SPORTS

By Adam Powell
Correspondent

While Chapel Hill’s men’s soccer team came up just short in its quest to bring a NCHSAA 7A state championship home, men’s and women’s basketball kicked off for local programs. Each of the local high schools played their respective season openers in the days leading up the Thanksgiving holiday break.

Get all the latest high school sports news from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and East Chapel Hill High Schools in this week’s edition of the High School Sports Notebook.

CHAPEL HILL HIGH TIGERS

Men’s Soccer – CHHS comes up just short in NCHSAA 7A state championship match

Chapel Hill’s dream season on the soccer field this fall came up one game short of a state championship, as the Tigers suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to Marvin Ridge in the NCHSAA Class 7A state championship match on the campus of Guilford College in Greensboro on November 21.

The match went all the way down to the last three minutes of overtime – just short of going to penalty kicks to decide the second-highest state championship classification in North Carolina.

In that fateful moment, Marvin Ridge’s Collin McKee scored the game-winning goal, as he put a shot into the back of the net on a play in which much of the Chapel Hill lineup, bench, and sideline thought McKee might have been offsides. Nonetheless, no call was made, and the Mavericks held off Chapel Hill’s furious final push to win the 7A state crown.

The Tigers hung tough in the first half, but Marvin Ridge scored the game’s first goal, as Colton Perkins ripped a shot past Chapel Hill senior goalkeeper Troy Casey for an early 1-0 Mavericks lead. The Tigers tried desperately all afternoon to crack Marvin Ridge’s vaunted defense, which had given up just 20 goals all season.

As the clock wore down in the second half, it just didn’t look like it was going to happen for Chapel Hill.

But then, in the final minute, lightning struck for the Tigers – extending their season of destiny just a little longer.

In what can only be called a true example of teamwork, CHHS veteran Adam Hariri made a throw-in to teammate Mark Heizer, who lofted a deep cross down the field to teammate Eliot Werley. Werley, who had raced into position for an assist, set up teammate Gilbert Schmidler with a pass, and Schmidler made the most of this incredible opportunity, pushing a shot past Marvin Ridge goalkeeper Ford Fehling to tie the match 1-1 and force overtime.

The Mavericks might have been a little guilty of premature celebration, but the Tigers didn’t quit, taking advantage of quite literally their final chance in regulation to force overtime.

“Just because we lose a game doesn’t mean we give up the season,” CHHS head coach Davis Boyle told HighSchoolOT.com after the game. “Just because we give up a goal doesn’t mean we give up the game. They kept fighting and managed to punch it in to get us into overtime.”

It was the eighth state championship match appearance for Chapel Hill, who finished the 2025-26 season with a lofty 18-5 record. And while Casey was unable to stop the game-winning goal by McKee, he had another outstanding performance, keeping his team in the game with a total of eight key saves.

Casey is one of 12 seniors who will be leaving the CHHS roster in 2026, including Hariri, Schmidler, Heizer, Landon Promislow, Moo Loh, Thales Garcia de Oliveira, Vincent Cassata, Brendan Dorsey, Reynaldo Dimas, Michael Wan, Dah Wee, Zuloaga, But Chapel Hill will be returning two of its top four goal scorers – rising senior Cyrus Ahmed and rising junior Miles Tobolski  – heading into next season.

Men’s Basketball – Tigers fall in season opener to Knightdale

Chapel Hill High’s men’s basketball team started the 2025-26 season on a disappointing note the evening of November 18, as the Tigers suffered a narrow 50-47 setback to visiting Knightdale.

Despite holding the Knights to just 38% shooting (19-of-50) and only one made 3-pointer in 13 attempts for the game, the Tigers were out-rebounded by Knightdale, and committed 23 turnovers, which killed numerous scoring chances.

CHHS was led by sophomore Makhai Manning, who led the Tigers with 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor, including three 3-pointers and four rebounds. Senior Juice McIlwaine added nine points on 4-of-7 shooting for Chapel Hill, as well as a team-high five rebounds, in the loss. Knightdale junior Brennan Jefferson led all scorers with 29 points.

Head coach Rodney Carter’s roster includes a mixture of veterans and youth. The team features six seniors –  McIlwaine, Niko Davis, Jacari Burnette, Brian Rollins, Max Upchurch, and Samuel Zimmerman. Juniors include Ryan Hudson, C.J. Brooks-McMillan, Mason Redd, Beckett Youngblood, Alex Kappelman, There’s also five sophomores, including Manning, Deuce Geer, Miller Upchurch, Cole Gwaltney, and C.J. Jackson.

Chapel Hill returns to the floor Friday night for a matchup with East Wake, followed by another non-conference game on Saturday morning against Wilson Hunt.

Women’s Basketball – Tigers off to promising 2-0 start on hardwood

Chapel Hill’s women’s basketball team, under the guidance of head coach John French, came up with a pair of impressive victories to start the 2025-26 season. After blowing out Knightdale 62-30 in the season opener November 18 at home, the Tigers hosted Oak City Prep on November 22 and came away with a 69-59 triumph to improve to 2-0.

