DURHAM - The East Wake Academy boys traveled to Voyager Academy Wednesday hoping to avenge a 2-point loss from earlier in the season, but went cold late in the second half and lost the rematch 50-38.

Damarr McCarthy, who had a team high 10-point performance, led the Eagles to a 11-7 first quarter advantage, but sat out most of the second quarter due to foul trouble.

With McCarthy on the bench the Eagles (8-14, 4-6 Central Carolina Athletic League) struggled to get the ball inside the paint offensively, but Terrance McCarthy kept East Wake Academy in the game with a strong defensive effort. Despite three of his four blocks coming in the first half, Voyager Academy forced turnovers that resulted in quick baskets and a 30-28 Viking lead at the half.

“With 10 turnovers in the first half and down just 2 points, we were definitely in the game,” East Wake Academy head coach Miguel Bonano said after the game. “Protecting the ball was the key to winning the game, but that has been an issue for us lately. Voyager switched things on us in the second half and we found it difficult to break them down offensively.”

The Vikings changed their defensive formation in the second half and caused several turnovers in a short span of time. Voyager Academy began to pull away in the third quarter, earning a lead of 15 points until the Eagles battled back to within 6 at the start of the fourth.

With 4 minutes left in the game the Eagles trailed by just 3 points, but a combination of poor shooting and a feisty Viking defense kept East Wake Academy from getting any closer. The Eagles scored 2 points in the final two minutes of play as the Vikings earned the win.

“Not protecting the ball and going 0–16 from behind the arc hurt us a lot,” Bonano said. “If we protect the ball better and either make a few of those 3-point attempts or choose better shot selections, this game is a lot closer.”