went down 15-4 at the end of the first quarter. The Falcons overcame adversity and made some key plays defensively to enter halftime only down 7. The Falcons fought hard and made more plays in the second half, exploding for a 23-point scoring fourth quarter. Ultimately, Village shot and made some timely free throws to pull out the 4-point win. The Falcons had a great season, winning 11 games and earning 1 of 4 spots in the playoffs.
Varsity Boys Basketball:
O’Neal vs. Berean Baptist Academy FINAL: 21-78, L
The Falcons were on the road for their last regular-season conference game of the year against Berean Baptist Academy. The Falcons had a slow start, while the Bulldogs came out strong, hitting early shots and playing tough defense. The Falcons trailed going into halftime, but after the break, they regrouped and found some rhythm. At the start of the second half, the Falcons knocked down some early shots and worked hard to play solid team defense while maintaining their chemistry.
Although this was the last regular-season game, the Falcons have shown major signs of improvement since the beginning of the season. They now look ahead to conference tournament play. Freshman Jacob Lindsey led the team with 10 points, followed by Grant Sowell (6 points), Ford Kuester (3 points), and Max Pashley (2 points).
O’Neal vs. Berean Baptist Academy FINAL: 20-79, L
The Falcons were back on the road to play Berean Baptist Academy for Tuesday’s first round of the conference playoffs. The Falcons had early struggles against the Bulldogs’ offense, allowing them to take an early lead. The Falcons kept their composure, worked hard to stay in the game, and played to the best of their ability. The Falcons stayed focused and played good fundamental basketball.
Ultimately, the Falcons came up short in their last game of the season. The Falcons showed lots of growth this season, and the future looks bright for this young Falcons team. Senior Max Pashley led the scorers with 10 points. Jacob Lindsey (8 points) and Joseph Lucas (3 points) added to the charge.
Contributed article. Photo by Wendy Hodges.