The Tigers jumped out to a fast 16-7 lead in the first quarter against Knightdale, and used a 13-2 run in the second quarter to take a commanding 29-9 halftime lead. With a dominant 47-23 lead heading into the fourth quarter, Coach French was able to liberally play his backups throughout the fourth quarter. They did a solid job, as the Tigers outscored the visiting Knights 15-7 over the game’s final eight minutes.

Senior Zoe Smith led Chapel Hill to victory, producing a double-double with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, along with 10 rebounds. Fellow senior Scarlett Gilner added 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting to go along with six rebounds and four assists, while junior Stephanie Proano contributed nine points and three steals. CHHS as a team came up with 20 steals against Knightdale, led by junior Ashanti McClain’s five thefts and sophomore Kamaya Thompson’s four thefts. 

In the victory over Oak Hill Prep, the Tigers built a 21-14 halftime lead, which then extended to double digits in the third quarter. With three players in double figures, CHHS held off the Knights down the stretch for the 10-point victory.

Junior Madison French poured in 16 points to lead the Tigers, while Proano had an excellent shooting night with five made baskets in six attempts – including four straight 3-pointers – for 14 points to go along with eight rebounds. Smith had her second straight double-double to begin the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Tigers rotation is largely a veteran one, with a roster that includes four seniors – Haara Umenwaliri, Sophia Boyd, Smith, and Gilner – and three juniors – French,  Proano, and McClain.

But there’s also youth on hand, with seven sophomores and freshmen. The list includes tenth graders Thompson, Kalee McClain, Niyah Wall, Jeyah Burnette, and Elizabeth Cross, as well as ninth graders Je’dah Taylor and Kennedi Patterson.

Chapel Hill returns to action Saturday for a non-conference game against Rocky Mount. From there, the Tigers will play four straight road games against Seaforth (December 2), Carrboro (December 5), Cornelius Hough (December 6) and Wake Forest Heritage (December 12).

CARRBORO JAGUARS

Men’s Basketball – Jaguars get off to disappointing 0-2 start

Carrboro’s men’s basketball team lost its opening two games of the new season, as the Jaguars suffered a 65-48 loss at home to the North Carolina School of Science and Math on November 14, followed by a 75-46 loss at East Chapel Hill on the evening of November 21.

Against the North Carolina School of Science and Math, the Jaguars fell behind 22-18 at halftime, and allowed the Unicorns to run away from them in the second half. Behind an impressive 43 points over the game’s final 16 minutes and 53% shooting from 3-point range for the game (8-of-15), NCSSM went on to the 17-point triumph. The Unicorns only committed three turnovers the entire game on the way to victory.

Carrboro, in turn, made just one of 17 3-pointer attempts, which crushed their chances in the second half. Mostafa Abdelbarr of NCSSM led all scorers with 23 points. Junior Henry Brooks led Carrboro in the loss with 12 points, while senior Ben Frederick and junior Jake McGrath each had eight points.

Against East Chapel Hill, the Jaguars got 16 points from McGrath, along with seven points each from junior Kiran Kamath and freshman Tristan McGowan. The Jags shot just 33% (14-of-42) from the floor against the Wildcats, while again struggling from 3-point range, making just two of 16 (13%) from behind the arc.

Carrboro head coach Neal Clark’s 2025-26 roster includes five seniors – Frederick, Will Bryant, William Gower, Cooper Davis, and Coleman Bole – along with seven juniors – Brooks, McGrath, Kamath, Jay Fuller, Lawson English, Gustov Hansen, and Connor Evans. There are also two sophomores on the roster – Finn Lewis and Adam McGrath – as well as freshman McGowan.

The Jaguars will try to get in the win column for the first time this season on the evening of December 2, as they travel to Pittsboro to face off against Northwood.

Women’s Basketball – CHS splits opening four games of 2025-26 season

Carrboro’s women’s basketball team got off to a busy start to its 2025-26 season, as the Jaguars played a total of four games between November 14 and November 22. CHS split the four matchups, as the Jaguars earned a narrow 45-43 victory over the North Carolina School of Science and Math in their season opener November 14, and a 39-30 triumph at East Chapel Hill on November 21.

In the season opener, the Jags built a 24-16 lead over the Unicorns at halftime, and then had to hold off the visitors from Durham down the stretch. Behind 19 points from senior Madison Taylor and 10 points each from senior Yazmin Paisant and freshman Allison Weiner, Carrboro held on for the two-point victory. Caroline Meaney led NCSSM with 16 points in the loss. Although NCSSM forced 24 Carrboro steals, the Jaguars managed to force 18 turnovers from the Unicorns, which helped them emerge victorious.

In the November 21 victory at East Chapel Hill, the Wildcats overcame a 20-16 halftime deficit by going on a decisive 15-4 run in the third quarter. Behind 22 points from Taylor and 14 points from Paisant, the Jaguars earned the local rivalry win. Paisant also had an incredible 23 rebounds – 14 defensive boards and nine offensive boards – while Taylor and Weiner each had seven steals.

