Falcons Nest - January 17

O'Neal Athletics
FALCONS SOARING THROUGH THE SEASON
Middle School Swimming: 
Double Duel Meet results: 
Women: O'Neal: 66 vs Grace Christian: 7 & O'Neal: 62 vs St. David: 8 
Men: O'Neal: 48 vs. Grace Christian 17 & O'Neal: 50 vs. St. David: 22 
Big wins for the Women's and Men's Swim teams at the last home meet of the season. The middle school swimmers swam some of their fastest times showing the hard work and dedication they had over winter break.  Standout swim by Dahlia Cloninger in the 100 backstroke with a ten-second drop! A fast time for Lucy Edmond in the 100 free with a 1:18.23.  Big swims to get legal times by Rafe Hardee and Alessandro Vecchiettini in the 100 breaststroke.  A BIG shout-out also goes to the youngest swimmers in their big-time drops in the 100 free: Kennedy Morrow (7-second drop) and Sarah Williams (6-second drop).  Looking forward to our away meet against Cary Christian School next Thursday. 

Varsity Swimming: 
Women: O'Neal: 66 vs Grace Christian: 7 & O'Neal: 62 vs St. David: 8 
Men: O'Neal: 48 vs. Grace Christian 17 & O'Neal: 50 vs. St. David: 22 
The O’Neal Falcons dominated the pool at their meet yesterday, celebrating their senior swimmers and returning to competition after the winter break. The team achieved numerous season and personal bests, highlighted by several swimmers qualifying for the state meet. Bethany Risseeuw earned her spot in the 200 freestyle, Carson Pusser qualified in the 100 breaststroke, and Abigail Schupp secured her place in the 500 freestyle. Standout performances included Carson Pusser’s strong showing in the 100 freestyle, Nathan’s impressive effort in the 500 freestyle, and Ella Marino’s excellent swim in the 100 butterfly.  

Middle School Boys Basketball:  
O’Neal vs. Northwood Temple FINAL: 53-29, W  
The Middle School Boys basketball team hosted conference opponent Northwood Temple on Monday evening and pulled off a big win. The Falcons had a great offensive showing scoring 41pts in the first 3 quarters. The Falcons only gave up 3pts in the first quarter continuing their defensive dominance this season. The Falcons played well all around and had all players contribute to the win and 8 players entering the scoring book. The Falcons look to continue their success and build off this win.   

O’Neal vs. Fayetteville Christian FINAL: 44-25, W   
The Falcons went on the road to face conference opponent Fayetteville Christian. The Falcons started off slow offensively but continued their strong defensive play ending the first quarter with a 13-5 lead. The Falcons scoring picked up with 19 points in the third quarter. Once again, all Falcons saw game time with 7 players getting into the scoring column. The team’s effort and energy were outstanding, and the athletes and coaches are looking forward to working hard to keep up this momentum heading into next week. The Falcons have 2 home games next week, Tuesday vs. Moore Montessori and Thursday vs. Fayetteville Academy.   
 
Middle School Boys Basketball B Team  
O’Neal vs. Saint John Paul II FINAL: 21-39, L      
The Falcon’s Development team saw their first game action of the season on Wednesday as they hosted SJPII. l The Falcons played with a ton of energy and showcased some good offense, scoring 6 points in the first quarter. Going into the second quarter down 14-6 the Falcons show some tough defense getting steals and creating fastbreak opportunities. This run helped the Falcons enter halftime only down 17-13. Despite great efforts from all players the Falcons fell 39-21. We are extremely proud of their effort and how they played and will continue to build on some good takeaways from this game.  
 
Varsity Boys Basketball:  
O’Neal vs. Northwood Temple FINAL: 52-85, L 
After a triumphant Homecoming game, the Falcons returned to their home court on Tuesday night to face the Northwood Temple Eagles. Carrying over their intensity and energy from the previous matchup, the Falcons came out strong in the first half. 

The offense was firing on all cylinders, with the team seemingly finding rhythm and confidence with each made bucket. On the defensive end, the Falcons executed well, delivering one of their best performances of the season. 

Heading into the second half, the Falcons maintained their determination and teamwork. However, Northwood Temple's strong play proved challenging to overcome, ultimately securing them the win. 
Senior Jack Manning led the Falcons with 14 points, followed by standout contributions from Jacob Lindsey (13 points), Christian Baker (13 points), Max Pashley (6 points), Ford Kuester (4 points), and Caleb Jones (2 points). 

