SPORTS

By Adam Powell
Correspondent

Chapel Hill’s women’s basketball team challenged itself against some of the best competition in the state of North Carolina over the holiday break, which should help the 9-4 Tigers as they get into Tobacco Road Conference play. The Tigers subsequently blew out local rival East Chapel Hill on the evening of January 6 to open league play.

Learn more about the latest scores and updates on women’s basketball at Chapel Hill, East Chapel Hill, and Carrboro High School in this week’s notebook.

CHAPEL HILL HIGH TIGERS

Tigers win five of six, including conference opener

Chapel Hill’s women’s basketball team shook off a sluggish early December run in a big way to close out the calendar year, as the Tigers picked up four straight wins between December 15 and December 29.

In all, Chapel Hill won five out of six games after a disappointing stretch of three of four losses between December 2 and December 12. Following a 48-36 setback at Heritage on December 12, the Tiger didn’t lose again until December 30, and that loss came against the defending NCHSAA 2A state champions.

Coming off an impressive 62-52 victory over Franklinton on December 18, the Tigers made their way to Haw River after Christmas for the Southeast Alamance Holiday Hoopla Tournament. On December 27, the Tigers blasted Southern Alamance, crushing the Patriots, 48-15. Despite making only two out of 10 3-pointer attempts, the Tigers held Southern Alamance to just 33% shooting for the game (6-of-18).

The Tigers enjoyed a whopping 39-14 rebounding advantage, and committed only eight turnovers in the win. Senior Scarlett Gilner led the way for Chapel Hill with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds, while junior Madison French contributed nine points and senior Zoe Smith eight points. Junior Ashanti McClain contributed significantly to Chapel Hill’s rebounding edge with seven boards.

Two nights later, the Tigers advanced again in the winner’s bracket of the Holiday Hoopla event, as they outlasted Green Level 46-32 to advance to the championship game. Chapel Hill’s excellent defensive effort held the Gators to just 25% shooting for the game (9-of-36). The Tigers out-rebounded Green Level 41-34, and got 13 points and eight rebounds from Smith in the 14-point triumph. Junior Stephanie Prone added 11 points and six defensive rebounds, while Gilner contributed six points and a team-high nine boards.

Chapel Hill’s opponent in the championship game on December 30 was host Southeast Alamance, who came into the game with an unbeaten 12-0 record. The Stallions, the reigning NCHSAA 2A state champions, brought back their entire starting lineup from last year’s championship team. The Tigers tried to slow the powerful Stallions down a little but found themselves trailing 12-3 after the first quarter. The pace picked up a little for the Tigers in the second quarter, but they nonetheless found themselves trailing 24-10 at halftime.

Chapel Hill played Southeast almost straight-up in the second half, falling 26-20 to the Stallions over the 16-minute stretch. Held to just 28% shooting (11-of-39) by Southeast Alamance’s outstanding defense, the Tigers fell 50-30 to slip to 8-4 through their first 12 games of the season. Haara Umenwaliri led Chapel Hill with eight points and seven rebounds in the frustrating loss, while Smith contributed six points and eight rebounds, and Gilner five points and eight boards.

Although the loss to Southeast Alamance relegated Chapel Hill to second place at the Holiday Hoopla Tournament, the victories over Southern Alamance and Green Level gave John French’s squad a little momentum heading into their Tobacco Road Conference opener January 6 at East Chapel Hill. The Tigers put it all together and came away with an impressive victory, as they blew out the Wildcats, 61-20.

Leading 18-9 after one quarter of play, the Tigers used a 24-4 run in the second quarter to run away from East Chapel Hill leading up to halftime. With a commanding 42-13 halftime lead, the Tigers slowed down a little down the stretch, scoring just 19 points in the second half. But the Tigers played excellent defense all the way through, including holding East Chapel Hill without a single point in the fourth quarter.

Chapel Hill shot reasonably well, making six of 13 3-pointer attempts (46%) and 45% of all shots (25-of-56). They also crushed the boards, out-rebounding East Chapel Hill 38-13. Gilner had another excellent game for CHHS with 12 points, eight rebounds, and seven steals, while Smith added a game-high 13 points and seven rebounds. French contributed 12 points, two rebounds, and five assists.

The win improved Chapel Hill to 9-4 through 13 games, and gave the club five wins in its last six outings.

After hosting Durham Hillside in Chapel Hill the evening of Friday, January 9, the Tigers had a week off from game action prior to another home conference game on Friday, January 16 against Northern Durham.

CARRBORO JAGUARS

Jags fall to Panthers in 2026 opener

Unlike Chapel Hill, Carrboro did not make an appearance in a holiday tournament this winter. Following a 51-44 loss at South Granville on December 19, the Jaguars didn’t play again for 18 days, until they hosted Big Seven Conference rival Orange inside the CHS gymnasium the evening of Tuesday, January 6.

Although Carrboro’s perimeter defense worked together to hold Orange to just 4-for-18 shooting from long range (22%), the Panthers defense forced 20 steals and collected 34 rebounds on the way to a 56-27 win over the Jags, which dropped Carrboro to 3-7 through its first 10 games. Orange sophomore Kassidy Tolliver led the victorious Panthers with 14 points, while senior Alexis Stephens contributed 12 points.

The loss to Orange was Carrboro’s third straight, including the December 19 loss to South Granville and a 54-45 setback against Seaforth on December 16. In all, the Jags lost six out of seven contests from November 22 to January 6 following a 2-1 start.

Carrboro host the Durham School of the Arts on the evening of January 9. A week later, the Jags return to action with a non-conference road game at Durham Academy.

EAST CHAPEL HILL WILDCATS

Winless Wildcats eager to get in win column

East Chapel Hill headed into 2026 still seeking its first win of the season. The Wildcats fell 49-16 to Charlottesville (Virginia) High on Dec. 20, 42-30 to Cary, and 61-20 to Chapel Hill on January 6. The setback to Chapel Hill was the team’s first in Tobacco Road Conference play.

Despite holding Cary to just 31% shooting (17-of-54) and only three of 16 made 3-pointers (19%), the Wildcats were unable to get over the hump against the Imps, struggling offensively with only 30 points. Jenna Hayes led Cary with 15 points in the win, while Riley Garner produced a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Against Chapel Hill, the Wildcats dug themselves an early hole, falling behind 18-9 in the first quarter. Unfortunately for East Chapel Hill, the Tigers put together a decisive 24-4 run in the second quarter, making the score 42-13 in favor of CHHS at halftime. Despite 11 points from sophomore Alison Zaranek, along with seven points and six rebounds from fellow tenth grader Evelyn Drecktrah, the Wildcats fell by 41 points to the Tigers. The loss slipped the Wildcats to 0-10 overall.

East Chapel Hill will seek its first win of the 2025-26 season on the evening of Friday, Jan. 9, against Tobacco Road Conference rival Northern Durham (after press time). From there, ECHHS travels to Southern Lee on Jan. 14 for a non-conference clash, then returns home the evening of Friday, Dec.16, to face conference foe Durham Riverside.

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. 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