In a loss at home to Apex’s Panther Creek High on November 19, the Jaguars fell behind 42-16 at halftime, and were unable to dig out of that deep hole in the second half. Despite the first setback of the season for CHS, the Jaguars got 13 points from Weiner. On Saturday, November 22, the Jaguars traveled to Fayetteville and suffered a 67-22 loss to Westover as part of the Hoopstate Lady Baller Tip-Off.

Head coach Davina Mounds’ squad includes four seniors – Paisant, Taylor, Summer Lee, and Morgan Stowe – three sophomores – Emma Ewell, Kiley Ferrer, and Noel Coder – along with three freshmen – Weiner, Eve Lloyd, and Claire O’Brien. The 2-2 Jaguars return to action on December 2 on the road at Northwood.

EAST CHAPEL HILL WILDCATS

Men’s Basketball – Wildcats get off to 1-2 start

Although East Chapel Hill’s men’s basketball team lost its opening two games of the 2025-26 season – a 46-38 setback at Green Hope November 17 and a 68-53 loss at home against Durham Academy on November 19 – the Wildcats picked up their first victory on November 21, as ECHHS dominated local non-conference rival Carrboro, 75-46, at home inside the East Chapel Hill High gymnasium.

Against Green Hope, the Wildcats struggled offensively, shooting just 28% from the floor for the game (16-of-57), and only 4-of-27 (15.%) from 3-point range.

In a low-scoring affair, ECHHS trailed 20-11 at halftime, and then scored just 10 points in the third quarter as they took a 33-21 deficit into the final period. The Wildcats tried to cut into the Green Hope lead down the stretch, but the Falcons held on for the eight-point win. Although the Wildcats out-rebounded Green Hope 34-25, 19 turnovers sealed East’s fate in the loss.

Green Hope was led by Korell Griffin and Ian Hazard, who each had nine points in the win. East Chapel Hill senior Frederick Rothert led all scorers with 13 points, while junior William Characklis added 11 points.

Against Durham Academy, the Wildcats hung tough in the first half, trailing just 33-28 at halftime. But the visiting Cavaliers ran away from the home team over the game’s final 16 minutes, as Durham Academy outscored East Chapel Hill 35-25 in the final two quarters to win going away. ECHHS shot just 3-of-22 (14%) from 3-point range and committed 23 turnovers as they slipped to 0-2.

East Chapel Hill senior Jameer Phelmetta led all scorers with 27 points in the frustrating loss, while Josh Dorsette had 26 points for Durham Academy in the win. Senior William Hardin was also in double figures in scoring for East Chapel Hill with 10 points.

Fortunately for the Wildcats, they were able to put it all together in a 29-point blowout win over Carrboro at home on November 21. The win was East Chapel Hill’s first of the new season.

The Wildcats return to the floor after the Thanksgiving break on the evening of December 2, as they travel to Apex Friendship. Later in the week, the Wildcats will travel to Hillsborough to face Cedar Ridge on December 5.

Women’s Basketball – Wildcats suffer trio of narrow losses

Although East Chapel Hill came up short in its first three games of the 2025-26 season, head coach Tameka Bagley can take solace in the fact that the Wildcats were in all three games, and lost each of them by single digits. There’s plenty to build on for ECHHS as they look ahead to upcoming games.

In their season opener November 17, the Wildcats suffered a disappointing 37-29 loss at home against Green Hope. Two nights later, the Wildcats lost 54-47 to Durham Academy in another home game. Then on November 21, ECHHS hosted Carrboro for its third straight home game, and suffered a 39-30 setback.

The Wildcats played tough early on against Durham Academy, trailing just 25-20 at halftime. The game stayed close throughout the second half, but the Wildcats were unable to make the late comeback. Then against Carrboro, the Wildcats actually took a 19-16 halftime lead, but gave up a 15-4 third quarter run to the Jaguars.

East Chapel Hill’s roster includes just one senior, Tizerae Tolbert. So while the Wildcats may take some lumps at times this winter, there’s plenty of room to grow for the future. ECHHS’s roster features four juniors – Amyiah McCollum, Amira Wright, Javaeah Baldwin-Carson, and Sophie Kushnir – five sophomores – Evelyn Drecktrah, Layla Lion, Alison Zaranek, Amira Noel, and Emery Adams – and two freshmen – Jaydee Salazar and Natasha Berg. 

East Chapel Hill returns to action December 2 at home against Apex Friendship, followed by another home game December 5 against Cedar Ridge.

Adam Powell has been a correspondent for The Local Reporter since 2023. A 2001 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Powell has served as managing editor of multiple local publications, including the News of Orange County, the Mebane Enterprise, the Caswell Messenger, and the ACC Sports Journal. Powell has won more than 20 North Carolina Press Association Awards throughout his journalism career for Excellence in Education Reporting, Excellence in Sports Columns and Features, and Excellence in Video Production. He has also been recognized by the North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) for Excellence in Education Writing and for his newsletters representing Rockingham County Schools and the North Carolina Cyber Academy. The author of four books. Adam currently resides in Mebane with his wife Julie and children Colt and Jenna. This reporter can be reached at:Information@TheLocal Reporter.press