The Falcons will hit the road Friday to take on Fayetteville Christian, with tip-off set for 6:30 PM. 

Middle School Girls Basketball:  
O’Neal vs Northwood Temple FINAL: 19-20, L 
The O'Neal Middle School Girls Basketball Team hosted Northwood Temple on Monday in an electrifying game that went down to the wire, ending in a narrow 19-20 loss. The matchup was incredibly physical, with deflected passes, players diving for loose balls, and even a few scrapes to show for their hard-fought effort. Trailing by six points heading into the fourth quarter, the Falcons mounted an impressive comeback. In the final seconds, they had a chance to seal the game with a last-second shot and drew a foul, highlighting the critical importance of free throws. While the outcome was not in their favor, this game served as a valuable reminder that every point, from the first quarter to the last, plays a pivotal role in the final result. Basketball remains a true team sport, and the Falcons demonstrated their resilience and unity, fighting together until the very end. 

O’Neal vs Berean Baptist FINAL: 46-12, W 
The Falcons traveled to Berean Baptist for their second matchup of the week and delivered an impressive 46-12 victory. Keelie Bosworth set the tone early with multiple transition layups, giving the Falcons a strong start. A switch to zone defense proved effective, as Joelle Cole and Haddie Habets disrupted Berean’s offense with numerous steals, leading to additional fast-break opportunities. With a commanding 20-3 lead at halftime, the Falcons utilized the opportunity to rotate players and refine various aspects of their offense. Julie Wilson dominated in the post, contributing a personal best of 11 points. It was a complete team effort, showcasing both their offensive and defensive prowess. 

O’Neal vs Fayetteville Christian School FINAL: 24-16, W 
In their final game of the week the MS Lady Falcons faced Fayetteville Christian School and emerged victorious with a 24-16 win. After a slow start, the Falcons found their rhythm, using a strong defensive presence to ignite their offense and take control of the game. With a comfortable lead, the team provided valuable court time for more players, allowing them to gain confidence and experience. The energy from the bench was infectious, as teammates cheered and encouraged one another to take their shots. This win showcased the Falcons' teamwork and determination, setting the tone for continued growth and success. 

Varsity Girls Basketball:  
O’Neal vs Northwood Temple FINAL: 43-29, W 
On Tuesday, January 14, the Lady Falcons hosted Northwood Temple Academy and secured an impressive 43-29 victory, demonstrating remarkable resilience despite having only five players available due to illness and injury. The Falcons maintained control throughout the game, dominating all four quarters with exceptional effort and teamwork. 

Kennedi Hamner led the charge with a standout performance, recording 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Jamaya Hooker added a strong double-double of her own with 10 points and 10 rebounds. This hard-fought win improves the Lady Falcons’ record to 8-5 overall and 6-2 in conference play. 

The Lady Falcons will next travel to Fayetteville Christian on Friday, January 17. They will then return home for two key matchups: hosting Cary Christian on Tuesday, January 21, and Trinity Christian on Friday, January 24 for their final home game of the regular season. 
 
Photos by Wendy Hodges
 
Falcon Athletics Looking Ahead - 1/21/25 - 1/25/25:  
DAY 
DATE 
OPPONENT 
SPORT 
H/A 
EVENT TIME 
TUE 
1/21/2025 
Cary Christian School 
VGBKB 
HOME 
5:30 PM 
TUE 
1/21/2025 
Village Christian Academy 
MSGBKB 
AWAY 
3:30pm 
TUE 
1/21/2025 
Moore Montessori A 
MSBBKB 
HOME 
4:00PM 
THU 
1/23/2025 
Fayetteville Academy 
MSGBKB 
HOME 
4:00 PM 
THU 
1/23/2025 
Cary Academy 
SWIM 
AWAY 
4:30 PM 
THU 
1/23/2025 
Fayetteville Academy 
MSBBKB 
HOME 
5:00PM 
FRI 
1/24/2025 
Trinity Christian 
VGBKB 
HOME 
5:00PM 
FRI 
1/24/2025 
Trinity Christian 
VBBKB 
HOME 
6:30PM 
SAT 
1/25/2025 
Cape Fear Christian Academy 
VBBKB 
AWAY 
1:00PM 
 
 
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