DURHAM - East Wake Academy boys head coach Miguel Bonano had hopes of an upset with an 11-point lead midway through the second quarter against the Kestrel Height Hawks last Friday.

But with a key Eagle player out of the game after an injury, Kestrel exploded for an 81-54 victory.

East Wake Academy (8-15, 4-7 Central Carolina Athletic League) led by 9 after the first quarter, forcing the Hawks into several changes that stifled the Eagles’ attack. The Eagles moved the ball around and shot around 50 percent until the defensive and offensive switches by Kestrel shut them Eagles down.

Senior guard Damarr McCarthy posted 10 points in the first 10 minutes of play, but midway through the second quarter an accidental elbow forced him out of the game with a small cut over his right eye.

With McCarthy out of the game, the Eagles struggled defensively and offensively in the paint and on the boards.

Kestrel Heights took full advantage and battled back to turn an 11–point deficit into a 5–point advantage at halftime. More of the same followed to start the second half as the Hawks held the Eagles to just 9 points in the third quarter while jumping out to a 25 point lead.

While the Eagles' effort improved in the fourth quarter, they traded baskets with Kestrel and could not cut into the 25-point lead.

Terrance McCarthy led East Wake Academy with 15 points and five rebounds, followed by Jimmy Polito with 14 points and five assists, and Damarr McCarthy finished with 10 points and five rebounds.