Dillon Butler blocks out for a rebound before sustaining a thumb injury.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Al Myatt)

Cape Fear Christian Academy was involved in a pair of one-point outcomes as the Eagles hosted Raleigh Homeschool for junior varsity and varsity boys basketball games on Friday night.

The visitors took a 56-55 win in the varsity boys game as CFCA’s 3-point attempt from the left wing bounced out at the buzzer.

With 4.3 seconds left, it initially appeared that E.J. Bethea would be shooting free throws with the Eagles trailing, 56-55, but after the officials conferred traveling was called.

CFCA got its final chance after the Hawks missed two free throws.

Bethea led all scorers with 21 points. Dillon Butler had nine for CFCA (1-1), but did not finish the game due to a thumb injury. Lucas Capalbo scored seven. Michael Okoye had six points. Ramiro Arrillaga added five points. Marcus Owens had four points. Riley Adams tallied three.

“It’s on us,” said first-year CFCA coach J.D. Johnson, whose team led 44-37 going into the fourth quarter.

Cameron McLeod drove and scored to give the Hawks a 56-55 lead with 42 seconds left. Capalbo’s two free throws with 57.2 seconds remaining had given CFCA a 55-54 lead.

Down 52-49, the Eagles responded with a follow shot by Arrillaga and a drive by Bethea to lead, 53-52, with 1:24 to go.

Mitchell McGrath led Raleigh Homeschool with 18 points and Michael Davisson scored 16.

CFCA won the junior varsity game, 46-45, as Raleigh Homeschool hit a late 3-pointer. DeShaun Woods led the Eagles with 25 points. Zeke Brock scored eight and Jaden Crumley tallied seven. Dolan Adams netted four points and Reid Miller added two as the CFCA junior team improved to 2-0.

CFCA visits New Life Christian Academy in Fayetteville on Tuesday for junior varsity boys, varsity girls and varsity boys games beginning at 4:30 p.m.

CFCA’s E.J. Bethea goes up for two of his 21 points.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Al Myatt)